Time To Face Things Head On

Chapter 5

I tried to keep my thoughts away with work, but it wasn't that simple. Miriam wasn't lying when she said Winona called anyone who'd listen about my gossip. It was beyond annoying. Just after making it through half of my shift I had been asked by everyone we served about my well being.

I had almost decided to just leave but I found a customer who didn't give a single shit about my personal woes, giving me a false hope to a better night, until Winona and Claude made their appearance

Despising their existence I silently prayed they'd burst into flames. In an extra petty attempt to avoid them I sent another waitress to help them so I could quickly sneak into the kitchen only to see Zussman standing in front of the swinging door glancing around the club. I changed my route for the front door but Winona cut me off.

"You know Gerty I'm surprised" she began, baiting me into the conversation

"Oh yeah? Why's that Winona?" I asked adding a dash of hostility into my voice, I normally would just ignore her, keep from adding to any form of confrontation but Zussman was right she wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

"Well you left your date earlier today so fast that I'd say that puts a new record on being your shortest relationship, but it's okay we sent Rosemary, you remember my little sister Rosy right? Of course you do she always admired you, well anyways we sent little Rosey to sit with him and keep him company since you had left in such a hurry and all I hope to was because you realized how daffy kissing a stranger was over such a silly engagement really" she went on and on and freaking on.

"Winona, you want to know what surprises me?" I asked both barrels fully loaded and ready to fire.

"What?" she smiled like the devil himself seconds from trapping someone's soul for eternity.

"That you Want TO CALL ME DAFFY AND ACTING CRAZY WHEN YOU WERE THE ONE HAVING SEX ALL THE TIME WITH CLAUDE WHEN HE AND I WERE ENGAGED NOT TO MENTION YOU AND I WERE ROOMMATES BUT YOU DIDNT CARE INSTEAD YOU HAVE SOME VENDETTA EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE THE HOME WRECKER"  for a moment I felt powerful and I was going in for devastation and fatalities but then I realized I had only made a mockery of both of us...

I headed straight for the door only stopping for my purse deciding grabbing my coat would take too long. I ran down a cab and hopped in crying out the address to our church. I locked the back doors so no one could hop in after me. As the driver hit the gas, I noticed Zussman run out the front doors. I slid down hiding my face praying he didn't see me. The driver tried to make small talk as I unlocked the doors but I didn't know what to say. I ended up telling him I just needed quiet, softly smiling hoping he'd  understand. the rest of the ride was in silence until he pulled up to my requested destination 

" Alright miss we're here that'll be 2 dollars and 40 cents" the driver said, I gave him the five in my purse and told him to keep the change as I opened the door of the cab. I should've kicked myself for spending so much money on a fare but really the only thing on my mind at that moment was to think things through in the bell tower.

I started heading straight for the church doors when I heard father Mose call out my name 
"Gertrude Swills, is that you? My goodness girl it's so late out what are you doing here? And your coat, where's your coat?" he asked concerned all over his face as he appeared behind me with what appeared to be a lunch pail

" I'm sorry father I know it's late and it looks you are busy… I let my anger get the better of me and need some fresh air from the top of the bell tower" I explained sheepishly

" Oh I'm not busy any more, I'm actually on my way back from feeding the homeless at the soup kitchen. I wouldn't worry about the time though Gerty our doors are open at all hours of the night for any spiritual emergencies we have a new priest as well, father Mcgrory who is here when I'm gone and vice versa anyways come, let's go inside to talk about this before I let you hang out in the midnight winter air without a coat." he explained gesturing to the doors. I followed wondering how to explain what happened without further embarrassing Winona