After their spontaneous morning of passionate love making, Sally and Ted had both fallen into a blissful slumber on the couch. The faint sound of their alarm clock blaring from their distant bedroom, eventually rousing Sally from her dreams, though it felt like the thousandth ring before her eyes managed to flutter open.

With a satisfied grin, Sally blinked her eyes, feeling the comforting warmth of Ted's arms wrapped tightly around her. She glanced at the grandfather clock across the lounge, and her eyes widened in horror at the late hour it displayed.

"Teeeed!" Sally exclaimed, her voice laced with an escalation of panic, as she pushed herself away from him. Scrambling to find her nightgown, which had been carelessly discarded on the floor, she grabbed Ted's boxers from the same disarrayed heap and hurled them at his sleeping face.

Startled, Ted bolted upright, his hair tousled, his shirt nowhere to be found. The urgency of the situation registered in his half-asleep mind as he tried to make sense of Sally's frantic actions.

A frenzy of activity soon engulfed the house as they jostled for their turn in the bathroom, reminiscent of college roommates sharing a cramped dorm. Ted eventually resigned himself to a quick wash in the guest bathroom, the minutes ticking away mercilessly.

Sally, already dressed and ready, was the first one out of the house. She rushed to her car, honking impatiently for Ted to pick up the pace.

Ted stumbled out of the front door, his shirt hanging half-open, hair disheveled, and his shoes hastily thrown on. He sprinted towards the car, diving through the open passenger door just as Sally reversed off the driveway with or without him. With the car in motion, Ted wrestled with the car's momentum to close his door.

No words passed between them as Sally expertly maneuvered the neighborhood streets, skillfully navigating without exceeding the speed limit but making full use of her station wagon's acceleration.

After a few minutes of driving that would make a New York cabbie proud, Sally's car screeched to a halt in front of their shop. Several customers were already waiting impatiently outside, peering through the locked glass door, chatting amongst themselves, puzzled by the delay in the store's opening

Sally wasted no time. She sprinted towards the shop's entrance, offering no apologies or smalltalk, her focus solely on unlocking the door and preparing for business. A few yards behind her, Ted apologized profusely to the impatient locals, trying to keep up with Sally as she wrestled with a tangle of keys.

Finally, Sally managed to fling the shop doors wide open, she dashed ahead of the waiting crowd, finding her place by the front counter, powering up the cash register with determined efficiency. Ted, on the other hand, went through a truncated morning routine, switching on lights and moving away boxes to clear the aisles for customers.

The grateful shoppers streamed in, their greetings and farewells terse as they scrambled to make up for lost time. No one mentioned the late opening but their mild annoyance and displeasure were clearly displayed in their stress filled expressions.

As the last of the early shoppers finally exited the store, Sally finally caught her breath. She slumped into her chair, feeling the adrenaline wear off and the full weight of the morning's excitement and stress catching up to her. Ted joined her, sharing a weary but knowing smile, silently acknowledging the wild start to their day.

Even as Ted took a well-deserved break beside Sally, his keen eyes continued to sweep the store, vigilant for any tasks demanding his attention.

"I've got this, you just take a break, you've really earned it," Ted said with a knowing wink.

Sally watched, impressed at how Ted continued to tend to the various tasks around the store, his vigor undiminished by the passionate morning they had shared. Their earlier intimacy seemed to have given Ted an injection of youthful energy, his movements almost buoyant.

With the rest of the opening tasks now in Ted's capable hands, a moment of calm settled over the store. Out of instinct, Sally reached under the counter and retrieved her current Nora Roberts novel. It was another treasure from her mother's collection that she had yet to enjoy fully.

Her fingers delicately lifted the browned pages from where her favorite bookmark had split the book in two. The bookmark itself was a cherished hand made mother's day gift from Becky when she was still in elementary school.

The familiar world of enchanting romance greeted her once more. However, today, a mischievous thought crossed her mind, bringing a warm smile to her face. She knew that none of the fanciful events she was about to read could ever compare to the ecstasy she had shared with Ted earlier that morning.

