6

C6

Heart descended from the car with a smile as she saw Carmenzita eagerly waiting for them. She had been silent since being picked up by her husband from the restaurant. Lush was already asleep in her arms while inside the car, and Lux had been carrying him now, seemingly tuned into her mood.

Lux looked over her, perhaps afraid she might explode, and he didn’t utter a word. Heart wasn’t speaking either, not responding to questions about what was wrong. She didn’t know what was wrong. Maybe her mind was the problem, with various thoughts crossing it.

“Congratulations,” Carmen greeted her, causing her to furrow her brow. They were still by the door, and Carmen seemed overly excited about something.

“For what, Ma?” she asked the older woman, who took her arm after kissing Lush on the forehead.

“Well, according to your husband, you got the very first Macho Café franchise,” the old woman said, glancing at Lux who was grinning broadly. “He was so proud of you, dear. He couldn’t stop talkin