Joan shakes her head. “We’ve already got everything in the works. As I said, it may be sooner than later if all goes to plan.”
“Oh.”
Stu steps forward. “Velyn, I don't think you’re understanding. Your father will be taking over.”
I straighten up, looking to both of them now in confusion. “We don’t have that kind of money, and my father knows nothing about owning and running a restaurant.”
Joan moves to the couch. “Come, have a seat.” I follow taking a seat opposite her and Stu, then she continues. “When your father’s out of rehab, he’s going to need a job. When we spoke with him, he felt that returning to his old type of employment wasn’t what he wanted anymore. He felt he needed a change.
“He mentioned that to me as well,” I confirm.
Stu nods. “Exactly, so we offered him a job at the diner until he got on his feet, then one thing led to another, and it came up that maybe down the road, possibly sooner than later, he could take over.”
“But we could never afford that.”
Joan leans in. “Velyn, Stu, and I have spoken with our lawyers and our financial advisor. Between all of us, we’ve come up with a rather comfortable payment plan for your father to buy the diner from us.”
“The bank won’t ever give him a loan, not with the foreclosure on his record,” I say.
“That’s why Stu and I will hold the loan and mortgage of the building. Your father will pay us back.”
My mind is whirling—is this for real. Just as I’m about to ask more, there’s a knock at the door. Walking in with Ava in tow, Jordan bellows in greeting, “Let the party begin; the entertainment is here.”
Stu stands, walking over to greet the two of them, and Joan leans in, taking my hand. “We’ll talk more about this later, but trust me, it’s all going to work out, sweetheart.”
I give her a quick smile then the two of us stand to greet Jordan and Ava. Jordan walks over, taking me into a massive hug. “Look at you, standing firmly on two feet and shit.” He then turns to Ava. “Babe, look at her. Next, our little Velyn will want to spread her wings and leave the nest.”
We let out a laugh, then Stu and Joan say a quick goodbye and scoot out while Ava Jordan and I take a seat.
“So, are you happy to be home?” Ava asks.
I nod. “I am. It’s going to take some getting used to, but I’m happy, for the most part.”
The two of them know what I'm referring to. Both Ava and Jordan have tried to get through to Dylan but nothing. They seem to have given up hope, but I still can’t.
“He’s different now, Velyn.”
I look over to Jordan. “What do you mean, different?”
“I saw him the other day in the administration office. Graduation’s coming up, so I was getting the last of my paperwork in order. Anyway, he’s not even going to grad. Apparently, as soon as classes are done, he’ll be starting up at his father’s firm for a summer placement before law school.”
“That was always the plan, wasn’t it?” I ask.
Jordan nods. “It was, but there’s an emptiness in his eyes that was never there before. Velyn, Dylan’s not the same. The guy I saw that day was not the one I grew up with. I love him, but I have no idea how to help him through this. I don’t think anyone can.”
I let out a breath. I can feel the sting in the back of my eyes. I want to hold the tears back, but I can’t.
I sit up. “Chase once told me that the real Dylan was buried inside. That it was a front he put on for people, maybe that’s what he’s doing now. Jordan, he never said it, but I know he did; he loved me just like I love him. There’s no way he can just stop that. His feelings are still there, and I’m going to figure out how to make him realize that.”
Ava takes my hand. “Okay, then Jordan and I will be right there with you.”
Jordan nods. “I go where she tells me to, so count me in. But first, we eat!”
At Jordan’s request, we ate pizza. Thankfully they also stayed to help me unpack a few of the essential boxes and helped set up the kitchen and my bedroom. Okay, well, Jordan did most of the work, but in all fairness, he also ate most of the pizza.
They left just a little after seven, and still not being used to a full day, I decided to turn in early. I’m getting ready for bed when there’s a knock at the apartment door. Throwing on a housecoat, I slowly make my way over, opening up the door to find Connie standing there.
“Connie! Hey! This is a nice surprise. Please, come in.” She offers me a smile as I move to the side for her to enter, then I motion her to the sitting area and offer her the seat across from me.
“So, what brings you by...not that I mind. It’s nice to see you.”
She offers another smile laying her purse on the couch. “I hear you came home from the hospital, so I want to visit—how do you feel?”
I smile at her. “Yes, apparently they were getting tired of me.” She lets out a laugh. “But I feel good. Walking and moving around tires me out; I can’t move around like I used to, but with time—”
She gives a wave of her hand. “You’re a strong girl. You’ll be one hundred percent better in no
