Beautiful Disaster

Part Ten

The grocery store was pretty vacant for the upcoming season, maybe because of a new movie showing at the town theater. It promised to be a good romantic comedy, so most of Towdee's families had dropped their daily routine to watch it. There were only several people shopping for their Christmas feast, including Izzy and Hugh.

They were standing in one aisle, choosing yet another ingredient to add to Izzy's growing list.

"What about this one? It looks much cheaper compared to what you're holding up." Hugh asked, holding a package in his hand. In front of him, Izzy scrutinized another package, running a finger over the "Nutrition Facts" on the back.

"That's because it isn't as healthy as the one I'm holding up," she stated frankly. "Do you know how many calories and preservatives they loaded into that brand?"

She put her choice into the grocery cart and was about to push it forward when Hugh pried it from her.

"Geez! Quit it with the diet. We're preparing for a Christmas party here, not a health check." Ever the gentleman, he steered their cart without having to be asked. Izzy was left to tick off the items on the list and trail behind.

"It's not my fault I have a slow metabolism," she murmured before remembering that she'd forgotten the pasta she was supposed to buy. "Oh shoot! I forgot to get something from the other aisle. Don't move. Wait right there."

Hugh watched as Izzy ran off. A smile lit up his face as he compared her to a walking cotton candy stick. She looked so tiny in the furry pink sweater she had on.

But before he could compare her to other cute, pink stuff, he heard the distinct squeak of cartwheels and several thumps. Hugh became alert, thinking that someone may have followed them into the grocery store. There had been no signs of danger around Izzy since his arrival—thus his carefree attitude—but the possibility had never been far from his mind.

Hugh inched close to the edge of the aisle and peeked beyond the side of the shelf. He released his breath when he realized that the sound had come from an overturned cart. In the other aisle, an old woman was picking up packets of cat food from the floor.

"May I help you, Ma'am?" Hugh asked as he stepped out of his hiding spot.

"Oh, please do," the woman said in her sweet voice.

Before long, the six packets of cat food were stacked securely in the cart, with some other things the old lady wanted to buy.

Hugh rubbed his hands together and put them on his hips. "There you go, all piled up and in ship-shape order."

"Thank you so much. You are such a kind young man." The old lady adjusted her glasses on her nose and peered up at him. She was all bundled up in her cold-weather outfit, her fringed shawl dragging on the ground. No wonder it had gotten caught on the cart's wheel. "I don't seem to recall seeing you around here, sonny. What's your name?"

Hugh's smile grew wider. He liked making friends with old people. "Hugh Grayson, at your service."

"Hugh? Where are you?" Izzy suddenly called from the aisle he'd vacated.

"Right here!"

Izzy's face popped up from behind the shelf he'd been spying over. She spotted the old lady beside him, and her eyes lit up with recognition. "Hello, Miss Haber. You two met each other?"

Miss Haber was momentarily speechless, but then she chuckled and put a hand on Hugh's arm.

"I didn't know you were acquainted with Izzy," she said. "Of course, such a lovely child should have a gallant young fellow for a man. You look quite the couple."

Izzy stepped close to them. "Oh, we're not a couple."

"Nonsense!" Miss Haber pointed a bony finger at her. "Believe me, young lady, when I say that the both of you will get married sooner or later at the town's cathedral. And you're gonna have lots and lots and lots of babies together. You'll see."

Izzy blushed. "Um, well, that's a nice suggestion—"

"Oh. That's not a suggestion. I feel it in my bones, little one," Miss Haber stated confidently. "Why, my grandmother's grandmother was part psychic. I inherited her powers, you know. Anyway, I've got to get these groceries outta here. I just know Fiddles will be hungry by the time I get back home."

"Would you like some help?" Hugh asked, also a little embarrassed by Miss Haber's words. He hadn't been a recipient of that kind of joke before.

"No, I've got it. See you around, you love bugs."

They both watched Miss Haber approach the cashier and carefully transfer her purchases on the counter.

"That was interesting," Hugh couldn't help but say.

In truth, he found Miss Haber's suggestion worth thinking about. He really did have the hots for the woman beside him, especially now that he knew she wasn't as difficult as her father made her out to be. If he hadn't been tied to Izzy because she was his job, he would've taken the chance to get to know her better.

Izzy sighed. "You have to forgive her. She lives all alone with her cat, and sometimes she has these strange ideas."

"I don't think making lots and lots of babies together is such a strange idea." The glint in his eyes contradicted his serious tone.

"Didn't we agree on you not trying to annoy me?"

"I didn't think I was that annoying."

When Izzy didn't reply and instead just walked away from him, he sighed. He got the cart they'd both forgotten and pushed it a bit faster so he could catch up to her. "Alright. I'm sorry. Are you happy now?"

"Quite." Izzy looked absolutely smug when she turned to him again. Her cheeky smile was contagious.

A similar smile began to form over Hugh's face. He didn't know just how Izzy had gotten under his skin, but somehow she had. She was a walking temptation, even though she didn't recognize it herself.

"The things I do for you..." he murmured as they approached the cashier.

"You can do more, starting with helping me get these things to the counter."

♥

Continued

Please stay tuned for more parts. And please tell a friend if you think they might enjoy this type of story. Thank you for reading!

Thank you, Shaneekalssachar12 , for reading part of this story and taking the time to leave a comment! I hope you're having a lovely day.