Just like before he met Julieta, his song had gone silent.
But then, something hit him.
Yes, that would work.
He picked up the phone and dialed the one woman who might make this okay. She answered on the first ring and reluctantly agreed to meet him.
Ramón drove to Barrio Logan, but this time he took his Jeep.
He waited for her in the park.
She approached. “Hi, Ramón.”
“Hi, Linda. Thanks for agreeing to meet.”
She exhaled. “Ramón, what is so urgent you couldn’t tell me over the phone? We have nothing left to say to you. You have taken everything from us. What do you want now?”
“Please sit.”
She sat on a stone picnic table. The murals seemed a little less bright today, and no kids were playing in the park. But Ramón hoped his plan could bring some light back to Barrio Logan.
“Linda, I talked to my father. Well, a while ago. I begged him to compensate you for the recipe, but he wouldn’t. I ordered him not to close Las Pescas or raise the rent, but again, he said no.”
“I know this, Ramón. Why did you need to meet me to tell me this?”
He grinned. “Because I told Señor Gomez what my father planned to do. He rescinded his offer to the Montez Group and sold the block directly to me.”
“To you?” Her eyes widened, but she gritted her teeth. “And what doyouplan to do with our block?”
Ramón reached into his pocket and handed her an envelope. “I’m going to give it to you.”
Linda slowly opened the flap. She took the letter out and read it. Tears welled in her eyes.
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you serious, mijo? Why are you doing this? What’s the catch?”
“There is no catch. It’s the right thing to do. Barrio Logan should be owned by the residents.”
She clutched the paper to her chest. “It is mine? Las Pescas is mine?”
Ramón nodded. “Not just Las Pescas, but the entire block. It is fair compensation for the recipe my father stole from you. Of course, you will have to sign the papers and agree to not sue the company for the past unauthorized use of your recipe, but if you want the block, it’s yours.”
Linda embraced Ramón, and he hugged her back.
“I was so wrong about you, mijo. Julieta was right. You are nothing like your father. You are a good man.”
Ramón didn’t even want to talk about Julieta. He hadn’t given the block to Linda to get back together with her daughter. Julieta didn’t owe him anything.
“Gracias. Our lawyers will be in touch.”
And with that, Ramón left Barrio Logan. Without Julieta and without the block, Ramón had no reason to return.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Julieta read the email and couldn’t believe her eyes.
She called Ramón, but he didn’t answer.
Mamá had vanished, too. She’d said she had an errand to run and hadn’t returned. Julieta had called her, and she hadn’t answered.
