Starr and the High Seas Wedding Drama (Flower Girl World chapter book) (4 page)

“Do you really want to use all those chiles?” Starr asked. She had never seen Abuela use so many before.

Abuela didn't answer. She was still focused on Grandpa Walt. “Now he's eating the chocolate. Silly man! He won't have enough for the sauce!”

Starr watched Abuela add even more peppers to her pan.

“Grandpa Walt!” Ivy snickered. “You put a lot of sugar into the sauce. The recipe calls for three tablespoons.”

“You can never have too much sugar!” Grandpa Walt grinned.

“That's what you always say,” Ivy grinned back.

Whirrrrrrr!
Blenders were chopping at all five workstations. The loud humming sound added to the crazy chaos of cooks working fast.

Then suddenly—
Ding!

As Jenny said, “Time's up!” Grandpa Walt quickly threw more sugar and spices into his sauce.

“We have a special surprise,” Jenny continued. “We've invited a celebrity chef to judge the event. Please welcome Conchita Consuela!”

Abuela gasped as a stern woman dressed in a white chef's coat stepped forward. Conchita Consuela was Abuela's favorite chef. And now this celebrity was about to sample her mole!

With her nose in the air and a wooden spoon in her hand, Conchita began to taste
the sauces. She gave kitchen #1's sauce a slight smile and an “Mmmm.” Kitchen #2's sauce received an “Ahhh.” Kitchen #3 only received a head nod.

“
¡Bienvenida!
” Abuela squealed as the chef approached her counter. “I hope you like my sauce!”

Conchita raised an eyebrow. She dipped her spoon into Abuela's sauce and then placed it into her mouth. Within seconds, the chef started gasping for air. She managed to choke out two words: “Too spicy!” Abuela froze, but Starr leaped into action. She thrust a glass of milk at the flailing woman. The celebrity chef quickly slurped it up.

Conchita cleared her throat. “Thank you,” she said to Starr. “You saved my life.” Then she turned to Abuela, “No thanks to you.”

Abuela's face turned as red as a tomato.

Conchita approached Grandpa Walt's station. He swallowed hard as she scooped up a small amount of sauce and carefully placed it on her tongue. She smacked her lips. Quickly, she stuck her spoon into his dish again.

“This is the best mole I've ever tasted!” she announced.

“Huh?” asked Grandpa Walt.

“The combination of chocolate and chiles is perfect. It's sweet and not too spicy.” Conchita glared at Abuela, who quickly looked away.

Conchita held Grandpa Walt's hand in the air. “We have a winner!”

The room erupted into applause. Grandpa Walt looked more confused than happy.
He glanced at Abuela and shrugged his shoulders. She crossed her arms and shook her head.

Grandpa Walt followed cruise director Jenny into the main part of the kitchen to share his special recipe with the kitchen staff. Conchita left with a group of fans begging for her autograph. Only Starr, Ivy, and Abuela remained in the kitchen.

“Congratulations,” Starr said to Ivy.

“Thanks,” she said. She looked as stunned as Grandpa Walt. “I can't believe he won.”

“Neither can I,” said Abuela. “Because of his crazy cooking, I didn't pay attention to my own sauce.”

Starr thought she sounded hurt, angry, and ashamed all rolled together.

“I'll be in my room.” Abuela left the kitchen with her head hanging low.

Starr wondered why Ivy wasn't celebrating. The scheme to drive the older couple apart seemed to be working.

“I thought Grandpa Walt would mess up and Abuela would win, not the other way around. Conchita was so mean to Abuela. I don't like when people hurt other people's feelings.”

“Me neither,” Starr said.

“Do you think Abuela will go to dinner?” asked Ivy.

Starr felt a lump in her throat. “I don't know.”

“Do you think they'll break up?”

“I don't know,” Starr said again. But she was thinking,
I hope not.

That night at dinner, Abuela did some things Starr and Ivy hadn't expected: she smiled, laughed, and made a toast to celebrate Grandpa Walt's big win.

“Congratulations to my wonderful Walter! The man I love makes a magnificent mole!”

Abuela was no longer upset. In fact, she was full of joy. She treated Grandpa Walt like he was a celebrity chef. She raced from table to table, making sure that everyone tasted his sauce. “My sweetie made the mole!” she told the other passengers. “Isn't it delicious? Would you like a second helping?”

Starr had to agree—the sauce was yummy. She gobbled up a whole chicken enchilada smothered in it. Ivy ate her sauce on top of rice and beans.

At one point, Starr glanced over at Grandpa Walt. He gave Abuela a kiss on the cheek. This made her grandmother smile…which made Starr smile too. She was starting to think the two of them were a perfect couple.

After dinner, all the guests went to the ballroom for a dance party. The DJ skillfully mixed tunes ranging from pop to rock ‘n' roll. Ivy played air guitar while Starr showed off her best hip-hop moves. When it came time for the chicken dance, both girls couldn't stop laughing as they clucked and flapped their wings.

The music slowed. “It's time for a romantic dance,” announced the DJ.

Starr and Ivy watched Grandpa Walt lead Abuela to the dance floor. The couple
twirled gracefully, clearly using steps from their ballroom dance lessons.

“They look so happy,” Starr said to Ivy. “Like a prince and princess at a ball.”

Ivy nodded.

“Maybe they're a good match after all,” Starr said. She hoped that Ivy would agree.

Ivy sighed. “My plan to break them up didn't work, that's for sure.”

“The plan was good,” said Starr, “but we can't break up a couple who wants to be together.”

“I guess you're right.” Ivy took a long, deep breath. “I want Grandpa Walt to be happy, and Abuela makes him very happy. But I'm going to miss him when he's not around.”

“I'm going to miss her too,” said Starr. She hugged her friend.

Suddenly Ivy perked up. “I just thought of
something. When they get married, we'll be part of the same family.”

“And that means we can see each other all the time!” said Starr.

A smile spread across Ivy's face. “Maybe this wedding is a good idea after all!”

Wooooooooh! Wooooooooh!

The foghorn wailed as the cruise ship entered the harbor. Today they were making a stop at the Mexican port of Cozumel. Passengers could get off the ship and explore the town's beaches, shops, and cafés.

“Come on, girls, we don't want to be late!” said Abuela as she rushed Starr and Ivy off the ship.

“Where are we going?” asked Starr.

“I'm taking you two on a surprise outing,” said Abuela before hailing a taxicab.

As they drove, Starr looked out the taxi window and saw a town full of color. The buildings were painted in rich yellows, oranges, and purples. Vendors sold ripe melons, candy, and piñatas from carts along the street.

The taxi stopped in front of a store,
El Vestido Bonito
.

“The Pretty Dress,” Starr translated for Ivy. And inside, that's exactly what they discovered. Racks and racks of pretty dresses in every style, color, and size.

“
¡Hola!
” A woman with a bright smile greeted them. “May I help you?”

“We're here for a very special reason,” said Abuela.

Starr and Ivy glanced at each other.

“I'm buying these girls flower girl dresses to wear in my wedding!”

Starr and Ivy squealed with joy. Starr was happy that Ivy no longer had bad feelings about the upcoming wedding.

The store owner directed the girls towards dresses in their size. Starr and Ivy dug through the racks as if they were searching for gold.

“This one is pretty,” said Starr, holding up a hot pink gown with a big poofy skirt.

“I like this one!” Ivy clutched a short black dress.

Abuela shook her head with a smile. “You girls are so different!”