Back to Life by Danielle Allen Read Free Book Online Page B

with a variety of tables covered in white linens.  The tables for two lined the wall and each had 4 inch glass vases with white candles floating inside.  The center of the room had a mix of two, four, and six person tables.  At the very back of the room, two large banquet tables that looked as if they could seat a party of ten or twelve. The bigger tables had large glass vases with red roses at the bottom and led lights floating up and down the 20 inch vase. Strategically placed photographs of musicians were around the room. I quickly located the photo of Ty and his grandfather. It was located in the very back of the room, above the large party tables. The exposed brick walls contradicted and complemented the elegant décor all at the same time.  As much as the lounge screamed cool, the restaurant screamed class. “Absolutely beautiful,” I gushed when my eyes found his again.
    His eyes gleamed with pride. “Thank you,” he said appreciatively. Before he could say whatever was on the tip of his tongue, the kitchen door swung open. Milton walked out with a huge smile on his face.
    “Everything went better than expected, Mr. Barker! The food was exquisite, the atmosphere electric . Are you happy? I’m happy,” Milton enthused with a laugh.  Looking from Milton to Ty, both men seemed exhilarated.  The sheer happiness on Ty’s face made me smile.
    “Excellent, Milton! I’m very happy with how this entire night has turned out,” he looked at me as he said it. Looking back at Milton, Ty asked, “Are the kitchen and wait staff still here?”
    “Yes, I told them you wanted to meet with them before they left for the night,” Milton said.
    “Good. I’m going to show Sahara to my office and then I’ll be right with them,” Ty informed his restaurant manager before guiding us out of the restaurant. 
    Walking ahead of me, Ty swiped and then punched in a code to his office door.  He opened the door for me and we walked down a short hallway that opened into a lavish office. While it wasn’t massive, the high ceiling gave the visual effect of a room twice its size.    The first thing my eyes gravitated to was the large wooden desk right in front of a tall, stained glass window. The reds, blues, and yellows of the window created abstract art. I had to tear my eyes away from the beauty of it in order to take in the oversized brown sofa to the right side of the room and matching brown wing back chairs in front of the desk.  The filing cabinets were directly across from the sofa, on the other side of the desk.
    Stepping around me to get to his desk, he sat in his brown leather rolling desk chair.  He looked in his top desk drawer and pulled out a remote control. “So…here’s where I’ve been spending my time in Richland,” Ty looked at me expectantly, eyes wide.
    “Another mark in the win column,” I said, repeating his early morning words, looking around the room again. My eyes returned to the stained glass window. “This is my favorite thing,” I pointed to the glass. Looking at him briefly, I continued, “The dance floor in the lounge is a close second.”
    He sat back in his chair and smiled. “Those are two of my favorites as well,” Ty admitted.  “I’ll have to tell you the story behind them when I get back. Please get comfortable. Here’s the remote to the TV,” he pointed behind me and I spun around . How did I not notice that? I thought as he powered on the 40inch flat screen that hung against the brick. 
    “A blanket is on the back of the couch. I shouldn’t be too long. I need to speak with the restaurant staff and then check on things in the lounge.  I should’ve thought this all the way through before asking you to stay. But honestly, I wasn’t ready for you to go yet,” Ty admitted with a shy hesitance. He licked his lips and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. 
    “I’ll be fine, Ty,” I said firmly. “Handle your business. I’ll find something on TV. Maybe