Linda glared at her daughter. “So, that was who you gave your tacos to. You shouldn’t be giving your tacos to strangers.”
Ramón laughed.
“He wasn’t a stranger, Amá. He had serenaded me in the garden.”
Linda rolled her eyes. “Julieta, your tacos are amazing and innovative, but they are not traditional. Let me show Ramón where it all began.”
Linda began grabbing ingredients out of the refrigerator. She demonstrated step-by-step exactly how to make the tacos. Julieta smirked as she playfully nudged her mamá.
“Ramón, you know, if your father had just come back for me, I would’ve given him the recipe.”
Ramón pursed his lips and nodded. Papáhadcome back, but his father would have to tell Linda that himself.
Linda finished the tacos and presented them to Ramón.
Ramón examined the plate carefully and even lifted it to smell the tacos. There was no fishy scent at all—just a heavenly aroma of ocean mixed with heat. A crispy, yet not greasy, corn tortilla enveloped the fried and battered fish, garnished with lime, avocado, crema, cabbage, and pico de gallo, which was as fresh as his beloved abuela’s salsa.
Ramón squeezed lime on the taco, raised it to his mouth, and took the first bite. The crunch of the cabbage contrasted with the soft avocado. But the real star was the fish. Crispy, spicy, and delicious. The buttery flesh melted in his mouth.
Ramón devoured both tacos in a matter of minutes.
Linda was right—they were nothing like the ones that were served daily in his restaurants.
“These are excellent, Señora Campos. Thank you.”
“Oh, wait, I forgot something. It is meant to be paired with cerveza.” Linda handed him a beer from the cooler.
Should he be drinking on the job? Well, just this once, to get the authentic taste.
When Julieta went into the freezer to grab some ingredients, Linda cornered Ramón in front of the island in the kitchen.
“Ramón, I want to thank you for giving Julieta this job. The money is great, and we are appreciative.”
“Of course. I plan to hire you also.”
She shook her head. “No need. I plan to take a break when the restaurant transitions. I can never work in a Taco King. I’ve told you why.”
Ramón nodded. He had to talk to Papá.
“But I want you to stay away from Julieta. I know you two had a spark, but I would like to ask you not to pursue her. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
Ramón’s mouth became bitter. He downed some more beer to cover the taste.
Ramón refused to make a promise he couldn’t keep.
“I’m sorry, Linda. I’m not going to agree to that. I like your daughter.”
She scowled at him. He needed to change the subject as quickly as possible. “These tacos are really great. Thanks again.”
Ramón took his final bite as Julieta emerged from the freezer.
“Can we get back to work now?” She beckoned him over to the carnitas.
Break over.
He stirred the pork, and she placed her hand on top of his.
He was attracted to her, but now it wasn’t just lust. He liked her. He liked her mother, even though she had told him to stay away from her, something no mother had ever asked him to do. Mothers were usually begging Ramón to date their daughters.
