FIFTY SHADES OF THEO JAMES

Chapter 11

The drive to the farmers couldn't have been any more awkward. Theo did his best to cheer me up with small talk about all these events coming up that would require him to travel to all these extravagant countries, and mentioned that he wanted me to go. Even though I was eager I still felt the pain that engulfed me when I relived the night I lost my sisters.

Soon enough we pulled up to the farmers market and Theo put the 4runner into park before turning off the car and turning to look at me.

"I won't ask you to hold your feelings inside, but you must know that if you don't be prepared to be hounded by questions that I don't think you will want to answer." He said as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you." I said in a monotonous voice as I opened the door.

Theodore and I got the foldout wagon and the several containers before we headed into the farmers market. With a vacant expression that I felt could've been a content look we started towards one of the many stands we would be visiting to buy our groceries.

The first we came to was a vegetable stand that had various produce like onions, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers and more - ran by a woman with red hair, deep tan skin and freckles.

"The usual?" She asked.

"Please."

And she quickly began bagging things up for us while chattering happily about her recent donations that help with the expansion of her farm and allowed her to hire some workers which helped her maintain things since her husband had passed.  After everything was placed in the wagon, Theodore started off.

"Wait, we didn't pay." I glanced at the woman as I started taking out my wallet.

"Oh, no need, it is on the house." She quickly reassured me.

With a last glance over my shoulder I thanked her and followed after Theodore. We walked a few paces and he stopped to look at some custom beer growlers.

"Don't you ever feel bad?" I asked him, as I glanced back to the stand that we had just vacated.

"For what?" He asked, picking up a growler and turning it in his hands.

"For not paying, when you have millions of dollars to your name. I mean, this is these peoples lively hoods. It's how they live."

"I know. That's why I always send an anonymous monthly donation of five grand to everyone I get free produce from. It's a win-win, it helps them keep up on their farm which supplies me with vegetables, meats, fruits and more. Without them I wouldn't be able to get my food.

"Not to mention, a well placed picture of me shopping here brings in tons of customers. People that like me tend to follow what I do, whether its shopping at a certain place, or wearing certain clothes."

I nodded my head. Hearing him say that mad me not feel as guilty as I did when we left without paying. Theo was a gentlemen.

After we finished our shopping we took the groceries back to the 4runner and put everything in the large cooler Theo had in the back.

"Lets go have some lunch." Theo said as she closed the trunk. "I know the perfect place."

He carefully took my hand into his and we started walking back through the throng of people. We walked quiet a bit until we came to some restaurants, stopping outside the one that said Ulysses Voyage.

"What is this place?" I asked as he held the door open for me.

"An old favorite of mine. I come here whenever I am in the area. They serve Greek food."