Small Town Tango

by Jennifer LeJeune

Copyright 2013 Blue Ribbon Books

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. For questions and comments about this book, please contact us at CustomerService@BlueRibbonBooks.com

Small Town Tango

Monica, get my grandmother on the line as soon as you can. My mother tells me that she isnt doing very well on her own these days, and the health care in Little Hill is absent, to say the least, says Bo. Yes, sir, Mr. Brogan. That is awful to hear, I do hope she is alright. Bo Brogan loves his grandmother very much, although he has not seen her in years due to his constant effort to make partner in one of the biggest, most prominent law firms in Dallas, Texas. He has accomplished that goal now and is extremely successful and very well-known to the Dallas elite, yet he still feels like he is missing something. Bo has a yearning to be close to his family now that he is finally settled in his life. He recently bought a luxury apartment building, on top of just winning one of the most publicized murder cases the city has seen in years. Plenty of people are envious of Bo Brogan, but he feels like he is lacking so much and thinks

that his family is what could fill that emptiness. Bo is determined to have his grandmother come live in his newly acquired luxurious apartment building so he can keep a close watch on her; he is, after all, her only grandchild.

Hellooo, this is Viola, said the cheery old lady on the other end of the line. Oh hello, Mrs. Brogan, Im so glad I caught you. This is Monica, Bos secretary. I have Bo on the line for you. Well, what a nice surprise! I havent spoken with him in so long, Viola replies. Yes, she smiles, I am transferring you now. Hi Mammy. How are you? I have heard so many things. Mother says there isnt a cardiologist in town and that you really need to be close to one considering your condition. Have you stopped driving your car? How are you getting to the grocery? Who is helping you with chores around the house? Geez aloo! Slow down, boy! I can only answer one question at a time. I am almost 89 years old, you are going to have to give me a second to catch up. For starters, I am just fine and dandy, let me tell you. I dont know what nonsense this is that your mother is speaking of, but it is

just a big bunch of bologna if I have ever heard any! But Mammy, Bo replies, I just dont see how you are going to be able to make it in a town without the proper medical care that you need and someone to help you around the house. I know you want everyone to think that the heart attack was no big deal, but you are still recovering, and you should have help. Please come live in my new building. You would be right across the hall from me, so I can check on you several times a day and get your shopping done for you. Please, Mammy, begs Bo. The thought of leaving the comfort of the tiny town Viola has lived in all of her life has never even crossed her mind, why would she now? She has the church for support, and the women are so thoughtful of her, she hardly ever has to bake a pie. The boys come by once a week to trim the lawn and pull the weeds. Little Hill is the only place Viola has ever known as home, she cant imagine trying to make a home anywhere else, especially in the city. Little Hills rolling hills and beautiful bluebonnets, and the greenest of grass, and the tallest of trees are her paradise. She could never say goodbye to her home. I dont think so, sonny, replies Viola, I was born a country girl and I will always be a country girl, and in

the country I will stay! I have no desire to live fifty feet up in the air in some cramped apartment building with one window, and a neighbor on the other side of my wall. I need my space and I need my air, FRESH air! Im sorry, Bo, but it is absolutely out of the question. As the days go by, Bo tries to come up with incentives to make his grandmother more inclined to come. Maybe I can get her a ground unit with a small backyard and plant a flower bed, he thinks to himself. I will enroll her in the womens bridge club. Maybe a unit with a skylight will do the trick. Katherine Bates is a sweet girl, who lives in Little Hill and attends church with Miss Viola. She always checks on Miss Viola whenever she can, bringing her pastries and her favorite peach tea from her bakery. Katherines dad passed away a few years ago and left Bates Bakery to his only daughter whom he cherished deeply. Katherines mother passed away when she was just a little girl, and now, with her father gone, she focuses much of her attention on God and volunteering wherever she is needed. It makes her happy to make others happy. Running a bake shop could never please her the way that reading a book to a lonely patient in a nursing home, or cooking meals for a needy family does. Her best friends Becky and Sally are the women who actually run the shop

for her, so she can do the things that the Lord has called her to do. Every once in a while she will pull a few shifts and make sure everything is going smoothly. The bake shop was her fathers dream, not at all hers, but she definitely will not let it die. Bates Bakery is the most popular place in town. On Sunday morning, the church bells ring and Katherine sees Miss Viola walking up the path. Luckily, Miss Viola lives directly around the corner from the church, so it is one place she has no problem getting to. She enjoys the walk past all of the honeysuckle bushes, the smell of honeysuckle is her favorite. Good morning, Miss Viola, Katherine says with a sweet smile. Well, good morning, my Katy bug. As they walk up the path hand in hand, they admire the pure white building with the tall slender steeple that has a cross on the top. The large double oak doors are warm and inviting. The stained glass windows on every side make the sanctuary look magical when the sun shines on them. This is a place that brings peace and security to their hearts. It is likely that the love for the Little Hill Church of God and the loss of Katherines parents at such

a young age combined with the loss of Violas husband years ago are what have brought them so close. Would you like me to walk you home after the service? Do you even have to ask? replies Viola. Would you mind changing out a light bulb for me, Katy bug? I just cant seem to get up on that old step ladder anymore. I certainly can, replies Katherine. Would you mind making me one of your famous Viola turkey sandwiches? Well, of course, I can, replies Viola. They smile and giggle knowing they would do anything for each other and there is no reason to even ask, but the habit of common courtesy is something that you cannot un-teach yourself. When they get to Mrs. Brogans driveway, they see an unfamiliar red sports car sitting in the drive. Out pops a fiery-looking redhead wearing a black pencil skirt and a tight black blouse. Well, hello, she says in a very businesslike tone,

walking towards Viola with an outstretched hand. Im Monica Gavin; I work for your grandson, Bo. He has sent me out to speak with you about some possible living arrangements that he would like to have set up for you at The Squire, his new apartment building. Its quite luxurious, I am sure you will be very pleased with what I have to show you. Viola had been expecting this. Katherines face immediately turns green and she looks like she might puke. She knew nothing of Miss Viola moving away, nothing at all. How could this be? Miss Viola is the closest elder that she has had for years, this just cant be true. At that moment, Katherines phone rings, it is Becky from the bakery. They are swamped like usual on Sunday afternoons after church and could use a hand. Um, Miss Viola, Katherine says, I have to get to the bakery, its an emergency. I will be back to change out the light bulb as soon as I can. Katherine walks away quickly, trying to hold back the tears. She couldnt imagine that Miss Viola had been planning on moving away and hadnt even told her. Why would she move away? She loves it here, this is her home. She has a whole town of love and support. Am I not helping her enough? Katherine asks herself.

As soon as Katherine enters the bake shop, Becky and sally take notice of the sad, confused look on her face. Katherine, whispers Becky quietly, whats wrong? Katherine suddenly shakes her head and goes over the counter to ask Mrs. Jones what she will be having today. What will it be today, Mrs. Jones? asks Katherine. Lets see, says Mrs. Jones, I think I will have two chocolate chip muffins and a loaf of banana bread for my grandson Dylan. You know, Katherine, she leans in to Katherine and lowers her voice a little, he just broke it off with that hifalutin mess of a woman, Amber Chaney. That girl thought just because her daddy owns almost the whole town that she can go around treating people like they are less than human. Not my Dylan! He didnt put up with that for long, just like I thought he wouldnt, he ended it. Thank you, Jesus! she says with her hands stretched up to the sky. Katherine gives Miss Jones a half smile, as she knows her intentions. Everyone does. Agnes Jones has

wanted her grandson Dylan to take Katherine Bates on a date for years. Katherine knows everyone feels sorry for her for not having any parents around and never having a boyfriend. Her life is quite fulfilling though, and she knows exactly what she wants in a man. She will settle for nothing less than a good, honest Christian man, and she has seen Dylan Jones at church too few times to believe that he is worthy of her time. You know, Katherine, it would be so nice to see you dating darling, says Mrs. Jones. Didnt you just turn 25? You arent getting any younger, and all of the fish in the sea will be swallowed up if you wait too much longer! Now that brings a huge smile to Katherines face, Mrs. Jones did have the ability to be quite humorous. Just then, Sally comes running up saying There is a problem with the loaves of bread for tomorrow, they arent rising like they are supposed to and all of them will have to be made over right away. Katherine gives Mrs. Jones a nod and a smile and her order, and hurries off to fix tomorrows problem. Back at Mrs. Brogans, pots and pans are about to fly as Monica will not take no for an answer. Anything Viola turns down, Monica is right there offering bigger and

better. Finally, Violas sweet and patient look turns into pressed lips and fire in her eyes. You listen here, Monica, I am sorry that my grandson has sent you all this way to try and convince me to move to Dallas, but that wont happen, my dear. 252 Chelsea Lane, Little Hill, Texas has been my address for 65 years. I would not move out of this house for a skylight, a flower bed, a lousy bridge club, or anything else you might be able to offer. The people here are my life. This house holds decades of memories and I will not do away with them. Now, with all due respect, Mrs. Gavin, I believe it is time for you to leave. My blood pressure seems to be quite elevated and I would like to have a rest. I assume you can see yourself out? Good! Viola replies without waiting for a response from Monica, quite irritated by this whole charade Bo has put her through. Please tell the boy I said hello, dear, Viola says as she reclines in her chair. Monica walks out the door shaking her head, looking quite defeated, as she has just tried offering this woman the moon and she just would not bite. Well, there goes my bonus, Monica mumbles under her breath as she slams her car door and speeds out of the driveway, kicking up dust on her way out.

Katherine is covered in flour now that she has made sixteen loaves of bread for tomorrows lunch rush. The Bates BLT is one of the lunch favorites on the menu. Her father had concocted the perfect secret sauce for it. Should we go ahead and lock up? Becky asks Katherine. Sure, replies Katherine, its only about ten minutes to closing anyway, I dont think anyone else will come in. As Becky gets the keys and walks over to the door, she hears the chimes, as none other than Dylan Jones comes skipping in the door. Were closed, says Becky. Well, the sign still says open, says Dylan. I was just on my way over to change it, Dylan, what can I get you? I just wanted to see if you had any more of that scrumptious banana bread lying around. I already went through the whole loaf my granny got me this morning.

Pig, says Becky. Hey, a growing man has to eat, replies Dylan. I think you are about as grown as you are gonna get, says Becky, with your body, anyways. What is that supposed to mean, Becky Ann Montgomery? It means you havent changed any since third grade. Giving wedgies and mooning people will always be your activities of choice, they giggle. Katherine comes from the back. What can I do you for, Dylan? We were just about to lock up, she says as she tosses her towel on the counter. Oh, just another one of those delish loaves of banana bread you make. Im sorry, Dylan, were all sold out. You can come tomorrow around noon and we should have some more ready then, says Katherine. Well, how about I walk you home then? says

Dylan. Actually, I am walking over to Miss Violas to change a light bulb for her. Its just half a block over, I think I can manage. Thank you, though, Katherine says, politely trying to decline his request and get him to be on his way. Looking a tad upset, he turns towards the door. I will be back at noon for that banana bread, Katy, says Dylan, giving her a cocky grin and wink as he walks out the door. That boy is about as big-headed as a Goodyear blimp, says Becky. Katherine nods in agreement as they flip the sign and shut off the lights. Monica arrives back at the office to give Bo the bad news. Granny aint budging, Mr. Brogan. Its Mammy and what do you mean? replies Bo. Did you tell her about all of the amenities that she would have here? Did you tell her about the advanced medical treatment that she would receive at Dallas General Hospital? Yes, Mr. Brogan, I covered all of the details

immensely with her. She was not enthused about you trying to have her shipped here in Dallas, away from her home. That really is a lovely little cottage she has, its very serene She basically told me to get lost in a sweet way. That sure does sound like her. I knew this would be no easy task. Maybe I can have my mother phone her and try to change her mind, says Bo. Or, replies Monica, Im sure that it would mean a lot more to her if you drove down there yourself to ask her instead of sending your secretary, or having your mother hound her. Thats just my friendly advice, she grins. Hmm, he thinks to himself, with a slight nod. Cancel all of my plans for the week, Im going. If this is the only way that I can get her here, then it must be done. I will only lose a few thousand dollars and possibly a major client, but its no big deal, he says with a grimace on his face. Lord give me the strength to handle this old woman, she is about the only person I know that is more stubborn than me, he prays. Little Hill, here I come.

