07/25/2026
Elizabeth couldn't bear the burning of William's expectant gaze any longer and turned her head to avoid it. Her heart was aching. She loved him, but simply could not entertain the idea of marrying him like some sort of runaway without a proper wedding. "We can't elope!"
William let her fingers slip from his as her words rang in his ears. *Can't elope. Can't elope. Can't elope.* He grasped her hands again and stepped even closer to her. "Yes. Yes, you're right," he fumbled. "May I be permitted to suggest something else entirely, then?"
Elizabeth's stomach knotted fiercely and quickly found William's eyes once more. "What ever do you mean?" Her mind raced with what something else entirely might mean. Would he forsake her because of her morals? Surely that couldn't be true; not her William!
"Cantaloupe!"
"Yes exactly," her time grew frustrated with confusion. "We simply cannot elope, William!"
"Right, yes. I agree. But I'm not speaking of eloping just now. I mean cantaloupe, the melon." By the twists in Elizabeth's brow and the way her mouth was drawn tightly closed, he knew she needed more explanation. "Sorry. I don't mean to confuse you. It's just when you said that we can't elope, the words repeated in my mind over and over again, until I began to think of the melon, and I remembered the most delightful and refreshing ice cream made from cantaloupe at Sprinkle & Spoon, and since we don't have plans to wed immediately, maybe we could go for a bite? It's a short journey. Join me?"
Finish the story in the comments over a fresh waffle cone filled with heavenly Cantaloupe Cutie frozen treat! Gluten free, egg free, nut free, dairy free, and this flavor is oat free, too!
We're open Friday-Saturday 12-9pm at 108 S Seminary St in Galesburg.
PS: don't ask how many waffle cones I burned while I was writing this post. 🤣😭