Peter Van Sant

The idyllic, well-groomed acreage was lined with a winding black painted fence and a long gravel road that could take you through the trees, past the pond, the main house, and all the way up to a huge horse barn.

By 2018, Gary and Melody had owned the place for five years.

They were in their 50s and had known each other for most of their lives.

And how old were you when you first met Gary?

16.

They met in Florence, Alabama.

She first saw him when visiting a church there.

They dated for a few years and then eloped in 1979.

Gary was a sophomore at the University of North Alabama studying finance.

Melody also studied there for about a year but dropped out to start working.

She ended up working at her parents' hardware store.

Do you have warm memories of that?

Very much so.

Three and a half years later, they had their second, Scott.

Meanwhile, Gary decided to study law.

Gary practiced commercial real estate law and quickly climbed the ladder at his firm.

Melody said Gary was smart.

When Gary opened the firm's office in Atlanta, Melody was a full-time mom.

She took charge of the home and the kids and made sure their upbringing was special, especially during the holidays.

I understand you're a big Christmas decorator.