Hi readers
This week, for reasons beyond my control, I am participating with prompt #1: Heart and Soul
A love story, from high school, that was interrupted to continue, with a meeting in a market that later ended in marriage.
I titled my story as: FARM TO DESK, THE STORY CONTINUES......
IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FAIR that takes place outdoors every weekend in New York City.
Meryl Jackson is a young journalist who works for the famous magazine "Weddings with Charm". Her parents were coming to visit for the weekend. She would have to think about what dishes she would prepare because her mom is a vegetarian but her dad is a carnivore. So she decided to make a shopping list to plan everything perfectly. He was thinking about making a nice lasagna for his mom when the phone rings.
Ring, ring, ring
-Hello! What are you going to do now? asks her friend Teresa.
-I have to buy fruit and vegetables. My parents are coming this weekend," says Meryl.
That's great! Then I invite you to come with me. I know a place where there's a handsome guy, he's a great customer and, of course, everything is fresh. Besides, he grows everything he sells. Teresa says excitedly.
-You've already convinced me. All right, I'll go with you. What time can you pick me up?
-At 8 o'clock in the morning. That gives you time to get to know other establishments and to appreciate the quality of the products they sell," Teresa replied.
Teresa passes by looking for Meryl and, during the trip, she tells her that there is a recently inaugurated bazaar that she wants to visit. It seems to be related to textiles, an area that Meryl is passionate about.
They arrive at the market....Meryl enters and is fascinated by the organization and layout of everything. Her friend directs her straight to Jack's kiosk. There, both Jack and Meryl are surprised to see each other. They had been out of touch for more than 5 years. ....
They went to high school and college together. During high school they were sweethearts but..... their destinies were separated when Jack decided to stay and work on the farm, loving the land and its crops, while Meryl would go to college in another city. They had not seen each other again until that day at the fair.......
Jack reacts and tells her.
-What a nice surprise! It's great to see you again.-
To which Meryl says:
-I never imagined I'd see you again. How long have you been here?-
-I've been selling my produce for a month now. And what brings you here,- Jack asks.
-Well, I came with my friend to buy fruits and vegetables.- Meryl answers.
At that moment, Jack offers her a very red and appetizing round tomato. She was surprised by this offer but accepted........ She decided to try it and was surprised by its exquisite taste and asked:
- Why does it taste so different?-
Jack replied, -My crops are all organic-.
Then she tasted the strawberries, which were in season, and was fascinated. So she decided to buy strawberries, tomatoes, garlic, leeks, onions, peppers and chard. That way she would have part of what she needed for her parents.
He then invited her to visit the fair, leaving her kiosk in charge of one of his employees. He took her to her friend Anne, an Afro-descendant, who sold delicious cakes. He gave her a lemon pie. Meryl, with a sweet tooth at last, loved it and asked:
-Can I have the recipe?
Anne thought quickly, kept it to herself, and said,
-It's a family secret, It's a family secret.-
Meryl finished eating her pie and then they went to Joseph's stall, a butcher who made his own sausages. Here Meryl couldn't resist the temptation ...... she tried them and was enchanted by their taste. So she bought the sausages for her father. She inquired about their preparation and ......., to her amazement, this time she did get the recipe.
Afterwards they continued walking to see the flower kiosk where Jack, in remembrance of their past friendship and this happy reunion, gave her some fragrant roses. The astute Meryl thanked him and became suspicious. .......
They immediately extended their gaze to the Handicraft House, as the store was called. The latter had been annexed as an adjunct to the fair. They handmade rugs, handbags, bedspreads and everything related to home textiles. Meryl was still under the spell of this unexpected stroll, perhaps because it reminded her of her teenage years in the village with Jack.
As expected, after that pleasant reunion, they decided to resume their friendship. They agreed to meet again the following Sunday at the Alborada Coffee Shop. During the week Meryl would start planning the wedding, in detail, to her best friend, Sara. At the same time, she wanted to be selected for the cover of the month in the magazine. This would lead her to a higher position within the company she worked for.
The agreed date arrived. That Sunday the time flew by, talking about everything that had happened in the last 5 years of their lives.... Afterwards, the meetings, lunches, dinners, theater and movie outings continued for 4 months, until they both decided to resume their courtship.
In one of their meetings, with Jack, Meryl asks him:
-Can I have my friend Sara's wedding at your farm?-
He was horrified but Meryl, very shrewd, tries to convince him by proposing to remodel the house where he lives, if he agrees to this request. She explains that this would be part of the payment for the event. Jack agrees but has certain doubts, it's like a hunch that something would happen. .....
In addition, Meryl had to order the food as well as all the decorations and ambiance for the event. She, personally, continued to supervise all the preparations but ......., 3 days before the wedding she got some bad news, the kitchen of the restaurant where they were going to prepare the food burned down.
At such short notice, she had little choice options. So she asked Jack to help her. He understood and decided to help her with all the food. So the chef, a little calmer because of this good news, agreed to cook at the farm with his team.
In the meantime, Meryl arranged to meet Jorge, her colleague at the magazine, at the restaurant in town to discuss a new project. Jack found out, he didn't agree, he was a bit jealous....He watched him from afar and misinterpreted what he saw..... He was very upset and told his girlfriend. She explained....... but he still wasn't convinced. So, Jack, hatched a quick plan, to meet Jorge, and get a real impression of who he was.
While........ they would have to hurry to celebrate Sara's wedding.
After so many mishaps, the expected day arrived. Everything turned out spectacular, especially the food, which was much better than they expected, and for which they warmly congratulated the chef. Besides, Jack was already completely sure of Meryl's love and he had a surprise. .......
They were all ready to eat the wedding cake when, disconcerting the wedding guests, Jack decides to propose marriage to Meryl........
He gets down on one knee and asks her if he wants to marry him, at the same time handing her the engagement ring. She cries with emotion and accepts the proposal........ They embrace. They all applaud, and clap........ They decide to make a new toast to Jack and Meryl's future marriage.