Figuring the kids would be safe to explore on their own, John and Sharon followed the path towards the apple tree groves. In truth, they were not so old they did not still like to cuddle and even make out sometimes, and this was a very romantic setting. With the kids following some of the more interesting-sounding paths, they were likely to get some rare privacy.
The path was steeper than they expected, and John looked back up when they reached the grove. "That's gonna be a rough climb. On the bright side, no one is likely to sneak up on us." He grinned and patted Sharon on the rump.
"John!" His wife made a show of acting shocked, then struck an exaggerated hooker pose and sais "What kind of a girl do you think I am?" They both laughed, and then wrapped arms around each other as they explored the grove. There were olive trees, and orange trees, and of course, apple trees. While they all looked healthy and covered with fruit, Sharon noticed a tree that seemed to shimmer in the middle of the grove.
"Golden apples!" John stared as they got closer. The fruit was beautiful - but it looked like real gold, glinting in the sunlight, not the normal yellow peel. "They can't be real, can they?"
Sharon reached up to a low-hanging branch and plucked one. "Sure feels real." She grinned. "Let's find out if out guide knows what she is talking about." She took a huge bite out of the apple, and offered it to John, who also took a big bite. It was sweet and crunchy, and they finished it off with a couple more bites each.
As they started to walk around the magnificent tree, John stumbled and looked down to see he had walked out of his shoes. Sharon giggled, then frowned at the sound of her voice. They two turned to look at each other and gasped.