As Katherine walks slowly down Chelsea Lane,

nervous, thinking about what she is going to say, she sees Miss Viola come stepping off of her porch. What are you doing out so late, Miss Viola? asks Katherine. Oh, Im just looking at this old place, Katy. Its beautiful, isnt it? Yes, its very beautiful, and I dont understand why you would want to leave. What would make you want to leave this peaceful little town and your sweet cottage? she shoots Miss Viola a desperate look, her eyes watering as she tries hard not to let the tears loose. Suddenly, Miss Viola burst out laughing. Im not going anywhere, you silly girl. What in heavens name would make you think that? That woman that was here earlier in the red car, what she said... Oh, poppycock on what she said! Bo sent her here to try to convince me to move up to his new luxurious apartment building, and bribe me with everything he could think of, it didnt work. I would never leave this place. My Bobby would roll over in his grave if I ever left the home

he built for me. Bo hasnt even been here in years, Katherine says. What makes him think he can just send his secretary down here to swoop you away? That boy is something else! You two never did get along very well, replies Viola. He means well, he really does. But I dont think he realizes just how much more than a house and a town this place is to me. Little Hill is my entire life. I was born here. I was here before the town square had even completely come up. I want to be here to see this town grow until the end of my days. This is my town. Do you see those light blue shutters, and the rails on the porch with the rose bushes planted all the way around and the woodwork on the swing? Bobby did that all, just for me. That bench over there in between those two pear trees is where we were sitting when I told him I was pregnant with Bos father. Every moment I am alive I will live in and appreciate all of his hard work and dedication to make me the perfect home to raise my family.

My every want in a home and in a husband, he fulfilled, and I will not show any lack of respect to that man. God rest his soul. A slight smile creeps upon Katherines lips, So how about that light bulb? As they walk into the house Katherine feels like a ton of bricks has been lifted off of her chest. Thank you, Katy bug, says Miss Viola as Katherine walks up the steps into the house to replace the light bulb.

Its been a long, emotionally trying day and she could use some relaxation and a good nights sleep. As Katherine comes up to her driveway, she stands still for a moment, looking up at her little country style house with the hanging planters around the front and the white rocking chair on the porch, and wonders, Will I ever be able to leave this place? She gets changed into a night gown, makes a cup of chamomile tea and grabs her Bible and snuggles into her plush bed. Reading Proverbs 31, she wonders if she will ever find a man to share her life with, to whom she could

be the kind of wife that she desires to be, and to have him build her the perfect home, just like Bobby had done for Miss Viola. After all, she is 25 now, and if what Agnes Jones says is true, all of the fish in the sea will be swallowed up if she waits too much longer.

Bo boards his plane to make the thirty-five-minute flight to James City. There isnt an airport in Little Hill, so that is as close as he will get. He despises long car trips and much prefers to view the sights from the top. Flirting with the cute blonde flight attendant with the name Susan written on her name tag, he finds that the look on her face is screaming, Take your bottle of water and leave me alone. Eh, he brushes it off. This is her job, she must get hit on by every lonely traveler that boards the plane, he thinks to himself. Bo has a lot more strategizing to do anyway, if he is going to get his poor old grandmother to move to Dallas. No time for flirting with a woman I will most probably never lay eyes on again. He closes his eyes and leans back in his seat to think, only to awaken thirty minutes later to

Susans voice coming over the intercom. Everyone please buckle your seat belts, we are preparing to land at James City international airport. The weather is 78 degrees, partly cloudy with 5 mile per hour winds. We hope you have enjoyed your flight with us. Please stay seated until we have come to a complete stop and the seat belt sign is off. As they file off of the plane one by one, Bo tries to figure out in which direction the rent-a-car center is. As he steps up to the desk, the clerk, looking as if he would rather be anywhere else, says, Yes, sir, how can I help you? I need to rent a car, says Bo. Of course, you need to rent a car, replies the man, why else would you be standing in front of me? Is there any preference that you have? No, replies Bo, shocked by the rudeness of this fellow. Ok, well, sign here, here, here, and here, initial here, and how long will you need the car?

One week, replies Bo as he signs the contract. The discontent rent-a-car man hands Bo a set of keys and tells him the directions out to the rentals lot. Its in slot 107, says the man. Bo gives a nod and walks quickly in the direction of his car. When he gets to slot 107, he sulks his head when he sees the pink beetle and checks the emblem on his keys. V olkswagen he says aloud. A pink beetle? This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. How dare he give me a pink beetle! And then he remembers the man asking if he had any preferences to which he replied no. Stomping his foot on the ground, he pops open the trunk and tosses in his luggage, slams it shut, and plops down into the driver seat. This is the tiniest car ever! he shouts to himself as he moves the seat all the way back as far as it will go. Well, here goes nothing, he says as he starts it up and pulls out of the parking lot.

Back at the bakery, Katherine is beating Dylan Jones away with a broomstick after selling him two more loaves of banana bread to make sure he does not need to come back for any reason for at least two more days.

Sheesh, she says to Becky, do you think he will ever get the hint? Oh, he probably just thinks you are trying to play hard to get. I dont think that boy will understand anything other than Dylan, I wouldnt date you even if you buy every loaf of banana bread I make for an entire year. They laugh hysterically as Sally comes in late, again, for her shift. Im so sorry, girls, Sally says. I am just a mess today, my head has been killing me all morning. Im getting light-headed and dizzy, I dont know what is wrong with me. Sally, you should have called, replies Katherine. Oh Katherine, I know, Im sorry I was just in a rush to get here No, no, no, says Katherine, you should have called in to say that you wouldnt be here today because you are ill. Take the day off to rest. Make a doctors appointment to find out whats the matter, hun, it doesnt sound too good.

I wouldnt want to leave Becky short-handed here all day, I have to bake the muffins and start four more pies, order more cream. Sally, says Katherine in a stern motherly tone, go home, lie down, and call Dr. Meyers. Those are bosss orders. But what about Becky? asks Sally. I will stay here and help her until you are well. Its no problem, I promise. Now go on before you get the whole lot of us sick, she says with a grin.

Bo makes his way all the way down highway 79 until he sees nothing but rolling hills, trees and flowers. It is especially peaceful out here, he thinks to himself as he drives along the quiet, empty highway. After a few four way intersections, he sees the large old wooden sign Welcome to Little Hill The Smallest Town with the Biggest Charm is engraved on it. You can barely read it from how old and deteriorated it is. As he approaches the town, memories from his

childhood come racing back to him. There is the school he went to on the left, with children swinging on the same swing set he once swung on. Gosh, you would think they would have upgraded that by now, he says aloud to himself. Nevertheless, the kids are enjoying it as if it was a state of the art playground. The merry-go-round is still there, kids happily spinning and laughing. It brings him back to a more peaceful time in his life when his days werent filled with endless paperwork and arguments to be prepared; instead, just enjoying the fresh air and freedom to play and imagine. All of the bushes of flowers are the most beautiful things he has seen in years, the yellows and pinks and purples, the bright lush green grass. An overwhelming sense of happiness comes upon him, along with a wide smile across his face. I know, Bo says aloud, I will bring Mammy her favorite peach tea and apple turnover from Mr. Bates bake shop. I bet she hasnt had those in forever. Now stop talking to yourself, Bo. He pulls up to Bates Bake Shop in his pink V olkswagen beetle and hops out, only to face the reality of the car that he has just pulled up in. Shaking his head still in disbelief at the gall of that man to rent him a pink girly

car, he opens the door to the bakery, expecting to see Mr. Bates behind the counter, with his apron on and a towel thrown over his shoulder. Instead he sees Becky, whom he hasnt seen since high school. Well Ill be, says Becky, Bo Brogan, whatever have we done to have you grace us small town folk with your presence as she walks over and gives his hand a tight squeeze. Its been way too long, old friend, Bo replies. Becky and Bo were best friends all through school; Katy, on the other hand, couldnt stand Bo in all of his arrogance. They did not get on well at all. It wasnt until after Bo had moved to the city to start college that Becky and Katy became close. Katy comes walking out from the kitchen and rounds the corner to see Bo standing there in his nice Armani suit and shiny shoes. He is much bigger than she remembers from years ago, his shoulders are much broader and his eyes sparkle just a little. His emerald green eyes go well with his perfectly tan skin and light brown, well-combed hair and his nice tan suit. He doesnt see her yet, so she stands gazing at him for a few moments before he realizes she is there.

Katy, Bo says, is that you? Boy, you sure have grown up since the last time I saw you. Wheres your old pops at? I want one of his famous root-beer floats. Man, I remember coming here almost every day after football practice to have one of those. Dad passed away a few years ago, Bo, you would have known that if you came around more. I dont think your grandmother has even seen you in ages. What are you trying to pull by getting your mammy to move up to Dallas, anyway? Dont you have any regard for other peoples lives? Im sorry about your father, Katy, I didnt know. No one said anything. You know about my wanting Mammy to move up to Dallas? says Bo. Of course, I know about that. I was walking her home from church when we found that hoity-toity secretary of yours sitting in her car, waiting to sink her claws into Miss Viola with all of her offers of luxury this and that. Just what exactly is your plan, Bo? says Katy. What do you have to gain by ripping her out of the place she has known all of her life? Feeling the tension and knowing the conversation

was about to get extremely heated, Becky excuses herself to the kitchen. Im established now, Katy, says Bo. I would like to take Mammy to live with me in my new building so that I can give her the best of everything. I am her only grandchild, I need to take care of her. Your arrogance sure has not gone anywhere over the years. You would think it would at least die down a little with age. You probably dont know this, Katy states with sassy look, but shes doing just fine taking care of herself. I help out as much as she needs me to, which isnt much. She is a pretty tough old lady for her age and she has all of the support that she needs right here. You havent even been to visit in years, I dont know what makes you think that you can just step in now and try to take over her life, like you would even know whats best for her. Well, I am on my way over there now to surprise her, says Bo, all I need is sweet peach tea and an apple turnover, do you think you could get that for me?

She prefers bear claws to apple turnovers lately, Katy says. How do you know? replies Bo. I spend a lot of time with her. It will be about five minutes for your order, I have to make a new batch of tea. The quicker the better, he says, confused and completely unaware of what he had just walked in to. Bo had no idea how close his grandmother and Katy had grown over the years. He did not know he would have her wrath to deal with in trying to get his grandmother to move into the city. This might just be much harder than he had originally planned. Shes beautiful, Bo thinks to himself as he sits there at the bar, watching her mix the tea and pull out the pastries to warm them up. Just then, Martha Jenkins and Paulette Andrews come through the bake shop doors. Oh my heavens! Well, if it isnt little Bo Brogan, look at you! You must have grown 5 feet since I have seen you last. Youve turned into such a handsome young man. Isnt he handsome, Katy? Martha says.

Katy looks in her direction and gives a little shrug of her shoulders. Look at those beautiful green eyes; you look just like your grandfather did when he was your age, says Paulette. Youre going to have to come by the shop and let me give you a little trim, my treat. How long are you here for? asks Martha. About a week, says Bo, I took a week off of work and I thought I would come down here and see how mammy is doing. Humph, Katy says under her breath while adding ice to the tea, knowing his intentions all too well. Oh well, isnt that wonderful? I know that will make Viola so happy to see her handsome, successful grandson come for a visit, says Paulette. Maybe you and Katy could go out to the theater while you are in town, she lowers her voice, and its been ages since shes been on a date, you know. A huge smile comes across Bos face as Katy pretends she isnt listening.

Maybe so, Bo says, maybe so. We will have two iced coffees, Martha says to Katy, we are in a hurry to get to the flea market before all of the good stuff is gone. Katy quickly makes Paulette and Marthas iced coffees and sends them on their way. She hands Bo his bag of bear claws and three peach iced teas in a carrying container. I only asked for one of each, says Bo. You dont think I am going to let you go over there by yourself now, do you? For all I know, you could tie her up and throw her in the trunk of your little pink beetle and I would never see her again. Besides, she owes me a turkey sandwich, Katy says with big fat sassy smirk on her face. How did you know I drove a pink beetle, anyway? asks Bo. Becky told me. It must take a whole bunk of money to buy a car that fits you so well, she laughs, now lets go!

Bo rolls his eyes and sighs heavily. She sure is a beauty, but a bossy beauty, he thinks to himself, halfway cracking a grin. What are you grinning at? says Katy. Oh, just your annoying persistence, says Bo. Becky, I will be back in a while. You should be able to handle it for now, give me a call if you need anything. Aye, captain, says Becky, giggling to herself as she watches them walk out the door. Those two are a mess, she says.

So, are we walking or riding in the car? says Bo. Um, well, says Katy, seeing as it is two blocks, what do you say we walk? She always gets up when she hears a car pull into the driveway, so she will see you before you get to the door if you drive. This way she wont see you until she opens the door.

Good thinking, replies Bo. Why are you doing this anyway, trying to get her to move? She is happy here, you know. I just think she needs to be near better medical care and have someone to constantly watch over her, thats all, says Bo, withholding the full truth. As they come around the corner and see Violas cottage, Bo gets excited in seeing that it is still in such great shape, its not what he was expecting at all. Wow, even the gardening is taken care of! he says. We all make sure she is taken care of, Bo. She may be your biological grandmother, but she is like a grandmother to half of this town too. As they make their way up the driveway they glance at each other as if saying here goes. Bo knocks on the door and Viola quickly opens it. I have been expecting you, she says in an excited but not too excited tone. Hello, Katy bug, she says, giving Katy a kiss on the cheek. She gives Bo a hug and leads the two inside.

