Work Text:
Luisa knocked at the farmhouse door, and the young farmer, Pablo, quickly opened it, smiling.
“Hello! Do you need anything?” he asked.
“Uh, no,” she replied. “I wanted to let you know that I’m done moving the fence.”
“Already?” he asked. “It’s not even nine.”
“Do you need me to do anything else?”
“Uh…” he hesitated.
“I didn’t see anything in the farmyard, but let me know, I’ll take care of it before I go,” she said.
“I was just preparing a cup of coffee,” he said. “I always have some after I tend to the cows. Would you like to come in for a cup?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Coffee?”
“I can find something else if you’d rather,” he insisted.
“No, no, coffee is good,” she said, stepping inside.
It was a simple place, but very neatly kept. He set out a cup on the table and poured the coffee.
“Sugar?” he asked.
“Thank you,” she said, and he set a bowl on the table as he sat down to join her.
“I hope you don’t mind that I asked for another favor just a week after you were out here for the barn,” he said.
“It’s fine,” she insisted. “It’s what I do.”
“And you do it very well,” he said. “Fast, too. I thought you would be here longer this morning.”
“You can check my work before I go,” she said.
“I’d be happy to come look.”
They sat sipping silently for a while.
“You know there’s a dance in town Friday,” he said.
“I saw the posters.”
“I suppose you have friends you’ll be meeting there?” he asked, looking down at his coffee cup.
“I think my family is all going,” she replied. Everyone always went to these things, after all.
“I enjoy dancing,” he said. “I hope to see you there.”
Just then, one of the donkeys brayed outside. Luisa looked up at the clock in the kitchen.
“It’s almost nine thirty,” she exclaimed, setting down her cup and standing up. “I’m supposed to be on the other side of town at ten. Thank you for the coffee, Pablo.”
“So, Friday?” she heard him ask as she was halfway to the road.
She paused and turned around. Had he forgotten?
“That’s when it is, yes!” she called back.