Grocery List

Grocery List

The harsh air from the ac blew strands of his hair loose as the sliding doors closed behind him. He glanced at the carts, but he wouldn’t need one. He was only here for a few things. But would a basket be helpful? The garbled song from the parking lot became recognizable as he entered the store, some country song from twenty years ago that never faded from the radio. He let the noise disappear into the background as he checked the list on his phone.

Motor Oil

Burritos

Toilet paper

A large family ran around him as he put his phone in his pocket, then pulled it back out to check the time. He wandered around the store, picking up the things he’d bothered to make a note for, along with a bag of chips from a cardboard endcap.

As he cut through the middle of the store, his gaze wandered to the men’s apparel. A dress shirt in a cool shade of dark green caught his eye. His feet drifted closer. The shirt had subtle stripes, in nearly the same color. A quick glance spotted one in his size. He didn’t need a new dress shirt. He had a few already, and his black one would work fine for his date. But he could hear his sisters voice in the back of his head, telling him green makes his eyes pop, which he assumed was a good thing. He wanted the date to go well. His last few dates hadn’t been great. Nothing had been particularly wrong with any of them, but there hadn’t been enough positive signs from the last few girls to make him want to call them back. He needed to break the cycle.

The shirt ended up in his arms, carefully held away from the sweating bag of burritos.

###

She jogged across the entrance to the store, snatching a basket on her way past the second set of double doors. She’d gotten off work later than usual, which meant she had to rush to get everything ready for tonight. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor, counting her pace. If she could rush through here, she’d have enough time to get ready before he came over. Everything would be fine. Her hand fished around her purse for the list, finding it after mistakenly pulling out a few receipts.

Lipstick—Maybelline 112

Candles—nothing too strong or clashing

Spaghetti

Marinara Sauce

Fresh Parmesan Cheese

Merlot—2 bottles

Fancy Feast

Nothing too daunting, except the makeup aisle was on the other side of the store, but she was out of that color a few applications ago. She needed a new tube of it, especially since she looked so good in that color, and she wanted to impress him still. Her thoughts dwelled on him as she sped through the store. Their first date had been, well, amazing. He was cute, and funny, and they had so much in common. He was handy, and handsome. So handsome. Her friends had all remarked on that when she began showing his picture to them. Even now, on the fifth date, she was excited to see him. A smile kept tugging at the corners of her lips as she thought of him.

She double checked her list before checking out, and rushed back to get the cat food.

###

He circled the parking lot twice before settling on a spot further away so he could get the errands over with. Coming to the store right after work was the worst time to go. Everyone was there at the same time, there was never any parking, and the best self-check-out kiosk was always taken. But he’d promised her he’d pick up something for dinner.

His phone dinged, and he checked the message. She’d added another thing to the list, last second. A grin spread across his face.

Dinner—you choose, I’m not picky

Merlot

Condoms—Don’t forget this time lol

Paper Towels—Bounty, not the store brand

Can you get dish soap too? Thanks honey!

He put the phone away when he got to the wine. Of course, she left instructions on everything but which wine to get. He wasn’t a wine drinker himself. You could ask him anything about whiskey, and he’d be able to answer. But wine? He was basically hopeless. He picked up the first bottle that had the word merlot on it, and hoped it would be alright. If it wasn’t, it would be after a few drinks.

He was wondering if she really could tell the difference in paper towel brands when he spotted the desk full of flower bouquets, and wondered if he should get her one. A look at the prices suggested otherwise, but he could swing a single rose without it making a difference. He wanted to ask her to meet his parents when they came to visit in two weeks. A romantic gesture would put her in a good mood to bring that up.

He checked out with the flower and four things that were on his list.

###

The lights in the parking lot buzzed above her like the bugs swarming around them. She tugged on the sleeves of her sweatshirt. The air was colder than she’d thought, or cared to acknowledge when she’d rushed out of her apartment. The store was about to close, but she’d made it in time. She hated to be that person, there at the last minute while the employees were cleaning and counting the seconds until their shifts were over. But she would be quick. In and out. She only needed one thing.

In her haste, she’d parked on the wrong side of the store. The fluorescent interior was blinding after the drive over. The droning of a floor cleaner filled the lobby. One other person strolled past her as she walked to the pharmacy section with her arms crossed tight over her chest.

Her phone buzzed, knocking her spiraling thoughts loose. He’d sent a message, wondering if she wanted to pick up champagne while she was there. “Either way, we might want to celebrate.” She sent a short-tempered message back, reminding him that she wouldn’t be able to drink any if the results came back positive.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the family planning section. She wasn’t quite sure which brand to get. Would it matter? She cursed under her breath, and picked up the second cheapest pregnancy test. Before she had time to think too much, she headed to the checkout.

###

The cart they’d grabbed had a messed-up wheel, making the whole thing pull to the left as they walked. He wondered if it would be worth going back and getting a better one, before deciding he’d just end up with another messed up cart.

She stood frowning up at the vitamins. Her arms hung limp at her sides, and a frown pulled at her mouth.

Wrestling the cart to a stop, he joined her staring contest. He didn’t have the energy to be much help. Between hauling a trucks worth of boxes up three flights all on his own and the extra shifts he’s picked up at work, he welcomed the quick rest. Though the longer it dragged on, the more he remembered that when they were done, he could sit back in a comfy chair and watch the game. “Just pick one. I’m sure they’re all the same.”

