Chapter25
It wasn’t until she came to the Acosta family that she realized–it was never about the food. It was the cold, stifling atmosphere of the Hendrix family that had made every meal feel tasteless.
“Dora’s right,” Keith chimed in after thinking it over. “Why not try selling steak? The ingredients are simple, and they’re easy to make. Back in middle school, there was a stall that sold them at the school gate–I used to buy them all the time. They were great. And I haven’t seen anyone selling steak around Ordstead lately, so there’s definitely room for it.”
Chris and Alberto exchanged a glance. It sounded promising.
“Alright then, I’ll pick up some ingredients tomorrow and give it a try. You guys can be the taste testers and give me your honest feedback,” Chris said, looking genuinely excited. The thought of finally being able to help out financially lit a fire in her. She was all in.
Then Alberto brought up an important point. “If we’re selling steak, do we need a custom food cart? I’ve seen street vendors with carts tailored to their setup–everything organized for quick assembly and clean prep.”
That jogged something in Keith’s memory. “Yeah, that steak vendor I used to buy from kept the steak warm in a steam box. But I think we can substitute with a thick wooden tub. If we line it with a layer of non–woven cloth, it should stay warm pretty well.”
Alberto slapped his thigh. “Perfect. I’ll ask around tomorrow–maybe someone in my taxi group knows where to get a secondhand cart. In the meantime, let’s brainstorm recipe for the steak, so we can buy the ingredients and do a trial run.”
Without missing a beat, Keith cleared the table, grabbed some paper and a
Chipler25
pen, and the whole family got to work. They tossed around ideas, cracked jokes, and burst into laughter more than once.
Dora couldn’t help being amazed by their speed and energy.
This was a family that didn’t just talk about ideas–they acted on them. The idea of starting a stall had barely come up, and already they were locking in details, testing recipes, and budgeting costs.
The fewer things you had, the fewer fears you carried. With less to lose, people became bolder. And often, it was that boldness that led to real
success.
Maybe it was the warmth in the room. Maybe it was because, at that moment, she truly felt like part of the family. Whatever the reason, before she knew it, Dora raised her hand.
“About the food cart. I can take care of that.”
The room fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at her.
And under all those eyes, Dora felt a little awkward–just a little.
Alberto suddenly frowned. “Dora, I know you probably saved up a bit while living with the Hendrix family. But now that you’re home, you’re my daughter. Sure, we can talk things through as a family–but it’s not your job to pay for anything. Take that house remodel you asked Erin to do- we’re grateful, and yeah, we’re benefiting from your connections. But whatever new furniture gets added, I’ll make sure to pay you back for it.”
Dora pressed her lips together, feeling a strange tightness in her chest. Maybe it was because she’d never really known what family felt like–and now that she was getting a taste of it, she didn’t quite know how to handle.
- it.
After a few seconds of silence, she said, “That’s not it. I just happen to have a classmate whose family runs a stainless steel business. I figured I’d ask if they had an old food cart they’re phasing out–maybe we can get it cheap.”
Then she added with a casual shrug, “Just trying to keep costs down.”
Only then did Alberto nod and let it go.
Speaking of Erin, Dora remembered to mention that he’d be bringing a team over tomorrow to start the renovation–so Chris wouldn’t be caught off guard when a bunch of workers showed up at the door.
The family ended up chatting past eleven. The kids had school the next day, so they finally wrapped things up and took turns showering.
After her bath, Dora returned to her room, locked the door behind her, and flopped onto the bed. She opened the message from Erin and pulled. up the renovation quote.
It was clear he’d done everything he could to keep costs low. The total- materials and furniture included–came out to just 7 thousand dollars. He hadn’t even charged for labor, which probably meant he’d sent in his own
crew.
Erin had always been wary of hiring outside contractors. Too many of them cut corners just to save time, and when it came to high–end design, even the smallest shortcuts could ruin the whole result.