Savoring this brief moment of relaxation before her next responsibilities beckoned, her eyes began to reread a few sentences from where she had left off the day before. Today however, the lyrical and suggestive prose before her had a strange effect. It dug relentlessly at her dormant creativity rather than offering an entertaining escape.

The words seemed to rearrange themselves before her eyes, crafting a story of her own making inside her head. Sally rubbed her eyes in disbelief, the strange sensation evoking a deep sense of dissonance, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a very long time.

Setting the novel aside, her blurry, focused gaze looked up and drifted across the neat rows of shelves before her. The vibrant colors of produce and packaged goods provided a predictable and grounding element from which her eyes slowly returned to its normal function. Ted reappeared before her, a cloth in hand as he diligently wiped down shelves and cleared dust from various surfaces, before vanishing behind yet another row of shelves.

Though her eyes now once again obeyed her command, words now began to dance uncontrollably within her mind. Those words mingled with thoughts of Becky's adventure in Millerton. Vivid images of her daughter's experiences unfolded before her like photographs. Fueled by an electrifying surge of creativity, she turned toward the bulletin board behind her, snagging the pen hanging from a string and seizing the notebook that sat beside the store phone, something that she would use to take the occasional telephone order.

She began writing what was on her mind, the words flowing effortlessly from her pen.

In her words she described the visage of the protagonist of The Reefmaker, no longer a young girl but now a young woman. Shaped by her adventures with The Reefmaker and the inexorable passage of time. For the next five minutes or so, she wrote with an intensity bordering on possession, finding boundless inspiration in recounting the protagonist's life events since the last story.

A bemused customer observed her, momentarily distracted from her shopping by the sight of Sally, head down and scribbling furiously into a tiny notebook.

The elderly customer, a familiar face to the Joneses, approached Ted and greeted him. "Good morning, Ted." she greeted in her drawn out voice, "I couldn't but overhear that the store opened a bit late today. Is everything alright?"

Ted always marveled at how quickly news seemed to travel within Sommerfield. He decided to tell a little white lie to prevent further intrusive questioning.

"Good morning, Eleanor," he said cheerfully, flashing a reassuring smile. "Thanks for your concern, but we just got held up with our suppliers. We do apologize for the late opening, but it won't happen again." he added with a soft sigh.

"It's quite alright, dear." Eleanor reassured him. "I didn't mean to get on your case. I truly appreciate having a local grocery store that provides a personal touch. Your father, before you, provided an invaluable service to our community. I still remember the big snowstorm forty-something years ago when most of Sommerfield lost power. It was your father who braved the storm, delivering vital supplies all day and night to all the families in Sommerfield. I recall he even delivered crucial medicine that likely saved my young daughter's life."

Ted, his thoughts drifting to a time before his memory, responded humbly, "I don't remember that, but I'm glad to hear my father was of some use to the community."

Eleanor nodded, her eyes glistening with memories. "Your father was a good man. I remember your mother, Linda Jones, God rest her soul, minding the grocery store all by herself when your father was out on deliveries, sometimes as far as Millerton. Back then, Millerton had only a tiny corner shop and relied on Sommerfield for proper, quality groceries." Eleanor smiled with pride, recalling the memory, "I even recall seeing you as a baby, strapped to Linda as she ran about the store, restocking and cleaning. You're quickly living up to your father's good name, though you could take a page from your dad's tireless dedication and work a little bit harder."

Ted thanked Eleanor politely, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. Her words were kind, but they also stirred a complex sense of duty and expectation which he had never quite reconciled.

Eleanor's eyes shifted towards Sally, who was engrossed in her own world, working on something with intense concentration. She leaned closer to Ted and whispered, "I must say, Ted, Sally looks quite distracted today. She didn't even say hello when I came in, and she hasn't looked up from whatever she's doing."

