Maribel, the hostess of Rocky’s Cafe, smiled when she saw Julieta and her father at the door. 

“Hello, Mr. Rivera. We have a special complimentary dessert, your daughter’s favorite, chocoflan,” she said with a wink at Julieta, as she walked them to their familiar table and handed them the menus as they sat down. Her dad was always the planner in their family, so she had no doubt that he called ahead and probaly overshare. Fortunately, Maribel never made her feel uncomfortable throughout the years she had known her.

As they sat down, her father gave her mother a quick peck on the cheek. They had been married for nearly forty-five years. During her childhood, her father always brought her a bouquet of roses, but when their mother realized the cost of a dozen roses, they decided to grow a rose garden together. The garden made up the entirety of their backyard, with a variety of roses. As a side hustle, her sister sold those roses at the local farmer’s market. 

Her sister was twenty-seven years old and would be graduating with a Master's degree in Business Administration next June. Out of everyone in her family, she was the most excited about Julieta's upcoming wedding. It was the first time she would be the Maid of Honor in a wedding. 

She let the conversation between her father, mother, and sister wash over her. Her father filled them in on the game, and her sister remarked how she was participating in the local Christmas market this year. 

“So when are you going to start playing that game?” her mom asked. 

“Oh, the game. I don’t know, maybe on the weekend. I have to go to work tomorrow”, she said. 

“Are you sure?” her sister asked.

“I am leading a project for the first time. It’s a pretty big deal”, she said.

“You have always been so dedicated, it’s okay to take a break now and then. Don’t overdo it,” her mother said. 

“I promise, I won’t, “ she said while moving her food from one corner of the plate to another.