The grant committee announced that it would make its decision in three days. The city's analysis was still underway, but the payment hold remained in place.
I had enough cash to make payroll once more. After that, I would have to choose which program to suspend. Miriam recommended pausing the job-placement workshops before cutting the kitchen staff. I agreed, though the choice made my stomach twist.
Cal found me in the empty training kitchen, stacking boxes of unused dishes.
"You're closing the program?" he asked.
"Only the workshops. For now."
"People are losing hours."
"Yes."
"Because of the review."
"Because I don't have the money to pay them."
He took a box from my hands. "That's not what I asked."
"I know."
"Would you have done this if the first report had passed?"
"Yes."