Ted glanced over at Sally, his heart filled with adoration as he watched her intense concentration. "She's got quite the focus when she's deep into something," he whispered back to Eleanor. "I've seen her like this before, especially when she has a deadline for her crochet projects."

Eleanor nodded, "That may be the case but it's just a bit unusual to see her so immersed in delicate work during shop hours."

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Ted couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. It was highly unusual for Sally not to be immersed in a book during her moments of quiet time at the store.

"Excuse me for a moment, Eleanor I'm going to see what Sally is up to."

Eleanor nodded understandingly. "No rush, Ted. I'll browse a bit longer, see if I can find some ingredients to inspire the dinner I'm making for my grandkids over the weekend."

Ted's eyes lit up with an idea. "Why don't you pick up some eggplants? We just got them fresh from Stephenson's vegetable patch yesterday. They'd be perfect for a baked dish that the kids would love," he suggested, pointing at a crate of shiny, plump eggplants.

As Ted began to walk away, taking the scenic route toward the cash register where Sally was engrossed, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of curiosity. Sneaking quietly along the side aisle, he approached Sally, attempting to peek at what she was doing.

Tiptoeing to close proximity, he observed the top of her pen tracing delicate circles in the air, the rhythmic sound of pen scratching on paper filling the quietness of the shop.

Ted leaned his head over Sally's shoulder, unnoticed, and read the words she was writing in her beautiful cursive script, describing a serene brook that flowed through a lush, green valley with cool water cascading over smooth rocks.

Breaking the silence with a soft voice, Ted asked, "Hey, Sally, what are you writing?"

Sally's head snapped up. She hastily set down the pen, clutching her notebook to her chest as if guarding a precious secret.

"God, Ted! You nearly scared me out of my wits!" she exclaimed, her heart still racing as she discreetly slid the notebook back under the counter. She absently adjusted the screen of the cash register before turning her body to face Ted.

With a nervous smile, Sally brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen across her face. "How can I help you, Ted?"

Ted smiled back, his curiosity unabated. His gaze remained fixed on the spot where Sally had hidden the notebook.

With a slow and deliberate tone, Ted inquired, "Sally, what were you writing just then?"

Sally's response was swift. She slid her hand under the counter to protect the notebook, replying nonchalantly, "It's nothing, just drop it, Ted."

Ted couldn't resist the playful impulse that overcame him. He slipped his hand sneakily around Sally in an attempt to reach for the notepad, savoring the moment.

Sally, however, was quick to react. She grabbed Ted's hand with determination, preventing him from reaching the notepad. Their playful struggle continued as Ted's fingers inched toward the hidden notebook.

Finally, Ted's fingers grasped the notepad gently with his middle and index finger, pulling it out of hiding. Sally's eyes widened in panic as her notebook saw the light of day. She let go of Ted's hands and quickly grabbed the notebook, pressing it against her stomach away from his reach.

Ted's arms encircled Sally as he playfully attempted to wrest the notebook from her vice-like grip. Sally gasped in playful protest as Ted's hands tugged at the bottom of her sweater, feeling his fingers against her skin.

As their laughter-filled struggle continued, a continuation of the intimacy they had shared that morning, the store's door chimed with the arrival of Maggie and Paul. Paul carried a large box under his arm, and the pair entered, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them.

Maggie and Paul's arrival at the store had interrupted a playful moment between Ted and Sally. Maggie couldn't help but smile with delight at the couple's candid affection, seemingly lost in their own world. Paul, on the other hand, was briefly distracted by a sight he hadn't expected: Sally's exposed midriff as Ted playfully attempted to wrestle the notebook from her grasp. He looked away quickly, surprised by the sudden resurgence of physical attraction he felt for Sally.

Maggie cleared her throat with an exaggerated cough, finally catching Ted and Sally's attention. Ted, feeling somewhat guilty, released Sally and the notebook. Sally straightened herself up, discreetly slipping her notebook into her handbag, safely out of Ted's reach.

