Jean was up early. She finished her three-mile walk, showered and dressed, and out the door to pick up a cinnamon roll and coffee at Karen’s. She already had a Diet Mt. Dew tucked in her bag for a breakfast date at the Rose River Park.
She expected Pete to be there when she arrived. His job for the date was bringing a towel to dry off the table; a tablecloth; and utensils.
When Jean pulled through the park entrance, she saw Pete’s car by the side of the road, then noticed the flash of checkered fabric as he unfurled it over the table.
“Good morning, Jean,” Pete said before greeting her with a kiss which she returned.
“Good morning to you. I hope you brought a knife so we can split this roll, I’ve got your Diet Dew in my bag. This is a great spot, Pete. I don’t think I’ve been on a breakfast date before.”
“Me neither, at least not while dating.”
The warm cinnamon roll was cut in half, the butter melting between layers of dough. Pete unscrewed the cap on the bottle and took a drink.
“Speaking of not dating,” Pete continued. “I think we should get a date set for when we aren’t dating anymore.” He let the remark hang in the air a moment, “...since we’ll be married.”
Jean smiled. “I agree. It’s about all I can do not to tell Emjay and Elaine, and sooner than later, somebody is going to figure out we’re engaged. Besides, I want to wear this beautiful ring in public.”
“OK, I think this should be sooner than later, but what do you think?”
“Well, I’d love a fall wedding. Early fall, I guess, that way we avoid the heart of harvest season which is a busy time at the shop. How about the last weekend of September?”
“I like that, that’s six months from now, is that enough time?”
“Oh, no problem at all. If we can get on the church schedule, we can work around everything else. I think it would be nice to have a ceremony around 11 with a lunch reception, so you and I can get out of town.”
Pete smiled, “Really? Why?” As the playful slug contacted his shoulder, he knew he deserved it.
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Dr. Max Straw got up early to do research the latest developments in medicine. At 11, he and Ken Records were debuting their show on WRSE. In addition to a local audience, if anyone bothered to listen online, they could have a worldwide audience.
In their last show prep meeting, Ken and Max decided they would start the show with medical headlines, ask Max about allergy concerns, and then take listener questions after the first commercial break.
Dr. Noel’s local clinic signed on as a title sponsor for the program. Since the clinic was part of the University’s health system where Straw worked for years, it’s a natural partnership.
Straw checked numbers on people in the state affected by the flu this season and looked up what the Center of Disease Control was saying about the virus working its way around the world from where it started in China. While not his specialty, Straw knew how contagious diseases worked, and he hoped to offer some practical advice while easing concerns for folks around Roseville.
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“Jean, why don’t you call your girls and invite the two of them to join us for dinner tonight. We can do it at my place, if you like. I can put together a spaghetti dinner if you bring the salad. This way we can tell them at the same time.
“How do you want to tell our closest friends? And, I need to let the people know at the station before Emjay tells them the news.”
“Right, what if we record a short video on your phone and we send it to all of them before the girls go home tonight?”
Pete laughed, “that’s perfect! No one will expect the two of us to announce our plans via technology.”
He picked up the phone from the table, while taking Jean’s hand while they walked the path above the river. When they found the place where the river bends south through town, they stopped.
Their arms around each other, they looked at the phone’s display as Pete pushed record.
“Hi, Jean and I want to invite you to our wedding. Please save the last weekend in September on your calendar, because we can’t imagine taking this walk down the aisle without you.”
After stopping the recording, Pete slipped the phone in his pocket. “That was perfect., and in one take, no less.”
Catch up with the story by following the link.
Catch up with the story by following the link.
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