by Jennifer Joy
I wanted the afternoon to last forever. She twirled around my kitchen in the retro lavender house dress Adi had made for her. She loved it so much, she’d ordered four more in different colors.
Fernanda had attempted a black-to-purple ombre, and while Fernanda wasn’t satisfied with the overall look, Mammy rocked it. She reassured Fernanda that the upkeep of black would have been too difficult, and she adored how her violet locks complemented her new dress. Mammy truly did make the best of every situation.
Abuelita was still a social media celebrity for her quick thinking in saving the mayor, and she milked her stardom for all it was worth.
The mayor had avoided the public eye all week (more out of a desire to have his front teeth fixed before making an appearance than to obey Dr. Montalvo’s order to rest his voice. Vanity before health.)
I smiled as I pinched a wax paper square around a Strawberry Swirl doughnut and handed it to the eager little girl on the other side of the case. Her brother was equally thrilled to get my sticky Candy Crusher doughnut in his fidgety hands.
The bell above the door announced the arrival of another customer, and I was happy to see Eduardo along with a woman who had the same wavy hair and wide-set eyes he did.
She extended her hand to me when I rounded the case to meet them. “Hello, I’m Emilia. You must be Jessica. My brother has told me how you helped us, and I can’t thank you enough.”
Leading them over to a table and pouring some coffee, I asked, “How is Patricio faring?”
Emilia laughed. “He doesn’t like jail much, but he’s getting the help he needs. We’ve never been closer. All things considered, it’s not a bad trade-off. I have a dad now, and we make sure he’s never lonely by visiting him every chance we get.”
“I’m happy for you,” I said.
Eduardo signed enthusiastically, and Emilia interpreted. “My brother says that he plans to move to Quito to live with me and my daughter. He wants to be closer to our father, so he doesn’t fall into his old habits. Eddie’s grateful for your help, and he made you something special.”
Eduardo placed a novel-sized, wrapped package on the table and pushed it toward me.
“Thank you!” I said, pulling off the paper to reveal a framed sketch of Mammy and I, our arms wrapped around each other’s waist and our heads leaning together. He’d captured the contentment I felt when she was near. Mammy’s eyes reflected pride and love. I could almost feel her pinching my chin and hear her say, “No regrets, Sugar.”
I blinked several times, running my thumb tenderly over the glassed frame. “It’s perfect,” I whispered, flattening my palm against my heart and smiling to communicate to Eduardo how much I loved his gift.
Emilia looked at her watch and downed her coffee in one gulp. “We’d better get going. We still have to stop by Miss Patty’s.”
I boxed up a few doughnuts for their trip back home and waved even after the door closed behind them and they disappeared from my view.
Mammy swooped in behind me, and I held the picture up for her to see. “I think I’ll run this upstairs before it gets frosting on it,” I said. It would keep Illari, who was finally framed and adorning my wall, company.
“That’s a terrible idea. You should put it in the kitchen. That way all your friends can see it. I don’t think either of us should go upstairs until after closing.” The way Mammy pinched her lips and nodded at me gave the distinct impression that she wasn’t so much making a suggestion as she was giving an order.
“I’m scared to ask what you’re up to.”
“Don’t be, Sugar. Abuelita, Tia Rosa, and I have a little … surprise … ready. That’s all.”
I wasn’t sure I could handle one of their surprises, but I didn’t say so aloud. Instead, I went behind the counter to help Abuelita and Tia Rosa.
Abuelita looked between me and Mammy. “Jessica no go upstair?” she asked.
Mammy looked at me intently. “Not if she knows what’s good for her.”
Now, I was officially worried. But the mayor came in just then, followed by his entourage, pushing cameras in everyone’s faces and sporting a new, toothy smile.
He looked too happy to have come to shut me down.
Abuelita sidled up to Mayor Guerra. “You come here to tank me?” she asked, looking up at him and batting her stubby lashes.
I stifled my laughter as the mayor struggled to comprehend her poor pronunciation.
She repeated louder (because that always helps), “You tank me?”
“Is tank, Bertha. No tank,” Tia Rosa scoffed, rolling her eyes at her sister’s English in the belief that her articulation was far superior.
The poor mayor still didn’t understand, and I was too nice to leave him hanging for long when Abuelita clearly expected a reply. “I’m sure the mayor would like to thank you for saving his life, Abuelita.”
“Ah, thank. Yes, thank you, Abuelita,” the mayor said, taking her hand between his and turning to smile at the camera. He expounded on the delights of having such a treasure of a woman in his town and how proud he was to call her “friend.”
No doubt, he was campaigning for votes among the senior crowd.
I thought the buttons on Abuelita’s blouse would burst. She beamed as brightly as his new teeth. She’d be unbearable for weeks after this.
When the spotlight turned away from her to focus on me, Abuelita sulked like a temperamental teen.