"Morning, Maggie, Paul," Sally greeted them, flustered.

"Morning, lovebirds." Maggie teased them with a playful grin.

Sally, eager to change the subject, quickly asked, "What brings you here so early? Let me treat you to some coffee."

She walked around the counter toward the self-service coffee bar and began pouring two cups.

Paul explained their early visit, "That's okay, Sally, we're not staying long. I've got to get to the office straight after. We were hoping to catch Becky. Since she's leaving Sommerfield soon, we've brought along a gift we'd like to give her."

Paul took the parcel under his arm and extended it toward Sally. Her face displayed an annoyed surprise, her hands already occupied with pouring coffee. Sally raised a single eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance toward Ted. Paul seemed momentarily stupefied, his mouth hanging open before he turned around and walked back to the counter. He handed the parcel to Ted, who accepted it with childlike excitement, giving it a gentle shake to guess its contents.

"Becky will be really happy to receive a gift," Ted remarked, clearly impressed by its weight.

"Don't shake it Ted. It's fragile." Paul scolded.

Ted formed an 'O' with his mouth, carefully placing the parcel back on the counter.

Paul continued, "I'm sure Becky will make very good use of the gift. We would have loved to give it to her in person but it's best we leave it with you now in case we don't catch her before she flies back to California."

Sally handed the cups of coffee to Paul and Maggie.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I'm sure Becky really appreciates the gift. She's actually gone on a trip to Millerton this morning, but she'll definitely get in touch later to thank you for this generous gift." Sally said.

Maggie turned to Sally expectantly. "I hope Becky gets to see Dan while she's in Millerton. I would also love to pop over to Millerton sometime to see how Dan is doing, but I want to give him some space to do his own thing too."

Sally nodded, understanding Maggie's sentiment. "Yes, it's probably why Becky went to Millerton. It's so nice that she got to see Dan again, I could tell that she really misses him. We too were glad to see Dan again at your house. He seemed to be in good spirits, and Mary seemed thrilled to have her brother around."

Maggie's eyes lit up as she continued the conversation. "I hope Dan comes back to Sommerfield more often. It would be lovely to see him again, but only if he wants to, I know he is busy with his work at the deli and everything."

Ted and Sally exchanged ambivalent glances, unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. The topic of Dan, it seemed, stirred emotions and questions that remained concealed beneath the surface.

Ted finally addressed Maggie and Paul, keen to move the conversation along, "Thank you for inviting us over to your house for that wonderful lunch the other day. I had a great time," he said, hesitating slightly. "I think."

A relieved smile washed over Maggie's expression. Ted noticed a faint smile creeping onto Paul's stern demeanor, guessing that Paul might have been reminiscing about the home run he had hit off Ted's pitch.

"You should come over for lunch again sometime, even after Becky has gone back to California. I'll convince Dan to fire up the barbecue again." Maggie graciously extended an invitation.

Sally quickly intervened. "We can't impose on you like that. Why don't you come over to our house instead? I've got a few new recipes I think I can tempt you with."

Paul picked up on Sally's offer, his eyes lighting up with interest. "That would be wonderful," he said, turning to Sally. "You've got a gift for cooking, and that dessert salad you made the other day was incredible. I can't wait to see what else you can do."

Sally smiled politely, holding back her desire to grin from ear to ear at the compliment. Instead, she subtly turned toward Ted, giving him a quick wink of shared understanding.

Ted's affection for Sally couldn't be contained, but a sense of playful competitiveness nibbled at him. "You know, Maggie, even I have a few new culinary tricks up my sleeves."

Maggie looked at Ted with genuine surprise, her eyes eager for him to elaborate.

"Really, Ted?"

"Oh yes really, I've picked up a few pointers from the pastry goddess herself, Emily. I'd be glad to whip up something for you to sample if you think you're ready for the greatest gastronomic adventure of your lifetime." Ted declared confidently.

