In 1997, she boarded a flight to Chicago without any idea that she was about to meet the man who would become her husband, Peter McMahon. The encounter was completely unexpected—and it almost didn’t happen.

Both Perino and McMahon were running late that day, and as fate would have it, they were the last two passengers to board. The only available seats left on the plane were right next to each other.

That twist of timing led to an unforgettable meeting. McMahon made an immediate impression. During a conversation with the American Enterprise Institute, Perino recounted how he asked if he could place his bag in the overhead compartment above them.

She turned to him and immediately noticed his British accent. With a bit of humor, she recalled thinking, “accent,” as she looked at him. The accent was just the first thing that caught her attention—she soon realized he was attractive and wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

Throughout the duration of the flight, her interest in McMahon only grew stronger. But once the plane landed, they had to go their separate ways.