Judy rushed from her car and glanced at her phone.
1:30 p.m.
Would Dale still be at the store? She was forty-five minutes late. The inviting spring weather and her outdoor projects had stolen a good part of the day.
Since becoming a widow three years ago, she’d relied heavily on the outdoors as a diversion. Maintaining her rose garden, brisk walks around Wood Duck Pond, and pickleball with friends had not only given her renewed purpose and human connection but also filled her calendar.
But still, life wasn’t the same without John. There was a connection she’d had with her husband of thirty years that was hard to replace. The fact that her only child Michael had moved his family (and her two adorable grandchildren) across the country for a recent job promotion only magnified her feelings. Something was missing.
That was until she had met Dale at Freddy’s Food-Mart two months ago.
It sounded silly and romantic when she thought about it. At first, it seemed like just a lucky coincidence meeting him. But then, how was it possible that they were always food shopping at the same time and day each week?
Well, in her heart she knew the reason. It wasn’t really that mysterious. While it started out as a chance encounter, thanks to a natural attraction and good old-fashioned planning, it had blossomed into a welcomed pattern. Dale was kind and she enjoyed “bumping into” him every Sunday. Even in their short exchanges she could tell they had much in common. He too was active and liked the outdoors. He too understood loss and hope.
But now she was late. And she hoped that Dale was still there.
Judy found a cart, clicked on the Freddy’s Food-Mart App that held her shopping list, and headed down the produce aisle. By the time she’d reached the frozen foods section she still hadn’t spotted Dale.
She scanned the various ice cream containers stacked like Legos in the refrigerator unit: Chocolate, Vanilla, Rocky Road, Cookies and Cream, Mudslide, Mint Chocolate Chip, Butter Pecan, Coffee...
“Huh?” she said out loud. “I don’t see it.”
Then in the corner, a lonely container called out to her: Rum Raisin. It was the last one. She grabbed it. It had been her husband’s favorite.
“A small mound of ice cream after dinner and good, honest conversation are the foundations of a strong relationship,” he often joked.
The thought brought back memories of their last moments together…
Her cold-blue hands shook from holding the ice cream for so long. She placed the container in the cart and held her hands out in front of her. The ring finger on her left hand sat empty. She’d finally taken it off a few weeks ago. John’s final words of advice echoed back: Seize the day.
Judy glanced at the ice cream in her cart and smiled.
Rum Raisin. What a perfect flavor. The chewy consistency of the raisins combined with the tangy hint of rum made it irresistible. What a wonderful coincidence that Dale had mentioned it was his favorite flavor as well.
Another check mark for Dale in the plus column.
A voice from the store intercom sounded: “Will the owner of the maroon Chrysler PT Cruiser, license plate CAR-PE-DM, please come to Customer Service?” The message repeated twice. The voice was Lucy’s, Judy and Dale’s regular cashier. The three of them had become fast friends and often bantered in the checkout line.
Well, that’s odd, thought Judy. That was her car. Maybe in her rush to find Dale she had accidentally parked in a loading zone or disabled parking spot. She turned her cart with purpose and headed for the front of the store.
“Hi, Lucy,” Judy said. “You announced my car. Is something wrong?”
Lucy grinned. “Not exactly.”
Judy stared at Lucy, unsure what to say next.
“Sorry to worry you,” came a deep voice from behind.
Judy turned and then smiled. It was Dale. He stood tall, with salt and pepper hair and pale-blue eyes.
“I had just finished shopping and was unloading my groceries when I saw your car,” Dale said. “I’m afraid I asked Lucy to page you.”
“Is everything okay?” Judy said.
“Yes,” Dale said. “Everything’s fine.”
“Is my car parked illegally?”
“No. Your car is perfect.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
Dale stood silent for a moment and took a deep breath. “The truth is that I’ve been getting very used to seeing you each week. And when I didn’t bump into you today, I got worried that something had happened. Then, when I saw your car outside—I just wanted to see you, Judy. Your smile.”
Judy lit up like a kid’s sparkler on the fourth of July. “It’s always nice to be missed.”
“Some things you can’t leave to chance,” Dale said. “When it counts, you need to make it happen.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Dale peered into Judy’s shopping cart. “Rum Raisin. My favorite.”
Judy grinned.
“Maybe we can share some,” Dale said. “No sense waiting until next week to bump into each other again.”
Judy nodded. “I’d like that.”
Lucy had been watching their exchange and finally broke in. “It’s about time you two. If someone didn’t make a move soon, I was going to have to take things into my own hands!”
Judy and Dale blushed.
Lucy crossed her arms in front of her and turned to Dale. “Well?”
After an awkward moment, he spoke up. “Thanks for your help…Cupid. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I know,” Lucy said with a wink. Then she pointed to the sign above her. “But I am in Customer Service after all.”
And the three of them had a heart-felt laugh.
💕💕💕💕💕
James Patrick Focarile is an award-winning writer and Derringer Finalist who resides in the Northwest U.S.A. His work has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, JOURN-E, White Cat Publications, Kings River Life and more. For more visit: JamesPatrickFocarile.com
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https://jpendure.wixsite.com/james-p-focarile
Rum and raisin is the champion of all ice cream, in my opinion, so good to see it take a key role in this cute story.
Beautifully crafted. Believable, entertaining, and very readable. All the necessary attributes to make a story stand out. That’s the secret. More please.