I brought you some peach tea and some apple turnovers, I mean, bear claws. Katy says you prefer bear claws now. Indeed, I do, replies Viola. Get down to it, Bo, why are you here? I have come to spend some time with you, Mammy, to make sure that you are ok. Bologna! snaps Viola. You sent that viper of a woman, Monica, here to make me all kinds of offers to move to Dallas. It didnt work and now you are here to try and do the same. I might be old but Im not ignorant, she says with a finger pointed toward him. Its not like that, Mammy, its just that I dont like the fact that you dont have the adequate care that you need available to you here in Little Hill. Dallas has much more appropriate medical facilities, for someone in your condition. What condition? I am as good as gold. Sure, I had a little old heart attack, it was minor and I have recovered well. It is nothing for you to get all riled up about and have me move across the state. Good grief, boy.

Mammy, Bo tries to argue. Bo, says Katy, I am over here just about every day as to where you havent been here in years. I know just how well Miss Viola gets around and takes care of herself, and you dont. Youre wrong about what you think you know, sir. Sir? says Bo. Yes, sir, replies Katy. You are all high and mighty, arent you? Bo Brogan, attorney-at-law, most prominent lawyer in Dallas, owner of The Squire, whoopdi doo! That doesnt mean anything to us down here. So you can take your condescending tone and go back to where you came from. Oh gosh, Im sorry, Miss Viola, I apologize for my hostility. I just couldnt stand the thought of you leaving the other day when that lady showed up and started talking about you moving. I thought you had made plans to leave without telling me and I was... heartbroken. Katy, I can see that you have grown close to Mammy, but she is MY grandmother. Halloo, Im still in the room over here, young

whippersnappers. Lets not talk about me as if Im not. If the both of you want to take care of something for me, why dont you both go to the grocery store for me? I have a long list on the fridge and I have a stew going on the stove, I need a few more things for, oh Lordy, I must be senile, if I forgot the things I needed for my stew! Ha! She slaps her knee, Heres the list and off you go! Im sure Katy can manage this by herself, Mammy. Why dont I stay here and we can catch up? Oh, Im caught up, says Viola. Now get on to the store and get me the things on that list so we can have a proper meal for your first night in town. Katy and Bo both let out a little sigh and grumble and give Viola a fake grin before heading out the door. Well, her sense of humor is certainly still intact, says Bo. Everything is still intact, replies Katy. Shes the strongest woman I know. They get to Jims Grocery and start searching out the things on the list.

Yellow onions, says Bo, there are different colors of onions? Yes, says Katy, red, yellow, white, purple As they round the corner, none other than Martha Jenkins stands there whispering to her husband, obviously having already seen the two of them. Hi, Miss Martha, say Katy and Bo simultaneously, with a little eye roll. Well, look at you two in here, shopping from a list just like an old married couple, she says in the sweetest most Southern belle accent. They laugh it off, and explain that Miss Viola has sent them on a mission together to get the rest of the things that she needs for supper. Oh I see, replies Martha. Shes just trying to keep you in good company while youre here, Bo. With yoohoos like Amber Chaney wandering around this town single, its safer this way for sure, she says. Oh Lord, please forgive me, she says aloud, that was judgmental, but some things are just the truth.

How was the flea mall? asks Katy. Oh you know how it always is, those early birds get in there and grab until there is nothing left. I guess I will have to try next week, replies Martha. Nice seeing you, Martha, we are off to find baby carrots, says Bo. On the other side of the deli! Martha shouts as she walks in the other direction, once again whispering to her husband. Katy and Bo cant help but giggle about how obvious Miss Martha is, with her crude remark about Amber Chaney. So whats the deal with Amber? Bo asks. She has the same attitude she had in high school, replies Katy. Ah, says Bo, she still thinks shes all that and a bag of chips, huh? You could say that, Katy replies, now that she and

Dylan Jones broke things off, shes on the prowl again, and as soon as she sees you, she will certainly try to catch your attention. Girls like that didnt catch my attention in high school and wont catch my attention now, you know. I like the sweet, girl-next-door type. Right, Katy replies. Arriving back at Mammys house, Bo puts the groceries away as Katy helps her chop the veggies. With the stew smelling delicious in the pot, Bo thinks to himself, maybe Mammy can still cook, but what if she was to leave the stove top on next to a towel? Visions of the house going up in smoke run through his mind, his worry about his grandmother growing stronger as he is there in her home seeing all of the possible dangers. The front steps are too steep, he thinks, and if she was to slip in the tub. He thinks about stating all of these facts now but figures that he should probably keep the peace while it lasts. Dinner will be a good time to voice my concerns, he says to himself with a slight nod.

What was that? says Viola, coming up from behind him. Oh nothing, I was just saying how good the stew is going to be with that homemade cornbread. If there is one thing that I miss most about your cooking, it is that you always make a side of cornbread to go with everything. As Katy sets the table, Bo watches from the other side of the kitchen how gracefully she walks, how gracefully she sets down the plates and folds the napkins. The sundress she has on matches her olive complexion and her long flowing hair makes her look like the picture of perfection - everything he has ever wanted in a woman, if it wasnt for her stubbornness. Alright, lets sit down and thank the Lord for our food and dig in. I am just about famished, says Viola. Katy, would you lead us in prayer, dear? Yes, maam, Katy says. Dear Lord, we thank you for the food that we are about to receive and we thank you for our health and that Bo has made it safely here to visit with his grandmother. Please bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies. Amen. Amen, Viola and Bo say simultaneously.

Wow, Mammy, this stew is delicious, just like I remember it, and the cornbread, I have been missing out. Mammy, I was just thinking while I was looking around here, those front steps you have are awfully steep. Dont you ever worry that you might fall down them? Well, no. No, I dont, replies Viola. Do you worry that you might fall down them, son? she replies. Katy and Bo both have a snicker. No, Mammy, it is just that I worry about you, that is all. What about your tub? I have noticed that you dont have a grab bar on the side to hang on to. Have you ever thought of having one installed? No, replies Viola. But I reckon that I might if I was ever having a problem with balance, she says, taking a bite out of her cornbread. Bo knows that he is going to get nowhere with this conversation. So I presume that I would have to drag you out of here kicking and screaming to get you to come to Dallas with me? Youre right on the money, replies Viola, with a

huge smile. Now you understand, Im not leaving. Well then, Bo replies, Grandmother, I have no other choice than to hire a home nurse to stay with you during the day, and there is no way that you are going to talk me out of that. And I would really like for you to at least come and look at the apartment that I have set aside for you. I dont need a nurse, dear, she brushes him off, and I am not going to travel to the city to look at an apartment that I will never set foot in again. If you came here to bark demands at me, Im afraid you are going to get nowhere. Now if you came for a nice visit, you are welcome, and we will make a nice time of it, but I will not let you boss me around like I am a child. If you want to boss someone around, I suggest you go back to work or have a child of your own. Its about time for you to be settling down and making a family of your own now. Dont worry about me, if I find myself needing help from you, I will ask. Until then, I dont. I think its time for me to go, says Katy, as she grabs her dishes off of the table and goes over to the sink to rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. Katy grabs her bag and gives Viola a kiss on the cheek and swiftly walks out the door.

Now look what you have done, you have run off my Katy bug. Bo, realizing his harshness that would make Katy want to leave, gets up and runs out the door to try to catch her and apologize. He finds her sitting on the bench on the side of the house beside the rose bushes. Im sorry, Katy, I didnt mean to upset you or make you feel like you had to leave. Its just that shes so stubborn. She is not the one that is stubborn, Bo, its you. Do you even know why she wants to stay in this place so bad? It is because this is the town that she has lived in for her entire life, this is the house that your grandfather built for her with his bare hands. Just for her, he made every detail of this house exactly as she wanted it, God rest his soul. This is the bench that they were sitting on when she told him she was pregnant with your father. Havent you ever thought about what the real reasons behind her wanting to stay here are? This is her home, the people in this town have known her most, if not all, of their lives. They love her and she loves them. This is her life, church on Sunday morning, grocery

on Monday morning, Marthas salon on Tuesdays for her weekly hair appointment. She likes to take a walk around the town square on Wednesdays to see what is new in all of the windows of the little shops. Thursday is Bible study night. I bet you had no idea of what her life even consists of, yet you just swoop in here and try to start making decisions for her. Wow, no, you are right. I had no idea about my grandmothers life at all. I can see that this upsets you, but I am worried about her. She is getting on up there in age and I just want to help her the best way that I know how. I am going to contact a home health agency and get someone to come out here and be with her during the day. Im sorry but I feel like that is the least that I can do. Katy stands up and says to Bo, If thats what you want, there is nothing I can do to stop you. Im going home now. This has been a very long and eventful day for me, and Im wiped out. She walks down the side walk. Good night, Katy, says Bo, it was good to see you. She turns and waves. You will be seeing a lot more of me, she thinks to herself.

The next day, Bo makes the call to Southeast Home Health and speaks with a secretary named Lilly to make arrangements for a nurse aide to come sit with Viola for eight hours a day, three days a week, to help her with things around the house. Yes, sir, Mr. Brogan. I have that all set up for you. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from eight to five, a nurse aide will be scheduled for Mrs. Brogan. Tomorrow will be her first day, says Lilly. Thank you for choosing Southeast Home Health for your home health needs, goodbye. Well, that was quick and painless and takes a lot of worry off of me, Mammy. Mmhmm, she replies. When can I expect this nurse to be here and what do you expect that she is going to do? Anything you need her to do - help with the dishes, the moping, help giving you a bath... So, you hired me a babysitting maid? Ha-ha, I guess if that is what you would like to call

it, Mammy. Think of it as more of a companion who can help you out every now and then in the areas that you need it. It will make me feel much better after I leave, knowing there is someone who comes in regularly to check on you and help you with things. I dont know if it has occurred to you, boy, but I do have friends in this town, ones that I dont have to pay to come spend time with me, she snaps. The next morning at eight o clock sharp there is a knock at the door, and how very surprised Bo is to see Katy Bates standing there in pink scrubs and white tennis shoes with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, holding a clip board, blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. Umm, Katy, what...? Im the nurse aide that was assigned to Mrs. Brogan. As baffled as he is, he steps back and lets her through the door. Good morning, Miss Viola. Ill be your new nurse aide from now on. Will you please roll up your sleeve so I can take your vitals?

Sure thing, Viola says with a huge I got you grin on her face. Wait a minute, I thought you worked at the bakery? There is no way you run a bakery and work for a home health company, says Bo. The joke is over, Katy, what have you done? Did you cancel the arrangements that I made yesterday? You dont have the authority to do that. This is now a legal issue between Southeast Home Health and the law offices of Bryant-Stratton and Brogan. I am calling Monica this instant to have her start the case. I cannot believe the people of this town would blatantly break the law just because a friend asks them to, this is absurd. This is no joke, Bo, Katy says, snickering at the way he is panicking over the possibility of a broken law. He looks as if his head is about to explode and she can almost see the smoke coming out of his ears. If you would have asked me anything about my life yesterday instead of just rambling on about your work and all of your accomplishments, you would have known that I do not run the bakery, Becky does. I only fill in on the weekends and when she or Sally call in sick. I work for Southeast Home Health on Mondays, Wednesdays, and

