#milo garcia

reintroducing: MILO GARCIA 33 years old - musician/jazz club owner happily married - proud father 

saturday afternoon / 1:30pm {chapter 11 - part 4} 

Milo looks back and sees the exhaustion painted all over his mother’s face and suddenly feels guilty about suggesting to hike in the afternoon, where the heat kicked in the most. “okay, Ma. there’s some logs we can sit and rest on, it’s just a couple more feet away.”

Luna, Milo and his parents make their way to a small rest area that had two logs to sit on and a portable bathroom nearby. Maricel collapsed onto the log and exhaled heavily while wiping the rivers of sweat that accumulated on her forehead. Antonio followed behind shortly and chucked to himself about how age has definitely caught up to his adorable wife. the four of them settled down and after catching their breath and gulping some much needed water, Antonio was first to crack at a conversation.

“so, Luna, Milo has told us you’ve recently gone back to school! how has that been?” Antonio asks. Luna’s eyes lights up, still dazed over the idea of Milo talking to his parents about her, which she had no knowledge of up until now. the thought causes a hot sensation to fill throughout her cheeks. “yes, i did! i just finished up two semesters at a community college and applied to a couple universities to transfer to into the fall.” she smiles awkwardly, looking at the direction of Milo, hoping to find comfort in him as she is still getting used to speaking to his parents. Milo grabs her thigh and squeezes it, “now we’re just waiting on some acceptance letters!” he adds.

Maricel finally rehydrated herself well enough to engage in conversation and chimes in, “oh yeah? that’s very nice to hear! do you have a job, too?”

“i did. i owned my late grandmother’s flower shop for about four years until i realized that wasn’t something i wanted to do for the rest of my life. i ended up selling it to a dear friend of mine a few months ago. so right now, i don’t have a job.” Maricel’s eyebrows perk up with a mix of amazement and shock. a drop of anxiety travels down Luna’s chest as if that might’ve been a red flag for Milo’s mom, so she struggles to get the next few words out smoothly. “u-um, so i’m j-just sort of focusing on t-the whole school thing right now… i kind of just wanted a fresh n-new start and that’s where i am right now.” Maricel flashes a soft, subtle smile to Luna and says, “good for you, honey.”

sunday night / 8:32pm {chapter 11 - part 5.2}

“i will, Ma... i will.”

monday morning / 9:22am {chapter 12 - part 1} 

“don’t get me wrong, Mi, i loved our little getaway and the time spent with your lovely parents, but man. nothing beats being back at home.” Milo takes a sip of his coffee and locks eyes with his beautiful girl. “i agree. ain’t nothing better than sipping on some good brew with my lady right by my side.” “this place is neat, too. i can definitely see myself coming here more often especially for school.”  “yeah. i love the little corner full of records here and their coffee is pretty damn good.” Luna scoffs playfully, “you and your damn coffee, Mi. yuck.” 

Milo tries to overcome the laugh thats traveling up his throat and quickly removes his lips from the edges of his cup. he coughs but still manages to let out a small chuckle, placing his cup gently back to the table. he smiles at his girl but the conversation he had with his mother the night before creeps back to cloud his mind. he never thought about that comparison, and now that its brought to his attention, he can’t seem to shake it off. 

beginning | previously | next

sunday evening / 7:20pm {chapter 11 - part 5.1}

“i know i said i haven’t made this step in a relationship before and how that was partly the reason i always worry if they like me or not… but i think it’s mostly because i never knew my own so this parent-child dynamic is so new to me. i know i had my grandmother but that’s.. different...” Milo puts his arm around her and pulls her in close. Luna rests her head gently onto his shoulders as they both gaze onto the view of Milo’s parents playing horseshoe, laughing and looking more in love than ever.

“yeah… i get you.” they sit in silence for a few moments, soaking in the crisp air that surrounded them; inhaling the clean, refreshing scent of pine trees with the peaceful sounds of the trickling streams nearby. 

Milo watches his parents and thinks to himself. he smiles humbly and says to Luna, “my parents taught me all i know. most importantly though they’ve taught me love; how to love another and taught me how to love a child through the love they’ve given me. since it’s gonna be you and me for the long haul b, i’m damn sure my parents will be able to show you exactly what you’ve missed your entire life growing up without your parents. i’m here for you, and now, they’re here for you too. don’t you doubt that.”