“I don’t doubt it. You’ve got quite a chef here.” I pointed at Gabriella.
“Thanks, Ms. Joyce. I’m so freakin’ nervous.” She wiped her hands on her apron.
“Let me have a taste,” I offered.
“Behold, my honey-bacon breakfast nachos!” she exclaimed, gesturing proudly toward a platter piled high with buttered, crispy tortilla triangles, drizzled generously with honey, cinnamon, sugar, and crumbled bacon bits. Beside it lay a stack of informational flyers elaborating on the story behind her unique Blaxican cuisine.
I couldn’t help but smile as I reached for a nacho. “Mmm, these are delicious!” I exclaimed, my taste buds delighting in the unique combination of flavors. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Gabriella.”
“Thank you!” She beamed, her face flushed with pride. “I’m really hoping these will impress the judges.”
As we chatted, townsfolk stopped by to admire Gabriella’s dish and learn more about her culinary fusion. Joy filled my heart as I watched her animatedly share her passion for food, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. This young woman had such a bright future ahead of her. I just hoped the “Lorenzos” in her life wouldn’t dim her shine.
Elijah’s face lit up as he handed out samples of Gabriella’s nachos to the eager tasters He clearly took pride in his role, beaming with each compliment about the dish.
“Gabriella, these are divine!” Eileen, who had rushed over as soon as she saw me, exclaimed after taking a bite. She read over the flyer as she chomped. “You have such a gift for combining flavors. We’d love to have you come to the library and share your story, your business information.”
“Thank you so much,” Gabriella replied, her cheeks flushed with happiness. “That would be great.”
Of course, Miss Mary made her rounds. “Keep it up, young lady,” she told Gabriella.
As the crowd around our tent grew, I noticed Gabriella’s gaze shift toward another tent across the way. Her expression turned steely as she whispered to me, “See that woman over there? That’s Mrs. Maine, my old home economics teacher.”
I squinted to get a better look at Mrs. Maine. She looked like the sweetest woman on earth. “That woman? She could play Mrs. Claus in a movie.”
“Don’t let the white hair, bun, and glasses fool you,” Gabriella warned. “That woman was evil.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” I raised an eyebrow. “Was she a good cook?”
“It’s hard to say. She only made the basics in our class. She said we didn’t deserve her best cuisine.”
Mrs. Claus would never say a thing like that.
Gabriella grew a mischievous grin. “Go to her tent. Taste her food. Let me know what you think.”
A snap and crackle preceded the announcer’s voice. “Contestant numbers one through five, please prepare to bring your dishes to the judges in ten minutes.”
“That’s me!” Gabriella shrieked. “Ms. Joyce, you have to go scope her out. Did I tell you that this is my first contest?”
A bolt of electricity flew through me. “No. You. Did. Not.”
“Please. I’m about to pass out. I have to know.”
“Okay, okay. You and Elijah get busy making a fresh batch. I’ll check out Mrs. Maine.”
The way her face loosened up, you’d think I’d told her I was going to knock the woman’s tent down. “Thank you.”
Feeling like a secret agent, I strolled over to Mrs. Maine’sbooth, where she was serving up her own breakfast concoction: spicy chocolate and chili-pepper waffles. That didn’t even sound right.This is for you, Gabriella.
“Hello, Mrs. Maine.”
She paused, holding my sample midway between us. The chocolate-chunked waffle on the tiny plastic plate was a deep, rich brown, almost sinister in its appearance. I could see the flecks of spice in the syrup, promising a fiery kick with each bite. “Hello. Do we know each other?”
I gave my church-usher smile and took the plate from her. “No. My family has roots here, and I recently moved back. My housemate, Gabriella Santos, was a student of yours. She has so much to say about you.”
“Does she, now?” she replied with a tight-lipped smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, I hope you enjoy my entry.”
Taking a bite, I struggled to maintain my composure as the overdone spiciness hit my tongue. I coughed and sputtered, trying to catch my breath. I should have followed my first mind and passed on this one.
