Chapter 2
I didn’t have many friends left in Astoria.
My crew in high school had spread far and wide after graduation.
Some went away to college and never really came back.
Others went to the city and came back on weekends and holidays, making me very aware of my sad existence.
They didn’t rub it in my face, but it was obvious they’d moved on and made something of their lives.
Meanwhile, I was living above my stepmother’s garage in an excuse for an apartment and working endless shifts in my dead dad’s diner.
“Let’s face it, Bruno,” I told my dad’s ancient bloodhound as I ran a hand over his wiry hair. “I think this might be all that my life’s going to be. And isn’t that just kinda sad?”
His tail thumped against the couch in response. He couldn’t even be bothered to lift his head to lick my hand.
My heart lurched at his lazy reaction. Bruno just hadn’t been the same since my dad passed away last year. It felt like he’d lost his person…and maybe his reason to live.
Tears stung my eyes at the thought of losing another loved one soon. Bruno had been my buddy for years. Long before Lydia had come onto the scene.
But like me, he’d been relegated to this “apartment.”
If I had a dollar for every time Lydia had bemoaned his presence.
“Dogs are too dirty.”
“We should rehome him.”
“He keeps antagonizing my beloved Lucy.”
I hated that stupid cat. The number of times I’d caught that monster batting at poor Bruno’s face—unprovoked—was ridiculous. But Lucy could wail at will like she was being skinned. So unnerving.
And evil.
How had I let that woman have so much control over my life?
And what the hell was I going to do about it now?
I slumped into the couch with a groan. I didn’t know what to do.
The thought of leaving this house—even though I’d been relegated to the garage loft—tore my heart to shreds. This was where I’d grown up. This house was the only home I’d ever known. But every day, it was becoming even clearer that I couldn’t keep on this way. Life was passing me by.
“Come on, girls! The car service is here!” Lydia shouted up at my loft window.
I peeked out of the window and saw her standing next to my staircase with a pile of luggage at her feet, clearly ready and willing to come knock at my door if necessary.
They were going on a trip?
That must’ve been what she’d meant when she said they’d be out of cell service. Huh. Not that I was surprised I wasn’t invited.
I sat still on the couch and hoped against hope that they’d load up without bothering me.
Of course I was never that lucky.
Knock, knock, knock
I was tempted to ignore it. But Lydia had a key, and she’d proven in the past she wasn’t above using it.
So I heaved myself off the couch with a sigh and slowly walked over to the door to answer it.
“Finally!” Lydia huffed at me. “I need you to check on Lucy this weekend. The girls and I will be away, so you’ll need to feed her, make sure she has water, clean her litterbox, and brush her hair and teeth every night.”
She recited the list like it was new.
I blinked slowly back at her and didn’t say a word.
I’d make sure the thing lived, but like hell was I getting within striking distance of that monster.
Lucy had a special place in her dark little heart for torturing me.
I’d learned long ago not to even try to pet her, let alone brush any part of her.
Fool me once.
“Did you hear me, Emma?” Lydia all but shrieked, her face turning red. “Take care of my Lucy!”
“Yeah. Sure.” I rested a hand on the door and moved to retreat into my room when Amelia and Daphne stomped out of the house.
“Mother!” Amelia whined up at us. “I can’t carry my bags. My nails will get ruined if I even try to pick them up.”
“Emma!” Lydia snapped. “Grab their bags.”
I heaved a sigh. I’d spent the whole day on my feet, carrying trays of food and dirty dishes.
I was exhausted. But I still knew better than to argue.
Lydia would yell, Daphne would snicker, Amelia would give me that look, like she wanted to step in but never would, and I’d fold, like the weak person I was.
Besides, the sooner I grabbed their bags, the sooner they’d be gone.
“Mother! I can’t find the tickets on the app!” Daphne cried. “They’ve disappeared.”
Lydia sighed. “They haven’t disappeared. I haven’t sent yours to you yet. They’re all still on my profile. I’ll send them to you when we get in the car.”
“How many did you get me again? I want to make sure that everyone I know and love can come.” She said the last part like it was a dig at me. It wasn’t news Daphne didn’t love me. Pretty sure she’d written it in my yearbook.
I headed down the stairs and over to the house to grab their bags without saying anything to any of them.
“Six tickets for each of you girls. Including VIP passes, so you’ll get to mingle with the bands.”
I whipped around and caught the smug smirk on Lydia’s face as she stared straight back at me.
They were going to The Oceanfront Music Festival. Had hired a car to take them to a hotel so they’d be closer to the action. Got enough backstage passes for a fricking army.
But nothing for me.
Never anything for me.
