A few hours had passed since the rains had eased and Maggie had left the store to continue her day. A short while after, Ted made his return to the store to relieve Sally. There was a spring in his step, his infectious smile lighting up the store as he entered. Sally couldn't help but watch him with wonder in her eyes, still captivated by his boyish charm even after all these years.
"Hey there, shopkeep!" Ted greeted cheerfully, holding a paper bag in his hand. "I brought you a little afternoon treat." He pulled out a fresh poppy seed bagel spread with a generous serving of cream cheese, Sally's favorite, and presented it to her with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Sally's face lit up with delight as she took the bagel from him. "Oh, Ted, you remembered!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "I'm impressed that you still care about these little details. It means a lot to me."
Ted feigned a suspicious look, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Well that was easy! If I'd known you were so easily pleased, I would have done these kind of things more often," he teased, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Who knows, it might lead to some extra action in the bedroom when you're in a good mood."
Sally blushed and giggled, quickly hushing him. "Ted! There are customers around," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with affection. Taking a bite of the bagel, she discovered that Ted even had it toasted, his attention to detail impressing her further.
As Sally savored the delicious snack, her expression shifted, growing more serious. She motioned for Ted to come closer, and he obliged, going behind the counter and standing beside her.
Sally sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her worry. Ted instinctively wrapped his arms around her shoulders, offering comfort and support. "What is it, Sally?" he asked gently, his voice filled with concern.
"Maggie came into the store earlier," Sally began, her voice tinged with sadness. "She and Paul had an argument."
Ted's brows furrowed, his worry deepening. "I hope they're okay," he murmured, careful not to pry into the Fenton's family affairs.
Sally remained seated, her face etched with concern. Ted couldn't bear to see her like this and made a silent decision to listen and be there for her.
"Maggie told me that the argument was about Dan," Sally continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know all the details, but apparently, Dan and Paul had a major falling out a year or two ago. That's why we haven't seen much of Dan around Sommerfield until recently."
A flicker of recognition crossed Ted's mind.
"You know, I was over in Millerton a few months ago, visiting an old friend, and I remember seeing someone who resembled Dan loading things into a deli truck."
Sally looked surprised and a little upset. "You saw Dan?" she asked, her eyes searching his. "Why didn't you try to talk to him? Dan would have appreciated it. He could have done with seeing a familiar face around. He really looked up to you Ted, from back when you were his baseball coach."
Ted wiped his brow, feeling a pang of guilt. "Sally, I wasn't sure if it was Dan," he explained earnestly. "He was across the street, and I was with my friend and his wife. I didn't want to be rude to my friends or make a mistake if it wasn't Dan. I'm sorry."
Sally pouted, her concern for Dan evident in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel disappointed that Ted hadn't reached out to him, especially given their history together.
Ted gave her a comforting pat on the back, silently apologizing once more. "Please, Sally, tell me what else Maggie said," he urged, wanting to understand the situation fully.
Sally continued, her voice laden with emotion. "Despite the argument, Dan showed up back home last Sunday when we saw him at church. That was the first time he's been back home in a year and a half. Maggie was really glad he came," she said, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "And she was also happy that Becky was there too. Maggie seemed to really miss her."
Sally sighed again, her worry resurfacing. "But even with that visit, Paul is still unwilling to reconcile with Dan. His stubbornness upset Maggie so much that she ended up wandering in the rain and eventually finding herself in the grocery store."
Ted understood Sally's concern, his heart going out to Maggie and the difficult situation she faced. However, he felt a need to reiterate his stance. "Sally, as much as I sympathize with their family situation, it's not our place to comment or interfere," he stated gently.
Sally frowned, a touch of annoyance creasing her forehead. She added, almost casually, "By the way, Maggie invited us all to lunch at the Fenton's next weekend."
Ted's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked Sally to repeat what she had just said. Sally confirmed it once again, her tone slightly challenging. "You, me, and Becky are invited to lunch at the Fenton's, Ted."
Ted hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his face. He wasn't particularly close to Paul, despite being acquainted through Sally and Maggie. He remembered Paul's seriousness, his substantial wealth, education and a way with words that seemed worlds apart from his own modest life.
Ted remembered one occasion when he shared with Paul his passion for Hemingway's writings and was met with a question on why he didn't read Chandler instead.
"I'm not sure if I can make it," Ted finally replied weakly, his voice hesitant. Sally's expression turned serious, and she immediately questioned his response.
"Why can't you make it, Ted?" Sally asked, her eyes searching his. She wanted a valid reason for his reluctance.
Ted hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice tinged with hesitation. "Who's going to mind the store if we both go to the lunch?" he explained softly.
Sally's disappointment was palpable. "Ted I'm not going to turn down Maggie's invitation for a second time. We can afford to close the store for one afternoon, a week's notice is plenty of time for our customers." she said, her tone tinged with frustration. "It's important to Maggie that we are all there. I'd gather Dan would be there as well, it's Maggie's chance to see her son again."
Ted tried to defuse the situation, glancing over at an elderly customer browsing the beer section. Spotting an opportunity, he gestured toward the customer.
"Sally, let me help this gentleman with his beer selection first," Ted suggested, his voice filled with an apologetic tone. "We can continue this conversation later, okay?"
Sally shook her head, clearly miffed, and grabbed her handbag. "Fine. My shift is done, I'll see you tonight for dinner then." she replied curtly, her disappointment evident. With one last glance at Ted, she left the store, leaving him alone to mind the shop and ponder the dreaded invite to the Fenton's for lunch.