Read Online Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page B

she had to give. “I honestly don’t know if I can do this.”
    “You can and you must,” Helen insisted. “You take a shower and fix your hair. I’ll find you something to wear.” She turned to give Emma a reassuring smile. “It will be okay now. Just give us a half hour.”
    “Are you sure you don’t need me?” Emma asked, her gaze on Rosa.
    Rosa thought of the burden she’d left on her daughter’s shoulders for days now and forced herself to shake her head. “Helen’s right. It’ll be okay. Could you make me a cup of strong tea with some sugar?”
    Looking relieved, Emma nodded and left the room.
    “You should be proud of your daughter,” Helen said. “She’s heartbroken, but she’s doing what needs to be done. And Matt’s been a godsend. He’s been right by her side. Do you suppose that after all this time…?”
    “I can’t even think about that now,” Rosa said, cutting her off.
    “Maybe it would do you good to think about something besides yourself,” Helen retorted.
    Guilt rushed through Rosa. “I have been selfish. I know that. I just can’t face this. I can’t face any of it.”
    “You can,” Helen repeated. “We’ll be right beside you. All of your friends are just waiting for you to reach out to us. Jolie and Sylvia are heartsick that you haven’t let them in. After today, we’ll be right here as you start to pick up the pieces of your life. I can tell you from experience, you do it one day at a time. You’ll have good days and bad ones, but you will go on. And eventually life returns to what passes for normal.”
    There was only one thing wrong with Helen’s promise, Rosa thought as she went to get ready. Without her beloved Don, she had no life.
     
    Matt remained by Emma’s side throughout the funeral, but he kept his eye on Jeff. During the service Jeff stayed dutifully beside Andy, but the instant it was over, he began drifting away from the crowd. Matt made his way toward him and clamped a firm hand around the back of his neck.
    “You about ready to head back to the house?” Matt asked, keeping his tone friendly enough.
    Heat flooding into his cheeks, Jeff regarded him angrily. “What’s it to you?”
    “Your mom and Emma will be expecting you,” Matt said. “Are you going to let them down?”
    “The whole damn town’s going to be hanging out at the house. Who needs it?” he retorted. “This whole funeral thing is a crock.”
    “It’s a ritual,” Matt corrected. “It’s a way for people to say goodbye, a way they can offer comfort to those left behind. Doesn’t it feel good to know how many people loved your dad?”
    “They weren’t here today because they loved him,” Jeff said scathingly. “They were here to gawk at us, to watch us bawling our eyes out.”
    “You don’t really believe that,” Matt argued. “People were here because they care about all of you. Your family’s a real part of this community. Flamingo Diner isn’t just another restaurant. It’s a home away from home for a lot of people. Maybe you can’t appreciate that now, but someday you will.”
    “If you think this town is so great, why’d you leave?”
    Matt smiled. “For the same reason you did, I imagine. I needed to figure out who I was and how to make something of my life. Once I’d done that, I came back.”
    “You came back because you’ve always had the hots for my sister,” Jeff retorted.
    “If that were the case, why wouldn’t I have moved to Washington? That’s where she lives these days,” Matt reminded him mildly.
    Jeff apparently had no answer for that. But it didn’t stop him from saying, “I know what I know. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
    “Your sister’s a beautiful woman. Any man who doesn’t take a second look has to be blind.”
    Jeff shook his head in disgust. “And Dad always thought you were a straight shooter. You can’t even tell the truth about a little thing like this.”
    “Maybe because any feelings I might have for