Page 36 of Baran
Darien met his gaze. “Try me.”
There was a tense silence before Mr. Aslan relented, his voice tight with fury. “Fine. I’ll go to the art gala tomorrow night and talk to him. But don’t think for a second that I’m doing this because of your threats.”
Darien nodded, feeling a mixture of triumph and apprehension. “Do it for him, Mr. Aslan. He deserves that much.”
Leaving the office, Darien’s mind raced at the implications of their conversation. He knew it wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a step forward. As for Baran, he would do whatever it took to ensure his safety and happiness.
Once he got into his car, his phone rang.
“Hey, are you sure you mailed Baran’s application?” Jonathan asked.
“Miss Archer said she did.” A sick feeling came over Darien, and he felt like he was going to throw up.
“I suggest you have him do another one and hand deliver it.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
Instead of going home, he drove to the shelter. The car engine hummed to a stop, and he made his way to his designated spot in the underground garage. He walked directly to the room that used to be Miss Archer’s office. He went through all her drawers and found the paperwork. He was shaking with rage, his fists clenched tightly. She had purposefully tried to prevent him from attending college. He carefully placed Baran’s applications in a folder, then left the room with a sigh. He slipped out of the shelter without meeting anyone. He wanted to see Baran and make sure he was okay.
He popped the applications in the mailbox, a sigh of relief escaping his lips, then stopped at Jonathan’s and left the application for New York State University.
All he wanted to do was get home, away from the bustling city and into the peace of his own quiet house and spend time with Baran. It was late, so he wasn’t sure he was up. He sent him a text.
Darien:OTW Miss you.
Baran:I miss you too.
When he arrived home, he removed his shoes and put on slippers. He walked to the kitchen and spotted a note scrawled in Miss Charlotte’s familiar handwriting, stuck to the refrigerator.
Darien,
Stew is in the refrigerator. Just warm it up. Fresh bread is on the counter. See you in the morning.
Love,
Charlotte
Darien stood in the kitchen, the warmth from the stove radiating through the room as he warmed up the beef stew Miss Charlotte had prepared. The aroma of the stew mingled with the scent of fresh bread, creating an inviting atmosphere. He ladled the steaming stew into a bowl and placed a slice of crusty homemade bread beside it.
As he was about to sit down, he heard soft footsteps descending the stairs. He looked up to see Baran, dressed in festive Christmas pajamas, making his way into the kitchen.
“Hey, can I sit with you?” Baran asked hesitantly.
Darien smiled, gesturing to the table. “You don’t need permission to sit at the table, Baran. You’re always welcome here.”
Baran took a seat, looking nervous. “I wanted to discuss something with you.”
Darien ate a spoonful of his stew, savoring the rich flavors before nodding. “Go ahead. What’s on your mind?”
Baran took a deep breath, then explained. “I got a phone call from Hawk. He apologized for everything he did—callingme names, fighting with me, taking my stuff. He’s living on the street. He asked if I would talk to you about letting him back into the shelter.”
Darien listened carefully, his expression thoughtful. He tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the stew, chewing slowly as he considered the situation. “Baran, this is a complicated issue. On one hand, Hawk has shown violent behavior, and we need to ensure everyone at the shelter is safe. On the other hand, everyone deserves a second chance, especially if they show genuine remorse.”
Baran nodded, understanding the gravity of the decision. “I believe he’s sincere. He sounded desperate and truly sorry.”
Darien took another bite, weighing the pros and cons. “We need to think about the impact on everyone at the shelter. If we let him back, we have to set clear boundaries and ensure he’s committed to changing his behavior.”
Baran’s eyes were filled with hope and determination. “I think he deserves that chance. If he breaks the rules again, then he will deal with it. But for now, maybe we can help him get back on his feet.”
