Francisco stared at the two lovebirds awkwardly, increasingly feeling like he was a third wheel interrupting their moment. Nevertheless, he could go nowhere without alerting the two of his presence, so he sat there and tried to distract himself.

The two interlocked their hands as they stared at each other lovingly. As time passed, their faces got closer before Francisco finally stepped in. After all, he could not just stand by and watch them make love to each other.

With a light cough, the two awoke, noticing Francisco’s presence. Marcia, especially, was embarrassed as she reprimanded Francisco.

“I forgot you were here; make yourself more noticeable!”

“??”

Matthew coughed as he put his hand to his face, trying to hide his deep blush before putting the car in reverse and changing the subject. Discreetly, he asked. So, should I take you two home? I gotta head and open the shop today.

Marcia looked back at Matthew before calming down and responding.

“I was thinking you could show Francisco your shop. Just so he can get familiar with where it is.”

Francisco pulled his head back, thinking he must have misheard. He was not a child who needed to know where the closest adult was! For any other person, they would not think of it. However, Francisco knew she was doing this because of his addiction, treating him as a child. And although he was offended because of it, he did not talk back to her. It was true that it would be great to know where Matthew’s shop was in case of any problems. One could never know what could happen after all.

Matthew thought about it for a second before responding to her.

“Sure, why not? Francisco, you ready?”

“I guess.”

Matthew smiled, looking back at him through the rearview mirror before driving out of the school’s parking lot.

In general, their house, the school, and Matthew’s shop weren’t too far from each other. It was within walking distance for anyone determined enough. And by car, each drive was about five to ten minutes. From the house, it would be ten minutes. From the school, it would be five minutes. In between these three locations, mostly forests and other neighborhoods inhabited everything. So walking was not a challenging task; rather, it was a tedious task that would take roughly thirty minutes.

On the road, the three passed by more neighborhoods surrounded by tall pine trees. In the background, tall mountains made themselves present, slightly visible from the gaps between the trees.

They passed by farms with laid-out fields growing different types of crops. Because it was early August, multiple rows of corn could be seen going as far as the eye could sense. While on other fields, cows ate piles of hay and horses ran along the entire length of their owner’s property.

Opening the window, the strong smell of manure would infiltrate the senses and make it seem as though you were in the countryside. Which, in reality, was not too far from the truth.

After passing by multiple farms and large properties, the three arrived in the city, which was not much of a surprise to Francisco. If not in the city, where would he have his shop? Everywhere else was a rural area where not many shopped or passed by at all. At least in the city, he’d have a better chance at getting customers.

They traveled through the peak of the city with the largest number of people before heading towards a somewhat secluded portion of it. Here, their SUV pulled into a parking lot that could hold up to seven cars.

Matthew parked the car before turning it off and stepping out. The rough engine stopped roaring as Francisco placed his foot down on the asphalt. Immediately, he noticed the many cracks that ran through the parking lot, with patches of grass sticking out. He turned to see the well-made, one-story building. It was painted white with a sign that stated:

<Carpets and tiles>

Francisco looked at it for only a moment before following the two toward the entrance of the store. Matthew fumbled through multiple keys before stopping at a specific one. Then he lifted it and unlocked the glass door, revealing the inside. Although much could already be seen from the large glass windows wrapping around the front of the store.

The three entered as a strong new scent flooded their senses, although Marcia and Matthew were used to it.

Six aisles occupied the store, all with varying carpets. Whether by design or length, not one was the same. On the back wall of the store, various marble tiles were hung from baskets nailed to the wall.

Through the middle aisle, all three of them walked toward the back end of the store, where the cash register was.

Next to it, a door stating <Employees Only> sat, leading to the back end of the store.

Matthew went behind the register, sorting through many things before speaking to Francisco.

“What do you think?”

Francisco took one last look around the store before responding to him.

“It’s a nice store.”

Matthew smiled lightly before also looking around with heavy emotion in his eyes.

“I’d hope so. It was one hell of a journey to get here, right, Marcia?”

Marcia also smiled before locking arms with Matthew.

“You’re right, it’s incredible what you made.”

She looked at the store with great pride before Francisco asked them a question.

“Actually, I’ve been curious.”

They looked away from the store and gave their attention to Francisco.

“How did you two meet?”

They looked at him blankly before Matthew responded.

“That’s the type of question Elena would ask!”

He laughed lightly before questioning Francisco’s intentions.

“Why do you want to know, Francisco?”

