Page 98 of A Dish Best Served Hot

“And here we go. Super Saint is back thinking that if I’d told him about a threat, he would have been there to save me,” Lola barked. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I don’t fucking need you to save me.”

“I’m not trying to save you, Lola. All I wanted was to be your partner, but you are so closed off it’s impossible. You refuse to give even an inch. Everything is your way or no way. You’re self-centered.”

“I’m self-centered? How do you figure? I live my life fighting for the rights of others.”

“I wonder why you really do it, Lola. Do you really feel that strongly about these causes, or is it you trying to prove that you aren’t like your dad? Reckless, stubborn, power hungry, and selfish.”

Lola sucked in a quiet breath. It was the only indication she gave that she was hurt. Her face looked carved from stone. “You told me that you loved me, but you lied. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t constantly be trying to fix me.” She shook her head. “If I am reckless and stubborn, it’s only because I’m fighting for people and ideas I believe in. I am who I am. I’m not changing for anyone. Not even you.”

With that she turned her back on him and walked out. Benny shot him a hateful look before he followed.

Saint plopped into the nearest chair and dropped his head into his hands. He’d failed yet again.

24

“Thank you for coming in on Memorial Day,” Mrs. Fonseca told her. “I’m sorry our meeting on Friday got canceled. There was an incident I had to handle.”

“Not a problem.” Lola fought the urge to fidget in her seat. If the first time she’d been in here felt like stepping into the past, it was even more so now when Lola knew she was in trouble.

“I know this is your personal time, so I’m going to keep this as brief as possible.” She met Lola’s gaze. “I’m retiring this year.”

“Congrats, you deserve it,” Lola said, only mildly surprised. Fonseca had had a long career at the center, and she did deserve to retire after her many years of service to the community. She paused. “But that’s not why I’m here, is it?”

Mrs. Fonseca linked her fingers together on top of her desk. “I’d hoped to put your name forward as my potential replacement, but I can’t, in good faith, do that now.”

Lola swallowed. She’d figured something like this was coming, but it hurt all the same. “Can I ask what made you change your mind?”

“There is no doubt about your passion and your qualifications, Lola. I understand that the circumstances weren’t completely in your control. However, none of that changes the fact that your presence here has caused a clusterfuck of epic proportions and your continued presence could put our members and staff in danger.”

“I get it. I’m a liability.” Wasn’t that basically what Saint had told her? All she did was put the people around her in danger with her history and her reckless actions. She wondered how much of that was valid. The truth was that even knowing there were people out to get her, she still wanted to stay. Maybe she was reckless. Selfish.

“I’m sorry, Lola.”

Lola shook her head. “Don’t be. You have this organization and everyone in it to think about and I was only thinking about me.” She paused, waiting for Mrs. Fonseca to deny her selfishness. When she didn’t, Lola knew it was true. “Look, I don’t want parents to be even more scared to send their kids to school and I don’t want to cause the staff more stress, so I think it’s probably best if I remove myself from the long-term sub position and you find someone else to cover for the next few weeks.”

“I think that is a sensible plan and I appreciate your consideration.”

“Can I at least leave the kids a message? I don’t want to just disappear like the last teacher.”

“Of course, Lola, and if there is anything I can do to help you, let me know. I want to help you.”

Lola thanked her because she knew Mrs. Fonseca was earnest in her desire to help, but Lola couldn’t see herself getting a position anywhere at the moment. Not when her story, name, and picture were plastered all over the local news.

Lola walked to her classroom—no, the classroom she’d been serving. She thought of taking all of the items she’d purchased, but that didn’t feel right. It felt like inflicting an unnecessary wound on the students, who’d already been through so much. Instead, she packed up any personal items she’d brought, recorded a video message for the kids in which she tried not to cry, and then left.

She had just made it to her apartment when her phone started ringing in her purse. She dumped everything on her couch and reached into her purse to find her phone. Lola figured it was Yara calling, but the number on her screen was Benny’s apartment phone.

“Hola, Benny.”

There was a long pause on the other end and lots of throat clearing.

“Benny?”

“Me llamaron de la prisión.” Another long pause that had her holding her breath. “Murió tu papá.”

Lola gave her head a shake as if dislodging something from her ear. She didn’t know why she did that, since she knew she’d heard him clearly. Maybe it was because while she’d heard the words, “The prison called. Your dad died,” she just couldn’t understand them.

“What happened?”

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