Becky's home in Sommerfield sat on a quiet street on the western side of town. It was a modest, single-story house, old in years but well maintained by Ted and Sally who were attentive to its upkeep. The cozy little house backed onto a rolling, open grove that shimmered with dew in the early hours of the morning.
The woods behind the house held a special place in Becky's heart since her childhood. In those days she together with Dan would often spend their afternoons exploring the woods, preferring the openness and unpredictability of mother nature.
They would wander around the woods, observing wildlife that changed with the seasons. Occasionally they would sometimes venture as far as the small river a mile or two away. Once they found a spot, Becky would read her novels and together they would listen to music on their headphones. On some days in the warmer months they would go swimming in the crystal clear river, enjoying the embrace of nature, carefree and soothing. In those days, Becky and Dan would sometimes do their homework out in the woods, motivating each other in study with Becky helping Dan out whenever he encountered a difficult subject.
From the kitchen at the back of the house, Sally would often look out and see Becky and Dan sitting somewhere in the woods, immersed in their own world. Sally was grateful that Becky had such a good friend in Dan, someone who understood and encouraged Becky's studious nature.
At times, Sally couldn't help but envision a future where Becky and Dan would embark on a lifelong journey together. Forging a fulfilling and loving life akin to the one Sally cherished with Ted. However, she refrained from imposing her desires or exerting pressure on Becky's personal relationships, knowing that love should unfold organically.
As dinner time approached, Sally's resonant voice would sound out from the back yard, echoing through the woods, calling Becky back home for dinner. Sometimes, Dan would also stay for dinner, indulging in hearty conversations about their day and their dreams for the future.
In particular, Ted and Dan shared a fervent interest in competitive baseball, fueled by Dan's talent as a star shortstop in the local team that Ted coached. They would often dream of Dan's potential ascent to the Minor League and even dared to envision him playing for the esteemed Minnesota Twins in the Major League.
On this particular morning, Sally and Ted found themselves seated in the familiar kitchen, savoring their customary breakfast of toast and fresh farm eggs. The clock ticked closer to seven, the time when they would open their grocery store for the day. This routine remained largely unchanged, except on Sundays when they dedicated their morning to attending church services and fulfilling social obligations within their tightly-knit community.
On Sundays, the store would open in the early afternoon and stay open longer into the evening to ensure that townsfolk had the opportunity to complete any essential shopping. Ted and Sally took their responsibilities of running the main grocery in town seriously.
Ted sat quietly with his reading glasses, engrossed in a rereading of a collection of his favorite short stories by Hemingway. Though not well-traveled due to his commitments to the store, Ted was well-informed about the world. His knowledge gained from his keen interest in reading and watching documentaries online, a skill Becky had patiently taught him.
Across from Ted, Sally was engrossed in a Nora Roberts novel, her escape into the realm of romance. Her passion for reading had been inherited from her own mother, who possessed an extensive collection of romance novels collected over the decades. Sally's reading habits were varied, drawn more towards fiction and had even in the past dabbled in writing herself. Though she enjoyed the occasional mystery and thriller, she found solace in the familiar embrace of romance novels as a reader.
Just as Ted was lost in Hemingway's prose, Becky walked into the kitchen, her shoulder-length hair tousled from a restful sleep. She stretched and cracked her back, feeling completely refreshed and eager to start her day.
Seeing her parents sitting so serenely across from each other, Becky couldn't help but comment on the idyllic scene before her.
"Don't move! You guys look so cute sitting like that together. I wish I had my phone to take a photo."
Ted looked up from his book and chuckled. "Well, don't go spreading that photo around. We have a rugged reputation to uphold," he teased.
Sally blushed and playfully scolded Becky, "Oh, hush, Becky. You're making your old mom turn red like a tomato."
Becky laughed, loving the dynamic between her parents. Sally got up from her seat and went to the stove to fetch a generous serving of toast and eggs. She placed it in front of her daughter with a warm smile.
"Here you go sweetie. It's so nice to have you back home, even if it's just for a little while. I've missed making breakfast for you."
"Thanks mom. I'm so grateful to have breakfast all ready to eat as I roll out of bed. It's not a luxury that comes with living by myself."
Sally chuckled. "Well, don't get used to it. If you want to improve your cooking skills, you'll have to spend more time getting your hands dirty in the kitchen."
Becky groaned playfully, feigning despair. "Oh Mom, don't remind me! All my friends at university complain about my cooking. They say it's terrible!"
"Well you don't need to worry about your cooking if you are quick on your fingers in ordering takeout." Ted joined in the banter, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hey, that's not fair! You're supposed to defend me, not agree with Mom!" Becky playfully glared at her dad.
Unable to let Ted gain the upper hand, Becky fondly recalled a comical incident from the past.
"I still remember the time that dad tried cooking steaks to impress mom on Mother's Day," Becky said, trying her very best to hold back laughter.
"Not that story again!" Ted cried out.
"Oh yes that story again! Dad, you are meant to grill steaks, not boil them in water."
"They looked a bit rare so I wanted to give it a bit more cooking." Ted reasoned.
"Ted, you've come a long way in your cooking but that was not your proudest moment. I'll never forget the sight of the soggy steak you served that was swimming in this pool of grayish, meat water." Sally shared her perspective.
The three of them erupted in laughter, their voices filling the kitchen with joy and warmth. It was in these light-hearted moments that Sally realized how much she had missed the banter and the little interactions that made her day. She looked at Becky with a long, loving gaze. Her heart filled with the bittersweet knowledge that Becky's stay in Sommerfield would soon come to an end, and she would have to return to California for her studies.
Tears welled up in Sally's eyes as she mustered the courage to speak. "Becky, sweetie, promise me you'll come back home more often. I miss you so much."
Becky walked over to her mother, enveloping her in a warm embrace. "Oh, Mom, of course, I'll come more often. I miss you too." She reached for a nearby napkin and gently wiped away Sally's tears.
Sally smiled through her tears, feeling both proud and nostalgic. She marveled at how much Becky had grown and matured. In that moment, Sally's mind flashed back to the times when she had to wipe away Becky's tears after a fall in the woods or console her when something sad happened at school.
Watching the touching scene unfold, Ted felt a surge of emotions. He jokingly chimed in, "Hey, I'm feeling a little left out right here."
Becky turned to her dad, her eyes sparkling with affection.
"Oh, Dad, how could I forget you?" Without hesitation, she rushed into her father's open arms, giving him a tight, loving hug. In that embrace, Ted felt the depth of his daughter's love and the reassurance that everything was right in the world.