Chapter 26

Jack entered the supermarket and was greeted by Jeff.

"Hello, Jack. Came to buy those seeds?"

"Yes, what would you recommend?"

"Well, I would say corn would be the best. They have multiple harvests, and you can use them for feed for any chickens you have. Tomatoes also have multiple harvests, but you don't get as much money as you would with corn."

Jack nodded, "Ok, I'll buy five bags of corn seeds."

As Jeff was ringing up Jack's purchase, Elli entered the store.

"Hello, Jeff, Jack. How are you guys doing?"

Jack smiled, "I'm doing fine, I'm ready to start planting summer crops."

Jeff smiled, "I'm feeling well, thanks for asking."

Elli smiled warmly, "That's great you two are feeling well. Jack, are you getting better at farm work?"

"Yes, I'm not as tired as I was when I first started."

"That's good to hear. Jeff, is Sasha or Karen here?"

Jeff nodded, "Sasha is, why do you ask?"

Elli grinned, "I just need to buy a few things we girls use that you guys don't use. Both of you are nice, but I feel comfortable if I buy the items from a fellow female."

Jack and Jeff chuckled.

Jeff went to the door to the back of the store, "I'll go get Sasha for you."

A minute later Sasha entered, "Hello, Elli, Jack. I heard that someone wants to buy some female needs."

Jack grinned, "It's not me. So I'll take the hint and leave."

Sasha and Elli grinned and giggled.

Elli said, "Sorry for making you leave, it's just..."

Jack raised a hand, "There are a few things that you girls don't want us boys to know. But I will say that some of us boys can be trusted if we learn those secrets."

A mischievous look crossed Elli face, "So what do you think I'm going to be buying?"

"Either clothes that we boys don't get to see, unless we become really good friends, or see them when you are doing the laundry. Or they are the hygiene products the you girls use that we boys don't have a use for. So, I will be polite and not ask which items you're going to buy."

Elli replied with a wide grin, "Wise move of you."

Sasha nodded with a grin.

Jack nodded, "After all we are just friends and not close friends. I feel that I'm not privileged to know that information yet."

Elli raised an eyebrow, "So how would you define close friends?"

"When you feel confident in telling someone close secrets about yourself that no one else or just a few others know."

Elli nodded, "That's about the same was I think of it. You are getting close to being a close friend, maybe by the end of this year I'll tell you, or let you see what I'm buying."

"Ok, now if you ladies will excuse me, I have some seeds to plant."

"Ok, Jack, take care."

After Jack left Sasha asked, "So what do you think of Jack?"

Elli warmly smiled, "He is a nice guy. I think he is trying to remember who he played with ten years ago. I do remember playing with a few boys that came from the mainland, I know that Ann and Karen have done the same thing."

"I see. What would you do if he remembers if it was Ann or Karen?"

"I would be happy. I know that sounds strange, but I think of Karen and Ann as sisters. I know they feel the same way about me."

A worried look crossed Sasha's face, "Who would you want Jack to be with?"

With a small smile, Elli said, "Truthfully, I would want him to be with Karen."

Sasha blinked her eyes in surprise, "Why?"

"Back in the spring when we had those two days of rain in a row, Karen came over to the Clinic. She asked how I felt about Jack. I told her that I have a small crush on him. She told me that she might be falling in love with him. I asked if she felt it was 'love at first sight'. She said yes, and that it sounded silly."

"Did you tell her about your parents, that they had the same thing happen to them."

"Yes. I told her that if Jack chooses her or Ann to date, that I couldn't hold a grudge. Since I'm the town's midwife, nurse, and soon to be the second doctor. It wouldn't be professional for me, and as I said I think of them as sisters."

"I see. You are the youngest between you three, but you sound like you are the..."

Elli grinned, "Big sister? Yeah, I do."

Sasha smiled, "Well keep on being that. I think they would want you to."

"Don't worry, Sasha, I will. In fact when Karen came over in the rain, I told her to stay until it had died down enough to return here."

Sasha giggled, "What did you do to pass the time?"

"We drank coffee, and though about who would be the winners in the spring horse race that we knew were coming."

"Well, I hope you two guessed right. Anyway let's get your shopping done."

After Elli left, Sasha went back to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of tea.

*So Elli wouldn't be upset if Jack picked Karen. I wonder how Ann feels. I have noticed that Karen has been thinking more about Jack lately. Maybe I should talk to him and let him know my daughter is falling for him. But if I did and Karen was to find out, she could hate me for a long time. I don't want her to hate me.*