Royally Delicious

mack and jeezy

It has been two days since I called the mysterious number. Two days less to make ends meet. I've been cutting up advertisements from newspapers to magazines, searching for a job wherein I can get a suitable salary to help with the debt. No luck though, it's either I'm getting positions for dishwasher or waitress. I doubt it's going to help that much, and missing service will only cut us losses. So much for my culinary degree, it can only get me so far. Apparently, I'm not a fresh graduate anymore, and having minimal exposure and experience in the culinary world, aside from our beloved restaurant, is a negative.

Getting a job even as a low level cook is more difficult than I thought. Moreover, with the many applicants pining for the job, it's making my chances slimmer. If only there is a recruiter that will just tell me to cook, then I might have a shot. Interviews and assessments make me nervous, and trust me, when I'm nervous, I either come off as too desperate or too detached.

Picking up the magazines and reorganizing my stuff, I walk to the kitchen to make some coffee. As per usual, since two days ago, Deborah hasn't left the apartment. God knows what she does, but I see her leave from time to time, but she never visited the restaurant.

"Good morning, abuela."

I greet her, and she nods in acknowledgement. She's watching the news again, with tired eyes. I want to ask her where she'd been the past few days, but decided against it.

"It's raining today." She suddenly says, making me draw my attention to the window.

"Ah, yeah, but service continues, as always. Gotta feed the hungry customers!"

I tried to make my voice cheery, but it ended up being high pitched and forced.

"Sofia. What if we... just close the restaurant?"

I almost dropped my mug from shock. Selling the restaurant is something my grandmother will never say. Nope, not in a million years, even if we're swimming in debt. The restaurant has become a prized possession for my grandmother. She and my grandfather opened it when they got married. They were both madly in love and was known in the city as the cute couple who makes mad paella. Seriously, no chef can top it.

"Never, abuela. How could you even say that? Do you think grandpapa will be okay with this?"

"I doubt Alejandro would want us to drown in debt either."

"We will make a way, okay? We got this. We will never give up on the restaurant both you and grandpapa built with true love and passion for cooking."

I hugged her tight and she gave me a small smile. This time, she went with me to the town market. As I gather the ingredients for lunch, I spot Cass walking towards us, fresh flowers on her arm.

"Have you heard the news?" She giddily asked us.

"Um, no."

"What news?" My grandmother, who also likes to gossip, asked.

"Everyone's talking about it this morning! How can you not hear?" Cass followed us behind, her eyes still sparkling.

"As you can see, we are prepping for service. I don't have time for gossip." I replied in a clipped tone.

"You're such a downer, Sofia." Cass pouted and decided to pester my grandmother instead.

"Well, I am dying to hear whatever everyone is talking about. Spill!"

"They say, that a member of the royal family is visiting Manhattan!" She squealed in delight, making me grunt in frustration.

Seriously though, I don't see the importance of these things. Like honestly, so what? I would rather prefer Ariana Grande visiting us, to be honest. What she did for Manchester was admirable. I gained a different kind of respect for her.