Fridays, just as you called to schedule to have someone here with, Miss Viola, she says very matter of factly. Now, if you would excuse me, I need some time with my patient to ask her about her bowel movement frequency and urination. Do you see what you have done to me, Bo? You have turned me into a patient that has to have my poop monitored and my pulse checked to make sure Im going to make it through the day. If this doesnt make me feel old as dirt and helpless, then I dont know what does! So you are telling me that you are the nurse aide that was assigned to my grandmother and you interfered in no way? asks Bo. Well, it was between me and Josh Shalenski to get this job, and I assume that you dont want an 18-year-old boy seeing your grandmothers hind parts in these showers that you requested that we regulate and stay with her during. You what? screams Viola. I have had just about enough of you, sonny. If you cant butt out of the ways of my life, which are perfectly fine, mind you, then you need to go back to that big city where you came from because you are making me mad as a hornet and Im sure thats not

good for my blood pressure. Actually, no, says Katy, it is not. She looks at the dial on the blood pressure cuff and rips that sleeve off of her arm quickly. Are you feeling dizzy, Miss Viola? A little, Viola replies. Ok, Miss Viola, what I need you to do is to take some deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Lean back in your chair. If you still feel dizzy after that, I will need you to lean forward and put your head in between your legs. What is going on? exclaims Bo. Her blood pressure is dangerously high, we need to head over to Southeast General Hospital right away and have them take a look at her. This is a condition that she might need medication for. Bo, concerned for his grandmothers health, races to the garage and pulls out his pink little beetle and backs it up to the front door where Katy is helping Miss Viola down the steps. Steady and slow, Katy tells her as they

take each step. As they get into the car, Katy tells Bo to calm down and take some deep breaths so that his driving wont be erratic, which would make Violas blood pressure spike again. Drive slow and cautious, Bo, Katy says. There is no need to rush, this is not a life or death situation, although it will be if we cant manage to get to the hospital in one piece. When they pull up to the front doors of the Emergency Room, Bo leaps out of the drivers seat and runs inside and grabs a wheelchair and brings it out for his grandmother to be wheeled in. Easy does it, Bo says to Viola as she goes to get in the wheel chair. Boregaurd Amus Brogan, you stop telling me what to do! Bo looks at his grandmother without saying a word as Katy pushes the wheelchair through the emergency room doors and goes to fill out the paper work. As Bo is pulling the car around to a parking spot, he sits for a

while, reflecting on all of the things that he has said to his grandmother since he arrived in Little Hill. Just as Katy had said, all he did was talk about himself and his job. He hadnt once asked his grandmother about how her life was going or any activities that she is involved in. He figured that she is 89 and she must sit in a recliner all day and watch reruns of I Love Lucy and Wheel of Fortune. If it wasnt for Katy, he would not even know how active and capable his grandmother really is to take care of herself. What if all of his orders and barging in and trying to rearrange her life are what has brought on this high blood pressure? What if it would have been another heart attack or stroke instead? It would be my fault entirely, he thinks to himself. Getting out of the car and hesitantly walking up the path to the emergency room doors, he wonders if he should even go in, hasnt he done enough damage already? He might as well just leave town tonight and cancel the home health agency, and leave her as she was. But no, he couldnt. Not now, not now that he had put her in this condition. He had to at least know that she was going to recover and be alright. Bo walks in the main doors of Southeast General, to go find some coffee and snacks for Katy and Viola. As he finally finds his way back to the emergency department, he sees Katy sitting there by herself and walks up to her and

hands her a cup of coffee and a Snickers bar as a peace offering. Where have they gone with Mammy? Bo asks. They already took her into triage, says Katy, Im not sure if they will bring her back out here to wait or if they will take her right back to a room. Im sorry, Katy, says Bo. Im sorry for everything, for coming here, for barking orders at my grandmother like I suddenly have authority over her life just because she is getting on up there in age. Sorry for thinking you went behind my back and cancelled my arrangements with the home health agency. Now look at what I have done, I have put her in the hospital. What a big hero I am! he says sarcastically. Well, if it makes you feel any better, Katy replies, this isnt entirely your fault. Actually, you might have even helped to get her condition diagnosed by getting her all fired up the way that you did. She has been having these symptoms for a while now, so dont blame yourself too much. I can see where you are coming from by trying to help her, but you should have known beforehand what condition she was in, instead of coming here assuming that

she was an old lady who couldnt manage on her own anymore. If that was meant to make me feel better, it may have helped a little, but I still feel like a jerk. I dont know whats wrong with me, I just feel like I am missing something. My Mammy was a huge part of my life growing up. I thought maybe she was it, and if I could get her to come live with me then I would feel, fulfilled, or something. I dont know what I thought I would feel, I guess I just needed to feel something. College was pretty cut-throat, becoming partner in my firm was extremely cutthroat. Buying out the other guy who wanted my apartment building was really cut-throat as well. I feel like all of the hard work that I did to get where I am today has taken a little bit, if not all, of my soul with it, you know? I want to feel whole, and happy, I want to feel secure. Have you ever thought of going back to church? asks Katy. No, says Bo. How do you know I dont go to a church in Dallas, anyway? Because we most likely would not be having this conversation if you did. You probably wouldnt even be here.

What do you mean? he asks. You need to feed your soul, says Katy. After all of the worldly things that you have accomplished and all of the not so nice things that you have had to do to get there, you need to put some back of what has been taken away. Do you understand? Do something for charity, make a donation, volunteer. Take a minute to relax and go to the beach. Go fishing, take a yoga class, get back in touch with you, instead of trying to keep up with the world. Come to church on Sunday and hear some of Gods word. You know what they say, Seven days without Christ makes one weak. Ha ha, yeah, I have heard that a few times before in my life. From mammy, of course, says Bo. Im serious, Bo, you need to come back down to reality. Life isnt all about winning the next big case and making the next great investment. Its about helping others and doing the right thing, enjoying the things that God gave us. Just then, a doctor walks into the waiting room and Katy and Bo jump out of their chairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Brogan, your grandmother is going to be just fine. Bo and Katy look at each other oddly, and Katy tells the doctor that she is just a friend. She must be a pretty special lady to have such a young, pretty and caring friend like you, says Dr. Mackey. Katy, obviously seeing how unprofessional he is being, gives a slight grin so as not to be rude and looks at the ground. Mr. Brogan, your grandmothers vitals are all back to normal now. I presume that the high blood pressure spurt was stress-related. She needs to take it easy for a while. We are going to keep an eye on her overnight and then she can go home in the morning, with strict orders to rest and keep stress to a minimum. Yes, sir, replies Bo, may we see her now? Of course, says Dr. Mackey, room 208, third door on your left. Katy and Bo reach door 208 and Katy can see the sadness in Bos eyes, knowing that he knows he is the reason that she is here. Hi Mammy, he says in a light sweet tone as he

enters the room. Hey, sugar, she replies, hello, my Katy bug. I am fine, I feel just great. I dont know why they want me to stay the night here. I guess I will need the two of you to run home and pack me a bag. I will need a night gown, clean undies, my rollers, my toothbrush, a tube of lipstick and my slippers. Oh and an outfit for tomorrow. Katy, you make sure you are the one that picks that out, ok, dear? Yes, maam, she says with a smile, happy to see that Viola is feeling well enough to be her humorous self. Well, off you go. If I dont get my hair in those rollers soon, Im going to look like a poorly groomed poodle in the morning, and that cannot happen. Have you seen that, Dr. Mackey? she says while fluffing her curls. As Katy and Bo walk out to get in the car, she stops him in his tracks, steps in front of him, grabs him by his arms and says to him this is not your fault, and gives him a delicate hug. At that moment, Bo Brogan, attorney-at-law forgot about the stubborn little pain that has been in the way of him getting what he wants since he got back to town, and saw her as the beautiful, genuine, kind-hearted

person that she is. As he gave her a strong squeeze back and held on for just long enough with a bowed head, she realized just how sorry he was and how unintentional this accident had been. All he wants is his grandmother to come live close to him. For that second, she forgot about the arrogant, big city, cut-throat attorney-at-law and saw him as a sensitive, loving, lost soul that needed someone to help him. How lucky he is that helping people is one of her favorite things to do. The fact that he is the bestlooking guy she has seen around this town in a long while, is just a plus. As they arrive at the house, Bo tells Katy, Alright, you get the undies, rollers and outfit, I will get everything else, kay? She smiles and they walk up the steps feeling a little differently about each other, like they had connected in some way. They gather all of Violas things and fold them nicely and put them in a suitcase. Is that everything? asks Bo. Yup, replies Katy. Let me just grab her one of her favorite books. She didnt ask for it but I know she will want it.

She walks over to the bookshelf in the living room and grabs Say Good Night Gracie from the shelf. Even though Viola has read the book many times since she was a kid, it is still her favorite. When they arrive at the hospital, they come up to room 208 and hear Viola telling the nurse that she doesnt need to fuss with her and to go and help someone who really needs it. Typical Viola. Knock, knock, Katy says as they enter the room. Oh there yall are. For heavens sake, what took so long? I told you I need to get my hair rolled in a hurry! We got back as fast as we could, Mammy. Katy even grabbed you your favorite book. Oh, thank you, Katy. You know I will read it, there is nothing else to do in here, I tell ya. I sure am going to miss you at the house tonight, Mammy, its going to be lonely, says Bo. Im sure Katy wouldnt mind keeping you company now, would you, Katy bug? There are extra blankets and pillows in the hall closet, why dont yall have a little

slumber party and talk about when you were kids? Try and figure out where you two went astray, Im sure it was when Bo made the varsity football team when he was a sophomore and he thought he was just too cool for school and traded his sweet temperament for the cocky jock kind. Well, Im just guessing, but why dont you two go figure it out? Yall are adults now and need to put the past behind you and get along. Dont you just have it all figured out, says Bo, rolling his eyes, Im going to pull the car around. Bo kisses his grandmother on the cheek and tucks her bed sheets in around her. Seeing Bo care for his grandmother like this makes Katys heart go pitter-patter. You know they always say that how a man treats his mother or grandmother is how he is likely to treat his wife, and Katy is long overdue for some caring attention from a man. As Bo walks out of the room and gives his mammy a little wave, Viola calls Katy over to her bedside. Now, you make sure to take the couch, and make him sleep in the recliner, she says. You know, Miss Viola, I dont think I have ever noticed it this much before, but he sure is handsome! Katy

exclaims. He sure is, replies Viola, but dont you dare tell him, his heads too big already. They snicker, and Katy gives Viola a kiss on the cheek and tells her she will bring her some goodies from the bakery in the morning. Oh no, honey, I have some bread rising on the counter that I have been working on for three days now. I will need you to put it in the oven tonight, and then if you wouldnt mind, dear, make me some French toast in the morning and bring it here. This hospital food is just horrible. Of course, that is after you and Bo have had some, she smiles and bats her eyes at them both. She knows she is being a pain in the rear and is having way to much fun in doing so. I hate to be a pain, says Viola, but if they insist that I stay in this place, the least I can do is eat some good food. I have been waiting on that French toast all week. Of course, we would be delighted to finish the bread and bring you some good home-cooked breakfast, dont you worry, says Katy.

As Katy walks out to the car, she ponders the pitterpatter feeling that she felt in the room earlier. Was it a fluke? Was it real? Could she possibly have some sort of feeling for Bo Brogan, the arrogant, egotistical, materialistic man she hasnt seen in years? His attitude bothered her to death in high school, but like Viola said, now that they are adults, they need to put the past behind them. Maybe there is something to him that she is missing, something deeper. Bo has pulled his little pink V olkswagen beetle around to the front of the hospital entrance to pick up Katy. She cannot help but giggle as she walks out the sliding doors. His head nearly touches the top of the roof and his seat is pushed all the way back. She opens the door to get in. Are you sure you wouldnt be more comfortable if I drove? she asks giggling. Hey, I am finally getting the hang of this. I think I will be ok. What do you say we stop by Andersons Diner? Thats the only place I know of that is open at this hour, and I am starving. She gives him a weird look.

It is still Andersons Diner, isnt it? Yes, Katy replies, I am just surprised that you remember, thats all. And Florence, does she still run the place? I always loved that old gal. Oh well, there comes some of your Southern accent, and your spunk too. What, did you do have too many cups of coffee? No, replies Bo, I have just been thinking a lot about what you said. I do need to lighten up, take a break, goof off go to church. I need to be revived. I feel like everything that I have worked so hard for for all of these years has just sucked me dry, you know what I mean? Coming down here was the best decision I have ever made, I feel free. I feel like I dont have to look at my watch every five minutes to see if I am going to be late for a meeting. I can just be me. I kind of feel like a kid again. Do they still have the super mega ice cream pile? Lets have that for dinner! Bo, I dont think we can eat sixteen scoops of different types of ice cream without puking all over each other, she says, laughing hysterically at the inner child

that has finally shown himself. Seeing Bo this way and hearing him talk like this brings something out in her that has been missing for a long time as well - HER inner child. All she does is work, volunteer, go to church, sleep, eat, and repeat. She never really does anything for herself. She cant remember the last time she did anything spontaneous, or adventurous. There goes her heart again, pitter-patter. Oh goodness, make it stop! she thinks to herself. Love scares Katy, pain scares Katy, and the thought of falling in love with Bo Brogan could most definitely bring some pain. God, please, if these feelings are real, and this is what Your will is for me, please let me know, she prays. As they get out of the car and see all the lights on in the diner and it is halfway filled up with people, she thinks to herself, Are people always out eating this late? Is this normal? Oh dear, I have the bedtime of an eight-year-old. She laughs at herself and ever so naturally grabs Bos hand and skips into the diner. They sit down and order the super mega ice cream pile. Heres to supper! says Bo as they dig in.

