Chapter 29
chapter twenty-nine
nesto
The party was filling up, and people were coming around to the truck to get food. Everyone was asking lots of questions and sounded excited about OuNYe opening as a restaurant in the spring.
I was handing an order of our crab empanadas to one of the guests when I saw Easton heading toward us, looking pissed.
I knew he was on the guest list but hadn’t seen him yet.
We had a bar next to the truck serving drinks that complemented the menu, so I assumed he was gunning for it.
But he came up to the counter and signaled me over.
I had no idea what it was about, but the expression on his face said he was not playing, so I told the guys I’d be back in a minute and climbed down.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
He pulled my arm until we were behind the truck, away from the guests milling around.
“I just sent away two state troopers who were asking questions about the immigration status of your employees.” He held up his hand and shook his head, looking even more pissed than before.
“I know all your employees are authorized to work. I also told them they had no right to walk into a private home asking people for their papers, unless they had a warrant from a federal judge, which they obviously didn’t. ”
I just stood there dumbfounded for a moment. I literally couldn’t make words. Then I finally breathed out, “I don’t understand.”
He sighed, “Jude called me this afternoon and said Misty had come into his office making cryptic comments about tonight and about your staff being ‘foreigners.’ He asked if there was anything I could do to stop them. I assured him it was almost certain there wasn’t much they could do, other than embarrass you and Harold, so I told him I’d keep an eye on things. ”
My mind was going a thousand miles an hour. Misty had tried to fuck with my business again, and Jude had called up Easton Archer to make sure nothing happened. I never thought one could be filled with rage and elation at the same time, but that’s exactly what was happening to me.
“Jude called you?”
Easton’s face softened at my question and his lips turned up a bit.
“Yes, and he warned me you might be pissed at us for getting involved, but he was dead set on making sure your big night went on without a hitch.” The lawyer chuckled, an impressed look on his face.
“I got to tell you man, you bring a whole other side out in Jude. He told me Misty even threatened to take away some of the funding for his project, but he said he didn’t care.
I think he would’ve driven out here and blocked the troopers himself if I’d said no. ”
“He’s amazing.” And apparently still cares about me enough to call an ADA on my behalf.
“He’s a good guy. Listen, I told Harold about what happened, and he’s livid.”
“What? Easton—”
I was about to go on another rant about people handling my business when I heard Misty’s shrill voice yelling at someone by the truck.
“This is garbage. Is this supposed to be food?”
I walked around the side and found Patrice trying and failing to calm her down. She looked drunk and mean, her teeth bared as he quietly spoke to her.
“Ma’am, if you’re not happy with this we can certainly make you something else. I’m sure there’s something on our menu that’ll appeal to you.”
She scoffed, looking him up and down. She was about to open her mouth when I stepped in between them. “We’re no longer serving this woman, Patrice. Ma’am, you need to leave.”
“I’m a guest at this party. You’ll serve me if I say so. I’ve never seen hired help this insolent.”
“That’s right, you’re a guest here and I’m not hired help. I’m hosting this party with Harold Sheridan, my business partner. I won’t tolerate you disrespecting me or my staff ever again.”
She looked like she was about to start yelling again, when I saw Mr. Sheridan and another man walking over to us.
“What have you done now?” The man whispered in Misty’s direction, as he came to stand next to us.
She ignored him and turned to Sheridan. “Harold, I’m sorry to see you’ve lost your edge. This business investment seems beneath you.”
“Thanks for your input, but like Mr. Vasquez just told you, he and I are hosting a party to announce our new business venture. There’s no place here for disrespectful people.
I would’ve hoped you were better than to behave like this, but I see that’s not the case.
The valet is bringing your car around. Have a good rest of your evening. ”
He walked right past Misty toward me, ignoring the heated conversation between her and her husband as they walked off.
“Is everything all right here, Nesto? I apologize for what just happened. That was unacceptable. I want you to know that there will be consequences for this.”
“That woman’s been trying to mess with my business literally since the day I got to town,” I said. “I have no time to waste on her. We have an announcement to make.”