I didn’t want the attention, so I said the first thing that crossed my mind. “Would you like a doughnut, Mayor Guerra?”
The cameraman choked back laughter, and I felt my face burn red. Of all the things I could have said, it had to be that.
The mayor patted me on the back amicably and guffawed for the camera. I laughed through my embarrassment, grateful when he finally spoke. “If you’ll make it to-go, Señorita James. Your doughnuts are so delicious, they deserve to be savored and enjoyed, not gobbled up as I did last time. I’ll not make the same mistake twice.”
Exhaling in relief, I stepped behind the counter, appreciating the distance from the cameras as the mayor proclaimed how the town stood to benefit under the direction of a man humble enough to admit his mistakes and wise enough not to repeat them. Yeah, very humble.
Sal came into the shop as the mayor was winding down his spiel. I hadn’t seen him in almost a week and was beginning to think he’d finally accepted that my doughnut shop would not, in fact, go belly-up anytime soon.
Had he come to spy? With the sharp glares Abuelita and Tia Rosa shot him, nothing good would come of his visit.
I whispered to the mayor, “You might want to turn off the cameras.”
“Don’t you dare. You’re not going to want to miss this!” Mammy hissed.
She winked at me, and all the worries I’d had minutes before came flooding back. What was she up to?
Abuelita ran into the kitchen, coming back with a rolling pin raised above her head and an expression that would freeze the heart of the bravest warrior. “You spy!” she shouted at Sal.
Tia Rosa rushed over to her, making a grab for the rolling pin. “Bertha! You ruin everything. Put it down!”
Sal had cowered behind the mayor’s secretary, but he grew bolder at Tia Rosa’s scolding. He practically sneered when Abuelita lowered her weapon and Tia Rosa turned to him with her pudgy, sweet smile. “You want try good doughnut?”
If Sal had any sense at all, he would turn around and run — as fast as his legs could carry him. Abuelita never listened to Tia Rosa. And Tia Rosa’s smile was too wide to be real. They were scheming, and he was making himself an easy target.
The mayor and his crew moved to the side. Even they sensed something was up. The little red light on the video cam blinked, and I knew they were recording every bit of it.
Mammy, Tia Rosa, and Abuelita grouped together in front of Sal. I was half afraid Mammy and Tia Rosa planned to hold him down so Abuelita could take a better swing at him with the rolling pin she still gripped in her hands
.
Mammy leaned into Abuelita, whispering loudly enough for me to hear, “We need to make more dough. I can’t find the recipe.” She looked around to make sure nobody was listening, then asked, “Do you know where it is?”
Abuelita answered, her eyes scanning the room as she spoke, “Is upstair on the counter of the kitchen. I forget close door. Is open.”
Tia Rosa shushed Mammy and Abuelita, looking pointedly at Sal who pretended not to hang on their every word.
The three troublemakers clammed up until I handed Sal his order over the counter. One plain cake doughnut.
A little too loudly, Tia Rosa said, “Phew. Is okay. He no hear.”
If Sal fell for that one, he deserved whatever it was they’d done in my apartment.
I watched Sal leave, turning in the direction of his bakery. He was smarter than I’d given him credit for. Too bad. I was curious.
Three pairs of shoulders slumped in dejection, and I almost felt bad for them that Sal hadn’t fallen into their trap.
The mayor crossed the street to the park so he could be captured on camera greeting the fine folks of Baños, schmoozing with the tourists, and kissing babies.
It seemed that the rest of the day would go off without a hitch, and I’d moved on from thinking about Sal and the Tremendous Trio’s trap.
I had just filled up the case with another batch of Vanilla Glazed doughnuts when Mammy elbowed me in the ribs and pointed out the front window.
I looked up in time to see Sal crossing in front of it, the hairs of his comb-over waving behind him. He was dumb after all.
The mayor’s crew were on the sidewalk opposite my door, and they rushed to cross the street as Sal disappeared up the stairs leading to my place.
Seconds later, a loud report echoed through the shop followed by a high-pitched scream that could only have come from Sal. I covered my head and dropped to the floor.
Ears ringing, I turned to Abuelita in horror. “Is that?” I didn’t want to voice the rest of my question aloud. I mean, nobody in their right mind would ask if Abuelita had booby trapped my living room with her old rotary cannon in front of witnesses.
She grinned in answer. “Adi help me.”
“Those had better be blanks,” I growled at her, rising to my feet.
“He deserve to be shot for estúpido.”
I couldn’t really argue with that.
Tia Rosa brushed me off my concern. “Is okay. Adi help us.”
As if that explained everything.
Mammy shouted over the ruckus, “It’s okay folks. Free goofballs for everyone!” She held up a tray piled with fried doughnut holes dipped in chocolate frosting and sprinkles, working her way from one end of the shop to the other and coercing people out from under their tables with the offer of a free, gooey treat.