Francisco stared at him briefly before revealing his full intentions.

“It’s simple curiosity. I think you know this, but it’s been eight years since I’ve last seen or spoken to Marcia.”

“Yeah, she told me a little about it.”

Matthew was also curious as to why they had been separated for years, so he seized the moment to satisfy it.

“However, what exactly happened between the two of ya.”

Francisco opened his mouth slightly, ready to respond, before Marcia spoke first.

“I told you, didn’t I? It was a big argument we had.”

Matthew looked down at Marcia before Francisco assured him.

“I had told her some things she didn’t really like, so we stopped talking to each other.”

Matthew put his hand on his forehead as he tried to process their dialogue.

“Really, all over an argument.”

“Hmm. If you’d like, we can go into the specifics?”

“Nah, it’s all right. Wait, so you wanted to know how we met?”

Francisco pulled his head down and tried to look at himself, well, as much as he could. He pulled his hands in the same way he had that day. There, on his palm, multiple old calluses were present. It gave him a stark reminder of what he had done and what he had not done.

“I was just curious. I mean, I’ve just been thinking… About how much of our lives we don’t know about. For eight years, I haven’t been in her life, helping her in any way I could. So, I wanted to ask you about both of your pasts. And thank you properly for all that you helped her with.”

A small light sparked in Francisco’s dark brown eyes, giving him indisputable confidence.

On the side, Marcia looked at Francisco as many complex emotions surfaced on her face.

Matthew gazed into his eyes, ready to respond, before noticing a small, near-insignificant spark that had not been in his eyes before. Because of this, he changed his response.

“Brother, you don’t have to thank me for anything. Your sister helped me more than I could have ever helped her.”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“Ha… Well, if you really want to know, our love started eight years ago as well.”

Before he could continue, though, the shop door opened as a man entered. Outside, a dirty Ford truck could be seen occupying one of the seven parking spaces, likely the man’s. From the mud, it would be hard to assume what color it was, but it was most likely white.

After seeing who the man was, Matthew turned to Francisco to apologize. He looked straight into his eyes before realizing that small gleam he had noticed a second ago was gone, as though it were never there.

“My bad, Francisco. I need to deal with him first.”

Francisco looked blankly at Matthew with no apparent impatience in his eyes.

“It’s alright. Just tell me when you can.”

Matthew walked out of the cash register to greet the customer while the man trudged straight down the middle aisle, stopping to meet Matthew.

Before speaking to him, the man acknowledged Marcia and Francisco.

“Good morning to you two.”

Marcia and Francisco responded back before the man focused his gaze on Matthew.

“It’s been a good morning for you, huh Matthew, lazing around not working.”

Matthew laughed before dapping the man up and hugging him.

“Good morning to you too, Nate.”

“I mean, where were you this morning? I thought you were gon’ be closed the whole day, and I’m near damn shit myself because of it!”

“Ay, that’s my bad, Nate. I opened a little late today because it’s my girl’s first day of school.”

Nate pulled his hat off before scratching his head.

“Ah, it is that time of the year, huh. Time passes so fast.”

Matthew smiled at him before responding.

“I know right, especially with children. So, what can I do for ya?”

Nate spoke to Matthew about his specific needs while Marcia and Francisco stood in the background.

After a couple of seconds, Marcia placed her hand on Francisco’s shoulder before pointing to the employee’s only door.

“How about I show you the back?”

Francisco nodded lightly before the two walked into the back portion of the store.

Inside, multiple boxes were stacked on top of each other as carpets scattered the area, all turned upright.

A thin layer of dust covered most things as an air purifier fired off in the corner of the room.

Towards the back of the room, lockers could be seen with a mirror in between them.

Marcia walked towards the locker and opened it. Inside, clean uniforms and hats were hung on hangers. She lifted it and pulled it toward Francisco, measuring whether it would fit.

“Alright, I think this one fits. Here.”

“?”

“Don’t think you’re going to stay in our house without doing any work.”

“…”

Staring at her blankly, Francisco grabbed onto the uniform while she continued.

“You know what they say! You got to earn your keep!”

“Alright, is there a bathroom?”

Marcia smiled lightly before pointing to a door on the other side of the room.

Minutes later, Francisco walked out, changed. Marcia placed her hand on her chin and gazed deeply at him.

“We really have to get you a haircut.”

Francisco grabbed onto his messy hair before pulling a portion up.

“I like how it looks.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Marcia approached him before patting him on the back and handing him a clipboard.

