Free California Wine by Casey Dawes Page B

customer left, she stopped Lara as she was gathering her things to leave.
    “I need to talk with you,” Elizabeth said.
    “You’re firing me. I knew it. It’s not fair. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Lara put her hands on her hips and stared at Elizabeth defiantly.
    “I have to let you, go, yes. Someone’s been stealing inventory and with the drop in income, I can’t afford to keep you on.”
    “What about that old boyfriend of yours? Did you get his key back? He could be stealing from you and you’d never know it. All men are alike.”
    The woman was reaching for any idea she could to keep her job. For a moment, Elizabeth hesitated. Maybe she wasn’t being fair.
    Then she looked around at the business she built. “No, Lara,” she finally said. “That’s ludicrous and you know it. We both know what’s been happening. What I don’t understand is why you did it?”
    “Are you accusing me? I can have you before the review board for that,” Lara said.
    Elizabeth shrugged, suggesting “so be it,” and waited a few minutes to see what else Lara would say. The woman remained steadfastly silent.
    Sighing, Elizabeth handed Lara an envelope, a slip of paper and a pen. “Here’s your final check and a letter stating that the layoff is due to my financial constraints. My statements won’t affect your ability to get another job. Would you sign here acknowledging you received the letter and check?”
    Lara scribbled her signature, the nib of the pen digging through the paper.
    “I’ll sue you,” she said, before she turned and walked out of the store, slamming the door behind her.
    Elizabeth took a deep breath and locked the door behind her former assistant. Tears began to trickle down her face. Why did life have to be so hard?
    “Suck it up, girl,” she said to herself. “What’s done is done. You’ve figured out bigger problems before. There must be someone in this town that wants a job.”
    She walked over to the computer and pulled up Craig’s List.
    • • •
    “I don’t understand why she did that,” Elizabeth said to Annie that night at Costanoa Grill.
    With weather warm enough to eat on the patio, Elizabeth watched the tranquil scene of shorebirds edging the Costanoa River as it flowed past a colorful bungalow hotel.
    “It doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?” Annie twirled her pasta onto her fork, but didn’t raise the utensil. “Then again, I know in corporations there can be a lot of pilfering of office supplies, especially around back to school time.” She shrugged. “It’s just not something I would even consider.”
    “Me either,” Elizabeth said. “I guess I’m disappointed. I gave her a chance. She didn’t know anything about beauty products, or even retail sales when I hired her. And this went way beyond pilfering!” She stabbed a shrimp on her plate and stuffed it into her mouth.
    Annie raised her eyebrows. “Wow … you are upset.”
    Elizabeth glared at her, chewing rapidly. No matter how angry she was, talking with her mouth full was not going to happen.
    “Now that you’ve let her go, what are you going to do?” Annie asked. “I mean, how are you going to take time off when Marcos shows up — I can’t wait to meet him!” Annie ate the spaghetti she’d been toying with.
    “I’ve got bigger problems than Marcos. And besides, who says I’m going to let him meet you?” She smiled at Annie to take the sting out of her words.
    Annie frowned. “Of course you’re going to introduce us. I’m your best friend and he could turn out to be the love of your life.”
    Elizabeth laughed. “He lives in Italy.”
    “You keep trying to use that as an excuse, but I’m not buying it,” Annie said.
    The comment stopped Elizabeth short. Was she using distance as an excuse? Well, no matter, she had another one.
    “I don’t have time for a man. I’ve got products to launch and make world famous. That’s going to take all my energy.” She took a sip of wine.