meeting and family meal before service on Wednesday, then Angie took a breath.
“Go ahead, tell me the bad news.” Felicia turned to check on something in the oven.
“What are you talking about?” Angie saw Dom had already taken to the bed Felicia kept under her dining room table and was halfway asleep. “What bad news?”
“You don’t usually come over for breakfast after just seeing me last night. Did Ian do something stupid?” Felicia closed the oven and came over to sit on a counter stool next to Angie.
“Yes and no.” Angie went on to tell her about the teenage girl he’d found sleeping in the alley. When she got to the fact that the girl needed a job, Felicia perked up.
“Tell him to send her to us. I don’t know how many teenagers I trained as servers at El Pescado. Remember Joey? He was homeless when he came to work for us. The shelter down the street had him walking around checking every business in the area for a job.”
“Joey? The tall kid with bright red hair? He was so funny.” Angie smiled at the memory. “Didn’t he leave to go to college?”
“Yes. The restaurant paid for a small scholarship with the school to cover his room and board. He keeps in touch. He started a job with an engineering firm in a town north of the city.” Felicia sipped her coffee. “I thought I told you this.”
“Maybe.” Angie thought back. She’d been dealing with the whole Todd mess at the time and probably her mind hadn’t been on the business as much as it should have been. “Do we help out Hope?”
“You really don’t listen, do you?” Felicia turned back to the oven and pulled the warm egg, potato, and cheese casserole out. Angie watched as Dom’s head popped up when he smelled the food.
“Guilty as charged.” She stood and got plates out of the cabinet while Felicia went to the fridge for freshly made salsa.
“Since Hope’s living at home, we pay her tuition. As long as she gets a B average.” Felicia plated a large square out of the dish along with salsa and then topped it with half of a sliced avocado. She set the plates on the counter and glanced at Felicia. “Orange juice?”
“Sure. Just a little.” Angie took silverware out and then sat, taking in the dish. “Do we have this on our class menu?”
“Not yet. I wanted to see what you thought. We have the brunch class in two weeks, and it’s already full, with a waiting list. I’m tempted to add more, but then, is that oversaturating the market?” Felicia poured the juice, then sat and watched Angie take a bite.
Angie took her time in responding. She could taste the fresh herbs along with the spices that the potatoes must have been fried with. The cheese was a sharp cheddar and melted into large strands as she ate. “The only thing I might add is a different cheese. Either add or replace. I’d like something that felt more umpcious.”
“I don’t think that’s a word, but I agree with you. Maybe a layer of ricotta and egg like a lasagna in addition to the cheddar.”
Angie imagined the creamy goodness that change would bring and nodded. “Yep, that’s perfect. So, she’s hitting her grades, right?”
“Who, Hope? Of course, she’s mostly an A student. I think the classes she struggles in are the theory courses. You give her a recipe, she can cook anything. I think working with Estebe has been good for her confidence.”
Angie smiled and took another bite. “So, Estebe…”
Felicia shook her head. “No, no way, and no again. I’m not talking about my relationship with Estebe with you.” Felicia’s cheeks brightened.
“So, it is a relationship?” Angie pressed.
Felicia set her fork down. “Okay, this I will say. I enjoy spending time with him. We have a lot in common. He gets my jokes, mostly. And I love how he opens the car door for me. I feel like a princess.”
“You should feel like a princess.” Angie thought about Felicia’s last boyfriend, who had basically used her as a