“Want me to pick you up kerbside?” She nodded just as a slightly embittered male voice called out “You gonna take our order Miss or what?” Obv...iously embarrassed, she left the table. By the time I finished my coffee and settled-up the bill including a healthy tip, there was but fifty minutes or so to account for. I figured I would go fill up the rental car and check out a few of the shops along Main Street. Even as I pulled the Pontiac over, right outside “The Landing,” Amy had stepped. The old furniture went to the 2nd Chance store on consignment. It just took up space there until it was replaced by something else. At that time it went to the landfill. I hated to junk a usable piece of furniture. At least not until someone who needed it had a chance to buy it.Even though I tried to do one room at a time, I had a lot of empty rooms and some things were cheaper if done in higher volume. For instance carpet. I bought enough for five rooms at a time. My carpet installer stored. Most of the nuns working in the hospital were of European or North American extraction, but they all spoke the native language like they were born and bred inside the country. It was an oddity of the order that they generally were on the younger side with only a few older sisters with graying hair. This emphasis on youth was a bit tricky in their dealings with the Vatican and the Mother Superior was not opposed to using some of the more attractive members to leverage advantages with the. Smiling ever more, I took a shower to freshen up and then waited for her arrival. On the appointed hour, a knock at my door announced her arrival. I flung it open and she immediately hugged me fiercely.“Oh Markie, I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted it to work but it’s for the best.”“I know,” I said, returning the hug, “I just hate the finality of it.”“I understand. Why do you think I haven’t dated again?” She pushed the door shut and locked it. “I’m well rid of that prick and his.