With the picnic basket packed with an assortment of goodies, Sally and Becky decided to take a leisurely walk instead of driving the car to the rose garden park just outside of the town center. The sun shone warmly overhead, and a gentle breeze played with the leaves of the trees lining their neighborhood streets. As they strolled together, the anticipation of a pleasant afternoon filled the air.
After a short walk, they arrived at the park, greeted by the peaceful ambiance of the mid-afternoon. The park was relatively quiet at this time of day, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic. They found a shady spot under an old maple tree, where they laid out an old picnic blanket that had seen its fair share of outings over the years.
Becky eagerly began unpacking the treasures her mother had packed into the picnic basket. She pulled out a large packet of Old Dutch chips, an indulgent and not-so-healthy treat that both ladies had been eagerly anticipating.
"Are we really doing this?" Becky asked her mother with a playful grin, her hands hovering over the packet, ready to tear it open.
Sally nodded affirmatively.
"Oh yeah, we are definitely doing this. It's a treat, and we deserve it."
With excitement, Becky opened the packaging, and the aroma of perfectly fried potato chips filled her nose. She turned to her mother with a great big smile and offered her the package. Sally obliged, taking a large handful of chips.
Becky followed suit, hungrily grabbing two large chips at once and savoring them with a satisfied sigh at how decadent they tasted. "I think I just undid a whole year's worth of gym with that mouthful," she joked.
Sally laughed heartily. "Well, it's acceptable to indulge every once in a while. Life is too short to always worry about calories."
As they continued to enjoy the chips, Sally's expression turned more thoughtful.
"You know, Becky, I hope you're eating enough and staying healthy when you're away. I worry about you constantly. You seem to be looking a little skinnier compared to before."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm still getting three good meals a day, even though it's nowhere as delicious as the food that you and dad cook. Besides, I've started training with a good friend I met in university, we've both taken up Pilates to keep in shape."
Sally appreciated the reassurance but couldn't help expressing her concerns.
"With all those beach parties you probably go to, it's natural to want to look good in a bikini. I get that. I just want you to keep an eye on your health first before fixating on just looking good."
Becky smiled warmly at her mother's caring nature. "I know mom, and I appreciate your concern. My health is important to me and I'll make sure I take care of myself."
Sally looked at Becky with understanding.
"I trust you sweetie. It's just difficult being so far away from you. Your old mom feels a bit useless at times, not being able to offer you any physical help if anything was to happen. Minneapolis is one thing, and your dear aunt and uncle are there to watch over you, but California feels like another country, and I don't mean Canada!"
Sally nervously started binge eating from the potato chip packet, her brows furrowed and concern etched all over her expression.
"I'm sorry sweetie, I promised to myself that I wouldn't be an overprotective worrywart. Yet, here I am worrying you with my worries."
"Mom! Stop stuffing yourself with the chips, you're going to ruin your appetite for the walleye sandwich!" Becky grabbed the packet of chips from her mom and put it back into the basket.
"Yes, yes, you're right, sweetie. Let's get started on the main attraction before we fill up with junk food."
Sally reached into the lunchbox and took out the walleye sandwich which was wrapped in wax paper. The savory aroma of the pan-fried crumbed walleye filled the air. Sally handed a triangular slice to Becky, who eagerly accepted it. As Becky took a bite, a grin of delight spread across her face.
"This is amazing, Mom!" Becky exclaimed, her mouth half-full. "The tartar sauce you made is perfect with the walleye, and the lettuce and tomato add just the right crunch."
Sally watched her daughter with a nervous anticipation.
"Is it any good? I was worried I might have overcooked the fish."
Becky laughed, a dollop of tartar sauce on the corner of her mouth.
"Mom, you worry too much. It's absolutely perfect. You have to teach me the recipe for this. I'm going to try making it when I get back home."
Becky paused for a moment, realizing her slip of the tongue. "I mean, back to California home, not Sommerfield home," Becky corrected herself.
Sally smiled and playfully nudged her daughter's shoulder.
"Lucky you, everywhere you go is home, isn't it?" Sally takes the other half of the sandwich and takes a small bite, "Have you considered making California your home? Your more permanent home?" Sally asked delicately.
Becky gazed into the distance, lost in thought. "I did consider it and honestly, at times, I thought it was a done deal, me staying in California." she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "That was until I came back for this visit. The moment I caught my first glimpse of our house for four long years. It was like a flood of memories and emotions rushing back to me."
She paused, trying to put her feelings into words. "I'm not sure where my heart truly lies anymore. I've spent these last few weeks reconnecting with family and friends, and being back here, it's made me question everything. I feel like I have no idea what I want to do."
Sally listened attentively, her maternal instincts kicking in.
"But what about finishing your vet degree? You're still going to do that right?" she asked gently, concern etched on her face.
Becky's eyes lit up with determination.
"Oh, I'm absolutely committed to finishing my degree. It's exactly what I want to do, and I have a deep passion for it. It's just that, if everything goes well and I graduate, I don't know what comes next."
Her shoulders dropped slightly as she exhaled. "I guess I underestimated the kind of life I could build back here. Seeing you and dad being content and happy with the grocery store has really opened my eyes to new possibilities."
"You know, your dad wasn't always happy running the store. It was a big decision for him to take it over from his father. I had to convince him to do it together as a couple. And then, when you were born, it just became a part of our lives."
Becky looked at her mother earnestly, wanting to understand.
