Of all the stores Valentino could have walked into this morning, he chose Férnan’s, hours after it had been looted by those fearing the end of the world. Férnan didn’t ask why Itchy Palms of all places, but he knows his mother—may she rest in peace—would have said that luck brought them together. She was a very superstitious woman, up until her passing a few years ago. There wasn’t a stray eyelash she didn’t blow on, or a purse she wouldn’t leave on the floor at the risk of her money running away, or a single New Year’s midnight minute that wasn’t spent eating twelve grapes, a true Cuban tradition. Férnan believes that Valentino was nudged his way, possibly by his mother in the heavens.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Lately, Férnan and Rufus have been at odds. He has his difficulties too with his eldest, Olivia, but she likes her space and will often listen to classical music in her bedroom and not bother anyone. But Rufus, at ten, is trying to become the alpha of the house, just like he is at school or at the park with his friends. He seems to have more respect for his mother, but Férnan believes that’s because they don’t spend as much time together since Victoria is a cardiac surgeon who works eighty hours a week and mostly evenings; she even got stuck at the hospital for an extra few hours trying to get the board’s attention for a special transplant. This summer break is what’s sending Rufus over the edge. He’s away from his posse and stuck hanging with the parent he doesn’t respect and the sister who wants nothing to do with him. Férnan looks to the bike, thinking that might release a lot of Rufus’s pent-up energy.

A father-son talk could get them on the same page. Which it sounds like wasn’t the case for Valentino and his parents. Férnan would rather fight with his son every day than turn his back on him. Do Valentino’s parents even know that he’s dying? Or that he’s resorted to hanging out with a boy he met ten hours ago? One’s final hours should be spent with their family. He can’t even imagine Rufus spending his End Day with a stranger. Férnan will make sure he never puts his son in that heartbreaking situation.

Férnan takes the cash for the bike and puts it into the empty tray of his cash register.