“This is nice,” Sully said as they parked and got out. “That table is in the shade. Is it okay with you?”

“Absolutely,” Melissa said.

She took some of the extra napkins to wipe off the tabletop and benches, then Sully took out the food.

“A chili dog and fries for you. Fries and cheeseburgers, minus pickles, for me. Here’s your chocolate shake and my vanilla shake. Enjoy!”

They ate a few bites, and then conversation started as they began playing catch-up on each other’s life.

“Tell me about your wife,” Melissa asked.

“Ex-wife,” he said, and shrugged. “Her name is Karen. She’s on her third husband, last time I heard. We didn’t fit. I got over her a long time ago. Tell me about Andy. He had to be a smart guy to be with you.”

Melissa smiled. “Andy was smart and quiet. He liked being home, so there wasn’t a lot of partying or hosting dinners. But we were happy.” She glanced off into the trees for a moment, then added, “And then he died.”

“Was it an accident?” Sully asked. “I mean, you two being so young and everything.”

Melissa shook her head. “No, it was a brain aneurysm. The doctors said it was something he’d been born with. No warning. No way to prevent it or treat it.”

“I’m sorry. That’s rough,” Sully said.

Melissa nodded. “Yes, it was. I didn’t deal with it well, as you can imagine. I withdrew. Literally. Coming here to Blessings was my saving grace. I don’t know what it is about this place, but nobody suffers in this town for long. Once they learn someone had a hardship, the town sort of pulls together to make it right. And quite often, Ruby and Lovey are the ones who organize us all. They’re like fairy godmothers. Always looking for a way to bring happiness.”

“That’s an amazing tribute,” he said.

“It’s an amazing place to live,” she said.

A little bird flew down to the other end of their picnic table and began to chirp.

“We have company,” Sully said.

A couple of minutes later, it was joined by two more, perched in the tree over their heads. She pointed up into the branches.

“He’s calling in his buddies. Probably hoping we’ll leave a few crumbs,” Melissa said.

“Then we don’t want to disappoint them,” Sully said, and pulled a piece of bun off his last cheeseburger and crumbled it onto the ground.

Melissa added a few french fries to the feast as she and Sully gathered up their trash. She got up to stretch her legs as he carried the sacks to a nearby trash bin, then came jogging back.

Before she knew it, he’d swung her off her feet and into his arms. She laughed at the unexpected joy.

“You’re my dessert,” he said, and gave her a quick kiss before putting her down. “Do you have business to tend to this afternoon?”

“No. What do you want to do?”