"Dad is happy, right? I know he jokes about playing baseball professionally, but he's found his calling at the grocery store hasn't he?" she asked, searching for reassurance.
Sally hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"It wasn't easy for him to accept the responsibility of running the store, given the history he had with his father. At times he wanted to run far away and never look back, but eventually, he found his peace with it and made the best of his situation."
Becky leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued.
"Mom, did you give birth to me to keep dad in Sommerfield?" she asked, almost as if she had stumbled upon a secret.
Sally smiled softly.
"No, sweetie. Having you was something we both wanted, always. We wanted at least one child, maybe even more, but we just couldn't seem to get lucky."
Becky's eyes widened at the thought of having siblings.
"Oh, it would have been so cool to have a little brother or sister! Though, maybe not, they'd probably get into all my things and break everything!" she chuckled.
Sally joined in the laughter, pouring two cups of hot tea from the flask she brought out.
"You know, Becky, you've become like a big sister to Dan's sister, Mary. I've seen the way she looks up to you."
Becky accepted the cup of tea, taking a thoughtful sip.
"Mary is such a great kid," she said. "Nothing can keep her down. She dreams of living outside of Sommerfield and is already working and saving up for it by working at the granary."
Sally smiled with pride.
"See, that's the kind of influence a good role model can have."
"Mary hardly needs my encouragement to get what she wants. She's a social chameleon." Becky dismissed her mother's praise. "But mom, you're happy right? You really seem to be right at home running the store with dad. Although as we found out today, you are potentially a wordsmith in hiding."
"I'll be honest, Becky," Sally began, her voice tinged with nostalgia, "being a shopkeeper in town was the last thing I thought I'd be doing when I was a kid. I grew up on the Berenson farm, a family farmstead that had been passed down through countless generations. From the moment I could walk, I was raised to one day take over the farm from my father."
She paused for a moment, looking wistfully at the rose garden blooming with vibrant colors. "In that way, your dad and I had a lot in common. He was also raised to take over his father's grocery shop as a kid. The only difference is that your dad hated the responsibility."
Sally took a sip of her tea, savoring the memories. "But fate had other plans for us. When your dad's father passed away first, we both ended up taking over the running of the grocery store and settled down in Sommerfield. If my own dad had passed away first, who knows? I might have convinced your dad to run the farm with me."
She looked over at Becky, a glimmer of playfulness in her eyes.
"Becky, you would have made a fine farmer too. I could have used some of your muscles to load and operate the seed planter," Sally jokes.
Becky chuckled and playfully pulled up the sleeves of her T-shirt, flexing her biceps.
"Oh, you bet! I remember Grandpa showing me how to load the seeds into the hopper once when I visited during the summer break. He even taught me how to shoot the .22 caliber rifle."
Sally's expression turned stern as she put down her cup.
"Tell me he didn't actually let you shoot the twenty two," she said, concern evident in her voice.
Becky looked away sheepishly. "Yeah, I promised grandpa I wasn't meant to tell you that." she admitted.
"I'm not happy about it, but I'm going to forgive grandpa for that small transgression," Sally said, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"It saddened me deeply to sell the farm after all those years being with our family. But with your aunt Gracie having moved to St. Paul so long ago and me being occupied with running the grocery store with your dad, there was just no way I could run the farm profitably, the same way that your grandpa did." Sally reasoned with a tinge of regret in her voice.
"Plus when we had inherited the grocery store, there was so much that needed fixing and upgrading. We needed a bigger cold storeroom and we wanted to expand the offering with a hot food bar. We had put it off for years because we didn't have the money, we needed some capital, and selling the farm was the best way to make it happen."
Becky nodded empathetically, understanding the weight of the decision her mother had to make.
"Grandpa was a good businessman and would have probably understood the reasons for investing into the grocery store." she said, offering her mother a few comforting words.
"I really hope so too," Sally replied, her eyes clouded with emotions. "I doubt he would have ever thought about selling the farm himself and letting it all go. He had built his entire life and so many good memories there. Also it was his last link to mom. After she passed away, he never really recovered fully from it."
Becky listened intently, her heart going out to her mother.
"Grandpa always taught us that family comes first before any material possessions, no matter how valuable it is. Perhaps he would have been okay with your decision to sell the farm. I believe he'd want what's best for you and dad."
Sally's emotional gaze fixed up Becky, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"I pray to God that he would have be okay with my decisions," she whispered.
Becky poured more tea for her mother and took out the packet of chips again, offering them in consolation.
"Grandpa was also a practical kind of guy, he'd understand," she said, trying to lift her mother's spirits.
Sally managed a smile, grateful for her daughter's comforting presence. She took a chip from the packet and savored its taste.
"This potato chip is good, but it's nothing compared to the ones that your grandma used to fry in that big old dutch oven of hers. She'd use the potatoes that we'd grow for private use in a field beside the tractor sheds." she reminisced.
Becky's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I wish I had a chance to try them," she said.
"Oh, they were absolutely divine," Sally replied with a nostalgic sigh. "The crunch it made when you bite into it you could hear for miles! I remember your dad always joked that he married me hoping to taste such magnificent potato chips again."
"That sounds like dad, always thinking with his stomach!" Becky exclaimed, delighted by the story.
Mother and daughter shared a hearty laugh. They spent the rest of the afternoon under the maple tree, sharing stories of Sally's childhood on the Berenson farm. Becky complemented those tales with her own fond memories of summer breaks spent with her grandpa at the old Berenson farm, cherishing the precious moments they had together.