Their appreciative moans of delight almost drowned out the noises coming from the stairwell.
I made my way to the door, concerned that my friends had taken things too far, when Sal burst out to the sidewalk.
He was covered in various glowing hues of neon paint.
Gasps and laughter filled the shop.
I was stunned.
Mammy looped her arm through mine and reached up to pinch my chin. “You didn’t think I could leave without taking care of that big bully, now, did you? Here, Sugar, have a goofball.”
My mouth was already open, so I couldn’t do anything but chew when she popped a ball of frosted, fried dough inside.
Jake walked in, smiling so widely, his eyes crinkled in the corners. Adi was with him, looking smug and satisfied. They’d seen Sal. Then again, it would have been difficult for anyone not to see him.
Mammy looked around, her gaze settling on Abuelita, then Tia Rosa, then Adi, and then Jake. Winking at me, she said, “A little mischief is good for the heart, Sugar. It keeps you young.”
She pinched my chin, pulled her coral lipstick out of her apron and reapplied before using my cheek as blotting paper.
I wasn’t in a hurry to wipe it off.
“Now,” she said, slapping her hands together and rubbing them gleefully, “let’s plan your next adventure! And I know just the guy to help us.” She smiled at Jake.
“I don’t need more adventure. I haven’t even recovered from the last one,” I said, my words falling on deaf ears as they huddled together to conspire against me.
It would appear that Jungle Jane had many more exploits ahead of her.
Jake caught my eye and grinned his adorable crooked smile. “Come on, Jess. 1-2-3-Go!”
Who was I to argue? My life had turned into one big, nerve-provoking adventure after another … and I was really starting to like it.
Thank you!
Thank you for spending your precious time reading Diamonds & Donuts. I hope you enjoyed it. Please consider leaving a review — I read all of them.
Further thanks and loads of appreciation go to the usual suspects: Mammy (Oh yeah, she’s real!), Renán, Mom, and my bookworm family of betas readers and proofers. You’re the best!
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Potato Patties (Tortillas de Papa)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: About a dozen potato patties
Ecuador’s mountain region is famous for its variety of potatoes. This recipe hails from Ambato, in the heart of the Andes Mountains, and it’s one of my absolute favorites.
Ingredients:
5 large Russet potatoes, peeled, chopped
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
2 teaspoon ground achiote (This adds a subtle flavor and a hint of color to the patties, but don’t sweat it if achiote is too difficult to find in your area. They’re still yummy without it.)
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Boil the potatoes in water until they’re soft.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, heat the oil. Add the onions and achiote and cook until the onions are soft.
3. Drain the potatoes, add the onion mixture, and mash it all together.
4. Add salt to taste.
5. Let cool until the potato mixture is easy to handle.
6. Form golf ball-sized balls out of the potato mixture.
7. Make a hole in the middle of the ball, and fill it with cheese.
8. Squish the cheese-stuffed potato ball into a thick patty.
9. Heat a nonstick frying pan or lightly greased griddle until hot. Fry the patties until golden brown, taking care to only turn them once. (The better fried they are, the less likely they are to fall apart when you flip them, so don’t rush this step.)
Quick Tip:If you have leftover, mashed potatoes that have firmed up in the refrigerator, you can save time with Step 1. Simply follow from Step 2 on for quick, delicious potato patties.
Cinnamon Rolls
Prep Time: 3 1/2 hours (that includes time for the dough to rise twice)
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes (Keep an eye on it! This is one you don’t want to overcook.)
Yield: 12
Yummy, yeasty, gooey cinnamon rolls! They take some time to make, but they’re worth it.
Dough Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon butter
&n
bsp; 3 eggs
Filling Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup softened butter
Frosting Ingredients:
3 ounces cream cheese (that’s about 1/3 of a normal package … or if you’re like me and you LOVE frosting, use half of the package)
1/4 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Let’s start with the dough. Mix together: flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
2. In a saucepan, melt the butter in the milk (Just until it’s melted. You don’t want this to get too hot.)
3. Add the eggs to the flour mixture, followed by the melted butter and milk.
4. Knead until the dough is soft and tacky.
5. Let the dough rise for about 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
6. I like to make the filling while the dough is rising. Mix all three ingredients so that it makes a thick, sweet-smelling paste. Set aside.
7. When your dough is ready, dust your counter top with flour and roll the dough into a rectangle.
8. Spread the cinnamon filling over the dough rectangle and roll it up.
9. Slice the dough into 12 rolls. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
10. Place the rolls on the greased pan and cover with plastic wrap to rise for about an hour (or until the rolls are touching)
11. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Don’t overcook! That’s important enough, I wrote it on my recipe card with a wide-tipped Sharpie.
12. You’re almost done! Let’s make the best part — the frosting!