Flamingo Diner. Sherryl Woods

give a rat’s ass what you do,” he retorted, heading for the door.

      “Jeff!”

      Emma’s impatient, slightly frantic voice carried after him, but he ignored her. She turned to Andy.

      “Why don’t you go ahead and say it,” she suggested quietly.

      He squirmed uncomfortably. He was not the kind of kid who enjoyed confrontation.

      “Well?”

      “Say what?” he asked.

      “I know you’re angry with me. I know you think if I had come home sooner things might have turned out differently.”

      “That’s right,” he said, his voice climbing. “If you’d been here, Dad might not be dead. It’s your fault, Emma.” His voice caught on a sob. “I hate you! I hate you!”

      She stopped him as he tried to run from the room and held him tightly. “I wish I’d been here,” she told him, her own tears streaking down her cheeks. “I wish I’d listened to you.” He had no idea how much she regretted the choice she’d made to wait to come home.