A woman who frequently gets mistaken for her husband's granddaughter has spoken out about the huge age gap between the couple, insisting they are 'deeply in love' and even want kids together.
Alexis Tadlock, 24, met Charles Tadlock, 79, when he was with his late wife Kathy at church back in 2015 in Sheridan, Arkansas.
Little did she know that the man she'd met would go on to become her husband a few years down the line.
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The pair's friendship blossomed after Kathy, 77, tragically passed away in 2017 from lung disease.
Seeing how lonely Charles was, Alexis felt sorry for him, and so they started to spend more time together.
Alexis said: "Kathy and I were good friends, and I was very sad when she passed away.
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"I never had much to do with Charles, but one day I saw him sitting alone at church and he was crying.
"I went to comfort him, and we talked for ages. We became good friends after that, and we would go do things together and just hang out."
Soon enough, their friendship turned into love and by Autumn 2018 Charles had already proposed - with the loved up pair getting married just two months later.
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"Eventually, I think we became dependent on each other and my feelings really started to grow the more time we spent together," added Alexis.
"But I never thought anything could happen between us. I tried to set him up with an older lady, but he flat out refused to even go on a date.
"Then he asked whether I wanted to go meet a younger guy. But I just couldn't imagine ever leaving him and finding a younger man.
"One day, he told me how much he missed me. I asked him if he ever felt that way towards anyone else, and he said, 'only my wife'."
She continued: "We admitted our feelings towards each other, and our relationship just blossomed from there. I was over the moon when he popped the question and we got married just two months later."
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As a result of the 55-year age gap, people often mistake Alexis for the granddaughter or carer, and some have acted negatively towards their relationship - but this hasn't deterred them.
Alexis explained: "We don't make a big deal about it. A lot of people in age gap relationships feel that they can't hold hands or stay close to each other because of what others will think."
"But we don't act any differently in public. I'll kiss his cheek and we'll hold hands. I'll lay my head on him and just act like no one is there. I really don't care what others think.
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"He is the best husband I ever could have asked for and we love each other deeply. We're very happy."
Alexis revealed that she does feel sad at times as she knows her husband is likely to die before she will - but said that having a baby with Charles would be a way to 'keep a part of him' with her forever.
Although Alexis said her desire to have kids with Charles - who will turn 80 in August - has sparked some backlash, she has not let it stop them from trying and added that she has always wanted to be a mother.
She explained: "A lot of people get angry because they assume that Charles can not give me children due to his age. But that is not true at all. We've gone for tests, and it's actually me that had some fertility issues that we're working on.
"We want to have a baby. I've been told I'm selfish if I have a child with him because they might grow up without a dad. But when he dies I'll have nothing of him. I need something from him to carry with me throughout the rest of my life."
Charles chimed in too, saying: "There are some old people that have young souls, and some young people that have old souls.
"I feel much younger on the inside. The age difference doesn't affect our marriage.
"No matter how old you are, everyone still needs love."
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