He gripped my shoulder and smiled. “Yes, we do. Everyone is raving about the food. I’ve had over three people ask about investment possibilities.
I’ll give you a few minutes to regroup and I’ll come back so we can formally make the announcement for the restaurant together.
” He clapped my back again and walked off in the direction of the house.
I turned around and saw my mom, Patrice, Milo, and Easton standing by the truck, their faces serious, but looking a lot more relaxed than they’d been a few minutes ago.
I offered my hand to Easton. “Thanks for your help tonight, man. This could’ve gone a lot worse without you.” He shook it with his million-dollar smile back in place. I noticed he and Patrice were standing a little closer than what allowed for personal space, and was that P’s hand on Easton’s back?
Interesante.
“Glad I could help.”
I turned to my two friends and my mom. “Okay, here’s the plan. As soon as we take care of things here, we need to get home, and I’m going to require all hands-on deck for this one. For the next week Ernesto Vasquez and OuNYe will only have one mission: getting Jude Fuller back.”
Jude
“Carmen! Did you even hear what I just said? Who are you texting?”
It was Tuesday morning and we were on our way to the first event for the mobile library launch week and I was a ball of nerves.
Today we were bringing the truck to the Newfield Middle and High School campus.
In coordination with the school, we’d arranged to park there for the day so students could try the library.
We’d have music, prizes, and free books for a countywide read.
We’d also make announcements about all the events we’d have throughout the year.
It was pretty basic as launches went, but we were hoping our enthusiasm would make up for it.
The plan was to do the same at the three other rural towns in the county.
So we’d be taking our show on the road for the rest of the week.
All morning I’d been freaking out, worried no one would come, but Carmen and our two interns had been furiously working our social media accounts and assured me we’d have a good crowd.
After I called her name again, Carmen finally dragged her eyes away from her phone and had a huge grin on her face.
“Umm yeah, so everything is set. Just heard from Z and Roi and they said there are already a bunch of kids there, and we’re not even supposed to start for another half hour.”
Relief washed through my body. I’d been so on edge since Friday.
Between preparing for this, and the anxiety from the debacle with Misty, I was so ready for a vacation.
Thankfully, in the end, Misty’s scheming didn’t ruin Nesto’s night.
From what I heard through the Dominican News Network—which Carmen was now fully a part of—the night had been a huge success.
Misty hadn’t been at the library yesterday, and word was she was “taking some time off.” For all of her attempts to sabotage us, she hadn’t been able to undo mine or Nesto’s hard work.
As he’d said all along, people finally saw her for exactly who she was.
Things with Nesto were still not okay though. Friday night after the party he’d texted to tell me he knew what I’d risked to help him. I told him I didn’t have any regrets, but that I needed time.
I still felt unsure.
I didn’t know if Nesto could ever really make me a priority.
I knew I’d need to talk to him eventually.
I wanted to, but I’d been working nonstop for the last three days trying to prepare for the launch and hadn’t been able to stop by his truck.
But I promised myself as soon as I was done with this on Friday, I’d go to Nesto’s house and talk to him.
When we started approaching the school, I noticed Carmen shifting in her seat like her ass was on fire, and she kept glancing at her phone.
“Carmen, what’s going on with you?” I asked, exasperated.
“Look ahead, Jude, you’re going to hit someone.” I looked up at the road as we turned onto the high school grounds and noticed there were a lot of cars there already. Then as we got closer my heart almost leapt out of my chest.
Next to our book truck, with a line forming already, was Nesto’s truck.
There was also what looked like a face-painting station, and a bunch of kids were walking around with tote bags featuring the library’s and OuNYe’s logos.
When I looked closer, I saw Nesto standing a few yards away from the truck, in a spot where he had a clear view of the cars driving in.
He had his head down, focused on his phone and didn’t see us.
Before he looked up, I quickly pulled into one of the spots farther away from the crowd and turned to Carmen, who looked ready to burst.
“Spill.”