People are looking and whispering about them but they are both so engrossed in conversation about their childhood that they have not a care in the world about what people are thinking. They are enjoying each others company and that is all that matters to them. As they finish not even half of the super mega ice cream pile, they sit back and put their hands on their bellies. This was a great idea, says Katy. Really? asks Bo. I wouldnt have thought you for a girl that would go for an ice-cream supper this late at night. Me either, she replies. They flag the waitress over and pay their bill, leaving a very gracious tip. Bo is already coming up with things to do next. Hey, whadaya say we take a drive down to Rock Hill Creek? he says. Katy ponders for a second, letting her uptight side take over for just a second, and then says What the heck, we are already out, lets make a night of it. As they are driving, reminiscing about old football games and how horrible the high school dances always

were, and how snotty the popular crowd was, they pull up to Rock Hill Creek. Hey, Bo, I hadnt thought about it on the way over here, but, what are we going to do out here? Its the middle of the night, we dont even have swimsuits, Katy says. Im sure there is something to do. Lets go skip rocks or something, contest? I bet I will beat you. Oh no, you wont, she says, jumping out of the car and scooping up pebbles along the way. They race to the water and begin to skip the pebbles over the water to see who can get theirs to go furthest. Slow down, killer, you are losing form, says Bo. You arent going to beat me like that. This is what I did to ease the stress when I was younger. I would come down here, pick up a handful of pebbles and stand here forever, seeing how far I could get them to go, thinking, calming down. What did you have to calm down about? Your life seemed pretty peachy to me, Katy says.

Theres a lot you dont know, there is a lot Mammy doesnt know. There is a lot no one knows about my life, now or then, he says. Well, we are here, all alone, out in the middle of the night, if you want to talk about it. It always helps when we talk about the things that are weighing on us. Oh, Im sorry, out comes Nurse Katy, she says. We dont have to talk about it if you dont want to. It would be nice to let someone in, for once. Its just hard, ya know, everyone thinking you are something that you know you arent and having to live up to some image that everyone has of you. It can get draining, to say the least. I can understand that, says Katy, so start dishing. You obviously need someone to listen to you and Im all ears. I promise, no judging. Oh, you definitely dont strike me as the judging kind. Im not scared to talk to you. Actually, you are the first person I can say that about. She gazes at him for a second, the light from the stars reflecting off of the water and onto his face. He looks different to her now, more vulnerable, and more human.

So, when I was in high school, my dad pushed me to get the best grades and play the best football games and practice. Even after practice I had to practice. I had to go home to my drunken mother every night who was a violent drunk at that; she would yell and throw things for no reason. I had to put on a smile and the right attitude every morning for school like everything was ok. At the end of my sophomore year, I pulled up at my dads office to surprise him with lunch and saw him getting into his car with another woman. That womans name is Cindy. It turns out that my mom had known about the affair for two years, which, ironically, is the same amount of time that she had made binge drinking her hobby. The day my dad told my mother he was finally divorcing her for Cindy and never coming home, she tried to kill herself and was institutionalized for a very long time. In that time, I stayed with my mammy. I was forbidden to tell my grandmother about the affair, just that they were getting a divorce because of my mothers drinking and that I needed to stay with her for a while. During the time that my dad had me locked up at Mammys, it turns out that he had whisked his mistress off to Costa Rica for a lovers getaway. I cannot believe that he did that to my mom. What a scumbag! That is also why I dont talk to him anymore. I havent talked to him in years, since he gave me my college money. I told him I never wanted to see him again. He doesnt

understand that not only did he ruin my moms life, but he also made it really hard on me too. Now my mom lives in Austin with her boyfriend, and dad and Cindy moved to L.A. because there were better job opportunities for the both of them there, and thats that. I am so sorry, Bo, I had absolutely no idea. I cant even begin to imagine going through all of that, and having to hide it, says Katy. You are the only one I have ever told that to, says Bo. Is there anything I can do? asks Katy. Are you kidding me? That was years ago. There is not a thing anyone can do about it now, thats dead and gone. Now, are we keeping score here? Because I think I am winning. He cracks her a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood, seeing as how he just dropped a ton of emotional wreckage he has gone through on her. You know, Bo, a lot of things can be lifted off of you if you just give it all up to God. Put all of your burdens at His feet and He will cast them away. I feel so much better after I pray and ask God for help when I am in unfortunate situations, and automatically, I feel lighter. I

know He has it all under control. Then though, there are the times that I try to punish myself and stay miserable and wallow in my pain, because somehow, at the time, wallowing and crying and feeling sorry for myself seem better than getting over it and moving on. Sometimes you just cant get over the pity party. Are you saying I am having a pity party? Bo exclaims in an elevated tone. No, for goodness sake, no. Im talking about everyone in general, me mostly. I know I may seem like I have it all together and all figured out, but there are times that I just wish my dad was back. Im grown and I have a life of my own, and I am completely capable of handling my own, but sometimes, no matter how many people are around me, I just feel alone. The strongest connection that I have ever had with anyone is gone, and then you come to town trying to take away the one person that I have grown the closest to since his death. Her eyes start to tear up. She certainly did not mean to let all of that out, but the words came out of her mouth like a raging sea being held back by a weak dam that has been slowly breaking for a long time. Im sorry, Katy. I guess all I was really caring about

was myself. I never thought about Mammys emotions, or your emotions, or what either of you want for yourselves, I have only been thinking about my own life. The truth is, I feel lonely too, and I dont know how to fix it. Is this just something everyone goes through in their lives or are we having something like a quarter life crisis? he laughs a little. I think most people go through times in their lives when they feel lonely once they have left the nest, so to speak, Katy replies. I am lucky though, I have God on my side. I have your amazing grandmother, my dads diner to keep his memory alive, and here I am sitting here, complaining that Im lonely, how lousy is that? I have so much to be thankful for. Hey Katy, says Bo, would you like to go out on a date with me? Umm, well, I like a real date? With me? Sure, Sunday morning nine a.m. she says. Oh, so a breakfast date? Noooo, silly, a church date. I dont date men who dont go to church, so if you show up for church, we can go on a date afterward, how about that?

Ok, replies Bo, stunned by her manipulation to get him to go to church. It wont be that bad, he thinks to himself, it will please Mammy and I get to see her twice in one day. Not like I havent seen her almost every day since I got to town but, she is nice to look at, so sweet and innocent-looking, something you dont see around Dallas every day, and with a real personality, not trying to be someone she is not, and I like that, he thinks. As they walk off to get back in the car and make the drive home they are much more quiet this time than on the way out to Rock Creek. The feeling that Katy had earlier had just multiplied by one million, and now she had the butterflies in her belly and couldnt stop staring at him out of the corner of her eye during the whole ride back to town. Bo was feeling the exact same way. Not knowing what to say or do, he just turned on the radio and drove in silence the whole way, with smiles across both of their faces, as they both know that the feelings they have been having are real, and mutual. This may be the beginning of something great. When they pull up to Violas house and get out of the car, they are both so tired that they can barely walk up the steps.

What time is it, Katy? asks Bo. Its 1:45. Oh my gosh, I dont think I have been up this late since I was at least fifteen! It is not like you need the beauty sleep, replies Bo, which makes Katy blush and get that pitter-patter feeling in her heart all over again. Grab me a blanket and a pillow, would you? Katy asks Bo. When he walks back into the living room from down the hall, he finds Katy already laying down on the couch, sound asleep. He gently picks her head up and slips the pillow under it, and takes her shoes off ever so gently and covers her up. He brushes her hair out of her face and gives her a light kiss on the cheek and smiles. Yes, coming back to little hill might have just been exactly what he needed. He plops down in his grandfathers old recliner. Many nights he watched his grandfather fall asleep there watching football games and old westerns. It was still the most comfortable chair he had ever sat in. He reclines back, puts his hands behind his head, and drifts off to sleep. The next morning, as they come up to Violas hospital

room expecting her to be lying in bed, they find her standing up with her little pink purse on her shoulder, pink diamond-shaped earrings that perfectly match her pink sweater, a floral skirt and a pink watch that matches perfectly, her hair is nice and curly. What are you doing, Mammy? Bo exclaims. You havent been discharged yet, have you? Oh yes, I have, replies Viola, it just took a little sweet talking to the doctor, thats all. I told him I would make sure to relax and keep my feet up. Well, you look lovely, Mammy, says Bo. Oh I know, son. Now let us head on over to that little boutique on western called Fleur de Chic. There is nothing more relaxing than, what do you youngins call it these days, a little retail therapy. And I noticed yall didnt bring me the French toast that I asked for, but thats ok, we will stop out for breakfast too. I am feeling great today. Ok, Mammy, just let me go talk to your doctor once and make sure we are all good to go, says Bo. So, what did you kids get into last night that was so

entertaining you forgot to make an old ladys breakfast? she asks Katy, laughing. Im so sorry, Miss Viola, we did bake the bread before we fell asleep but we we actually had a lot of fun last night. We went out to Rock Hill Creek and skipped pebbles and talked a lot after going by Andersons Diner and stuffing ourselves with a super mega pile. Well, indeed, it does sound like you two have had fun, just like I suspected. You know, Miss Viola, your grandson is quite handsome, and can be such a gentleman. Oh I know, hunny, but dont you dare tell him, his head doesnt need to get any bigger. I am sure I have told you this before. They both smirk as Bo comes back into the room and grabs Violas bags for her and whispers in Katys ear, she voluntarily stayed overnight to be monitored, the doctor says she could have gone home last night. Katy smiles, knowing exactly what Viola is up to, and they walk towards those big double doors for their morning out on the town. This should be an interesting

day, Katy thinks to herself, darting a look in Bos direction to see if he is looking as utterly happy as she is. As they come up to Marthas salon, Viola says to Katy and Bo, Im going in to get a manicure, you two run along and grab a cup of Joe or something. I should be done in about an hour. Mammy, you know you are supposed to be relaxing, says Bo. This is a womans way of relaxing, darling. Katy and Bo just smile and shake their heads as they walk out of the door and across the street over to the coffee shop. They get their cups of coffee coincidentally made the same way - black with two sugars - and sit down. You know what she is up to, dont you? Katy asks Bo. No, what do you mean? She wants us to spend time together, Katy replies. Well, if that is her agenda, I have no complaints,

says Bo, with a crooked grin, and a sentimental gaze into her pale blue eyes. Sitting there sipping their cups of coffee, Bo slips his hand out on the table hoping that Katy will grab hold of it, and she does. You know, Bo, I have been thinking, and I would really like you to come to church with us tomorrow. Oh Katy, I dont know. I havent been to that place in years, I would just feel awkward, ya know? No, replies Katy, you have no reason to feel awkward. I know you are feeling some pain about your past, and maybe even some pain about the present. Your future didnt exactly turn out like you had hoped for, did it? she asks. No, I thought I would be married by now and just have a more fulfilling life. I feel like all I do is work and sleep when I am back in Dallas. So pray about it, Katy says, there is no one that loves you and wants to help you more than God. All you have to do is give it to Him and He will fix it. Dont hold on to it, its like an anchor weighing you down. Trust me, I

have been there before. When my mom passed away, then my dad passed away, I had a really hard time, but I just put it all in Gods hands and I couldnt be happier, other than the fact that all the ladies in town whisper about me when they see me because Im twenty-five and still unmarried, with no boyfriend, but I am focused on God and doing the things He has called me to do. So are you saying you dont want a boyfriend? Bo asks. No, Im not. I do, I just hadnt met the right one yet. Hadnt, says Bo, so are you saying you have met the right one? Maybe, she replies. Well, Katy, then I feel the need to ask you this question before that other guy comes and swoops you off of your feet. Will you be mine? Katy turns beet red even though she had been expecting this. However, she wasnt expecting it to come out like a second grade valentine card. Of course, I would love to be. There is only one

stipulation. Whats that? says Bo. Come back to church, she says. Thats it? replies Bo. Just come back to church? Come back to church and get right with God again. I told you, I cannot be in a relationship with someone who does not have a relationship with Christ. Done, he says. Now, lets go see if Mammy is done with her nails and tell her the good news.

They walk back slowly to Marthas salon, hand in hand. They both feel like they are in a fairy tale, walking on clouds. As they enter the salon, they see that Viola is sitting in a chair reading a magazine. Mammy, I thought you said it would take an hour to get your nails done? We are fifteen minutes early and you are already done. Katy and Viola laugh. You dont have to send us off anymore, Miss Viola,

we are officially a couple. They raise their paired hands up in the air and Viola clasps her hands over her mouth and gasps, Oh arent you two so sweet? Well, how did this happen, and I knew nothing of it. Sure, Mammy, replies Bo. I think its time for us to go home now and put your feet up like the doctor recommended, he says. Katy and I will make dinner. He looks at her and grins. Oh good, and this time I dont have to send you off to the grocery for a list of things I already have, she giggles and slaps her knee. What would you like for dinner tonight, Miss Viola? Katy asks as they walk up the front steps. What are you good at? she replies. Spaghetti. Then spaghetti, it is, says Viola. They help Viola get all of her belongings that she had with her at the hospital put away and make her sit down in the recliner with a pillow under her feet and bring her a cup of tea.

