*
Tres leches (three-milk) cake, for those who might be unfamiliar with Mexican cuisine, is a traditional Mexican/South American dessert, consisting of a sponge or other firm yellow cake that is soaked after baking with a mixture of evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, then chilled. In some versions the third milk is coconut milk. The finished cake is topped with whipped cream.
*
When my partner Jay and I went out to dinner a couple of weeks ago we had no idea things would get so interesting.
It was a Wednesday in July, another in a string of stifling hot Texas summer days. Neither of us could stand the thought of adding more heat to the air by cooking anything.
"The usual, Bobby?" Jay asked.
I shrugged. "Too hot to think. Sure."
"The usual" was Mi Amor, a little Mexican restaurant that had opened in the neighborhood a year and half previously. Jay and I had tried it soon after it had opened and immediately taken to the place. The food was fresh and tasty, not heavy or greasy like most Mexican, and very reasonably priced. The dΕ½cor was low-key. The service was fast and friendly.
Most of all we liked the owner, Will, who most times we went we saw hard at work, manning the register, walking around checking on customers, or sometimes even helping serve. No matter how busy he was, he always had time to smile and say hello when he saw us. We knew from articles about the restaurant in the local paper that he had left a successful management position in a major national restaurant chain to start his own place.
Will definitely didn't fit the stereotype of your average restaurant owner. He was fit and trim, not an ounce of fat on him. His face was tanned and youthful, his dark hair just beginning to be flecked with silver at the temples. He favored a casual look at work, polo shirts and jeans, which he looked damn good in, both from the front and the back. Since we were usually sitting and he was standing when we saw each other it was pretty easy for me to check him out, discreetly, or so I thought. During one of these visual inspections I raised my head and saw a grin on his face that told me he knew exactly what I'd been looking at. I blushed, then relaxed-he was family.
Six months ago Jay and I celebrated a milestone-our twentieth anniversary. On a lark one evening right after Christmas we collared Will as he walked past our table, and asked him if he ever rented out his place for private parties.
"We haven't been open long enough to do that," he said, "but I'd like to."
"How about starting with us?" Jay asked, plunging right in like he always did.
Will raised his eyebrows. "You all?"
Jay gestured to me. "It'll be twenty years for us next month. We want to throw a big party for our friends. But we don't want to cook or clean house."
At that he laughed. "I hear you." Will leaned forward. "I think something can be arranged. Why don't you come around in the morning sometime this week, before the lunch rush, and we'll talk about the details."
"I think this is the first time I've ever seen you sit," I remarked a couple of days later. The three of us were at a table with price lists, menus and plates of food samples in front of us.
Will smiled. "Getting my own establishment off the ground has been the hardest thing I've ever done. We're keeping our heads above water, though."
"Glad to hear it. You're doing a great job with this place."
"Thanks. Happy to be of service to you guys. Twenty years together, that's awesome. I can't keep a boyfriend for twenty days."
"You?" Jay said. "Hard to believe."
Will laughed, embarrassed. "Too busy, I guess. So have we decided on the menu?"
Long story short, the anniversary party was a smashing success. Sixty of our friends showed up, chowed down on a delicious Mexican buffet, drank beer and sangria, and had a great time. We had a running slide show of pictures from our years together. Toward the end Will surprised us by bringing out a piece of
tres leches
cake, a Mi Amor specialty, with a candle and a big number "20" on top. We blew it out together and kissed afterward as everyone cheered and applauded.
We were the last ones to leave. Will walked us to the door and hugged both of us in turn.
"Thanks for everything," I said to him.
"My pleasure," he replied, keeping hold of my arm and smiling into my eyes. "Looks like everyone had a good time. See you soon."
We walked in silence toward our car, parked down the street.
"Good guy," Jay said. A pause.
"I wouldn't kick him out of bed."
We made eye contact, and laughed.
"Neither would I," I told him.
Our relationship with the owner of Mi Amor definitely went up a notch after that. Will not only continued to greet and chat with us in his usual genial way, but sometimes our drinks would be comped, and once in a while an entire meal. The first time that happened Jay tried to pay anyway. Will pleasantly but firmly refused his credit card.
"Listen," he said, putting his arm around Jay's shoulders, "I've gotten quite a few new customers from your party. It's the least I can do."
Jay reported the conversation to me when he returned to the table, fanning himself in mock agitation.
"Wow," I said. "So he really likes us."
"Yeah. I think we should invite him over for a three-way."
I snorted. "As if."
Jay grinned and dropped the subject. Still, the seed had been planted in our minds. When talk finally became action, though, we really hadn't planned it.
I think it was because it was so darned hot. Even though it had gotten dark by the time we swung into the parking lot of Mi Amor that evening it was still sweltering. The short walk to the entrance made beads of sweat pop out on my forehead. I sighed with relief as we opened the door and cool air hit us.
It was late, a half hour before closing, and only a few tables were occupied. At Mi Amor you ordered your food at the counter, paid and got your drinks. Your meal would appear at your table a few minutes later.
As we were sipping our frozen margaritas a familiar voice said, "So who has the burrito?"
"Hey!" I said when I looked up and saw Will's smiling face. "You're working late tonight. That's mine."
"You guys are a sight for sore eyes," he said as he put our plates in front of us. "It's been a hectic night, especially for mid-week. I've been running my butt off."
"Poor baby," Jay said. Then he said something that made my fork stop in mid-air.
"Why don't you stop by our place after you close? We'll have drinks-stronger stuff than this if you want," he gestured to our margaritas. "You can sit by our pool and unwind. Put your feet up, cool off, all that good stuff."
I looked up at Will. His expression was thoughtful.
"Well, that's real nice of you." He shook his head. "I don't know. It'll be at least an hour after we close before I could get away."
I heard my own voice. "We live five minutes from here. We don't have to get up early tomorrow. Just think about it."
Will's grin reappeared. "Okay, I will. Why don't you give me your number and I'll call you when things start settling down."
"Think he pooped out?" I asked some time later at home.
Jay shrugged. "It's not even eleven yet. He said he'd call. Let's give him a few more minutes."
At that moment his cell phone rang. Jay picked it up and put it to his ear. "Hello. Oh, hey." He winked at me. "Absolutely you can still come by. You need directions?"
Ten minutes Jay opened the door for Will. "Wow, great place," he said as he walked in, looking around.
I shrugged. "We like it. I'm sure you have something just as nice."
Will shook his head. "When I moved here I sold my house in Tucson and sank everything into the restaurant. Right now I'm living in a one-bedroom apartment. This is a real treat, guys."
"Well, come out back and we'll show you the pool. I think it's finally cooled off enough so we can sit out there."
"This is incredible," Will exclaimed a few minutes later. We'd gotten him settled in a chaise lounge with a gin and tonic. "You actually have a view."
"Yeah," I explained, "This property adjoins a greenbelt-city parkland. The nearest house is across the draw. You can see the lights over there," I pointed. "But it makes a big difference not having something right in back of us. And the lots in this subdivision are large enough so we have a lot of privacy."