Dari's Delights

15

When I woke up in the hospital, Theo was there talking in Italian on the phone. I took a moment to look around the room, finding Ryan at my bedside, putting fresh flowers in a vase. I took stock of my body as it felt weighted down. I had a cast around each arm and one going up my entire leg. I thought back to what happened, and the last thing I remembered was leaving the bar with Gerald. The heart rate monitor picked up, alerting them of my awakening. Nurses rushed in checking my vitals and doing everything else they needed to do. The doctor came in shortly after that, saying they would keep me here for a few more days and that my memory would return on its own in time. Theo relayed the information before hanging up with a grim expression as he informed, "You're mother wants you home for your recovery process, or else she is going to come out here for it." "Call her back," I demanded. Theo placed the call and handed me the phone on speaker before shutting the door. "Mom, you can't come out here, and you know that. You know what will happen if you personally set foot in this city. Do not act rash out of emotions," I reasoned with her. "I don't care about a war. My baby girl is hurt badly," my mom whined to me while being serious simultaneously. "I'll come home, mom, but I have to have a week to set things in order before coming home," I answered. As she whined to me once more, I knew she had slipped into her little space. I muted the phone before saying, "Little space," to Theo. Unmuting the phone, I directed her to find one of my fathers. "Dad, please get her to stay home. I'll be there in a week. I have to put things in order here before I come home," I said to my father, Jasper. "Darion, I'll see you soon. Don't worry about your mother. However, your fathers want to know what happened and by who's hands. You were in a coma for five days and have multiple broken bones. Stay strong honey and come home soon," he responded before I ended the call.

I took a deep inhale of the fresh air that wasn't tainted with disinfectant as I was finally released from the hospital on Sunday morning. I was bound to a wheelchair but Theo took me to the prison without a question. I sat in the visitation room waiting for each of my employees to come to me. Hunter, Knox, and Titus were permitted to be in here with me as one because I was here on business. They each expressed their concern seeing the state I am in. "I need to know if you plan to stay on as a member of my wait staff after your release, Hunter," I stated.  "Yes, I just need to find a place to live," he stated. "At the end of your shift next Monday, a woman that goes by Mrs. Lane will be there to talk with you. Marie will watch the shop as you talk with her," I informed.  "Knox, you have six months left on your sentence. Are you planning on finding other employment afterward?" I questioned next. "As long as I find an affordable place, I will stay," he said. "Very well. Titus, you have three months left. You won't have the option to stay with me. I have other plans for you. I will explain tomorrow. I am going to need you both to work more. The three you usually do but also the three mornings you don't.  The warden approved of the schedule change already given my current state. I had Marie appointed to be your boss to the warden as I'm going away for my recovery. I'll be in the shop tomorrow to talk with you more Titus, but I have to go. I was only given five minutes with all three of you." I said just as the guards came in to take them away. Theo took me home. He was sure to be quick with touching me to move me to and from the wheelchair. I was placed in my bed, and Theo went to get Marie. Marie packed a bag to go home with me and helped me with the restroom throughout the night.

I woke up in the morning, and Marie helped me get clean for the day slowly so I wouldn't freak out. Once I was in a dress and fed a high protein breakfast, we left to the bakery.  Marie went in to help out, and she sent Titus outside. I had the window rolled down as I directed, "Get in the passenger seat." He listened without any questions as Theo started to drive. The car stopped outside a building newly labeled Torte Reform. Once I was in the wheelchair we headed inside with Titus trailing behind us. Inside held a pastry display and a full restaurant set up. "Titus," I said, calling his attention to me. "I want you to be able to have your dream. I purchased this building, and I want you to run this restaurant. You may have the open apartment on the top floor. You'll need to plan a menu and find staff after you're released. Torte Reform is so you can help people in the system better themselves, giving them the option to be better and do better. I have an account set up with you as an authorized user for this restaurant. It has plenty to cover the start-up cost and employee salaries. You'll find all the information in here," I stated, handing him a manilla envelope. "Look around the entire building. If you agree to this, sign the paperwork from the envelope. Then, you can find us outside waiting to take you back to the coffee house, but take your time." I directed before Theo took me back to the car.

Titus returned with watery eyes as he passed me the signed agreements before taking him back to the coffee house.  I texted Ryan asking if he'd accompany me home for a few days. Upon his acceptance, I told him to pack up, and we were leaving as soon as he was ready. Ryan came down just as I finished drinking a bottle of water. We went to the airport boarding the plane quickly before we were airborne. "Do me a couple favors?" I asked. "Anything," Ryan replied. "Don't tell them about Ace, Alec, and Ares. I don't want them to get overprotective of me. Don't tell any one of my family who did this to me," I stated completely serious. "Wait, Gerald said you just fell down the stairs," Ryan said. "Gerald was very angry and had a hold of me at the top of the stairs. He was shaking me roughly in his rage before he lost his grip on me, causing me to violently tumble down the stairs," I explained. I continued with, "When you go back, tell Ace, Alec, or Ares what happened. They deserve to know what happened with their employee. I won't be back to the city for a long while, I fear. Please tell them I'll give them their Saturday when I get back." "I will, but why don't you just call or text them?" Ryan asked upon agreeing. "They never gave me their numbers. I don't really mind. I've always found them when I needed them." I explained.  "Okay then," Ryan said with a small shake of his head. The conversation shifted after that until we landed in Seattle.