Did you two stick me in this chair so I wouldnt be bothering you in the kitchen? You know I cant get up from here leaned all the way back like this. Nooo, Mammy, we are just trying to follow the doctors orders. They made you stay overnight for evaluation, this is serious, says Bo. Ok, ok, replies Viola, I fibbed a little, I am sorry. I just wanted you two to get to spend some alone time together and have some fun. You both needed to relax a little, sit back and smell the honeysuckle. You know lying is a sin, Mammy. Boy, I asked forgiveness before I even pulled that one out of my hat, Viola snaps back. It was for the greater good, anyway. Now bring me the clicker, I think its time for Wheel of Fortune and I feel a headache coming on. He smiles and walks over to his grandmother and hands her the clicker, bends down and gives her a kiss on the cheek, Thank you, Mammy, he whispers in her ear. Dont mention it, stud, she laughs and pats him on

the hand. Now get in there and ask her if she needs some help. Yes, maam, he says enthusiastically as he does a little jig on his way to the kitchen. He hasnt felt this free in a long time. I guess this is what being in love feels like, he thinks to himself. He stands in the doorway of the kitchen staring at her from behind for a moment thinking that she must be the most beautiful, caring, loving woman he has ever met. Not every day do you come across a woman that has the selflessness to take care of someone on her day off and make her sole purpose in life to help others and please God. Katy, what can I help with? You dont have to help, silly, just sit down and keep me company. So... says Katy, are you planning on coming to church in the morning? I dont know, replies Bo, I havent been in so long, I dont want people to look at me funny.

Dont worry about what other people think. You are the notorious Bo Brogan, big time lawyer, where is this self-consciousness coming from? Maybe I just feel bad for being out of the church for so long and being so self-centered. All I have thought about since I graduated was my next big win, whether it was an A on a college exam, or a case with a new client, winning the case, I havent prayed in so long that it is pathetic. Its never too late to start, says Katy. Do you pray a lot? asks Bo. Umm, yes, I pray about 15 times a day, NOT including bed time prayers. What do you say? he asks. I say a lot of stuff. I thank God for everything that He has given me - my house, my job, my car, the sunlight and beautiful trees and plants, Miss Viola, and just recently, I thanked Him for you. You did? he asks.

Yup. Why would you do that? he asks. Because you have made me realize that I need to live for myself a little bit more, be more spontaneous and not worry so much. I need to take some time for myself every now and then to relax and have my own life. Dont get me wrong, it feels great helping others, but sometimes I think that I spend so much time helping others that I forget to help myself. How did I make you realize that? asks Bo. There is a long sigh. By showing up here being the complete opposite of me, but at some point since you have been here I saw a change in you. You dont want to be who you are being and I dont want to be who I am being. I mean I do, but it just needs a little tweaking, and maybe we can help each other with that. You know, they say opposites attract, says Bo. Do they now? she replies. Suddenly, there is a loud knock on the door and Bo hurries over to answer. It is Becky, standing there with a

distraught look on her face. Please tell me Katy is here, she exclaims. Yes, she is in the kitchen. Come in, come in. Katy, I have horrible news Becky, whats wrong? There was a small fire in the kitchen, something happened with the oven and I am afraid it is totally ruined. A few walls are scorched, the firemen and police and Sally are there now. We evacuated the customers as soon as we smelled the smoke, but they need you down there right away. Good heavens! Viola shouts, I will finish up this spaghetti, you get on to the bakery, and Bo, you go along too. I am sure she could use the support. Ok, thanks, Mammy. Katy, I will grab your bag and pull the car around. Upon arriving at the bakery, Katy lets the tears break loose. Even though she knows it was only a small fire, she thinks about how she has let her father down. It has only been two years and she has managed to mess things up.

Dylan Jones is the lead firefighter on the team that showed up. Katy, Dylan calls out, I am so glad you are here. Becky and Sally did the right thing by getting the customers out as soon as possible, but I am afraid there is some extensive damage to the kitchen. Oh no! replies Katy. You ought to go in and take a look and get on the phone with your insurance agency as soon as possible to get this place back up and running pronto. Every day this shop is out of business, money is being lost, and I know this is you main source of income. Ok, she replies. Bo, would you mind walking in there with me? Not at all, doll, he says, wrapping his arm securely around her shoulder and pulling her in tight. When they step into the building, the strong smell of smoke hits them in the face, and Katy instantly gets a sick feeling in her stomach thinking that this could be how she loses her fathers dream if she cannot fix this mess. They walk through the double doors into the kitchen, hand in

hand, and stand there quietly for a moment examining the damage. Its not too bad, says Bo. This shouldnt take very long to fix, its just the oven surrounding walls and ceiling that need to be replaced. Its a good thing it got put out in time. Yeah, Becky thought on her feet and grabbed the fire extinguisher just in the nick of time, Dylan chimes in. If it wasnt for her quick thinking, this whole place might have burned down. I guess I need to take some pictures to send to the insurance agency, Katy says. I dont have a camera with me, though. Its ok, I have one out in the car. I will go grab it, says Bo and steps out. So, says Dylan, you two an item now? I dont know if you could say we are an item, but yes, Dylan, we are getting close. I mean, its only natural, I am practically best friends with his grandmother. Yeah, I have always found that a little strange about

you, Katy. Befriending the elderly and volunteering at the homeless shelter, dont you have a life? he says. That is my life, Dylan, I would not expect you to understand. Alright, Bo says as he comes back through the swinging doors with his camera. I will take the pictures of everything and help you get them sent to the insurance agency. Thanks, she says. After at least an hour and a half of Bo taking pictures of all of the damages from every different angle, they decide to call it a night and solemnly head back over to Miss Violas for cold spaghetti. Im sorry this happened, he says to her. Oh, its not your fault. I should have had that oven replaced a while back. I have just been putting it off, and look what happened, it blew up in my face. Well, let this be a lesson to you, Katherine Bates. Dont put off the important things in life. Your dads bakery was important to him and I know it is important to

you to keep it alive with his memory. Sometimes in life we arent sure of things, but we have to take the chance anyways, so we dont always wonder what might have been or could have been. Now wouldnt you feel terrible if that whole place had burned to the ground and there wasnt a shred of your fathers memory left there? Where is all of this coming from? she responds. It is just that, since being here, my eyes have been opened to a whole new side of life, a life where you live for yourself and what makes you happy, and dont worry about what the world expects out of you, you just do you. Well that is very inspiring, Mr. Brogan, but is there an underlying point here that you are trying every so hard to beat around the bush before letting out? I like you, Katy. I may even love you, will you agree to a date outside of church now? Ha-ha, I told you, Bo, I only date men who go to church and put God first. If I am going to marry a man and let him lead me and my family, I need to know that that man is being led by God. I will tell you what, you show up to church in the morning and I will accept your offer on a

trial basis. If you pass, you may call me, you may take me on as many dates as you wish. They continue walking the sidewalk back to Miss Violas, hand in hand, with a warm fuzzy feeling in their hearts, taking in the smell of the honeysuckle. This could not be a more perfect night. When they arrive back at Miss Violas house, they see two plates put out on the table with a note that said, I went to bed. I hope everything is ok, my darling Katy bug. I will see you in the morning. Enjoy your dinner, with a little heart drawn at the bottom of the note. They fix their plates in silence and sit down, and devour the tasty meal. After loading the dishwasher and putting the leftovers away, Katy tells Bo it is time for her to go home. May I walk you? he asks in a very gentlemanly tone. Of course, you may, Katy replies, batting her eyes at him, completely smitten by how charming he can be. He grabs her shawl and throws it around her shoulders and gets her bag off of the hanger for her as he opens the door. It is a beautiful night; the stars are shining bright and the moon is full. They walk in silence, enjoying the feeling of happiness in their souls; they each have a smile that will

not leave their face despite the tragedy that has just happened. When they come up to Katys house Bo walks her to the door. So, will you be at the service in the morning? Katy asks. Im not sure yet, he says, there are some things I have to work out first. She takes him at his word, and he gives her a peck on the check and tells her good night. Baammp-baammp-baammp. Bo can hear his grandmothers alarm clock going off all the way from the living room. He rolls over and checks his watch. Six thirty, Mammy! he shouts down the hall as he pulls his pillow over his head, although he can still hear her laughing. This is supposed to be a vacation! he shouts again. No one needs a vacation from the Lord, sonny boy. Get up and get to it! I will be in the kitchen making biscuits and gravy. Why dont you go on and take yourself a nice shower, that will wake you up. Bo wobbles off of the couch down the hall and into the bathroom as his grandmother ordered. He hops in, and although the hot shower is refreshing, he starts having

second thoughts about attending church this morning. What if God isnt willing to forgive me for all of the mistakes I have made, all of the times I have put myself and my own needs above those of others? I have been so selfish and greedy and basically beat my way to the top with a baseball bat. I have been unforgiving and ungrateful. I wouldnt be surprised if He sets me on fire the second I walk through the door, he thinks to himself, imagining walking through the church doors and bursting into flames. He hops out of the shower, dries himself off and gets dressed, and follows the delicious smell of homemade biscuits cooking in the oven. This smells delicious, Mammy! he shouts to her. Boy, you just scared the ever-loving daylights out of me, and I messed up my mascara! Eat it and hush! Boy, does he love his mammy and her sense of humor. Viola comes down the hall in her Sundays best pink dress, pink purse, pink diamond-shaped earrings and her cross bracelet ready to go. She has the best fashion sense for an almost-90-year-old woman he has ever seen. Wow, Mammy, you look great!

Where in the good Lords name are your clothes, son? I sure hope you dont plan on showing up in your undies. I didnt even realize the time, Mammy. You go on without me, I am going to throw my clothes in the dryer to get the wrinkles out and be right behind you. He gives her a kiss on the cheek as she walks out the door. Hurry along now, Bo, I dont want you being tardy for church. Bo throws his suit into the dryer and hits the wrinkle release button but sits down on the bed contemplating if he is actually going to go or not. I could tell her that the pork sausage in her gravy was bad and I got sick, but, no, I am sure she ate it too and would know I was lying. See, there is my problem, lying and cowering out of the things that I know I should do, but I am just too scared, or intimidated. Whatever it is, I need to man up and face it. Bo does something he has not done in a long time - he gets off the bed, gets on to his knees, and folds his hands and prays. Dear heavenly Father, I know I havent always been the man that I am supposed to be, and I have put greed and

money in front of my family and most importantly in front of You. I know I am a sinner and I need You in my life, guiding me to make the right choices and take the right paths. Please, Lord, forgive me for my sins and take me back into Your arms, shielding me from the evil of this world, and all of the worldly temptation. Amen.

Viola meets Katy halfway up the path and Katy notices that Bo is nowhere in sight. With a grim look on her face that is unusual for her especially on a Sunday morning, Viola asks her what is wrong. Its just that well, Bo asked me if I would be his girlfriend last night and that made me the happiest I have ever been, but I told him that I will only date a man who is led by God, so he can righteously guide our family if in fact he happens to be the one. Oh, honey, Bo just got a little too carried away with my biscuits and gravy. He was throwing his suit in the dryer to get the wrinkles out as I was walking out the door. He said he would be right behind me. Dont you worry your pretty little head, my Katy bug, Viola says as she slaps Katy in the knee, he will be here soon, sugar.

They take their seats in their regular spot on the sixth pew back in the center by the aisle. The choir starts to sing and Katy keeps looking behind her with the hopefulness that he will walk through that door. It is time to sit and pray, everyone bows their heads and the preacher says a prayer. Suddenly, she feels a person pass in front of her down the aisle and sit down beside her. She can tell it is him by the scent of his cologne. After the last Amen is said, Viola gives him a slap on the leg and says I told you not to be tardy for church, boy. Were you having second thoughts? asks Katy. No, like I told you, there were just a few things I had to take care of first. She puts her hand in his lap and he claps it with his as they listen to the service. Katy thinks to herself that this is the kind of life she wants so desperately. Throw a few kids in, a nice but modest cottage in down town Little Hill, and this is her dream come true. When the service is over, Viola stays behind to talk to a few of her girlfriends and they plan their next week of manicures and Bible studies, bread-making and shopping dates. Bo and Katy walk hand in hand, once again, down the sidewalk. People stare and whisper to one another as they pass by.

