Page 17 of Key West Homecoming

“I know. I wasn’t going to tell you until I saw you at Christmas. I thought it would be good to let some time pass. Then I thought I’d tell you when we went out for drinks Saturday night, but you’re there and I have no idea when you’re coming back, and, well, I couldn’t hold onto this news any longer. I’m sorry, the timing probably isn’t the best.”

“How is he?”

“He looked well. He was there with his wife. They have a second baby now. He asked about you. He was kind, Emma. He's always been kind.”

“I know he has.”

“I'm not telling you this to open anything. I'm telling you this because you're allowed to have finished that chapter without feeling bad about it, and I wanted to be the one to tell you that.”

“Thank you, Priya. I haven't let myself think about him in a long time.”

“You're welcome. Now go find a lawyer. And eat lunch. Call me tonight.”

“Again with the food.”

“What?”

“Never mind. I’ll get a lawyer.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Now get out of the supply closet.”

They ended the call, and Emma sat there a minute smiling at Priya’s orders. They’d been best friends for years, and Emma depended on Priya to be honest and direct with her, even if it hurt. Her friend had done that very thing time and again, and Emma loved her for it.

From the armchair, Emma watched the strip of light that fell across the tile. She enjoyed the relaxing sound of a small waterfall in the center of the garden, not far from her patio. The bougainvillea moved a little in the breeze, and the kitten dropped to the floor, curling in a spot to enjoy the sun.

Two years of thinking about Joseph in the smallest and quietest corner of her mind, and she'd closed the door on that part of her life for good. She was happy for her ex-boyfriend and wished him well. What she did notice after Priya's call was that she felt lighter, not sadder. Although it took her a while to get over Joseph, she was finally in a healthy place about him. Her perspective on it no longer influenced her views on romantic relationships in a negative way, and for that she was grateful.

It was almost eleven o’clock. On her to-do list today was to talk to Jake Kelleher and get over to Margarita Max’s to talk to Connie and the others about finding an attorney in Key West.

Marisol was still at the desk when Emma came back through the main house.

She looked at Emma’s head.

“You don’t have a hat.”

“I don’t own a hat.”

“You’re going to own one by four o’clock this afternoon whether you buy it or not, because your scalp’s going to make that decision for you.” Marisol crouched down behind the desk and came back up with a wide straw hat. “Lost and Found. It’s been ninety days and nobody’s called about it, so it’s yours.”

“I can’t take a stranger’s hat.”

“You can take a stranger’s hat, or you can get a sunburn.” Marisol held it out and kept holding it until Emma reached over and took it, putting it on her head.

“Look at that. It looks perfect on you,” Marisol said, clearly pleased with herself.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy your day.”

Emma grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

CHAPTER 5

Margarita Max’s was busier than it had been last evening when Emma was in. Every stool was taken. Two of the four tables in the window bay were full, and a waitress Emma hadn't seen before carried a tray of drinks to a group of men wearing fishing vests. Tess and Leah ran from one side of the room to the other, trying to keep up with the customers.

Tess saw Emma the moment she came in and lifted her chin in greeting.