I knew Lydia didn’t like me. Even before my father had died, she’d made veiled insults about me. He’d never caught them, but I had. I knew exactly how she felt about me. So I don’t know why I was surprised.
She knew how I felt about music.
Since I was a little girl, I’d dreamed of being a backup dancer.
And I’d been talking about going to The Oceanfront Music Festival for months.
It’d been the one bright, shining spot that had gotten me through the darkness after my dad’s death.
And she’d waited until the last minute to put me on the schedule this weekend?
Meanwhile, they’d had VIP passes this whole time?
It felt like a physical blow.
“Emma. Emma! Get the bags, Emma!”
I jolted at Lydia’s bellowed order. I’d dazedly taken all of three steps toward the house when the driver pushed past me.
“I’ll grab your bags, ma’am.” He tipped his hat at me, and I shrunk into myself at the pity I saw in his eyes.
Right.
Shaking my head, I walked back to my garage apartment.
“Emma!” Lydia shouted, glee clear in every syllable. “Don’t forget about Lucy. We’ll be gone through Monday. Don’t make me regret putting you in charge.”
I fluttered a hand over my shoulder at her, stomped up the stairs, and slammed the door shut behind me. Leaning against it, I scrubbed my hands over my face and fought like hell to keep the tears at bay.
Because I was done crying about them and their bullshit.
It was beyond time to get my life under control.
I just needed to figure out where to start.
* * *
They were brave words, but after watching a rom-com marathon and a restless night’s sleep, I was no closer to an answer.
As I walked up to the diner the next morning, every step felt like I was fighting through a waist-deep marsh. I didn’t want to go in. Even the thought of seeing Gwen’s smiling face didn’t cheer me up.
I was done with this place. But how did I escape it?
I had hardly any money saved. All my dad’s money and property had gone to Lydia after his death, and Lydia charged me rent.
Most of my savings had gone into getting a car a few months back, after the one my dad had given me had also died on me.
And like hell would Lydia ever help me out with anything.
That was a direct quote, by the way.
There was literally nothing keeping me here. But I was afraid if I picked up and moved to LA, I’d be stripping—or worse—within a month. I simply couldn’t afford to chase my dreams.
I was stuck.
It took me a minute when I entered the kitchen to clock the silence enveloping me. Then I noticed the absolute lack of any yummy smells.
And where was Gwen?
I was supposed to be the mid-shift server today, covering lunch and dinner, and depending on who else was on, maybe stay until after closing. Okay, I always stayed after closing.
But people should’ve been here. The diner should’ve been at least slightly busy.
Despite what Lydia had claimed, this wasn’t our biggest weekend.
People usually ate at the small army of food trucks that descended on our small city this weekend.
It was kind of a big deal. But we usually had our diehards.
Where were they?
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.
Maybe it was time to fly, after all.
The logistics of it all flashed through my mind. I had to pack and get out this weekend, while Lydia and the girls were gone. It’d just be easier to leave without her whole confrontation.
But what about Bruno?
Maybe I could ask James or Gwen to look after him until I got settled at least? I knew either of them would do it in a heartbeat.
The knowledge that I was actually leaving everything I’d ever known—my home, my father’s business, my family friends, the safety of it all—was so hugely scary. I didn’t know anyone in LA. I’d be all alone.
Don’t get me wrong—I wanted to go. But I’d never been away from home before. And I wouldn’t have a safety net to fall back on.
It would also mean walking away from my father’s diner. His lifelong dream. The business that had kept us clothed and fed and had been my entire world for so long.
It was the last piece of him that I still had. Every time I was here, I felt closer to him. Half the time, I still expected him to yell something from the kitchen. He could cook for a six-top while chatting with regulars at the counter. This place was him.
And I’d be letting it go forever. Because once I left, Lydia would never let me come back.
But it was time.
Dad wasn’t here anymore, and he wouldn’t want me working here forever in some sad, desperate attempt to hold onto him. Like Gwen said, he’d want me to live my life for me.
I opened the other envelope. The huge bundle of bills inside made my heart skip a beat. I pulled them out to count, and a lanyard fell to my feet.
What the heck?
I bent down and grabbed it, flipping it over to read the front.
A VIP, all-access pass to the festival this weekend. Starting today and good through the whole festival.
My giddiness returned tenfold.
I was going to the festival!
That was so amazingly kind of Gwen to do. I couldn’t believe she was able to get me tickets, let alone a VIP pass, considering the festival started in…an hour.
I was practically skipping as I headed for my car with the lanyard and cash clutched in my hand.
Step one, deposit the money in my account ASAP.
Step two, get ready for the festival.