So, really, Katy asks Bo, what were you taking care of? with her hands up in the air doing the quotation sign in her best masculine voice. There were just some things that I had to get straight with God before I stepped into His house this morning. There are a lot of things I think that He thinks I might blame him for, but I dont. I didnt want to spontaneously combust when I walked through the doors, ya know. Katy finds that to be the funniest thing that she has heard in a long time and they laugh. Do you think I will ever get married, Bo? she asks very randomly as they pass Agnes Jones obviously whispering to her grandson about them on the ice cream parlor patio. I do, he says. Hmm I do, I really like the sound of that. Do you think I will ever get married, Katy? I hope so! She answers just a little bit too enthusiastically Bo can hardly contain his laughter. Katy and Bo step into the ice cream parlor to have a Sunday afternoon date at the second most favorite place to

hang out in Little Hill, besides Bates Bakery. As they walk in, for once, no one whispers, but they look and smile. Katy, all of a sudden, feels like this is right where she is supposed to be in her life, and she knows that the feeling is a sign from God that this is His will for her. Katy has brought Bo back to the Lord and made her feel complete, she only wonders if she might make him feel the same way. They sit eating their ice-cream, both feeling peacefulness and security. Bo hears a sound he has not heard in what feels like forever coming from his pocket - a loud, obnoxious ring from his cell phone. He didnt even remember putting his phone in his pocket this morning. He must do it out of habit from so many years of being tied to a phone or desk. He hears Monicas voice on the other end of the line. Mr. Brogan, hello, Mr. Brogan, are you there? Monica, hi, this is Bo. Mr. Brogan, where are you? she says frantically. Little Hill, replies Bo, and all of a sudden his entire schedule for the month comes flooding into his brain, and he remembers that he has a meeting with a very important potential client in the morning and he is still

hours away from Dallas. Monica, I will be there as soon as I can. I am going to call the airline now and try to get a flight out as soon as I can. I must have completely lost track of time this week, I dont know what I was thinking. He throws a twenty-dollar bill down on the table and asks Katy to come back to his mammys to help him get his things together. They quickly walk three blocks back to his grandmothers house without a single word. Katy can tell that there are thousands of thoughts running across his mind right now. The problem is that she cannot tell if she is one of them. Viola is already back at the house making toasted turkey sandwiches for lunch when Bo and Katy come barging in. Bo goes straight back to the spare bedroom where his clothes are scattered all over the bed and he tosses them back into his bag. Dont you need to call the airline first? Katy says as she pulls his clothes back out of his bag and starts to fold the pieces neatly. Oh, yes, I sure do. Thank you, Katy.

Did I just hear someone say airline? Viola says as she walks quickly from the kitchen to the bedroom. Are you two jetting off into the sunset together? No, Mammy, Bo replies. I cant believe I have already been here one week. Monica just called to let me know that I have a meeting to be at six o clock in the morning with a major potential client that could bring tons of attention to our firm. Time flies when you are having fun, she says as she walks back into the kitchen to give them a little space. Bo calls the airline and, to his surprise, there is not a plane going back to Dallas tonight or early enough in the morning. I just got off of the phone with the airline, ladies, says Bo. It looks as if I will be driving back tonight. There are no more flights going to Dallas tonight or in the wee hours of the morning, so my only choice is to drive. Or, Katy chimes in, you could just reschedule your meeting. No way, replies Bo, I have waited way too long and tried way too hard to get this man in my office to

reschedule on him and have him go somewhere else for representation. Not happening. As Katy sits folding the rest of his clothes and nicely stacking them in his bag and packing his toothbrush and hair gel and hanging his suits, she is talking to God, asking Him if she had been mistaken in thinking that He had given her a sign that Bo is The One. Viola spreads the mayo on the six slices of toast and very carefully lays the lettuce and turkey and bacon strips down, just like Bo likes, in silence, as she is also praying to God about the will He has for her grandsons life. She knows there has to be another reason that he sent Bo here and it has nothing to do with her health. What time do you have to leave here if you drive? Katy asks Bo as he is sending numerous emails on his Blackberry. As soon as possible, he says in a tone that says I dont have time for questions. Katy knows that as soon as she is done packing the last of his things and he gobbles down that turkey sandwich, he will be gone. She can only hope that he does not get sucked back into the life where nothing matters

except winning and gaining. She hopes that he remembers the peacefulness that being here brought to him and that he comes back soon. Katy doesnt dare stand in the way of Bo and his work, she knows he has a job to do and will not try and hold him back. She knows that all she can do is pray for him which is, without a doubt, the most powerful thing that she has to use. She hopes that his heart has been changed and that he comes back to this place for his grandmother and for her one day. Bo tosses his bag in the back seat of his little pink V olkswagen beetle and takes a glass of his mammys sweet tea and a piece of cornbread for the road. He has a grueling nine-hour drive ahead of him. Being alone in a car is something he absolutely despises. Bye, Mammy. He gives her a hug and thanks her for everything she has done for him while he has been here. I will be back as soon as I can, I promise, he says. Katy stands there beside his car, clasping both of her hands in front of her. Bo steps over to her and takes her hands and tilts her chin up to where she is looking directly at him. I will be back to see you as soon as I am done with

work and can take off for a few more days. I am sorry, I wasnt expecting this week to go by so fast, it kind of snuck up on me. I didnt even think that this was my last day in town because this day was my first real date with you. She smiles and nods and tells him to have a safe trip, and gives him a kiss on the cheek and tells him goodbye. Katy and Viola stand together at the end of the driveway and watch Bo drive away in his silly pink car. Both of their feelings for him are very different from they were when he first showed up. They had seen something in him change in the short seven days that he has been here, unplugged from the outside world. He was more fun and lighthearted, not so uptight like he had been, and less on edge than before. They are going to miss this new Bo Brogan, super mega ice cream pile-eating, pebbleskipping, fun-loving, church-going Bo. They hope that he is the same when he returns which they are sure he will. They are just unsure of the condition his heart will be in, but that is where their praying will come in. They grab each other by the hand and walk back up to the house to go in and eat their lunch, just the way they had before he had shown up, together. Bo drives down the highway with the cruise control set to 70. He remembers he has a big chunk of

cornbread wrapped up in a paper towel in the back seat. As he reaches back to feel for it, his hand grabs ahold of something else - his camera. He quickly grabs his camera and pulls it up to the front seat with him and becomes overwhelmed with emotion as he remembers what exactly is on that camera. He presses the power button and finds the photo gallery and starts flipping through the pictures of the burnt kitchen and the bakery. There are exactly 100 pictures of the damage. Bo knows that the insurance money to fix the bakery wont come in for at least three more weeks and that every day the bakery doors are closed is a day that wont bring in any revenue, and that means Becky and Sally are also out of a job for the time being. They cant sit around for three weeks and wait on their job to get back. They will find new jobs, and then Katy wont have any employees. She wont be able to do the things she truly enjoys anymore, like work for home health or read to patients in the nursing home, he thinks to himself. Katys words hit him in the face like a ton of bricks, volunteer, take yoga, give back, and feed your soul. He hears her sweet voice in his ears and knows he has to turn around. Its time for change. Bo turns the car around and heads back for

Little Hill, this time going 90 miles per hour instead of 70. He realizes once and for all just what filled the void and he speeds back to them as fast as he can. His grandmother, God, and Katy - love, love and more love are the things that Bo was missing in his life, and no high-paying client or new building could ever bring him as much love or joy as those three could. Bo decided to put money, power and fame out of his head and follow his heart. Katy walks up the block to her house and stand on the sidewalk staring at her house once again. She wonders yet again if she will ever move out of this small house and get married and have a family. Sure, Bo says he will be back and she will pray like mad to make that happen, but when there is a fight between good and evil going on in the heart and mind of a man, there is no telling what the outcome will be. She slumps her shoulders and gloomily walks up her front steps. Katy walks over to the teapot and makes herself a cup of chamomile tea, slips into her night gown, and grabs her Bible. Bed for me at seven thirty, I guess my nights of staying up late and partying like its 1999 are over. Oh well, worse things could happen. She says a quick prayer, amongst them is a prayer for Bos safe return to Dallas and quick return back to Little Hill.

Viola makes herself a cup of decaf coffee and sits in her recliner and reads her book, waiting on the clock to strike eight so she can go turn the lights out and get into bed. She wouldnt want to stray from her schedule just because she was worried sick about her grandson. She knew he would get back to Dallas alright. However, she did not know if he was going to pull through the fight that was going on inside his heart, and her heart hurt for him. Everyone has to be left to fight their own battles with good and evil. There is nothing that we can do except pray and have faith that Good will conquer. If a little old client could make him run off from here so fast, she didnt know what else could possibly happen now. Only fifty miles left, Bo says out loud to himself as he guzzles down the third cup of coffee he has had since he decided he was going to turn around. His mind is racing with all of the things he wants to do when he gets back to Little Hill. Number one on the list is to pay for the bakery to be fixed as soon as possible so that Becky and Sally can have their jobs back and Katy can have her life back. He knows the townspeople are hurting as well, not being able to visit their favorite hangout for delicious banana bread and pastries and the BLT. Mm-mm, a BLT. Im starved, and there is really no reason to rush. Mammy and Katy are both sound asleep by

this time of the night. Bo pulls over to a little twenty-four-hour diner on the side of the highway. He asks the waitress for a pen so that he can write his ideas down on a napkin. The list reads: 1. Fix diner 2. Find location to build a soup kitchen for underprivileged families 3. Take a yoga class 4. Buy a diamond ring Yes, I believe that will do he mumbles. The waitress drops his BLT onto the table and he sees that her name tag reads Katy. What did you say, dear? she asks. Oh nothing, replies Bo, I just have a bad habit of talking to myself, thats all. Is there a hotel around here? He asks the waitress. Make the loop. There are two hotels right on the other side of the highway.

Thank you, maam, he says, grinning from ear to ear. He has never been this excited about anything other than getting a Tonka truck for his fourth birthday. Bo drives over to the hotel on the other side of the highway to get some rest. He is going to wake up at five and drive to Little Hill. That way he will catch Katy and his mammy before they are out the door. Baaamp-baamp-baamp. The alarm clock sounds and he picks his head up to look at the clock, although he is sure he has not slept. It is five o clock on the dot and he hops up and grabs his bag, which he had not opened, and runs to the bathroom. He washes his face, brushes his teeth, combs his hair, and heads down to the lobby to check out. When he steps up to the counter to return his room key, he sees an older woman with the name Viola on her name tag and he hands her his key. Thats a beautiful name, he says to her. Well, thank you, but Im married she says. He laughs and turns to walk out the door to his car. Lets see, he thinks to himself, a waitress named

Katy, a hotel worker named Viola with the same sense of humor as my mammy I would say thats enough signs, God, he says, looking up towards the sky. Katys alarm clock sounds at six a.m. sharp. Monday is her least favorite day of the week, but at least now she gets to spend her Mondays with Mrs. Viola, thanks to Bo. Katy goes into the kitchen and turns the coffee pot on, then goes into the bathroom to get ready for her day. She contemplates calling Bo to make sure he made it back safe last night, but she doesnt want to seem like a worrywart, so she decides to wait a few hours. She comes out of the bathroom and hears the coffee brewing come to a stop, so she goes to pour herself a cup. She walks over to her front door to open the curtain so she can watch the hummingbirds chase each other on the feeders. She pulls back the curtains and looks out to see the birds and Ahhhhhhh! She shrieks as she sees a shadow of a mans face two inches away from hers through the glass. Bo, is that you! she screams as she swings the door open. What in the world are you doing here, on my porch, at six in the morning! she shouts. Well, Im happy to see you too, he says,

swooping her up into a big hug and twirling her around. I came back, Katy. I drove a little while and then it just hit me, I have more important things to take care of here. I have you to take care of and Mammy; I have so much to do. I have to stop doing all of the selfish things that I have done all my life and do something different. Isnt the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over expecting different results? If so, I think Im insane, Katy. She spits her coffee out into the sink, while cracking up with laughter, I would offer you some coffee, Bo, but I think you have had too much already. You are right, I had some as I was leaving the hotel, and took a cup to go. The hotel? she replies. Yes, I stayed about an hour away because I knew you would be sleeping if I drove straight back, but that if I waited a few hours, you would be awake, so ta-da! Here I am. Here you are, she says. Are you hungry? I can make you some breakfast if you want. No, says Bo, there is no time. I have a list of

things I have to do today. Im really happy you came back, Bo, she says, leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek. Now I have to go get ready for work. Its Monday. Today I sit with Miss Viola, she says as she walks out of the room. When Katy comes back to the living room, she sees Bo sleeping like a baby on her couch. She grabs a blanket and covers him up and slips away back into her room to call Viola and tell her about him being back. Yes, isnt it crazy? I mean, I prayed for him to come back to Little Hill soon, but I didnt think it would happen that fast, Katy says to Viola. Katy bug, you cant put anything past the good Lord. I will be over there in ten minutes. Just let me get my walking shoes on, I have to see this for myself. There is a light tap on the door and Katy tiptoes through the house to quietly open the door and let Viola in very carefully to not wake up Bo. Well, Ill be, Viola says as she and Katy stand in front of Bo with their arms crossed staring at him. What a good boy, Viola says. She sees a white napkin sticking

out of his pocket and bends down to get it, poking him once to make sure he is good and asleep. She gently pulls the napkin out of her pocket and reads: 1. Fix diner 2. Find location to build a soup kitchen for underprivileged families 3. Take a yoga class 4. Buy a diamond ring

Hmm Viola says as she quickly folds the napkin and shoves it back down into Bo's pocket. What was that? Katy asks Viola. Oh nothing, dear, come along with me and lets go get pedicures. Our boy is home, we have a reason to celebrate! Three hours later, Bo arises from his nap to find himself alone on Katys couch with a pink polka dotted blanket on top of him. Whats with all the pink! he shouts up to the heavens. Am I supposed to build a rescue for flamingos

or something! he pulls out his list and looks at it and searches Katys house for a phone book to find some local contractors that he might be able to get started on remodeling the bakery right away. After several calls, he has painters, construction workers, electricians, and plumbers coming to redo the kitchen of the bakery. Now I can scratch that off he says. He ponders over his list for a while, asking himself why buying a diamond ring is at the bottom of the list when it is the thing that he wants to do the most. Bo decides to do number five next and throws on a change of clothes and heads over to Burkes Jewelry on the other side of town, hoping not to run into Katy at any time while trying to pick out the perfect ring for her so as not to ruin the surprise. Bo rounds the corner and parks his little pink car on the curb outside Burkes Jewelry and skips inside. Browsing the engagement ring section, he sees that there are so many options that he doesnt even know where to begin. He feels a finger tap him on the shoulder and he thinks to himself Please be anyone but Katy. He turns around to find Becky staring him in the face.

