Sally spent that afternoon alone in the grocery store, a tranquil day passing without event. The shelves boasted an array of neatly arranged goods, from indulgent treats to everyday necessities, while the gentle hum of the refrigerators filled the space. Behind the register, Sally sat engrossed in her book, her attention fixed as she awaited the arrival of the next customer.
On the dot at 3:25pm, a flurry of activity descended upon the store. Eager and excited kids just released from school, their pockets jingling with quarters and pocket money, came rushing in to pick up a treat on their way home. Sally greeted each child with a perky greeting.
She had watched these children grow up, accompanying their parents to the store as small, wide-eyed explorers. Now, they came with their friends, a polite and well-behaved bunch. They cheerfully yelled back, "Hello Ms. Berenson!" or the occasionally cheeky, "Too nice a day to be inside!"
As the children skittered around the shop, picking out their favorite snacks and engaging in lively debates about which one to get with their limited pocket money, Sally couldn't help but smile at their excited chatter and strategizing. She listened to their suggestions, like pooling their money together for a fancier snack, a display of youthful ingenuity.
In the end, the kids finally decided to buy their own favorite snacks, unable to agree on a combined purchase. Each child took their turn placing their chosen treasure onto the counter, their small hands rifling through pockets for the correct change. With a series of well-mannered "thank yous," they eagerly opened their snacks and dug right in, their eyes lighting up with delight.
One of the older kids, a friendly and talkative boy, engaged Sally in small talk as he patiently waited for the younger ones to finish counting their change.
"You know, Ms. Berenson," he began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "We actually wanted to get some cookies from Emily's shop today, but it's still closed. That's why we decided to come to the grocery store. Don't worry, though, your store has the next best cookies in town!"
Sally chuckled, appreciating the boy's honesty.
"Well, I'm glad you consider our cookies a worthy substitute. I'll have to let Emily know she has some competition!" she replied in a warm, joking manner.
The kids finished their snacks, said their goodbyes, and left the store one by one. The once lively space now fell into silence, a stark contrast to the vibrant activity that had just filled the air. Sally watched as the children headed down the street, their laughter fading into the distance.
With no customers left in the store, Sally took a moment to look around, surveying the neatly arranged shelves and cleanly swept aisles. A thought crossed her mind, and she decided to step outside for a few minutes, locking the door behind her. She crossed the street, heading in the direction of Emily's Pastries.
Sally recalled the conversation she had with Becky the previous night during dinner. It had been a rare day off for Sally and Ted. They had spent the day exploring a small, family run brewery a few towns over. At dinner whilst they enjoyed yet another home cooked meal, they regaled Becky with happy stories of their day. Ted mentioned that they even had the chance to take a long tour of the brewery, led by the head brewer who gave them a sneak peek tasting of a few new beers that were to be released in a week's time. The memory brought a satisfied smile to Sally's face.
But there was a topic that had weighed heavily on Becky's mind that night, a secret she had been carrying. Sally remembered the moment Becky had pulled her aside after dinner as Ted cleaned up the table, her eyes serious and filled with anticipation.
"Mom, there's something I want to discuss," Becky had said, her voice gentle yet determined.
Sally had followed Becky into the living room, settling on the couch together. The atmosphere became charged with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"What is it, sweetie?" Sally had asked, her gaze fixed on Becky.
Becky took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.
"I ran into my friend Mike at the store today."
Sally's eyes sparkled with recognition. "Mike? Dan's friend, right? Wasn't he the nice boy who took you to the festival in high school?"
Becky nodded, a small smile formed on her lips.
"Yes, that's him. I haven't seen him for a long time, but he looked really well. We caught up briefly, and he mentioned he was at Emily's Pastry shop today."
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Curiosity bloomed within Sally's mind, wondering about the connection between Mike and Emily's Pastry shop. She hoped everything was all right but she sensed there was more to the story.
"What was he doing there?" Sally inquired, her voice filled with intrigue.
Becky's expression turned serious, her eyes meeting her mother's gaze.
"Apparently Steve had shown up at Emily's shop out of the blue, he got into an argument with Emily and he ended up damaging her shop. Mike was there to fix the damage that Steve had done."
Sally's heart skipped a beat, a wave of sadness washing over her. She had heard whispers about Emily and Steve's separation but hadn't realized the extent of the situation. The news struck her deeply, as Steve and Emily were a well loved couple in the community.
Nodding solemnly, Sally shared her knowledge of Emily's situation.
