Twenty more minutes and then I can finally close the store. I’ve been looking forward to going home and working on my painting. That and relax. It’s been a long day.

It’s the first busy day after a slow summer. We sell clothes, cute nicknacks, kitchen items, and more. It’s not a crazy large space, but it’s got room to move around.

Dolly Parton fills the speakers as I start to blow out some candles by the register. The music is eclectic. The owner creates the playlists. I never know what song will play next, but it’s always something appropriate for families to hear.

The bell chimes as a customer comes in. Well, there goes my getting out of here right on time. I straighten and call out, “Welcome in. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you!” Says a man probably in his fifties. He’s wearing a gray shirt, jeans, and glasses. He smiles at me as he turns towards the little wooden mushrooms we have in our garden section.

Not even a moment later, a woman with short hair and a bright blue and pink dress walks in. “Oh there you are Todd. I lost you in the last store. I can’t believe you left without me!”

“Look at these!” He shows her the mushrooms. “Wouldn’t Liz love them?”

The lady starts an argument with Todd over how he left her behind. He listens, nods, and apologizes, but I can tell he is already over this moment and wants to talk about the mushrooms. They are definitely married.

The song changes to an ABBA song. It’s upbeat and fun. The lady is getting more frustrated with her husband.

I’m starting to worry the lady might start yelling at some point. The man sets the mushroom down and grabs her hand that is outstretched towards him. He spins her around. Grasping her other hand, he begins to force her to dance with him.

At first she protests, huffs and continues arguing with him. But it doesn’t last long. Soon she is laughing and singing the song as he spins her carefully around the merchandise.

When the song ends, he holds her close to him and sways gently even though the next song is another upbeat song. I can’t hear what he says to her, but she looks up at him.

The look she gives him is one I’ll never forget. It’s full of love and happiness. It’s like she is a teenager looking at her first love for the first time, entirely living in bliss.

He apologizes and tells her he thought he told her he was going next door. Todd says he’ll never be able to go far, because she is his anchor. That he’s lost forever without her.

After their kiss, they end up buying two of the mushrooms. “One for us.” She tells him.

I’m not able to close the shop till five minutes after closing time, but I don’t care. I stare at the mushrooms after I lock the door. They’ll remind me of ABBA and the dancing couple for a long time. Maybe forever.

It’s a feeling that is hard to explain. I feel like I got to be a witness to a rare kind of love. I decide to buy one of the mushrooms for myself. It’ll be my reminder. One for me.