Joaquin always wanted to help his dad with the family business, but in all honesty he wasn't the most reliable at accomplishing the tasks. So when Leo asked him to go to David's house to get him, Joaquin was quick to agree! He even left without the address and had to come back all ashamed and ask for it. But once he had it he was off for real.
Joaquin was on a mission. Go to David's house. Get David. Come back home with David. See if Dad will let you help more. Easy That was what he told himself on his way across town. He purposefully kept his eyes down as he walked past bakeries, florists, and other shops that were known to distract him. He couldn't afford any distractions today. He had to make his parents proud.
He started walking faster, some would say that it was on the verge of skipping, when he reached David's street. After finding the right house he went up on the porch and knocked on the door. He already had his words prepared. So while he waited for David to open the door he was standing there with a grin on his face and shifting his weight back and forth
David's house was larger than Niamh had expected, with her own room being the first one at the top of the staircase. She was almost entirely finished with unpacking her suitcase when she heard a knock at the door. Not sure if David was expecting company or if he even heard the door knocked on over the sound of Liam and Felix laughing, she walked down the staircase and opened the door.
In front of her was a young boy around her age, with skin a bronze color that Niamh's could never warm to, only burn bright red in the sun. He was smiling and for a moment, the boy's grin cause her to absent-mindedly match his smile with one of her own.
After a beat, she caught herself and furrowed her brow, confused as to why a stranger was standing at their door and grinning like some maniac. "Are you the mail boy or something?" She asked, suddenly very aware of her accented voice. Pulling her soft yellow coat around herself, she shivered in the cold air of the street and waited for him to say something.
Joaquin grinned even wider when the door opened. He was ready to talk to David...... but that wasn't David who opened the door. Instead there was this beautiful girl in a yellow coat standing in front of him. His face immediately dropped along with his jaw.
It took Joaquin a bit longer than normal to register that she was talking to him. "Do you need the mail?" He looked a bit puzzled. "I guess I can get it for you if you need it."
He forgot a lot of things while he was standing in front of this girl. But he only remembered his manners. So he quickly grinned again and held out his hand. "I'm Joaquin!"
Niamh looked the boy over again, peering at him suspiciously when he confirmed he was not, in fact, the mail boy.
"Hello......" She shook his hand cautiously, still wondering what this boy was doing on the doorstep. Was he just here to introduce himself to her? Perhaps he was a neighbor and had seen them moving in. "Okay.... goodbye, Joaquin." She stepped back and began closing the door slowly.
Joaquin grinned even wider when she took his hand, not picking on her suspicion at all. But when she started to close the door his mind kicked into overdrive and he started to panic.
"WAIT! NO! I'm looking for Joaquin. NO! I'm David! No that's not what I mean." He cursed himself under his breath, something he picked up from his father. He knew his mom would chide him if she heard but she wasn't around.... though he'll probably admit it to her later. He looked back up at her giving a look of confusion. "You're not David"
Niamh stopped, still staring at the boy with confusion. Especially when he began cursing under his breath in agitation.
"You're not David either." She answered, a dry joke she didn't expect for him to get. "How do I know David will want to see you?"
He laughed slightly when she said he wasn't David. His embarrassment flushed to his cheeks and he started fidgeting with his hands. "I'm sorry ma'am. He's not expecting me, but he knows who I am. If you could tell him Leo has some work for him that would be much appreciated." After a small pause he spoke up again. "I'm Joaquin. Leo's my dad."
Now that was a name she recognized, even without ever having met Leo. She stepped to the side and motioned for the boy to come in.
"He's upstairs. I'll tell him if you wait, Mr. Joaquin." She turned and started walking up the stairs but paused halfway, turning to address the boy again. "It's not... dangerous work, is it?"
As soon as she let him in Joaquin grinned yet again. "Hey thanks!" He was slightly surprised she let him in but he wasn't going to complain.
He quickly looked around the small foyer, obviously trying to avoid eye contact with her. But when she asked him a question he was forced to look at her through the manners he was brought up on. He tried to push down his nerves as he shrugged slightly. "I'm honestly not too sure ma'am. Dad never tells me. But they never really seem to be dangerous. I was just told to get David."
She stared him down from her place up on the staircase before slowly forcing out a "Thank you."
Niamh didn't want the boy to see how worried she was, even if she knew David had survived on these jobs for years already. She turned and continued up the stairs and turned to the room where her brothers were to bring David back to the odd Joaquin boy.
He nodded to her and quickly looked around the room again. This was the first time he's been in David's house. He had to admit it was a little weird being there for the first time, David was always the one coming over to their house. But Joaquin made a mental note to offer to come visit more, if David would let him of course.
David was in a room upstairs laughing with his brothers. He missed having everyone under the same roof again and he was enjoying catching up with all of his siblings. When Niamh walked in the room David couldn't help but grin. "Niamh! I still am always shocked to see you. You are so much taller."
Niamh smiled at David, a shyer smile than before. "Taller than Felix, anyhow."
She grinned mischievously at her brother before sobering up and addressing David.
"There's a lad here to see you. Joaquin?" She paused, certain she’d mispronounced the name. "He says Mr. Leo has a job for you...."
David began laughing at his youngest brother. But he looked back at Niamh and quieted down when he realized she had more to say. His eyebrows shot up in recognition of Joaquin's name. "Oh! Okay!" He hated leaving his family already, but if Leo wanted him he knew it had to be important. "I'll be back quickly. I promise."
Niamh followed David out of the room, about to turn into her room at the top of the staircase but she paused and moved closer to watch David leave with the boy.
Joaquin watched as David waved to the girl while he walked down stairs. And as soon as David reached the bottom step, Joaquin's face lit up! "David!!! I'm sorry to bother you, but Dad needs you for something."
Before they turned around to leave, Joaquin grinned up at the girl and waved frantically to her. "BYE!! It was nice meeting you!!" Joaquin was so happy to be walking back with David. Not only because he did what Leo asked him to, but he also looked up to David. As if he was another big brother to Joaquin.
After a couple of seconds in silence, Joaquin couldn't handle it anymore. "Soooo who was that? The girl that answered the door?"
David honestly knew Joaquin was going to bring up a conversation soon. He knew Joaquin never did well in silence. "Hm? Oh! That's my sister. They all just got here."
Joaquin nodded and tried to quicken his pace to keep in line with David. "She's pretty! Nice. I mean. She seems nice. You have two sisters though right?"
"She is! And yes, I have two. Also two brothers."
Joaquin's eyes widened slightly. "Man that's a big family. I only have a brother and a sister. Wait you know that. I don't know why I said that." He said a little bit quieter. His embarrassment quieted him down for a little bit.
By that time they were walking past the flower shop and Joaquin's gaze immediately went to the daffodils. The same yellow as her coat! He slowed down slightly to look at all of them but he saw that David didn't wait so he ran back by his side. They walked back again in whatever little silence Joaquin allowed. But again he stopped when he passed the bakery. All of a sudden he started to wonder if the girl in the yellow coat liked any sweets. or bread. or what she liked in general. Joaquin had a lot of curiosity about her suddenly. He once again ran back up to David's side. "Hey David?"
"Niamh." David said suddenly, giving Joaquin a knowing smile. "Her name is Niamh."
Joaquin had a grin larger than any he had all day. Niamh. Niamh the girl in the yellow coat.
