like a lot of fun and a lot of tears. Competition against each other is brutal, and when it’s an all-female event based on looks and personality, and it takes place in a small town, there’s nowhere to get away from being the losers,” Cathy said.
Duke nodded. “They used to have to bring a peach pie that they’d baked as part of their events, but when it became clear that most of the mamas were doing the baking, and two of them got into a squabble about one being a better baker than the other in front of the judges, it was phased out.”
Cathy grinned. “Oh, my lord! Are you serious?”
He nodded, and took another bite of his burger.
“Is there ever a Peachy Keen king?” she asked.
“Nope. It’s all about the queen.” They ate in silence for a few moments, and then he added, “There have been quite a few people who got married in that gazebo…Ruby and Peanut were the latest, I think.”
Cathy looked at it with new interest.
“I’m assuming it was warm weather when that happened?”
“Yes. The only thing threatening was rain, but it stayed clear for them. And…they invited the whole town. With both of them being in business in Blessings, they didn’t know where to start and where to stop on an invitation list, so they just told everyone they were invited, and to bring blankets and their own picnics and eat on the ground with them after the ceremony…and they furnished cake for everyone.”
Cathy’s eyes widened, imagining how that would have looked.
“That was such a unique and special way to include all of their friends,” she said.
“Yeah…but that’s a little over the top for me.”
“Ditto,” Cathy said. “And I don’t want to wait for warm weather to become your wife.”
“Agreed,” Duke said, then took the last bite of his burger. “Are you finished?” he asked.
She nodded, and sacked up all of their refuse. Duke got out, dumped it in a nearby trash bin, and then got back in the truck.
“I’m ready to tour the Bottoms,” he said.
“You know the way,” Cathy said.
The closer they got, the more excited she became. It had already undergone a huge transformation from what it had been, and they weren’t finished. But coming over that rise of the old tracks and looking downhill at new roofs and houses bright and clean with fresh paint was uplifting, not to mention seeing the windows that had been replaced and the porches and steps that had been rebuilt.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had occasion to drive this way, but I remember it as being what my mother would have called tragic. This is amazing, and I am so proud of what you’re doing,” he said.
Cathy sighed. “Thank you, honey. Sometimes I think I’m not paying enough attention to our renovation for all that’s going on here, but it matters so much that this wrong be righted.”
“No, no! Never think that,” Duke said. “We’re not destitute. We’re blessed. This is where your attention is most needed now. We’ll have our house, and I’ll have you for the rest of our lives. This matters.”
“Thanks for backing me. It means everything,” she said. “Drive down that way and turn right at the second street. Barrie’s house was the first one we worked on, and she’s really helped us get the rest of the people living here involved in the process. I want you to meet her.”
“Will do,” Duke said. When he pulled up to the house Cathy pointed out and he saw the pale-yellow paint and white trim on the house, and a new porch, he smiled. “This is sunny, just like you.”
She beamed. “Come on. Barrie’s here.”
“How do you know?” he asked.
She pointed. “I see her peeking out the window,” she said, and jumped out.
The moment Barrie recognized it was Cathy, she came out to meet her.
“Barrie, you’ve heard me talk nonstop about Duke. I wanted you to meet him,” Cathy said. “Duke, this is Barrie Lemons. Barrie, my fiancé, Duke Talbot.”
Barrie smiled shyly. “It’s a pleasure, sir. Would you like to come inside and see what magic your lady has created?”
“I would love it,” Duke said, and walked into a little house filled with warmth, and color, and a little baby crawling on a large magenta-and-blue area rug beneath the furniture.
“I keep these here to remind me of the gift she’s given,” Barrie said and handed over the still photos Mavis Webb had taken of the interior of her home before the