“No, I want to make it. Nothing like homemade, right? Hmm, let’s see.” He watched her pull open the cupboards, then the refrigerator, and then stand with her hands on her hips, frowning. She faced him. “We should have gone shopping so I could get stuff.”
“We still have time. The steaks are thawing.” He pointed to them. “If you want to go, we can pick up some corn and veg to put on the grill. You can get what you need for dessert.”
“I guess we could. We could go to that market down the road. I don’t remember the name of it, but they should have what we need.”
“Perry’s. Yes, all farm fresh,” he told her and was glad she wanted to go out so he didn’t have to make up some excuse to leave the house.
“That’s it! Okay, let’s get cracking so we’re not late.” He took his keys from the plank of wood by the back door with used horseshoe nails hammered into it. “Let’s go.”
Belle stood at the door with her tail wagging, and he bent down to rub her ears. “I’m sorry, precious, but we won’t be long. I promise.”
Jenna did the same. “Oh, just look at those eyes. We can’t leave her.”
“It’s best we do; it’s hot out and I won’t leave her in the truck.” Chet called out to his AI device and instructed it to play calm music. “She knows when the music is playing, she must stay home.”
Belle went to her bed by the front window and lay down with her chin resting on the ledge so she could see out.
“We’ll be back soon, Belle,” Jenna called and Chet closed the door behind them.
Ashort while later they parked under a tree at Perry’s Farmers Market. He watched Jenna pause inside the doors, held open with buckets of fresh flowers.
“Oh wow,” she murmured and looked around.
Inside the shop it was very rustic, with rows of wooden bins full of a variety of fresh produce. Smaller slatted boxes were tipped at tempting angles with all sorts of goodies in them to tease the palate. There were also modern refrigeration bunkers filled with an array of cheeses, meats, dairy and what all.
Jenna was like a kid in a candy store and started to fill up the buggy that Chet pushed along behind her. She pointed to the chalk boards hanging from chains over the bins. “Those are art in themselves! Just look at the detail in the drawings and letters.”
Chet had never noticed them before. Thanks to her, he was seeing so many things in a brand-new light.
“Wow, this place is amazing. I wasn’t expecting it to have such a variety.” Jenna wandered between the banks of fresh fruit and vegetables. “I didn’t check if we had potatoes.”
“We’ll get some anyway, and anything else you need. Just fill the cart, lady, and I’ll be right behind you.”
He happily followed her around the market, enjoying her joy at her discoveries, and he wasn’t surprised when the cart was soon full of food. He had no idea what she planned to cook for dessert, but when she laid her eyes on the pies in the bakery section, he saw her hesitate. He smiled, knowing what was coming next.
She glanced at him and chewed her lip. “Maybe…” she pointed to the pies. “You know instead of making something. I could do that next time.”
He smiled. “Whatever your little heart desires.”
She clapped her hands and reached for a pie, then picked two more. “The bread smells amazing,” she said and selected a bag of fresh buns. She looked at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy these.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m not worried. Get whatever you like. Let me know if you need a second buggy.”
She swatted him after gently placing the pies and buns in the buggy. “I think we’re good now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Uhm, maybe just a fresh loaf of bread. I can make French Toast tomorrow morning. Do you have bacon in the freezer?”
He nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Okay, that’s it then. Oh! Maple syrup! I didn’t see any in the cupboards. I’ll go grab it if you want to get in line.”
“I am at your disposal,” he said and wheeled the groaning buggy to the check out. Never had shopping been such a fun venture before. But then everything he did with Jenna was a new experience for him and showed him just how much he’d beenmissing in life. His serious side had emerged over the years, and he liked this new freeing feeling, thanks to her.
She tried to insist on paying for the groceries, but he wouldn’t have it, and finally she relented. As they left Perry’s, she hooked her arm through his and they walked to the truck, loaded it, and left the parking lot.
She was looking at her phone, which gave him a chance to think about something weighing on his mind.
