Unforeseen

Chapter XX

Gabriele had to stay overnight to be sure he was here when the doctor arrived in the morning. Knowing this I also made the decision to stay and keep an eye on him throughout the night in case his fever got worse. We decided to have an early dinner since he wasn't feeling well and wanted nothing more than to rest until morning. Once we had finished our meal, he was adamant that I return to the city with Raphael and some additional help to pack my things from the apartment so that I may be fully moved in at the manor. I laughed at the preposterous notion of it all. It would be over four hours' drive back home than to pack everything who knows how long and an additional four hours plus to get back. In his sickened state he wouldn't take no for an answer, he sent for the rest of his men that worked at the manor and had Raphael fill them in on the plan.

Without a moment to lose we were heading back home to the city. Gabriele had also insisted that I ride with Raphael on the way there and backand to this, I followed without argument. Three additional cars trailed close behind us at all times holding two men in each. Empty boxes filled one of the car's back seats while the other two saved the second-row seating in their cars for my belongings to travel back with us. Unfortunately, Raphael and Iwere left to drive in the two-seater. Peering behind me occasionally I could see the two men directlybehind us puffing hard on their cigars. The wind captured the smoke making it drag behind them instead of lingering in front of their faces. Time was an excruciating thing; Raphael was not much of a talker, and I had not much to say anyway. I wasn't even able to get lost in the scenery because the darkhad stolen the light making sure it was impossible for me to see and enjoy anything along the way.

I must've drifted off to sleep sometime during the drive because the next thing I remember was Raphael waking me gently to tell me we had arrived. Together the eight of us crammed into my tiny apartment and went to work. Somehow it was all very strategically planned out. Raphael split the number of boxes, passing them out to each of us except for two of the men. The six of us began packing, two to each of the three rooms while one of the men without boxes would mark them with their contents and carry them down to the other man who would load them up in the cars. Raphael called him the lookout and wanted him to stay down therewith the vehicles and keep a watchful eye out to make sure no one stole anything. With all of us working hard packing away we finished up in no time. I could recall the man-marking the box and delivering them not breaking a sweat the entire time, maybe because we didn't overwhelm him with a crazy number of boxes all at once. We all ended up filling each of ours at different times whichseemed to be a good thing since it meant even though the man never got a break, the boxes were constantly flowing out and down.

Raphael and the other men gave me a minute to myself, to be alone, in the final moments being in my apartment. I couldn't help but wonder if I would regret this. If this was all wrong. Shaking my head,I laughed at myself out loud. It was just me letting my mind form wild thoughts again. Taking a deep breath, I headed over to close the window in the kitchen. A cool breeze blew remnants of a sauce smell into my apartment, no doubt coming from my beloved restaurant below. Even though it had been closed for hours on certain days like this when the weather was at just the right temperature you could still smell the food from the last dish that was cooked that evening. 

It was at this time I realized that Gabriele and I never talked about work. What was I going to do? Over four hours was an absurd amount of time to drive one way but to and from would be impossible in a single day. With all that they had done for me...me who was once a total stranger begging for a job, who had nothing. Nothing but the clothes on her back and whatever was last put in her stomach. No home, no family, no money and they took me in no questions asked. Treated me better than I had ever been treated, better than I deserved at times, better than my own flesh and blood. 

I had to at least write them some sort of note, it would be wrong not to. To a certain degree, I felt that I owed them an explanation. I wrote them a quick message saying my goodbyes, thanking them for all they had done. I told them that Gabriele and I had unexpectedly moved too far for me to continue to work for them. But that I would come back to visit soon and when I did, I would explain everything. Lastly, I told them that I loved them,and they were the closest thing I had to a family and that I was honored to be a part of that.