"Thanks for coming today, the both of you." Duke got out his money and paid Jack and Cliff, the worker that Jack brought along.
"Say, Cliff," Duke looked up at the boy as he handed over his payment, "How would you like to work full-time here?"
Cliff hesitated. He had never been asked that type of question before.
"I could really use the extra help."
After a long pause, the boy responded, "S...sure! I'd love to!"
"That's good." The man smiled, "It pays well, too."
"To tell you the truth..." Cliff seemed almost afraid to speak, "I would have had to leave this town if I didn't find a way to make money soon."
Duke didn't really know how to respond, but he smiled and told Cliff that he could start work tomorrow. He watched the two leave, Cliff walking back toward the inn and Jack bouncing strangely off to his farm.
"Hello," Manna's husband's voice rang out as he entered the front door.
She looked up from writing in her notebook as she finished counting the money for the day, "Hello!"
She smiled. It had been a long time since she had seen Duke happy. She even forgot for a moment that she had just written "-6000" on the notepad. Duke took off his vest and jogged up the stairs to hang it out the coat rack. Manna's smile brightened as she realized that Duke was staying home for the night. She started to walk over to the stairway to go up to the room with him when she heard the creak of the stairs as her husband started to trudge back down.
"How about the two of us go to the bar tonight?" Duke offered, "I'll pay."
Manna's smile faded quickly. She sighed, and even though it wasn't what she was hoping for, it was an improvement over most nights. She didn't care if he payed or not -- they shared their money -- she just wanted to have a night at home with her husband.
"Ah," Duke recognized one of the figures at one of the bar tables, "Cliff!"
Cliff turned to the voice and greeted the couple as they walked into the bar. Manna seemed extremely timid.
"Don't mind her, she doesn't come here much." Duke laughed, "She's my wife, Manna."
"I know." Cliff smiled nervously. Everyone knew everyone in Mineral Town.
Duke laughed again and turned to Manna, who was blushing, "This is Cliff, he started working for us today."
The days continued on, and Manna started to go to the bar with Duke and Cliff more often after work. She didn't really enjoy the bar, but with her husband and the young boy Cliff, she felt like she was part of a family. It's not like Cliff was replacing Aja, but she had the feeling of togetherness that she had missed for so long, and she could she her husband smile every night. She still had a few problems though.
One night, Manna and Duke returned from the bar, and things proceeded as normal. Manna put on her favorite nightgown (she only had two), and she sat staring at Aja's empty bed until her husband had taken off his work clothes and started to get into bed. She got under the covers and turned to face him. He was sleeping with his back to her -- as always -- and she looked at his back for a while. Her eyes roamed the figure of his upper body, which was blue from the soothing moonlight peeking in from the window.
She inched herself a little closer and placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. She pulled herself closer until her body was almost pressed up against his. It has been so long since she had felt the warmth of another person this close to her. She ran her hand down his arm and carefully let it glide back up, and softly caressed his neck with her fingers. There was still no response from Duke, so she wrapped her arm over him and placed her palm in the hair on his chest, pulling herself closer into him. She nestled her head in the back of his, closing her eyes and smelling his hair -- the aroma of wood and wine from the cellar filling her body and putting a smile on her face. She moved her hand down his chest and arrived at his wasteline.
She used her fingers to carefully lift up an entrance into his black briefs, and started to move her hand inside. She had barely gotten to place her fingertips on what she was reaching for within when Duke slowly rolled over onto his stomach, causing his wife's hand to be resting plainly on his back.
"Manna, I'm tired."
Manna turned back toward Aja's bed and scolded herself, falling asleep later that night.