“I’m not going to get hurt. And who are you to talk? Driving his car and inviting him to La Vuelta.”
Mamá pointed at Tiburón. “You invited El Banco to La Vuelta? Are you mad?”
Tiburón shrugged. “I like his car. What can I say?”
Mamá shook her head. “Ay, Tiburón.” She clutched Julieta’s shoulders. “You will not date him anymore. That is final.”
Julieta had had it with Mamá. Her life already revolved around her. But she was an adult. She could make her own decisions. “No, it’s not final. I like him. He’s a good man. You don’t even know him.” She turned to Mamá. “He’s not like his papá.”
“Yes, he is. He is exactly like his father. You don’t think that Arturo promised me the world? The sun, the moon, the stars, and the sky? He was handsome and seductive, just like that son of his.”
She took a deep breath. “I know you love me and don’t want me to get hurt. I see where you are coming from. But I have spent some time with Ramón. He’s really deep. If you got to know him, you would see that.”
Mamá shook her head. “I don’t want you to date him, Julieta. Andhe’s not welcome in our home. And for that matter, as long as you are still dating him, you’re not welcome, either.”
Wow. “Are you serious right now, Mamá? You are kicking me out of the house?”
“Yes, I am. You have chosen this traitor over your own family. After everything his father did to us, what he is still doing to us. How could you sleep with the enemy?”
Rage seethed inside Julieta. She understood Mamá’s concern—Julieta was playing with fire. But she didn’t care. She would risk it all— even getting burned.
“Fine. I’ll crash with Rosa.” Her prima would always welcome her. “Just remember, Amá. Ramón isn’t Arturo.”
“He’s worse. Arturo was poor. Ramón is rich and thinks he can buy everyone. Including you.”
Tiburón grabbed some salsa and chips and began eating. Julieta glared at him—he had no shame.
“I don’t get you, Amá. You make absolutely no sense. One day you are hugging him, making him tacos, calling him mijo, telling him about his father, and now today you don’t want me seeing him.”
“I make perfect sense, Julieta. He is your boss. I was nice to him because he is putting food on the table. He is allowing us to pay our bills. And I will stay working here until they change the name on the marquee. Everyone still thinks that the restaurant is Las Pescas. Once it says Taco King, I’m gone.”
Mamá had a point. Julieta still couldn’t wrap her head around the reality of showing up to work, crossing the protesters, and working at Taco King. She’d rather stand naked in Chicano Park.The shame.
“That has nothing to do with me dating him.” Or spending the night with him, more accurately.
“I don’t approve of you dating him. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“How do you know I’m gonna get hurt? Maybe it will work out. Who knows? We may fall in love and get married and give you grandbabies. It’s so new now, though, I’m not stressing. I’m an adult. I’m allowed to have a life.”
Mamá laughed loudly. “You are kidding yourself, mija. You are already in love with him. I can see it. I’m your mother.”
Julieta wanted to deny that she had any feelings for him, but Mamá would see right through her.
“You’re a beautiful girl and a very talented chef, but we don’t fit in with their world.”
Julieta paused. He belonged to not one, but two separate country clubs. He’d bought her a thousand-dollar bike and didn’t even flinch when he put down the credit card. And in order to be closer to Barrio Logan for the next few months, he planned to purchase a home in Coronado. It was mind-blowing.
Mamá was right. They were very different. But when they were together Julieta felt comfortable with him. She didn’t feel like he was just using her. He hadn’t even tried to have sex with her.
Julieta should cut him off now and save her heart, but she wanted to enjoy this ride as long as it lasted. “I’m going to keep seeing him.”
Mamá stormed out of the restaurant. Julieta didn’t have the time or energy to go after her. Mamá would calm down, and eventually, she would learn to trust Ramón.
Since she had nowhere to go, she stayed in the kitchen and began preparing her tomatillos for tomorrow’s special. Tiburón stood next to her.
She threw her hand up like a stop sign. “Don’t start. I don’t want to hear it.”
“Julieta, I get that you had no choice about the restaurant. You have to eat. That money is life-changing. But don’t date him. He cannever make you happy. He’s not one of us; he will never be. You should date Pablo. He’s a good guy.”
