AT THE GROCERY STORE.
OPEN STARTER: @somertonstarter
Frozen lasagnas, and… a bottle of wine? What the hell was a bottle of wine doing in the middle of the frozen food? Maybe someone had fully decided to give up on a decent ( Eleanor took a few moments to look at what the label said ) Merlot ( oh goodie ), and a man’s trash was another man’s treasure. In the cart it went. Sometimes, Eleanor thought that her shopping resembled more that of a college kid than an actual mother. Cooking, however, required effort, and energy, two things she did not possess after long hours in the ER consulting alongside an arrogant doctor and stitching up people who thought they were invisible on ice. Besides, Emma was studying at a friend’s house and whatever she would do today, would be for one. She had long decided the microwave was going to get well used today and the next morning.
“Waffles, ice cream, lava cake? Score!” The brunette spoke with herself while reaching for other items, a child like grin playing on her face at her new acquisitions. As she looked at the top shelf though, she saw her favorite brand of puff pastry and that was about all she needed to complete a caloric dinner that would put her in a delicious food coma until the next day. Maybe she would wake up being poked on the face by Emma checking if she was still alive? A person could dream. She stood on her tip toes and tried to reach for it, but absolutely no success. She looked around and noticed an empty cart not far away, but hey, she had been stuck in that freezer for a while now. “I apologize I am taking so long, but I just need that,” she pointed up, “and I’ll be done. Do you think I’ll be successful if I get in that cart to get taller?”
Josie didn’t need much, so when making the usual decision at the front of the store, she opted for basket over cart. Most of her shopping she did on bi-weekly grocery runs, during which she stuck to a meticulous list derived from an equally meticulous bi-weekly meal plan. However, occasionally she had a friend over and therefore switched what she would be making for dinner last minute, or she ended up drinking more juice than she usually did and didn’t feel like sticking to just water until the next grocery run. Her planner and meal planning would suggest she was part-robot, stringently adhering to a calculated diet, but in underneath it all she was only human.
Tonight her best friend was coming over and, her main reason for an additional trip to the grocery store, she had run out of orange juice. Typically for guests Josie did her best to make something from scratch. It was never anything overly complicated, but it showed that she cared and it was better for them than most of the pre-made meals that could be found in the frozen food isle. Josie’s best friend, however, already knew that she cared about them and Josie was beat from taking care of her new dog. Tonight, they would dine on pizza from the freezer isle.
As Josie gently placed the thin box in her basket, letting it rest on top of and cover the dog treats and orange juice carton that were already inside, she heard someone ask her a question. Josie turned around to see a familiar face, though perhaps one that wouldn’t welcome her.
“No worries.” Josie’s gaze followed where Eleanor pointed. “How about I just grab it for you?” Without waiting for an answer, Josie reached up and effortlessly grabbed the puff pastries from the high shelf. Being 5′9″ had its advantages.
“Here.” As Josie offered the box to the other woman, she also offered her a smile. Even if Eleanor didn’t offer her one back, it was fine. Josie didn’t hold on to anything that had happened from when they were in high school, and while Eleanor might, she wasn’t going to assume that the other still harboured negative feelings.
