Two weeks after the showing Debbie sat with her clients at the title company as they closed on the house on Ridgewood Drive. Both of them all smiles and excited to start their life together.

"Congratulations, you two. I hope you guys enjoy your new home." She handed them each a business card. "In case you have any friends that want to follow in your footsteps." They shook hands and she was on her way.

She sat in her car checking her emails. She was almost surprised she closed this deal. She looked at the time on her watch and touched it. Danny had given her that watch when she sold her first house. He was so proud of her. She wiped the tear that had fallen on her admittedly nice watch. At that she remembered something or rather someone else she needed to pay a visit to.

She walked into the flower shop and once again heard the grating sound of the door and wondered why the people who worked here were so averse to oiling the hinges on the door. After walking in she noticed there was someone behind the counter grabbing something from one of the cupboards underneath.

"You were right."

The person whose head was in the cupboard stood up. "I usually am, but what was I right about specifically? Also, I don't know you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."

"Do you know someone that looks like me?"

"No, I meant when you had your head in the cupboard."

"You're confusing me, lady."

"Does anyone else work here? I was in here a couple weeks ago and a woman, blonde hair about shoulder length, made an arrangement for me. I need to speak to her."

"Next door."

"Excuse me?"

"The lady you wanna talk to? She's next door."

"But that's a watch repair shop, I didn't purchase anything from there. I bought flowers. Well, technically I didn't buy them since I didn't give her any money, but that's what I'm here to do."

"Where I'm from that's theft. But I won't call the cops. Anyway, again, the person you're looking for is not in this store." The girl spoke as one does to a confused child. "She is in the next store. If you go out this door and into the next then you'll find her." She smiled at Debbie.

"Thank you", Debbie turned and rolled her eyes as she walked out.

The other store had a distinctly different feel than the flower shop. The decor was darker which was a complete contrast to the nearly all white walls in the flower shop. The door didn't screech as you walked in and it was so serene despite the constant ticking. The flower shop wasn't loud, but it was so bright and airy and, well, full of flowers it almost felt like you were still outside.

There were dozens of clocks on the walls, all different kinds. Big, small, and all of them ticking. Even with the ticking this shop felt quieter. She turned and looked at the display counter. So many watches. Antique watches, pocket watches, new watches, all kinds.

Debbie had made it to the far end of the counter so she didn't notice when someone walked out from the back. The same woman from the flower shop. She leaned on a stool, crossed her arms and sat there watching Debbie admire all the watches. When she finally looked up and saw the woman she spoke, "these are amazing."

"Now that they work, I guess they are."

"You fixed all these?"

The woman nodded.

"Impressive." Debbie said as she glanced back down at the display. She starts walking over to where the woman is. "As previously agreed, I am here to pay my debt."

"You sold the house then?"

"Yes, I did."

"It was the daisies."

"No, it wasn't."

"Yes, it was. Imagine if I'd given you what you asked for? You'd never have closed that sale."

"You think very highly of yourself don't you?" Debbie cocked her head to the side.

"Tulips would've just told them you were trying too hard. They're a very nice flower, but the occasion called for daisies."

"If I agree with you will you stop?"

The woman smiled. "You're a realtor so I know you have a business card with you." She extended her hand waiting for Debbie to hand it over.

Debbie looked at her a moment before reaching into the side pocket of her purse and handing her a card. The woman took the card and studied it a bit and laughed through her nose.

Debbie almost looked offended. "May I ask what it is that you find so funny?"

"You don't look like a Debra." She placed the card in her back pocket. "Is this your work phone or personal number?" She chewed her gum and waited for an answer.

"Both. The top one is my office number and the one on the bottom is my cell number. Personal cell number. Why?"

"Do you always ask people why they ask you questions or is that something you only do for me?" She placed her hands on her heart and gave Debbie a big smile and exaggeratedly batted her eyelashes.

Debbie held eye contact for a moment. "How much are the flowers?" She looked down trying to hide a smile as she suddenly felt herself blushing the slightest bit.

"They're on the house, Debra." The woman made sure to say her name with emphasis.

Usually she would've argued and insisted on paying for the flowers, but for some reason she couldn't seem to find the will to debate on that subject. "Thank you, that is very, uh, very generous of you." The two looked at each other again.

Debbie started walking backwards towards the door and just before she turned to leave she spoke, "Debbie."

The woman smiled slightly.

"Not Debra," she said in an exaggerated way, "just... Debbie."

"You're welcome, Debbie."

Debbie left the store, got in her car and drove away smiling.

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"Oh, that's great news!" Her best friend, Tammy, hugged her with one arm as they both sat on the bench in front of the playground as they watched Tammy's kids play.

"I was really worried I wouldn't be able to make the sale. Like, honest to God, worried." Debbie sipped her coffee.

"Oh, I knew you could do it." After a quiet pause as light breeze blew through the trees signaling the very first hint of autumn, Tammy asked her, "how're you doing?"

Debbie looked down at her drink and didn't speak immediately. "It's been tough. I've been looking at old photos of when I was in college and he had just gotten his realtor's license. God, his suits were so boxy." She smiled as she wiped away a tear. "He would've hated this. Me being this sad. He always said he wanted to be celebrated when he died not mourned."

Tammy looked at her friend with sympathy. "You wanna put some booze in your coffee? I've got a few of those mini bottles in my purse."

Debbie looked at Tammy and laughed.

"I've got three kids and my neighbor's teenage son just started a band so I'm coping in my own way."

"Are they any good?"

"I would describe their sound as…. Cutlery dropped into a garbage disposal. While its turned on. And there's a cat screeching in the distance for some reason."

Debbie openly laughed. "Thank you, I needed that laugh."

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The rain stopped just as she arrived home. She got out of her car and grabbed the grocery bag along with her purse.

"Welcome back, neighbor!"

Just then she turned and saw her neighbor wave at her and she waved back. But as she did so the clasp to her watch, her beloved and undoubtedly worn and torn watch, opened and it flew off her hand landing hard on her driveway and then bouncing right into a puddle.

"Shit." She rushed over and fished it out of the puddle. The glass was cracked and it had stopped ticking. "Oh fuck, man. FUCK." She hurried inside praying it would still work somehow.