What are you doing here, Bo? she says. What are you doing here, Becky? says Bo. I am here because a diamond fell out of my ring and I needed to get it replaced. Besides, I asked you first, what are YOU doing here? Well, I, uh ok, Becky Ann, you have to promise me you wont say anything to Katy. At that moment Becky jumps up and down and puts her hands over her mouth and leaps into Bos arms and gives him a huge hug. Still jumping up and down, she asks him, Are you really asking her to marry you! Well, Becky, I would like to but with you shouting that loud the word is going to get back to her before I do with a ring, so could you quiet down just a bit? Yes, Im sorry, Im just so excited. She is going to be so excited! exclaims Becky. While I have to be here, Becky, would you mind helping me find the right ring? Bo asks.

Would I mind? I would absolutely love to! Skimming the ring cases, Becky whispers to Bo, You know pink is her favorite color, dont you? No, I didnt know that. I mean, I guess I should have known with all of the pink dresses she wears and her little pink shoes and the blanket I woke up under earlier was pink. Bo Brogan, did you sleep over there last night? she shouts. Its a long story, Becky, but no. Now could you please keep your voice down? Whatever you say, Becky replies. Look at this one, Becky, I think this is it.

Back at the salon, Miss Viola has already insisted that they have pedicures, manicures, facials, and get their hair blown out.

What are we doing all of this for, miss Viola? Did you enter us into a pageant I didnt know about? No, no, dear, dont question, just enjoy. When we are done here, we can go back home and I will fix us some turkey sandwiches. I will even break out the last jar of pickles I have made from my last batch of cucumbers. Katy starts to wonder why Miss Viola is doing all of this. Maybe she is just very excited that Bo is back, she concludes, and carries on getting her hair blown out and doesnt question it again. Back at Burkes Jewelry store, Bo has finally decided on the perfect ring. He makes his purchase and ducks out of the store, hoping to not be seen by anyone. On the drive over to his mammys where he is sure Katy will be, he is rehearsing what he is going to say, as well as trying to come up with a clever way to display the ring. His heart is racing as he pulls up into the driveway and takes the ring box out of the bag and shoves it down into his pocket, which causes a huge bulge that she is sure to notice. Maybe I will take it out of the box, he says to himself, removing it from the box and shoving the

ring as far down into his pocket as it will go. When Bo walks through the door, he smells the toast that his mammy must be making for turkey sandwiches, seeing as it is noon and that is Katys favorite food. Lucky for her it is also his mammys most famous dish. She can make seven different kinds of turkey sandwiches, which one you get just depends on what kind of mood she is in that day. Ill have one too! Bo shouts back to the kitchen and Katy comes around the corner and jumps up into his arms. I still cannot believe you turned around and came all the way back here, she says to him. I kind of feel like a princess in a fairy tale that the prince came back for, except I have no idea how long you are actually staying. How long are you staying, Bo? says Viola as she spreads the turkey salad onto the sandwich. Im not very sure yet, Mammy. Turkey salad? This must be a special day if you made turkey salad.

She opened the last jar of pickles too, says Katy. Katy goes back over and gives Bo another long hug and stands there in his arms feeling like a true princess that has found her prince. What are you doing all of this for, Mammy? asks Bo. While Katys back is still turned to Viola, she sticks her hand up to show him the number five and points to his pocket where the list was so as to ask him if he was planning on doing number five on his list. Bo slightly nods and points to his other pocket where she can see a tiny circular shaped thing at the very bottom. Eeeeekk! Viola shrieks. Miss Viola! Katy almost jumps out of her skin as she turns around to see what is wrong. What happened? Katy shouts. Oh, I thought I saw a mouse, Viola replies. I guess it was my eyes playing tricks on me, it must have been a shadow. Mammy, would you mind if we ate outside today? Its pretty cool out and I could use the fresh air, Im

feeling a little stuffy, says Bo. Sure, honey, replies Viola, why dont you and Katy go on out there? I will be right out with your lunch. While Katy excuses herself to the restroom, Bo and his mammy try to figure out what to do with the ring. Before they could figure it out, Katy is already washing her hands and opening the bathroom door, so Bo shoves the ring into his grandmothers palm and rushes over to meet Katy in the hallway and walks her outside. He shoots his mammy a desperate look over his shoulder as they walk out the front door. Lets swing a bit, Bo says as they walk over toward the swing that his grandfather had made for his mammy. Its so romantic, isnt it? What, what is so romantic? Bo asks as Katy laughs at how weird he is acting. It is romantic that your grandfather built this house and this swing for Miss Viola, and that this is where they were sitting when she told him she was pregnant with

your father. Yep, thats pretty romantic, he says as his mammy comes out the front door and hollers for Bo to come grab their plates. When Bo gets up to the door, he grabs both plates, and there it is! The ring he had bought is sticking up out of the toast of Katys turkey sandwich. Its now or never, he thinks to himself as he takes a deep breath and turns to walk back to the swing. He puts his plate down first in the seat next to Katy, and then gets on one knee and holds the turkey sandwich up to her face and says, Katy, you are the most perfect woman I have ever or will ever meet again, and I cannot let you go. My life has changed for the better since I met you and I need you. Will you please eat this turkey sandwich and accept this ring? Katy, still stunned at the proposal, is crying, but Bo cant tell if it is from happiness or if she is crying over the way that she was just proposed to. Bo lowers the turkey sandwich down from her face and looks up at her, and to his surprise, Yes, Bo Brogan, I will. He takes the ring out of the bread, wipes it off with his napkin, very gently picks up her hand, and takes her ring finger and slides the ring on.

Its beautiful! Katy exclaims. I have never even dreamed of a ring like this, but if I could have any ring in the world that I wanted, it would be this one. How did you know I love pink diamonds? Katy asks. I just noticed that you have a lot of pink things, plus, I think there is a reason that I have been driving a pink car around for a week, he says while tearing up himself. Katy runs to Miss Viola and shows her the ring and asks if this was what all of the fuss was about today and if she knew that he was about to propose. Of course, it was what all of the fuss was about, replies Viola, and of course, I knew he was going to propose. Mammy knows all. It might take a little nosing around to find out but I always find out. Now why dont you two take a walk and get some alone time while I clean up this mess and start supper? Sure thing, Bo says as he looks back over his shoulder at his mammy one more time before walking off. She is holding up the number one, as if to say Go tell her your plans for the bakery.

Wow, Katy says to Bo as they walk down the sidewalk, I have to say, I was not expecting that. I couldnt be happier, I really couldnt. Its just something that I have been wanting so bad for the past few years and the right man had never come along, and now that you have, it all just seems too good to be true, ya know? Yes, I do, says Bo. He takes her hand and starts to jog and says, I want to show you something. They round two corners, and with the bakery in sight, Katy starts to see cars in the parking lot. What are all of those people doing there, Bo? she asks. Lets go see, he says. As they come up to the back door of the bakery, they start to hear tools working and banging and sanding. What are they doing! she shrieks. They, my darling fiance, are remodeling the bakery.

The insurance money hasnt even come in yet though, I have no way to pay for all of this. Thats ok, Katy, because I already did. She looks up to him in shock and awe of the happenings of this day, her whole world just got turned right side up again. Her world has not been this perfect since both of her parents were alive. This is amazing! Katy proclaims. You are amazing, Bo says to Katy, my life would not be the way it is now if it wasnt for you helping me to figure out what was missing in my life. You let me know that I am not the ruler of the worlds and that everything doesnt always have to be won or bought, that I am a real human being and I am allowed to be an imperfect person because I have a perfect God that loves me and forgives me. And Katy, if I would have never met you I would have been the same way that I have always been for the rest of my life, and I would have been miserable. There is no way that this day could get any better, she says as she laughs, still amazed at everything that has went on in the last hour.

Yes, it can, Bo says with a cocky grin which, no, he has not lost, and honestly, Katy kind of likes. His confidence is very appealing to her, at least she knows that he will never be afraid of a challenge. Lets go, there is one more thing I have to show you, Bo says. Does this have anything to do with what your mammy pulled out of your pocket this morning? she asks. Mammy pulled something out of my pocket this morning? Yes, it looked like a napkin, she says. Ahhh, that makes sense, replies Bo, never put anything past Mammy, Katy, always remember that. They take off walking down the street once again, but this time its back to Miss Violas house to get in the car. Bo opens Katys door for her and does a little bow as she sits down. Where are we going? she asks impatiently.

You will see, just hold your horses, says Bo. They drive four miles to an open lot next to a shopping center and park and get out of the car. Ok Bo, what is this? she asks. This, is the home of the Daniel Bates Memorial soup kitchen, he says. How in the world did you know my dad always wanted to open a soup kitchen? Well, Katy, like I said, I went to the bakery every day after football practices my whole life, I would sit there so I didnt have to go home to my mom, and me and your dad would talk. He told me about his dreams and I told him about mine. Oh, says Katy, and what were your dreams back then? she asks. I dreamed of being a professional football star and marrying the prettiest girl in the world. At least I get to fulfill one of those, he says as he pulls her in for a kiss.

You are amazing, she tells him as she looks into his eyes. God really did send me my prince, I am on cloud nine. Are there any other surprises that you have for me? Because Im not sure if I can handle any more today. Oh yes, actually, there is, Bo says, I signed us up for yoga. Katy literally falls to the ground laughing at this one and pulls Bo down with her, and they roll around on the ground laughing and laughing until their bellies hurt. Are you serious, Bo? I am way too serious, darling. I am taking all of your advice because nothing you have ever said to me to date had led me astray. Everything you have said to me has been a complete blessing. I am amazed at how changing my attitude and taking a few tips from a little girl has made my life so much more fulfilling, I would have never thought I could be this happy. Me either, Bo, she says, you have given me some good advice too. I need to start doing more for myself, so last night, when you left, I sat down and started looking into nursing school. I want to finish my nursing

degree. That way I can help people all day long, and I will be happy as a clam, except now with all of these endeavors you have gotten us into, I dont know if I will be able to. We will have to hire people to work at the bakery and the soup kitchen if I am in school all of the day. Thats not a problem, Katy, I am selling The Squire. I need to be here. I can open up my own law office here, and I am going to sell The Squire, and we will have enough money to fund and employ the soup kitchen, so dont worry, I stayed up thinking about this all night long. Oh, I see, says Katy, thats why you fell asleep on my couch as soon as I left the room. You caught me! That is exactly why. You know, Bo, out of all of the people in the world, I would have never thought that you would be the person to come back to this town and be such a blessing to it, says Katy. Well, this town makes some awesome people. I mean there is ME, for one, ha-ha. And there is you, and my mammy, and your dad, and your mom. This town itself is a blessing and it deserves for the people

who live in it to give back a little sometimes, like your dad did. Im just trying to do my part, thats all. Now how about we get back to mammies, I can only imagine what she has made for our engagement night dinner. What do you think it is? I dont know, but I am starving. Hopefully its chicken spaghetti, or chicken pot pie, or jambalaya, or corn casserole or chicken and dressing. Heck, I could eat anything right now. I just remembered that right after I proposed, she basically ripped the plates out of our hands and sent us on a walk. Maybe she was afraid I was going to change my mind, Katy says giving him a sassy look and pinching him. As they walk up the front steps, they smell dinner cooking. Mm mm mm mm, it smells like chicken spaghetti and corn casserole. Youre right! Mammy shouts from the kitchen. Now you kids get on in here so that I can see that ring and we can say the blessing, we have so much to be

thankful for today. Amen, Katy and Bo say at the same time.