My bright idea of going to El Buey as an act of goodwill to Jose Fontaine ended up being the worst possible plan of action for peace. After our unsuccessful talk at the Fontaine house, I thought patronizing the man’s restaurant would undoubtedly show him I supported Jasmine and her family’s business. 

I was so wrong. When Nia seated us, I thought we were in the clear. Surely, the staff would have stopped us at the hostess stand if Jose didn’t want us on the premises. Like every man who has been taken by surprise by an enemy at a meal, I sat down at the table and relaxed. 

Perry, our goalie, asked Nia questions about the menu. He was from Austin, Texas and loved red meat so naturally, he had a ton of questions. Nia was pretty sweet natured and was happy to explain everything in detail. While they talked, I looked over the menu, deciding on what to get for lunch.

Foolishly, I forgot momentarily that we were even at Jose Fontaine’s restaurant and that I had anything to worry about at all. Jose was a reasonable man, and heck he was a businessman after all. He certainly wouldn't turn away paying customers. I didn’t expect to see Jasmine while I was there but knowing she was nearby somewhere made me happy.

As Nia described the different kinds of buey available for lunch, I heard Jose before I saw him. “You!” Lowering my menu, I knew that bellowing voice. Jose’s finger was aimed right at me, yelling at me to get out. 

Patrons around me stopped eating and talking. Everyone was frozen staring at our table. Startled, the staff stopped what they were doing. Every eye in the restaurant was on us. Beads of sweat sprung up on the back of my neck. My peace negotiations had gone terribly wrong.

Nia pushed up her black frame glasses with a trembling finger and gave us an apologetic smile. “Uncle Jose, is there a problem?” Her voice was topsy-turvy, the pitch rising and falling oddly. Nia seemed to be spooked pretty badly.

Was everyone afraid of Jose Fontaine?

Jose's face relaxed when he looked at his distraught niece. His tone softened. “Nia, escort these gentlemen out, please.”

Nia inhaled sharply as she fidgeted with her small notebook and pen unsure how to corral us out. When this poor girl got up this morning for work, she hadn’t expected she would have to be a referee.

Taking it upon myself to be a gentleman, I addressed the entire dining room calmly. “We’re leaving.” Ronnie and Perry, following my lead, standing up. 

Ronnie looked at me in disbelief. “Really dude? I’m so hungry.”

I gave him a look and shrugged my shoulders. He waved a hand at me dismissing me. When Ronnie was hungry, he was a ravenous ogre.

To appease him, I said, “Let’s go to Cha Cha Burrito down the street.” 

Ronnie’s eyes lit up as he pointed to Perry and me. “Nachos?”

“Sure. We’ll get nachos.” Perry and I exchanged looks. Perry rolled his eyes and shook his head at Ronnie, his dreadlocks bouncing from side to side. Our friend had a one track mind: food.

Jose crossed his arms stubbornly and watched us walk away from the table. Unexpectedly, Jasmine swept in from the kitchen to us like a tornado. She pointed at Ronnie, Perry and me. “Sit down. You’re not going anywhere.”

We all looked at Nia, who opened her mouth to speak but said nothing, most likely realizing she had no idea what to say. Jasmine said to her, “Serve them, Nia. It’s okay.”

Jose’s eyes scorched into Jasmine, but her eyes blazed right back at him. Jose was as speechless as all the rest of us.  Through clenched teeth, Jasmine quietly said to her father, “Office. Now please.”

Nia scuttled behind us and led us back to our table. “The woman of the house has spoken. Please have a seat. Let me tell you about our specials. Again.”

Jose followed Jasmine back into the kitchen. I guessed that she was taking him back to the buey cave. In my mind, I imagined Jasmine and Jose battling it out under the maturing slabs of meat. I’d never seen Jasmine so angry.

Proud of Jasmine’s grit, I wondered what she was saying to Jose. Nia came out with appetizers: croquettes and cured beef sausage. “Everything is on the house today.” She put the delicious looking plates down on the table. 

She gave me a stern look. “Don’t think about leaving money on the table like last time.”

Ronnie looked at me questioningly. “You paid last time?”

I shrugged it off, dismissing it as nothing.

Ronnie shook his head. "I owe you, man. Not this time. But next time. Next time, I totally got you." He rubbed his hands together looking at the food. "Bon appetit!" Perry and Ronnie began to eat, but I couldn't get my mind off Jasmine and her father out back.

Joseph came up to the table. He held a hand out to me. “We weren’t properly introduced last time we met.”

“Alex,” I said shaking his hand.

“Joseph.” Thinking about the family portrait at their house, Joseph looked to me like a perfect blend of his father and mother. He leaned down to me and said, “You know, Jasmine looks a lot like my mom except when she’s angry. She looks like my dad.” He pointed to his eyes and nose. “You know, the eyes and the flaring nostrils.”

I agreed. “Yeah, I saw!” I dropped my voice, “What’s going on back there?”

“She’s got him back in the cave. She’s yelling at him! I can hear it from the kitchen. Told him his behavior was completely unprofessional in front of guests. She even said that it was that kind of unprofessional behavior that leads to yanked Michelin stars.” He thumped his chest. “I know that must have hurt him.” He looked around at the full restaurant. “She’s kind of right though.”

Just then, Jose barreled out of the kitchen like a bull let out of its pen. He barked at Joseph. “I’m out for the rest of the day. Cover the kitchen.”

Joseph and I watched as Jose rumbled out of the restaurant. Joseph put a hand on my shoulder. “Come with me.”

I held a finger up to Ronnie and Perry, who were chowing down on the appetizers. “Be right back.” They seemed to be too preoccupied with the tasty food. No one objected.

Joseph led me through the kitchen to the back of the restaurant. He jerked his head to the door of the buey cave. "She's probably really upset. You should talk to her.”

Looking back at Joseph, I pushed open the door and said, “Thanks, man.”

He nodded his head before rushing back inside the kitchen. “Take care of her.”

In the cave, Jasmine was huddled in a corner, sobbing. I gathered her in my arms. “Are you okay?” 

She shook her head, tears falling from her swollen red face. “I’ve never talked to my father like that before.” Wiping under her eyes with her fingertips, her voice cracked. “He can’t act like that! In the restaurant in front of people of all places!” She paused to catch her breath. “I told him that he needed to respect our relationship. You’re the man I love. He needs to understand that!” Her hands flew up pointing at the door. “Then, he just left! Didn't say anything more. Just stormed out!”

I held Jasmine close to my chest while she cried. “It’s going to be okay,” I assured her.

“I’m so terrified, Alex. What have I done?” She buried her face into my chest and wept.

I wasn’t sure what she’d done, but I knew one thing for certain, she was a force to be reckoned with when she was pissed off.