The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off Read Online Free PDF Page B

Marty and Cathy Andrews, owned and operated Miss Clawdy’s Café, which was located across the street and down the block from Bless My Bloomers.
    â€œAfternoon, ladies. Is it Sugar’s time to treat y’all?” Trixie asked.
    â€œHell, no!” Tansy said. “It’s my turn. That’s why I brought them to a buffet. Gigi has a mad spell on and when she’s mad she eats a lot.”
    â€œI heard there was trouble in the Lovelle paradise,” Trixie said softly.
    â€œYou’d sure understand how my Carlene feels today since you’ve been through the same thing. You had a lyin’ sack of shit for a husband, too,” Gigi said.
    Trixie circled around the counter and hugged Gigi. “Yes, ma’am, I sure do know how she feels. It’ll take a while but she’ll move on and he’ll be sorry that he lost a good woman like Carlene.”
    â€œYou ever think about working it out with Andy back before he remarried?” Gigi asked.
    â€œHell, no! Trust is the foundation for a marriage. Once that’s gone, the marriage is gone. It’ll take y’all a while to adjust but time helps.” Trixie went back to the cash register, ran Tansy’s credit card through the machine, and laid the receipt on the counter for her to sign.
    Tansy picked up the pen and hurriedly put her name on the paper. “Carlene is pretty mad. I can see it in her eyes. I don’t think even Sugar and all her prayers could talk her into giving him another chance.”
    â€œI’m not going to talk her out of anything. She’s twenty-seven years old and I’ll support her decision even if it means giving her an alibi after she’s killed him,” Gigi declared.
    â€œThere has never been a divorce in the Fannin family.” Sugar sighed.
    â€œMiz Sugar, some things even God don’t forgive,” Trixie smiled. “Y’all enjoy the buffet. Cathy made blackberry cobbler today so leave room for dessert. Got to get back to work.”
    Gigi picked up a tray at the end of the buffet and set a plate, two bowls, silver wrapped in a napkin, and a sweet tea glass on it. She loaded the plate with sweet potato casserole, jalapeño cornbread, fried potatoes, and fried okra, and then filled one bowl with beans and the other with greens.
    â€œI knew you’d go for food therapy,” Tansy said.
    â€œAlways.” Gigi found a table for four, arranged her food, and set the tray on a nearby table. “Food always helps me see things clearly. It’s the same as reading palms or cards is for you and praying is for Sugar.”
    â€œSpeakin’ of which.” Sugar bowed her head and whispered, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food and help us get through this catastrophe that has befallen our family. We lift it all up to you and leave it in your hands. Amen.”
    â€œA-damn-men,” Tansy said. “Now do just that.”
    â€œWhat?” Sugar asked.
    â€œLeave it in your sweet Jesus’ hands and don’t bitch at him when he strikes that damn Lenny Joe Lovelle with boils and pestilence. Screwin’ around with another woman…why, it’s a damn disgrace, that’s what it is. He’s the one who’s brought all this catastrophe shit upon our family so ask God to give him a case of impotence that even Viagra can’t fix.” Tansy picked up a piece of cornbread and crumbled it into her bowl of beans.
    â€œI wonder how Carlene found out, anyway,” Gigi mumbled.
    Trixie brought a pitcher of sweet tea and filled each of their glasses. “You didn’t get the whole story? Well, I heard that she found a pair of red bikini underwear in his sock drawer and since she’d made them over at Bless My Bloomers, she even knew who they belonged to and”—she lowered her voice—“they were a size four. But I also heard that she didn’t know the woman worked with Lenny until she got there this