"Nearly six months back, Emily abruptly stopped joining our crochet club gatherings. A few of us became worried and paid her a visit at her store. That's when she opened up to us about the challenges she and Steve were facing. Their rift stemmed from a disagreement about having children."
Becky nodded with concern as her mother revealed the difficulties Emily and Steve had faced. The weight of the situation sunk in, casting a shadow of worry in her eyes.
Becky took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.
"I told Mike that I think Emily should call the police about the incident." Becky began, her voice laced with conviction. "But he said Emily seemed shocked by the whole affair, and it seemed like she just wanted to move on without pursuing it any further."
Sally observed the indecision etched on Becky's face, reminiscent of the time she had wrestled with the decision to pursue her degree in California. Sally knew her next words carried weight, not only for the situation at hand but also as a guiding light for Becky's moral compass.
Sally took a moment, considering her response carefully.
"Becky, what kind of damage did Mike say he saw at Emily's Pastry shop?" Sally asked, her voice firm.
Becky hesitated for a moment to make sure her facts were clear before answering.
"Mike said that Steve had broken the glass counters, pulled down some shelves, and had ruined her baked goods for that day."
Sally's eyes narrowed, her expression growing resolute. She looked intently at Becky, conveying her determination through her gaze.
"Becky, Steve needs to be held accountable for his actions." Sally declared, her voice strong and clear. "What he did was not only a menace but it's also a violation of Emily's property and livelihood." Sally put a comforting hand on Becky's shoulders, "Let me go speak to Emily tomorrow."
—
A cool wind swept down the street as Sally approached Emily's Pastries. She read the faded paper sign on the door, indicating that the shop was closed for the week due to family reasons. Peering through the glass, Sally noticed that the shop looked spotless, signs of the damage done by Steve nowhere to be seen. However, there were no signs of Emily within the store.
Sally hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. She contemplated knocking on the door, hoping Emily might be engrossed in some task and unaware of her presence. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the door, but there was no response.
Turning to her phone, Sally searched for Emily's number. She hesitated once more, realizing the sensitive nature of the matter at hand. Sally had known Emily as a neighboring shop owner and had spent time together at the crochet club, but she felt a hesitance in intruding on Emily's privacy. Yet, as she glanced at the repaired shop, devoid of any remnants of Steve's attack, she remembered the promise she had made to Becky the night before.
Summoning her resolve, Sally dialed Emily's number, her heart pounding in her chest. After a few rings, Emily answered, her voice barely audible.
"Hello, Sally?" Emily's voice sounded weak and weary.
Sally greeted Emily gently, her voice filled with genuine concern. "Hello, Emily. How are you going?"
There was a long pause, the weight of silence hanging in the air. Finally, Emily replied, her voice strained, "I'm... I'm good." She didn't offer any further details, quickly redirecting the conversation. "And how about you, Sally? How are things at the grocery store?"
Sally sensed Emily's hesitance, the pain hidden beneath her words. She knew she needed to tread carefully, respecting Emily's boundaries while offering support.
"I'm fine, Emily. Thank you for asking," Sally replied, her voice filled with warmth. "Listen, I was wondering if it's convenient for me to come and see you in person. There's something I'd like to discuss, if you're up for it."
Another long pause followed, as if Emily was weighing her options, considering whether she was ready to face the outside world. Finally, she asked the question that hung between them like a fragile thread.
"Is it about Steve?" Emily's voice quivered with a mix of fear and vulnerability.
Sally's response was solemn.
"Yes, Emily, it is."
There was a moment of silence, and Sally could imagine the internal struggle Emily must be experiencing. Finally, Emily spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I really appreciate your concern, Sally, but I'm dealing with a lot right now. I'm not sure if I'm ready to see any guests at the moment."
Sally's heart sank, disappointment mingling with understanding. She knew she had to respect Emily's wishes, even if it wasn't the outcome she had hoped for.
"I understand, Emily," Sally replied softly. "Please remember that if you need anything. Whether it's food, some groceries, or simply someone to watch TV with, you can come over to my house anytime. I'll message you my address."
Emily expressed her gratitude and bid Sally farewell before hanging up the phone. Sally sighed, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. She had hoped for a different outcome, a chance to offer comfort directly to Emily.
Quickly composing herself, Sally messaged her home address to Emily, adding a postscript that reiterated her offer of support. She emphasized that Emily should not hesitate to reach out or come over whenever she needed assistance or companionship.
Sally cast one final glance at Emily's dark and empty store before turning on her heels and making her way back to the grocery store. Though the encounter hadn't unfolded as she had envisioned, she held onto the hope that her message of support had reached Emily's heart, serving as a bridge of solace and understanding.