Another bright morning, Althaea pushed back her duvet and strolled into the jack and jill bathroom that connected to her younger brothers room. From the light beginning to light the sky, she knew it was around dawn. She splashed her face with cold water, quickly freshening up before heading for the closet. She tugged on a worn, hand-me-down dress from her mother, braided back her honey blonde hair and quietly made way downstairs.

She found her mother in the kitchen, her matching hair pulled back as she gathered ingredients to prepare breakfast. “Good morning, mother.” Althaea said softly.

Her mothers eyes lifted, a smile meeting those blue eyes. “Good morning my love, I’m sure your headed for the garden but please- eat something before you go.”

Althaea grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit sitting between her and her mother on the island counter. Pushing past, grabbing a large basket by the kitchen door, “You know I’m just going to snack as I harvest.”

A soft chuckle escaped her mothers lips, “Honey, I left some silver in your dresser, take it with you and Theo when you two go into the market. Get yourself a book or two while your in town.”

Ah, Theo. Althaea’s closest friend since she could remember. He’d probably be on his way over soon, “Thank you, I’ll be sure to grab one for Jesse, too.” She pecked her mothers cheek before heading out the side door and began harvesting what she could from the garden. She found a few extra large oranges and kept them separated in the basket for Jesse, her younger brother.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, the morning harvest finishing quickly, the sound of the wooden gate creaked open. She looked over her shoulder to see Theo, carrying a few dozen eggs in another basket.

“Good morning, sunshine. I brought your mother a dozen eggs, figured I had plenty this morning to toss a few more in the usual order of six.” Theo beamed, his shaggy chestnut hair damp with the sweat from his walk to her cottage.

Althaea peered into his basket- the few dozen eggs, three glass jars of fresh milk and a book. “What is that?” She gleamed down at the book, a smile growing on her warm cheeks.

Theo’s smile met hers as he handed over the book, “Just my copy of the book you’ve been eyes in the book shop. I have to apologize, though, I may have read it last night.”

Her eyes narrowed as she flipped through the pages, sighing, “You are insufferable! How am I to form my own opinions when you write your silly little messages in the margins?” He laughed, the smile coming back to her lips as she hit him with the book. “Come on, let me drop this in my room and we can head into town. My mothers in the kitchen, you can say hello before we leave.” She handed her basket to him, grabbing the large oranges.

They strolled back inside, Theo and her mother engaging in a light conversation as she made her way back up to her room, the oranges she set aside in one arm, book in the other. She set the book on her dresser, opening the drawer to find the silver hidden there and stuffed it in her dress pocket. Crossing the jack and jill bathroom, she quickly peaked into Jesse’s room, finding him still asleep, she set the oranges on the bed beside him and made her way back downstairs.

“We will be back for dinner! Love you ma!.” Althaea squealed softly, grabbing Theo’s arm and tugged him to the front door. She attempted to take her basket from him but he insisted carrying both and they began their walk into town to sell what they could.