Homicide and Halo-Halo (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2)(37)

I recounted the events of the previous night, taking some comfort in the fact that she’d asked about the case. Maybe she wasn’t as mad at me as I’d thought. I left out what Ninang June said about my mom as well as the comments Bernadette made about my love life.

Adeena knew me well enough to sense when I wasn’t giving her the full story. “And that’s it? That’s all that happened last night?”

I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee so I wouldn’t have to meet her gaze.

“So that’s how it’s going to be? I know something’s bugging you. How many times do I have to tell you this? Ask for help when you need it. Tell people how you feel,” Adeena said, clapping to emphasize each word in that last statement.

“Mami, why don’t we go look at the altar I’m working on? It feels like something’s missing, maybe you can help me out.” Elena tugged her mother away from me and Adeena to give us some privacy.

I had nothing left to say though, so I followed them to the back space Elena had slowly been transforming. A richly patterned cloth covered a small table littered with dried herbs, a vase of fresh flowers, an old pair of golden rings, and several candles positioned in front of framed photos. I recognized Elena’s father, from previous pictures she’d shown me, and Adeena’s maternal grandparents. Mrs. Torres lit the candle in front of her husband’s photo, her lips moving in a silent prayer or conversation.

When she was finished, she turned to me. “This is a wonderful space, but there doesn’t seem to be anything of yours here, Lila. Don’t you want to contribute something?”

“I don’t think Tita Rosie or Lola Flor would like that. They’re very Catholic, you know. They might find it sacrilegious.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but I also knew they lit candles every week at Mass for my parents and grandfather and kept framed photos of them in the restaurant office. Maybe they would’ve liked having a special space like this to remember them. Not that I was going to bother asking them.

Mrs. Torres gave me a knowing smile, reminding me that she, too, had been raised Catholic in conjunction with her other spiritual beliefs. But she didn’t push it. She just said, “I created the most wonderful jasmine tea blend last week. I’ll make sure to have Elena bring some for the shop—I think you’d really like it. Lovely aroma. Something about it reminds me of you.”

Did . . . did she know that my mother always wore jasmine perfume? Sampaguita, more specifically, the national flower of the Philippines. I loved the scent but avoided it as much as possible—my sense of smell was too strong and the memories it evoked were better kept in the past.

I forced a smile. “Thanks, Tía. I’m sure our customers will love it. Gotta get ready for my pageant duties though. Adeena,” I called out. “I’m going to pack up some snacks for Jae and his staff as well as the other judges. Can you prepare two to-go boxes of coffee with cups and charge everything to the pageant account? I’m going to pop next door real quick.”

As I hustled out of the cafe a few minutes later, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that all three women knew me better than I knew myself. Bruhas, indeed.



* * *



? ? ?

I’d woken up earlier that morning with my mind its usual swirl of confusion, but one thing stuck out clearly—I needed to apologize to Jae. Remembering how I’d lashed out at him just because I was jealous of his friendship with Beth had me cringing as I’d gotten ready for the day, taking extra care with my appearance as I French-braided my hair and wore a particularly flattering summer dress. A fresh slick of lip gloss as well as the caffeine and treats I’d prepared for Jae and his staff gave me the courage I needed to push through the dental clinic’s door and greet his receptionist.

“Good morning, Millie! I’ve got a little something for you and Dr. Jae. Is he in yet?”

Millie Barnes had been trying to pat down her humidity-enhanced curls, her reddish-brown hair forming a huge halo around her head, but abandoned the task when she saw I’d brought breakfast. “Caffeine! Lila, you angel. And yeah, the boss man is in back, but I think he’s with a patient. If you’re not in a hurry, feel free to keep me company while I eat. I’m sure he’d be sad to miss his favorite patient.”

I busied myself setting everything out so I wouldn’t have to meet her teasing eyes. “I brought a little bit of every baked good we’re offering, as well as Adeena’s house blend. I would’ve brought you her awesome cold brew, but knowing how Jae blasts that AC . . .”

Millie groaned and pulled the knee-length cardigan she was wearing more tightly around herself. “I’d say it’s ’cause he’s so hot, but my husband also keeps our house at subarctic temperatures, so it must be a guy thing. Men,” she muttered, clutching her steaming cup of coffee close to her chest.

“Men,” I agreed in an equally grieved tone.

“What did we do now? I mean, other than the usual,” Jae asked, coming out from his back office. “Ooh, coffee! Thanks, Lila.”

He grinned before scarfing down an ube cookie and filling the Star Wars–themed coffee mug I’d gotten him for his birthday. It had a picture of Baby Yoda on it and it said “Yoda Best Dentist,” which matched his love of Stars Wars and dentistry with my love of puns. Truly the most perfect of mugs. “So to what do we owe the pleasure? You’re not experiencing any pain, are you?”