Dari's Delights

12

Monday rolled around and I messaged Ryan asking if he'd take a vacation if he could get time off work before I got myself ready for the day. I decided on a blue scoop neck baby doll dress with little white flowers all over it before heading to work. I did all the normal baking before making a lemon meringue pie as the special. Hunter, one of my new employee's, was the first to arrive for the day. He was incarcerated for beating the man he found on top of an unconscious woman. He was 23. He lost his job with the accounting firm after that and now no one looks past the fact that he has a criminal record. He has three months left in his sentence. All three of my new hires are in the same correctional facility and each of them were nothing but greatful to be given the opportunity.  They each told me they thought I wouldn't have hired them just because of their appearance. I could easily see why they said that as they were each tall with a good build. They thought I'd be scared of them. I made sure they each knew of my no tip rule and of the monetary incentive for following it. I also made sure they had plain clothes for work. Hunter met Conner and Paris for the first time and they seem fine with each other. It was almost noon before I left for the day with three coffees and three things of food to go with me.

I crossed the street and went up to the top floor asking for Alec. I was shown to his office and let in. Alec instantly dismissed the receptionist. "What's this for, Dari?" Alec questioned. "I have a question or a request depending on how you look at it," I answered. I set the cup carrier and bag down before I handed him the iced coffee and sandwich. "Thank you. Is your question just for me or my brothers too?" Alec asked gesturing to the other cups and food. "I'm not sure. It's to do with your club, sort of," I answered playing with my fingers. "I'll call them over," Alec answered before doing just that. Ace and Ares came in and I gave them each their coffees and sandwiches.

"What's your question, poppet?" Alec asked. "What will it take for you to give Ryan a couple weeks off starting next Monday, preferably paid?" I asked. "Why are you asking us?" Ares questions. "I want to go on a surprise vacation with my friend and you are his boss's boss," I answered. "Ryan can go and still get paid but it will cost you in return," Alec relented. "What do you want?" I asked. "Saturday," Alec answered. "What about Saturday?" I questioned confused. "We want you all of Saturday. One day. One long date," Alec stated.  "Um," I said lowering my blushing face. "What is it?" Ares asked. "Just make it memorable," I answered. "Flower," Ares said lifting my chin. "What has you blushing?" He questioned. "It'll be my first date," I answered honestly.  "We will make it memorable for you, flower," Ares said  tucking my loose hair behind my ear. "I'll let you know what time we will pick you up, poppet" Alec said as Ares stepped away from me. "When should we tell Ryan that he's off for two weeks?" Ace inquired. "When ever just don't tell him it's because of me," I answered before walking away.

My next stop was to Mrs. Lane. I gave her the ticket for the cruise with an envelope of spending money. Then I gave her Betsy's envelope containing the same. "Tell her it's a welcome home present from the owner," I instructed. "You've never done anything like this for anyone else you have here at a discounted rate. Why now?" Mrs. Lane questioned. "Life is to short," was my cryptic response before I left.

I had one last appointment for the day at the cemetery. I hate what happened to me about nine months ago but I accepted that it happened and moved on. My parents found out about it when Theo located me unconscious at the hospital after a call from Claire saying that we got separated at a party. Nothing could have prepared me for what I found out six weeks later. I had kept it a secret all this time but now it's time for me to finally put to rest what a monster helped to create. I was not ashamed of her. I just didn't want her to face any judgment because of how she was created before she was even born.  I was waiting to pass the first trimester and find out the gender of my baby before I told anyone, but it was too late. I had gone into my sonogram only to discover that I lost my daughter. Due to how far along I was I still had to give birth. My daughter was delivered as an early term stillborn. I was encouraged to name her and I named her Amia Chase. It felt fitting as in Latin it meant beloved and in Sanskrit it meant delight. I was burying her ashes today and putting her to rest in her eternal resting place. She gave me someone to love and made me delighted. I never realized what my mom talked about when she was pregnant, to seeing us for the first time, the love she described would transcend time and space and be so unbreakable but flexible at the same time that you could and would love everything they did no matter what. I understand now because I love Amia so much it hurts even though she had to leave me so soon.