(A/N: this chapter is very, very badly written. Forgive me. It will get better. Promise.)
Karen threw on her green work apron and walked behind the counter. Carl, an eighty-five year old man with some of the darkest skin known to man and an unmatched sense of generosity, tossed her one of his amazing sandwiches.
"Eat! You need your breakfast," he rumbled. Karen smiled gratefully and polished off the ham-and-Swiss quickly before getting to work.
She had the ideal job: Carl's Soup and Sandwich was the friendliest deli in the state, and Carl paid her much more than she was worth. She loved her boss almost as much as he loved her - he considered her an honorary daughter, and though she had never met her sisters, she was sure they would be as wonderful as Carl when she finally did meet them.
The day passed quickly, and she went home with a Styrofoam container full of Carl's clam chowder. That day, Carl had announced that he would be taking a few days to visit his daughter Emily, and his son-in-law and grandchildren. He gave her a few instructions and a huge hug, and ordered her to take food from the Deli and eat three squares a day, regardless of cost. She kissed him on the cheek before she left, wishing him a safe trip, and saying that she would sure miss him.

A week and a half later, Karen stood tearfully before Carl's solid oak coffin, looking at his face. They had made his expression solemn - she had never seen him solemn, and it looked wrong on his usually smiling face. She had always known about his high cholesterol, but Carl remained adamant that if a heart attack took him, he would have lived his life the way he wanted to and, quite frankly, had no taste for tofu and didn't want to start eating it now. Karen had been absolutely right about his children, and grandchildren. They were amazing people, just like their predecessor.
The will was to be read right after the funeral, and Emily had mentioned after the funeral that Karen should come. She had a mischievous look in her eye, and Karen agreed to come.
(Five hours later) ". My remaining estate, including the deed to and full ownership of Carl's Soup and Sandwich, shall be bestowed upon Karen Bellario." the rest of the legal jargon turned to a buzz in Karen's ears. Why didn't Carl leave the deli to his children? Why did he give her this?
Later she would discover that Carl's "remaining estate" included a considerable sum of money, and his daughters had all agreed fully with Carl's decision.
As Karen left the lawyer's office, she inhaled the crisp evening air had realized that never before had she fully appreciated Autumn before today.
I own a deli.