“You may not look good enough to be in the front, but back here, you’re fine.”

She pointed to the clipboard in his hands before giving him directions.

“Just follow all that it says on the clipboard.”

Francisco looked at what was printed while she continued.

“I’m going to head up front with Matthew. Let one of us know if you have a question.”

Francisco looked up from the clipboard before nodding.

“Alright.”

Marcia walked away while Francisco looked back down at the clipboard, which had varying tasks. Some said to mop, broom, and clean. While other tasks asked him to sort different rugs and carpets, Because of his lack of knowledge about most of the things in the store, he chose to do the simpler tasks.

Outside, Marcia walked into the main portion of the store to see Matthew sending off Nate.

“See you, man. I’ll hit you up when the shipment comes in.”

Nate waved back as he entered his dirty truck.

“Of course, man, I trust ya to it.”

He slammed his truck’s door as it turned on. Engines roared as he pulled out of the parking lot and left.

Matthew entered the store and saw Marcia.

“Where’s Francisco?”

“He’s in the back doing work.”

Matthew was slightly surprised as he asked her about it.

“He’s been here for less than a week, and you’re already making him work?”

Marcia smiled as she walked towards the back. With a rag, she wiped every single marble tile piece as she responded.

“If I don’t make him work now, when will he?”

“I guess… But, I mean.”

“Also, it’ll help him get his mind off of everything.”

Matthew looked at her, perplexed.

“What do you mean?”

Marcia stayed silent for a moment as she continuously wiped. After multiple seconds, she revealed all that she could to Matthew.

“Back in California, he had been struggling for a while. That’s why he came down here in the first place.

“Ahh, really?”

Marcia smiled at him and nodded.

“If that’s the case, maybe it is best he gets his mind working.”

The door opened as another man entered. The two looked back and saw the man wearing a dirty bandanna on his face with shades. He was a very round man, with his belly protruding out. He walked down the middle aisle and met Marcia and Matthew. Then he took off his shades to reveal exhausted, dead eyes. Dark circles lay under them as they melted down into his cheeks.

“Morning.”

The man spoke softly yet powerfully, contrary to his eyes.

“Morning to you too, Everett.”

Marcia moved away from Matthew and continued cleaning with the rag while the two continued their conversation.

“You were busy this morning?”

Matthew sighed lightly before answering Everett’s question.

“Yeah, it’s my daughter’s first day, so I went to see her off.”

“Oh…”

Everett’s eyes shook slightly before he regained his composure.

“Ah, shit. Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No. You can be proud of your daughter in front of me.”

Matthew regretted bringing up the topic of his daughter, but he was in too deep.

“Speaking of it. How is she?”

Everett sighed deeply before responding.

“I don’t even know. No matter what I do these days, she only seems to get worse.”

“Damn. That’s unfortunate.”

“Yeah. However, at least something good happened today.”

“?”

Everett pulled his bandana down before smiling softly.

“She was at least somewhat sober today. And I saw her playing the piano.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It had been years. And in that moment, it felt like we were a family again.”

Matthew patted Everett on the back as he continued.

“Hey, Matthew. You know, I took your advice.”

“!”

“I’m sending her away to a rehabilitation center.”

At the back of the store, Marcia listened quietly.

“It must have been a tough decision.”

“Haha, I know my limits. I reached them a long time ago.

“…”

The two stood silent as Everett realized he had spoken too much.

“Anyway, I’m here to get some tiles for a job I’m doing.

Before he could continue, though, Marcia inserted herself into the conversation.

“Excuse me, Everett, right?”

Both Everett and Matthew looked back at her as she continued.

“Is your daughter suffering from a drug addiction?”

Matthew widened his eyes as he jumped in.

“That’s not something you should ask Marcia.”

Everett stood silently before responding.

“It’s fine, Matthew; near damn everyone knows at this point.”

He turned to look at her and answered.

“Yes. She’s addicted to marijuana. Every time I’m with her, she’s always high.

Marcia looked at him before sympathizing with him.

“Actually. I know someone as well. They’re addicted to cocaine.”

Everett remained unmoved as she continued.

“And I’d like to hear some advice on how to manage them.”

Everett laughed lightly before stating.

“I could never manage my daughter. You shouldn’t expect to control them either. We should leave it to the professionals.”

“Yes, but…”

“Miss. I really need to get the stuff I need.”

Matthew stepped in and continued speaking to Everett before Marcia jumped in.

“How about they meet each other!?”