KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A Knoxville mom and her daughter had a chance encounter with Bristol Palin on Wednesday, just hours before the well known teen testified in federal court.

Paige Freshour was taking her 8 year old daughter Reese to a doctor’s appoint at Children’s Hospital around 10:30 a.m. when they decided to stop at the Panera Bread Bakery in Bearden for a quick bite to eat. While waiting for their order, Paige spotted the 19 year old daughter of Alaska’s former governor and former republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

“When I saw her I couldn't place who she was at first,” said Freshour. “I knew I recognized her from somewhere, and then it all just kind of clicked.”

Bristol was quietly sitting in a corner booth at the bakery with a man Freshour believes was an attorney. Palin was in town Wednesday to testify against David Kernell, 22 a former University of Tennessee student accused of illegally accessing her mother’s email account and publishing its contents on the Internet.

"We didn't want to make a big deal and ruin her lunch,” Freshour said, “so we sort of followed her until there was a moment we could say hello."

Palin, who would testify in the trial about five and a half hours later appeared to be keeping a low profile, but the mother and daughter saw their chance and decided to break the ice.

“I said, ‘I think we recognize you from somewhere,’” Freshour told Volunteer TV News on Wednesday afternoon, “’you wouldn't happen to be in town for a trial would you,’ and she said ‘yes, for my mom's trial.’"

Freshour described the well known teen as shy but very friendly.

“I actually didn't know who she was,” said Reese Freshour. “She just kind of grabbed my hand, pulled me close to her and shook my hand and said, ‘hi, I'm Bristol!"

Bristol asked Reese how old she was and they chatted briefly in the teen’s booth. Paige then took a picture of the girls and they parted ways.

“After we took the picture and she introduced herself we said good luck and walked away," she said.

Reese later summed up the meeting with her new friend.

“She was very pretty and she was also very nice,” said the 8 year old. “She's Sarah Palin’s daughter and was just about to do something very important."

Reese told Volunteer TV News that she saw Bristol on television during her doctor’s appointment.

“I was like, ‘oh wow, she is the exact same girl I just took a picture with,’” the 8 year old said. “i just felt excited!”