Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods Page B

you really want to be a martyr? Do you want to wake up ten years from now, or even a year from now and realize you sacrificed some of the best years of your life for people who probably won’t even appreciate it?”
    “That’s not fair,” Emma said, hurt by the suggestion that she was playing martyr, rather than doing the right thing.
    “None of this is fair,” Kim agreed.
    A part of Emma knew that Kim was right, but the part of her that was terrified more tragedy would strike if she didn’t step in won out. “No matter what you think, I have to do this,” she told her friend. “Believe me, I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I’ve thought it over. It’s the only choice. I’ll be back in Washington as soon as things here are in order. If Marcel doesn’t have a job for me then, I’ll find something else. I’m not giving up on my dream, just postponing it.”
    Kim sighed. “I know that tone,” she said, sounding resigned. “You’re not going to change your mind. I guess I’ll just have to start flying down there every few weeks so we can have our Sunday breakfast chats.”
    Emma’s chuckle was only slightly forced. “Only if you can pitch in and cook while we’re talking.”
    “God forbid!” Kim replied. “You’d never recover from the lawsuits.”
    Overnight, Emma made peace with her decision. Everything she’d said to Kim and Marcel had been true. This morning before leaving to open the diner, Emma had stopped in her mother’s room and told Rosa she intended to stay, at least until the business was on solid ground again. Because she hated the decision she was being forced to make, because she knew she couldn’t defend it for long, she had cut off her mother’s halfhearted protests. Staying was the only choice. For now.
    That was what she kept clinging to, the fact that this was only a temporary solution. Kim was wrongabout one thing. She wouldn’t let this drag on forever. Her life was on hold for a few months, a year max. Wasn’t that a small sacrifice to assure that her family regained its footing after this tragedy?
    Besides, she was worried sick about her mother. Even this morning, Rosa had spoken mostly in mono-syllables, a sharp contrast to the woman who’d always chattered about anything and everything. And not once in the seven days since Emma’s dad’s death had Rosa even mentioned Don, at least not in Emma’s presence. If Emma or her brothers mentioned him, Rosa immediately left the room, her expression shuttered. The reaction had only gotten worse since their meeting with the lawyer.
    “Emma, dear,” Jolie Vincent said, catching her attention. “How is your mother?” She shook her head. “What a silly question. How could she be anything other than devastated? This has been a terrible shock to all of us. I wish she’d let us help.”
    Not trusting herself to speak, Emma nodded. She knew the woman was trying to be kind, but it was still too soon. She was afraid of kindness, afraid she would burst into tears and never stop. More than that, she was angry, furious with her father for leaving them with so many unanswered questions, furious with him for leaving them at all. What had he been thinking? What kind of pain or pressure had driven him to take such a drastic step? She couldn’t stop thinking about it, couldn’t stop herself from laying out all sorts of scenarios that might drive a strong, decent man to suicide.
    Despite Emma’s silence, Mrs. Vincent didn’t take the hint. Her expression sympathetic, she said, “You don’t have to say a thing. It’s too soon. But I hopeyou know that everyone who comes in here loved your father like family. We love all of you. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask. We all feel that way. And I have no intention of giving up on your mother, either. Sooner or later, she’ll be ready to accept our support.”
    Emma blinked back the tears that threatened. “Thank you,” she managed to reply, her voice thick, her hand