Sally burst out laughing, surprising both Ted and Maggie, who couldn't help but smile at Sally's bright disposition. Sally contemplated responding with a biting comeback about Ted's lumpy pot pie but decided to let Ted have his moment.

"Speaking of Emily," Sally began, holding back further laughter, "have you heard that Emily's pastry shop has reopened?"

Maggie nodded enthusiastically. "Oh gosh, yes. I really missed Emily's pastries, and more importantly, I missed seeing Emily. She's been through a lot of late."

Paul chimed in with his knowledge of the situation. "I heard that there was some unsavory commotion at Emily's store that led to the temporary closing. I'm glad that such business is over and done with so that everyone can move on with their lives."

Sally and Ted exchanged uncomfortable looks as Paul continued to discuss the unsettling topic. His words hung in the air, casting a shadow over the grocery store.

"I'm not sure if you know," Paul began, lowering his voice, "but I heard from one of my clients that he saw Steve, Emily's husband, receiving a visit from the police yesterday at his machine shop. It may have been related to the things that happened at Emily's shop."

A silence fell over the group, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Paul lowered his voice as he leaned in closer to Sally and Ted.

"Imagine that," Paul continued, shaking his head, "getting a visit from the police in front of all your customers. Steve's reputation has been shot to bits."

"Well, hold on now." Ted interjected, "We should respect the due process and allow the police investigation to run its course before making any judgments. Presumption of innocence and all that." there was a lack of conviction in Ted's voice as he offered the token of impartiality.

Maggie tried to shift the conversation toward a more positive note. "No matter what," she declared, "the important thing is that we support Emily in getting back on her feet." She smiled warmly. "I plan to buy a bunch of her yummy pastries. It might not be much, but I hope another friendly face would bolster Emily's situation."

Maggie turned to Paul. "I'll need you to give me a lift home after I pick up the pastries. There's no way I'm walking all the way back home carrying all that."

"Of course, honey." Paul replied.

"We'll see you later, lovebirds," Maggie said to Ted and Sally, "Say hello to Becky for us."

Paul shook Ted's hand and kissed Sally before turning to leave with Maggie.

"Thanks again for Becky's gift," Sally said. "Maggie, I'll see you at the crochet club later tonight."

With another round of final farewells and waves of goodbyes, Maggie and Paul finally left the shop, the door closing tightly behind them.

Ted and Sally exchanged glances filled with relief, their bodies visibly loosening up. An expression of accomplishment and contentment graced their faces, signaling the completion of their social obligations.

Ted gazed cautiously at Sally, slowly lowering himself to the ground. His hand sneakily found its way into Sally's handbag where she had hidden her notebook.

Sally noticed Ted's strange movements, her eyes following his arm down onto his hands which was already probing deep into her bag. Erupting with good-natured outrage, she grabbed onto Ted around his torso and leaned into him, playfully biting at his neck. Ted, feeling the warmth of Sally's breath against his skin, excitedly turned into her embrace, his wandering hands once again reaching underneath her sweater.

"I mean, it's one thing to do this on the couch at home, but in the grocery store?" Sally asked breathily.

Her hands, driven by an intense desire, assertively grasped the back of Ted's belt, exerting firm pressure as she drew him irresistibly closer.

Suddenly from the dairy aisle, Eleanor stepped into view, a forgotten and unwilling witness to Ted and Sally's unbridled passion. She almost dropped the shopping basket she was holding as she was confronted by their scandalous embrace.

"Edward Jones Junior! Sally Berenson!" Eleanor exclaimed. "We all know you love each other, but must it be so public?"

Ted and Sally immediately parted, their gazes comically avoiding each other as if they were complete strangers.

Ted pointed to nowhere in particular and muttered a few grunts before taking off, grabbing the broom, and immediately going to sweep the farthest corner of the shop he could find. Sally's face turned bright red as she mindlessly fussed with her hair, her eyes unable to establish eye contact.

"Eleanor!" Sally yelped, "Good morning!"