The Labyrinth of Love

l finish up here" the rotund middle-aged man wearing a Levi

ile from behind the desktop she

r smile with a curt nod and disappeared into his office. She closed the door to her office and began to chan

to explode from delirium and trying to manage the bustle to ensure productivity and professionalism. It was almost impossible to maintain that balance as Angie's was grossly understaffed with just three wait

e'd, regardless, ended up doing it anyway. The soft spot she had for him made her do it, and she realized that she coul

out as soon as she had changed

? I'm coming out now" Bert

t you're my ride h

s. Bert had not been himself for weeks now. The day's events h

" the concern in her v

how to break the news but I'd rather you heard it directly from me." Unsure of how to respond to that i

een the bewilderment on Lettie's face if it had. It wasn't just bewilderment, it was also the confoundin

t keep up. If only Angie were still..." He tr

oulders, fighting not to let her emotio

, what if the ads worked? Huh? What if that's the reason for today's tu

n't afford to. The property taxes on the restaurant have piled up

nd understanding smile, but her countenance betra

se silence and walked

w that much, as she was in charge of the finances, at least the accounting part of it. The monthly turnover in the first half of the year was only enough to restock on ingredients and pay the wages of

g change. He knew how terrible the past two years had been for her, what with working multiple jobs and paying off what

he time the letter was dated, a month after her mom passed. She hadn't been aware of it, and frankly, s

er of the State of New York's exercise of its right to eminent domain over select prope

sition and the government was enabled under the 5th Amendment to exercise its power of eminent domain over any property, personal or real. The only option she was left with was to accept the compensation she had been offered. U

n is fair", the

birthdays, went to prom, lost her father, grieved with her mom, graduated college, lost her mom, and grieved for her. Yet life had taken that

she got out of the car, his eyes apologetic. She paused

open the rest of the week. I'm sorry again" She nodded s

bags on the wall so she could open the door. Opening the door proved to be extre

to be shitting me," she said coarsely under her breath, and angrily pounded t

ging slowly. Raw anger coming to the surface. She needed to break something. If only the door would cooperate, she would get h

thrust her right foot into a vase on the porch, which pushed it into the wood

ain coursed through

bing on tightly to her toe. The little earth dance didn't las

ed so hard that her stomach began to hurt. She laughed so hard tears began to roll. And as

ried for her house, cried for her job, and cried for being left all alone in this cold world. When her

bother with showering, neither did she bother with pumping the air mattress. She just lay on the cold floor, eyes red and puffy, determined

she surmised, sleepily. She hoped the next w