“Probably.” She sighed, finally bending down to pick a bright green bottle. She pulled the list out, and scratched off the first item.

Prenatal vitamins

Shea Butter

Shampoo

Cat treats—the salmon kind

Tupperware

Chips—BBQ

Eggs

Salad Mix

Apples

Bread

Pasta—Lots

Chips—BBQ

Pickles

Decaf Coffee

New Bath Towels—Red?

Laundry Hamper

Hangers—Black

He groaned into his palms. Her meticulous list was long. Did they really need all this stuff? The cart trailed after her through the pharmacy and beauty aisles. Her next turn led them away, but soon as he thought they’d be heading to the food section, they detoured to the home section. She stared at towels, rubbing a few different colors between her fingers.

“Don’t we already have towels?” He didn’t do a great job hiding his impatience.

“We need a new set. Somehow,” she laughed to herself, “neither one of us had enough of what we need.”

“Why can’t we just use both sets?”

She dropped her arm, letting her head loll backwards. “Can we not have this fight again?”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, remembering the conversation they’d had the night before. In the end, it didn’t matter what towels they had. “Fine. Let’s just get this done so we can go home.”

“Okay.” She said, staring at the rows and rows of towels.

###

Her desire to stay on the couch was only slightly overpowered by her need for waffles. Still, she wasn’t sure if it was a mistake driving herself to the store. Because waffles were the only thing on her list, until she saw a box of Oreos, and then they appeared on the list too. She should have just texted him to pick up some waffles. But she wasn’t sure when he would be off work anymore. Late nights were becoming more and more frequent, with everything they needed to save for. She put the Oreos back on the shelf.

Waffles

Oreos

Her steps slowed to a halt in front of the baby aisle. She peered down it, as if it were a dark unexplored cave. She’d never needed to go near this part of the store before. Soon enough, she’d know it better than the employees.

She drifted closer, her eyes wandering. Bottles and wipes and brightly colored toys packed the shelves. She wondered how much of this they would need.

Her eyes snagged on a tiny white bib. A happy, catroonishly adorable lion head looked back at her, surrounded by yellow fringe around the edges. She could see the tiny head of her baby above it, all smiles and giggles, with a mop of his dark hair on its head, and hopefully his eyes. Her breath hitched, and she wiped at her wet cheeks. Her free hand rested on the slight bump on her stomach. On the gift she’d been given, the one he gave to her. The one she’d share with him.

She checked out with her two items, giddy with excitement to show him what she’d found.

###

He read through the list again, trying to come up with a strategy to get in and out as fast as possible. Unfortunately, while he’d been putting off getting the groceries, the list had gotten much longer.

Paper Towels—store brand

Butter—salted

Eggs

Chicken

Tri Color Rotini—two boxes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil—I can hear you laughing, it’s not that funny

Rice—brown, not white.

Macaroni and Cheese

Salad

Croutons

He stopped reading after croutons, since everything else was a vegetable. Each aisle added a new box of something they’d go through in less than a week. He lingered by an end cap filled with chips. He’d love nothing more than to get a bag, but their budget had just enough for what was on the list. No more.

He exhaled a long breath. This was his life now. He worked extra, in hopes that soon he’d be recognized for a promotion, to a position that wasn’t vacant. He had to stick to budgets, and stay in on the weekend watching TV. What would change when the baby came?

He looked around, watching an older couple argue and throw pretzels back and forth on the shelf. They reminded him of his parents. Would that be his future?

A muffled excuse me came from his left, and he shifted out of the way. A man passed, holding a baby in a carrier. The child had curious eyes, watching and taking in everything that passed by as they chewed on their tiny baby hand.

Then he saw a different future. One where he was walking through the store, carrying his baby. His, which would have his dark messy hair and hopefully her eyes. He was going to be given that. She was giving him that.

He stopped by the floral booth on his way out, adding a single rose to the list.

###

She pulled with all her weight, trying to get the cart out, but two more came with it.

“Just get another one.” He suggested, shifting the carrier in his arms.

The next row released a cart with a wheel that spun around in circles as they moved. He hefted the carrier up, stealing a moment to smile and tickle his child.

A matching smile spread across her cheeks. She couldn’t help smiling every time she saw them together, and hoped that feeling would always be there.

“Do we need to go to the other side of the store?” He asked.

“No.” She replied, looking over the quick list she made on her phone.

Champagne

Fancy cheese?

Lasagna

Cheerios

The champagne would take a couple hours to chill, but that would give them time to eat, and put their precious child to bed, for a few hours at least. She shivered as she stood before the open fridge housing expensive cheeses.

“Do you know which one you want?” he asked, pulling her to his side to help warm her chilled skin.

“I didn’t think they’d have this many choices.”

The baby gurgled, kicking the animal print blanket half out of the carrier.

He leaned in close. “What sounds good?”

“I thought I’d get something to go with the champagne, but I now realize I have no idea what that is.”

He laughed, pulling out his phone. After a quick search, they ended up with a small wheel of brie, and a bushel of Babybel in case they didn’t like it.

Three carts cut in front of them to checkout. They waited patiently. She leaned against him. Their hands twisted together, the silver band on her left hand clicking against the matching one on his.