And where was Gwen? And James, the morning server?
“Hello?” I called out through the empty diner.
Why had the back door been unlocked if no one was here?
And why hadn’t anyone texted me?
“Hello!” I yelled again. The silence was starting to unnerve me.
“Emma!” James yelled back. “I’m in the office!”
Oh shit. No one, and I mean no one, was allowed in Lydia’s office. It was a thing with her, and honestly it wasn’t worth the fight, so I stayed out.
James wasn’t afraid of Lydia. Being ten years older than her and a dear friend of my father gave him more latitude than me.
I burst into the room and found my dad’s best friend sitting behind the desk, playing solitaire on her computer.
“What is going on? Where is everyone?” I asked.
James pushed away from the desk in the roller chair and laced his fingers together over his ample belly as he faced me. “Gwen called me early this morning since she couldn’t get a hold of you. She wasn’t feeling well and said something about heading to urgent care. And with the music festival in town, all our subs are out too, so we had to close down for the weekend.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” I wailed, pulling my phone out of my bag frantically. “Is she okay? Is she sick or hurt? What’s going on?”
I tapped at my phone’s screen to call her, but I was basically holding a black brick. It was unresponsive. I’d fallen asleep on the couch last night and completely forgot to charge it.
Dammit.
“Yeah, we tried. I called and texted you but since you never replied, I thought I should stick around and tell you the news myself.” He bent forward, grabbed a bulging envelope off the desk, and tossed it at me. “And give you this.”
I caught it reflexively. “But what about Gwen? Does she need help? What’s wrong with her?”
“It’s all in her letter.” James tipped his head at the envelope. “So I’ll let her tell you. Lock up on your way out, will ya?”
He pushed up from the chair with a grunt then strolled toward me. He patted me on the shoulder and kept on walking, heading for the open doorway.
“Wait!” I called as I turned to watch him go. “I still don’t get why we’re closing for the whole weekend. It’s only Friday. I’m sure we can get someone in by tomorrow at the latest.”
“It’s all in Gwen’s letter,” James said as he kept walking, not even turning around. “I’ve told everyone else on the schedule. See ya next week. Or not. I really hope not. Later, kiddo!”
A few seconds later the back screen door slammed shut, signaling his departure.
This was officially the weirdest day ever.
Shaking my head, I opened the envelope. There was another, smaller bulging envelope inside and a handwritten letter.
Dear Emma,
If anyone asks, I’m at death’s door. I went into Urgent Care this morning and won’t be able to work for several days. But between you, me, and James, I’m fine.
I just can’t sit idly by and watch that woman destroy your dreams. Because you deserve to chase them. It’s what your father always wanted for you. So James and I pooled some funds to kickstart your life in LA.
Chase those dreams. Do it for your dad. Do it for yourself. But just do it.Please. And don’t forget us little people when you do finally make it. I wanna visit you in your big house in California.
Love you tons,
Gwen
Tears streaked down my face. I didn’t need to open the other envelope to know it was full of money. A wave of love I hadn’t felt in so long swept over me. Gwen didn’t have much, and neither did James, but they’d both pooled their money to make sure I could go after what I wanted. They were all but pushing me out of the nest.
