“Rocky Road.”
Ramón went inside to order the ice cream cones. When he came out, he watched Julieta sitting next to her bicycle. She caressed the frame with the hand-painted sugar skulls and took a picture of the bright green tires with her phone.
Ramón pulled her in for a kiss. “I’m having an incredible day. Thank you.”
“Me too.”
Ramón looked around at the kids playing on the beach.
A cute little girl in pigtails ran up to her father. “Daddy! I found a sand crab!”
Julieta turned to Ramón. “This place is paradise. I’d love to have kids and bring them here.”
Ramón also wanted to have children at some point later in his life, but how late? He had plotted out every detail of his professional life, but had left his personal future up to chance. “It does seem like a pretty amazing place to raise kids.”
Julieta beamed and her chest lifted. “Do you want kids? I want a huge family. I was so lonely growing up. Five children, at least.”
Ramón laughed. “That’s a lot of children.”
“Not really. My mom is the second eldest of five. She wanted more, but after she gave birth to me, she was unable to carry another child.”
“That’s too bad. I think my mom always wanted a girl.”
“Well, she was lucky to have three boys.”
After they finished their ice cream, they got on the bikes and headed around the bay back to the Del.
Julieta stopped in front of the bike path and stared across the bay to Barrio Logan. “Did you know Barrio Logan used to include the beach, before the Navy took it? The government kept pushing our community inland, confining us under the bridge.”
“Yeah, I did.” Barrio Logan had so many refugees after the Mexican Revolution. They lived in Logan Heights, across the bay from Coronado, and since barrio means neighborhood in Spanish, the name stuck.
“It’s so different to be on this side of the water. We’re just across the bay, but we are worlds away from these mansions and tree-lined streets.”
A lump grew in his throat. He had been on this side of the island so many times, and he had never once thought what it would’ve been like to live under the freeway on the other side of the bay.
Chapter Twenty-Two
After a glorious afternoon with Ramón, Julieta had to return to reality. He drove her across the bridge.
“You can drop me at the restaurant,” she said.
He gave her a knowing look. “I can take you home.”
She shook her head, no. Julieta didn’t want him to see where she lived and pity her. It was so hard running a business in California. She had invested everything into her restaurant and spent what remainder she had on her parents’ medical bills.
If she were being honest with herself, it would be a relief not to worry about the financials of her restaurant and just focus on the food.
Maybe Ramón could truly help the entire neighborhood, without robbing it of its character. Update the buildings, invest in more advertising, bring more customers to her beloved town. He swore he still planned to transform Las Pescas into a Taco King, but Julieta clung to the sliver of hope that she would get him to change his mind.
Were his intentions good? Did he have a hidden agenda?
“I have to grab something in the restaurant anyway.”
Ramón sighed and dropped her in front of the building. She attempted to open her door, but Ramón got out and opened it for her.
“When can I see you again?” he asked.
“Silly, tomorrow at work.”
