“Ever since your mom got sick, it’s been a big wake-up call to us that we’ve become all work and no play. We’ve got stuff we want to do, places to see… Carmen has no interest in the business. We’ve known that for quite some time, and it’s fine. She needs to follow her path, but we’ve decided we want to hire someone to be our general manager so we can take some time off and leave the business with someone we trust. That way, we can enjoy ourselves.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” I can’t imagine why he’s telling me this. Does he want my advice on who to hire?
“When we got to seriously talking about who we might hire, we kept coming back to you.”
“Me?” I must be looking at him like I think he’s crazy. “Why me?”
“You have a business degree and worked for years as an office manager—”
“That’s not the same thing as running a restaurant of this magnitude.”
“It’s management experience. It’s supervisory experience. We can teach you the rest of what you need to know. We plan to hire someone now and start taking a step back in six months or so. If you want the job, it’s yours.” He recites a six-figure salary that has my mouth hanging open in shock and then sweetens the deal with three weeks of paid vacation, a 401(k) and health insurance. “I’m not joking, Dee. We need someone we can trust, and we’re offering it to you.”
My aunt Vivian joins him behind the bar. “Judging by the shell-shocked look on Dee’s face, I take it you’ve shared our idea with her.”
Vincent puts his arm around his wife. “I have, and she’s indeed shell-shocked.”
I’m also on the verge of tears. That they’d think of me for something like this is beyond overwhelming. “You guys… I have no idea what to say. I’m so honored that you think I’d be capable of this.”
“It’s not just us, honey,” Viv says. “Nona and Abuela also think it’s a brilliant idea. You’ve worked here on and off since you were fifteen. You know the customers, the routine, the menu, the culture of the place. You’re perfect.”
“I’m speechless. When you said you wanted to talk to me, I never imagined this.” As I swipe at a stray tear, I can’t find the words to tell my aunt and uncle what this means to me.
“If you need some time to think about it, we’d certainly understand,” Uncle Vincent says.
“No, I don’t need time to think about it,” I say, laughing. “I’d be so honored to be your general manager, to run your business for you so you can take some time to enjoy yourselves.” I get up from the stool and go around the bar to hug them both. “You have no idea how badly I needed this. Thank you, and I promise you’ll never be sorry you asked me.”
“We know we won’t, honey,” Vincent says as he pulls back from me. “You were the only one we considered. We’re relieved you said yes because we didn’t have a plan B.”
“What did she say?” Nona asks as she, Abuela, Carmen, Jason, Maria, Austin, Everly and Wyatt come into the bar area.
“She said yes!” Vincent says with a fist pump.
Excited family members hug and congratulate me.
“What am I missing?” Wyatt asks when he’s finally able to break through the group and get to me.
“My aunt and uncle offered me a fabulous opportunity to be the restaurant’s general manager.”
“Wow!” His face lights up with pleasure. “That’s fantastic. Congratulations, honey.” He hugs me tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be happy for me when the shock wears off.”
Carmen hugs me. “You’ll be great. When Mom and Dad told me what they were thinking, I couldn’t have been more excited for them or you.”
“Thank you so much for trusting me with this.” I’m well aware that this place is her legacy, even if we all feel like it belongs to us.
She’s been after her parents for a while now to work less and play more.
Vincent pours flutes of champagne for everyone. “You know what this means, ladies,” he says to Nona and Abuela. “We made a deal.”
“What deal?” Carmen asks.
“When we told Abuela and Nona our plan to ask Dee to be the general manager, we got them to agree that if Dee said yes to our offer, they’d also take more time off to do the things they’ve been too busy to do.”
“I have no idea what to do with myself if I’m not working,” Abuela says, frowning.
“It’s high time you figured that out, don’t you think?” Carmen asks her.
Abuela shrugs, seeming sad. We’ll rally around her and try to help her figure out some things she can do outside of work.
“Maybe it’s time to say yes to poor Mr. Muñoz in C32,” I suggest.
“Bite your tongue,” Abuela snaps as the rest of us crack up. “The last thing I need is an old man to take care of.”
“Maybe he would take care of you,” Carmen says.
Abuela dismisses the topic with a fierce scowl. “Pish.”
“What about you, Nona?” Maria asks.
“I’m signing up for flying lessons.”
Vincent stares at his mother. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me. I’ve always wanted to learn to fly, and if I’m going to have more time off, that’s what I want to do.”
“Now, wait just a minute,” Vincent sputters.
We laugh at his reaction.
Nona gives her son a defiant look. “You’re not the boss of me, but you are the one saying we need to live more and work less. I’ve already looked into it, and there’s a great flight school at MIA. I’ve got a call into them.”
“I hate to ask this,” Jason says tentatively, “but is it possible you might be past the age where you can be licensed?”
Nona gives him her most withering look. “Are you saying I’m old, young man?”
He swallows hard. “Not at all, ma’am.”
Laughing, she says, “There’s no age limit on private pilots, as long as my vision checks out and I have all my faculties, which I certainly do. My father was a pilot, and we’d always planned for him to teach me, but he died before he could. I’m closing that circle. I’m doing it for him.”
“That’s amazing, Nona,” Carmen says. “I’m so excited for you. Isn’t it awesome, Dad?”
Vincent frowns but gives a subtle nod. “I’d feel better knowing you won’t be up there by yourself, Mama.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.”
She seems so delighted with her plan that I can’t help but be happy for her.
“I may even give sky-diving a try while I’m at the airport.”
“Nona!”
She bursts into laughter, thrilled to have gotten a rise out of us.
Carmen, Maria and I end up off to the side of the others by ourselves.
“What do you guys hear about Marcus?” I keep my voice down so no one can overhear me.
“I heard he checked himself into rehab for thirty days,” Maria whispers.