Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
I’ve never had to shop for a man before. Buying stuff for my Dad is always my Mom’s territory. But the store’s range does surprise me.
Surely there’s something here I could pick that I know he’d like?
Everything from grocery items to farm equipment–clothing and even a large selection of firearms- sees me making a face, opting for another area to browse.
Hovering back near the counter, I observe Ash at the far end of the store.
The storekeeper asks me politely if there was something he could help me with. Making sure Ash has his back to us for a moment I let the storekeeper know my situation.
“Hank? I’d like to get Ash something. Something special…but I just don’t know what he’d like,” I confess.
I sound more desperate than I thought, and I know that Ash doesn’t plan on spending a whole day in the general store either.
The old man looks me in the eye thoughtfully, eventually smiling as he sighs to himself.
“Young lady? I think you’ve already given Ash everything he’s ever wanted or needed. Call me an old romantic fool, but I know love when I see it,” he says in a low voice, so Ash doesn’t overhear him.
An older woman joins Hank, coming out to the storefront from behind a pair of old velvet curtains with a couple of wooden crates piled high with Ash’s groceries.
Hank’s wife. I can tell.
“You coping out here with the rush, Hank?” she asks him, looking at her husband in a way I know is the same way I look at Ash, or even when I just think about him.
“Oh, I think we’ve got a handle on it,” he murmurs back without looking at her. But the light in his twinkling eyes tells me about their life together.
It's a timeless connection that’s only grown with them both as they’ve gotten older.
“Young lady here was just asking about something that Ash might like,” Hank remarks, still keeping his voice to a low murmur.
The old woman looks up from her list that’s sitting on top of the crates. She gives me the same once over her husband did before glancing over to where Ash is standing. His huge body and broad shoulders, balance his thoughtful head as he deliberates over something that’s caught his eye.
“I’d put a ring on his finger,” she says, matter of fact. “Man like that is a once in a lifetime deal,” she says, smiling as her eyes return to mine.
“Don’t waste time on ‘things,’ is what I mean. If what you know in your heart is love when you think of Ash, then that’s all the two of you will ever need,” she says, turning her gaze to her husband, who nods slowly.
“I think in around nine months or so, you’ll be able to give Ash exactly what you both want apart from each other,” the old man adds cryptically.
The sound of Ash’s voice so close behind me startles me, and I realize I’ve zoned out completely, taking in what this cute old couple has just told me.
“Hi, Rose,” Ash says heartily, introducing me in the next breath. “This is Bridget. She’ll be staying with me a while up on the farm.”
“Nice to see you’ve got company for a change, Ash. I was getting worried you were turning into a hermit,” old Rose playfully scolds Ash, making him blush and look down at his feet.
“I guess I just never found the one…until now,” he says softly, taking my hand in his again, making the old couple smile like only old people can when they see cupid doing his finest work.
“Anyways, we’d better head off. Looks like rain coming in,” Ash muses, and settling up the bill, he lifts the cases of groceries, surprising me some by plonking them into my arms.
“Could you put these in the truck? I’ll be right behind you,” he tells me, giving me a strange look, but the old couple seems to think that’s a good idea, so I head for his truck.
I watch him watch me for a moment through the store windows as I load the stuff in the back before climbing into my seat.
Something tells me that Ash being Ash is doing a little of his own gift shopping.
I really wanted to get him something, and I don’t feel like waiting a million years to be a sweet old couple….
Ash isn’t long, and holding the door open for someone else as he comes out of the store, I notice Rose and Hank waving to me, so I force a smile and wave back.
I’m not used to people being so damned nice, and spotting the big paper sack Ash is carrying only confirms my suspicions that he’s got something he didn’t want me to see.
I can’t stay frustrated or annoyed because I didn’t manage to get him a gift, though. His winning smile and the way he just goes out of his way to help complete strangers makes me feel so good inside. I figure the old lady’s advice is best.