With a self-conscious smile, he ran a hand through his hair. “I did, but business still takes me out this way a few times a year.”
Patti and I exchanged glances. I had never seen my business-minded aunt react so warmly to any man except Uncle Eddie.
With a glance at our curious faces, Aunt Linda presented Buzz Cut like a sequined model presenting a heavy-load truck to a mesmerized crowd at the El Paso Car Show. “My prom date in high school, Frank Fillmore.” With a flourish, she swung her arm wide. “And this is everybody.”
“Nice to meet all of y’all.” His eyes widened as he took in the large group of dancers and musicians. His grin revealed a wide space between his two front teeth. “Hola, ¿cómo estás?”
“Fatal,” Senora Mari muttered. “Are we going to dance or chatter like squirrels?”
“Senora.” His eyes twinkled with good humor. “Would your cooking be the source of the amazing, mouthwatering aroma of this place?”
She shrugged. “It’s my kitchen, so it must be true.”
“And I bet it’s your way or the highway.”
After a moment of hesitation, she honored him with a careful smile. “Sí. Of course.”
“My wife, Felicia, was the same way.” His expression softened. “Had to be in charge of the kitchen, didn’t want any help. Didn’t even trust me to wash a dish.”
“Come back after lunch and we’ll set you up with all the dishes you can handle,” I said. If the dishwasher didn’t show up, me, myself, and the busboy were screwed.
Everyone laughed. Even Senora Mari added her abrupt ha-ha-ha.
“This young lady with the sassy mouth is my niece, Josie Callahan.” Aunt Linda raised an eyebrow and gave me a look of gentle reproach.
“Miss Callahan.”
“Frank, we’ll have to catch up later. Glad you’re back this year for Saturday’s big show.”
Mrs. Cogburn clasped her joined hands to her chest. “Mr. Fillmore, please accept my apologies. I should have recognized you from the last time you participated in our Cinco de Mayo festivities, regardless of your new hairstyle.”
“No need to apologize.” He gave her a brief smile. “But I do need someone to follow me to the fairgrounds. The mayor wanted a bigger show; and it requires a different setup.”
Aunt Linda took Mrs. Mayor by the arm. “Senora Mari will take them through their paces, won’t you?” She raised a brow at her mother-in-law.
My abuela studied us like a drill sergeant studies his rough recruits. “Sí, I will lead.”
“I wish my husband was here. He would make it plain as day.”
“I can go,” I said.
“Jo Jo, you stay.” Uncle Eddie entered from the hallway, dressed in his usual attire: pressed jeans, plaid Western shirt, and leather vest. “You and I need to go over the last-minute details for tomorrow. I don’t want no International Chili Association official to tear a strip off my hide.” A tourist at Two Boots dance hall, our other establishment, might suspect Uncle Eddie of wearing a costume. Little did they know, he wore the same outfit day in and day out.
“I’ll be glad to help out.” Aunt Linda threw an arm around Mrs. Cogburn’s shoulders.
I waited for my aunt to introduce Frank Fillmore to my uncle, but the introduction never came.
“¡Vámonos! Don’t stand around gawking.” Senora Mari took her place front and center while the rest of us darted into position and the band started to play.
After a word to Fillmore, Mrs. Cogburn returned to her charges. “And one, two, three, four.”
Uncle Eddie made for Milagro’s office just as Frank Fillmore opened the front door for my aunt. She caught my eye, glanced toward her husband’s retreating back, and, with an impish grin, lifted a finger to her lips.
• • •
Two hours later, my abuela threw her copy of the Broken Boot Bugle onto the counter. “¡Suficiente! Who cares if you break one or two rules?”
Senora Mari was not my grandmother. Technically, she was my Aunt Linda’s mother-in-law, but since I’d been raised in their home after the car accident that claimed both my parents, she often allowed me to refer to her as abuela. But if Lenny had been under foot or barked too loudly in the morning, she would remind me that Senora Mari was her rightful title.
“Mamá.” Uncle Eddie lowered a fresh glass of sweet tea without taking a sip. “The town council is watching me like a hawk, just waiting for me to screw up.” My uncle’s dark hair was slicked back in his usual style, light puffs of gray at his temples. His broad, honest face was tense with worry, deepening the wrinkles the West Texas sun had furrowed across his forehead.
“You’re imagining things.” I took the International Chili Association cook-off planning binder from his hands. “It will all fall into place, you’ll see.” And I gave him a pat on the shoulder. “We’ve reviewed every detail from beans to trophies.”
“Yip.” Lenny stood on a wooden chair so Cindy could complete his costume fitting.
“Okay, okay, little one. Soon. I will finish soon.” Her small, delicate hands had created a darling pair of white satin pants and jacket to match what the members of Anthony’s mariachi band were wearing.
“Where’s his sombrero?” asked Uncle Eddie.
“I have it here.” From her sewing kit Cindy retrieved a white satin hat with gold detailing and placed it on his head.
I squealed with glee. “Isn’t he adorable?”
“Humph.” Senora Mari thrust her hands on her hips. “If you think a long-haired rat dressed like a human is cute, you are loco.”
“Is it not right?” Cindy asked.
I glared at Senora Mari behind the young woman’s back. “It’s not you or your beautiful costume.” I smoothed Lenny’s white jacket and rubbed him under the chin. “She would say the same if he were dressed like Our Lady of Guadalupe.”
Cindy turned her wide brown eyes on Senora Mari. “You would?”
“I would.”
Cindy smiled. “Then he is perfect for tomorrow’s parade.”
“Let’s try it out.” I lowered Lenny to the
