Excerpt of California Sunset by Casey Dawes

“Annie!” Randy’s sharp voice echoed in the tiny office. “What do you think?”

“About being laid-off? It stinks! I’m the best project manager you have.” And I’m the only support my son has.

“You’re a great project manager, but the project’s been terminated.”

“There’s got to be another project somewhere.”

“It’s not only you, Annie. Ten thousand people are being laid off from JCN today. The company needs to cut costs.”

The final bit of air left her lungs.

Randy pawed through the papers on his desk. “But there is another project. You’d be great for the one in New Jersey and they could use your skills. It’s complex and government-mandated—one of those impossible situations you’re good at handling.”

“I can’t move to New Jersey.” She’d been to New Jersey once—boardwalks, billboards and Bruce Springsteen. Not a place she could ever imagine living. And she couldn’t drag her son away from his friends. He was only 15.

“C’mon, Annie. Give it a chance. I’d hate for the company to lose you.”

She shook her head. New Jersey may have been fine for Frank Sinatra, but it wasn’t fine for her. It had taken so long after her divorce to feel secure again. She had her friends, her home, her cats…and no job.

“There’s nothing in the company in this area for someone with your skills. I looked. If you aren’t willing to transfer, then I have no choice. I have to lay you off.”

An ache began in the back of her neck. She needed this job. No one else was going to support David or provide medical benefits. She was going to have to do something to keep a salary coming in. And with the economy the way it was, chances of finding a new job soon would be slim. Unemployment wouldn’t cover her mortgage, much less her other expenses.

Maybe she could learn to like New Jersey. After all, she liked Bruce Springsteen. Boardwalks and billboards might grow on her. There was an ocean, even if it wasn’t the Pacific.

But what about David? Would her ex fight her for custody if she tried to move him out of state? Her stomach roiled and she forced back the tears welling in her eyes. Never cry in the office. Never.

“You have six weeks before the layoff is final.”