Standing Motionless
Darell Scott stood motionless, his mind racing as he stared at the $100,000 cheque in his hands. It felt heavy, almost like a silent challenge, its significance weighing on him with each passing second.
He had known young Jonathan Smith for several months, but never in his wildest dreams did he anticipate things would come to this. Now, faced with a decision that could alter everything, Darell couldn't help but wonder—was this a stroke of luck, or had he just stepped into something far more complicated?
Beloved Waffle House
In November 2018, Darell discovered that his beloved waffle house was up for sale. For years, he had been saving every penny to purchase a home, but this unexpected opportunity quickly shifted his focus.
Though the decision came with immense risk, he saw it as a chance for a fresh start and a potential new income stream. With everything he had invested in this dream, Darell felt compelled to take the leap, believing it could be the perfect move for his future.
Hesitant To Purchase
Darell didn’t hesitate to purchase the place and immediately began restoring it to its original charm. It was during this process that he met Jonathan and his mother, Teresa.
The two visited frequently, earning them the title of regulars in Darell’s eyes. Over time, he grew close to Jonathan, bonding over their shared love of waffles.
Visit From His Mother
Whenever Jonathan and his mother visited, Darell always prioritized their table, personally serving them every time. He loved engaging with Jonathan, sharing laughs and listening to the young man’s captivating stories.
But there was more to it than just enjoying their company. Darell saw them as the heart of his business. Without their regular visits, he knew he'd face challenges staying afloat. To him, they were vital to the success of his store.
No Negative Energy
Darell always felt welcomed by the family, with no negative energy coming from them. They were warm and generous, especially when the dad was around. His presence brought a noticeable shift, making everything feel even more positive.
The father, a trucker, spent much of his time on the road, away from home. However, whenever he was able to return, he went out of his way to make the most of his time with his loved ones, making every moment together extra memorable.
Ran The Shop
In the months Darell ran the shop, he became familiar with the entire family, and their bond was undeniable. They celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions together, often at the store. Through both their joyful and tough times, Darell was always there, ensuring they had everything they needed.
However, on April 23, 2019, everything shifted. Despite the close relationship they shared, Darell found himself confused and unsure of the sudden change that took place, leaving him with more questions than answers.
Particularly Chatty
One morning, Jonathan arrived with his mom, and that day, Theresa was particularly chatty. She started a conversation with Darell, which quickly became more than he had anticipated.
What began as casual small talk soon took an unexpected turn. Theresa, no longer beating around the bush, opened up and revealed what was really on her mind.
Began Pressing
She began pressing Darell with deeply personal questions, showing no signs of letting up. Every time he attempted to shift the conversation, she quickly redirected, insisting on an answer.
The issue was that Darell had a few secrets he was determined to keep hidden. He didn’t want either his customers or the community to learn the truth, making him uneasy as the questioning continued.
Caught Off Guard
Darnell froze, caught off guard by the situation. He had no words, unsure how to handle the pressure or make Theresa ease up.
As one of his top clients, he knew he couldn’t afford to upset her. He had to find a way to handle the request without coming across as rude or losing her business.
Pausing For A Moment
He paused for a moment, then sat down and shared everything Theresa had been asking about. He revealed that he had drained his savings to purchase the store and relocate to Carberry, Manitoba.
He confessed that things hadn't been going quite as planned, and success had been elusive. Still, he reassured her that he was getting by, and in the end, that’s all that really mattered.
They Left
After that, Theresa and her son left. Darell was shaken by the discussion, but he was sure he’d feel better in a couple of days.
However, that didn’t happen, and it wasn’t because of what he had exposed. Or was it? Darell was about to discover something that would have him questioning everything that had happened that day.
Quiet Few Weeks
Weeks had passed since Darell had that discussion with Theresa, and he hadn’t seen her or Jonathan since.
For any other restaurant manager, that wouldn’t be a concern, but for Darell, it was. They would usually come by every Saturday, and they often visited during the week as well. But it was like they vanished into thin air.
They Stopped Coming
A few more weeks passed, and by that time, Darell was incredibly concerned. The young mother and her small son were all he had in mind.
At first, he would come up with something that sounded logical, like ‘they went on vacation,’ and that would ease his mind for a few days. But by this point, he knew that there was far more to the story than he was letting himself believe.
He Wondered What Happened
Darell was starting to get concerned, and that happened because only two options remained. Either something terrible happened to them. Or his discussion with Theresa managed to push his best customers away.
He didn’t know what it was, but he knew he needed to act. However, he would receive the surprise of a lifetime before things could get to that.
One Busy Morning
Darell started formulating a plan the next morning. But his planning was interrupted when the first customers walked into the store.
Within an hour, the entire store was filled with people. It was unlike anything Darell had ever seen before. And that presented a whole new set of challenges. Darell didn’t have the manpower to deal with so many people.
Running Like Nuts
At that point, he was a two-man crew. He was out serving customers while his wife was in the kitchen preparing meals. And there was no way they could handle a fully packed waffle house.
Darell was running like a madman. He was collecting one table’s orders while he was delivering food to another. It was insane.
The Door Opened
But then something happened that had Darell’s eyes glued on the door. The bell rang, and he saw little Jonathan rushing in. He was followed by his mother and father.
Darell let out a sigh of relief and immediately approached them. Theresa greeted him as if nothing had happened. And he quickly pulled a table from the back so they would have a place to sit.
The Usual Service
Since Theresa acted like nothing had happened, Darell did the same. He gave them the same service they usually received. And tried to keep the other customers happy at the same time.
But that was no easy task, and Darell couldn’t help but wonder how he was going to pull it all off. The complaints were already starting to come in, and if he didn’t act fast, he would lose a lot of money.
Something Strange Was Going On
As Darell was collecting and dropping off food, he realized that something weird was going on with the Smith family. Theresa kept looking at him while she was talking to her husband.
And little Jonathan kept pointing to the bathroom. Darell wondered what they were talking about, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t a good sign.
Extremely Nervous
Theresa’s husband, Angelo, gave Darell a look that sent a chill down his spine. And because of that, Darell became incredibly nervous.
But when the man stood up and walked to the bathroom, Darell felt the blood freezing in his veins. At that moment, his biggest secret was hiding in there, and he couldn’t afford to have it revealed, especially not in front of all his customers.
Couldn’t Stop Him
Darell tried his best to stop Angelo, but there was nothing he could do. The man was too fast, and there were customers calling from every corner.
Darell just had to accept his fate and live with the consequences of his actions. He never meant for things to go that far. He never wanted the town folk to know what he was up to. But there was no stopping the truth now.
More Customers Flood In
With a heavy heart, Darell kept serving his customers, but to his astonishment, more people flooded through the door. It was so bad that he didn’t have enough chairs or tables to offer them.
But they didn’t seem to care. They just sat down wherever they found a spot and placed their order. Darell thought it would cause problems, but their unexpected neighbors didn’t seem to mind.
Asking For The Bill
Darell was starting to wonder if the entire town had decided to visit his shop on that particular day. But he was drawn from his musings when Theresa motioned for the bill.
Angelo was back at the table, and it didn’t seem like he saw Darell’s secret at all. Was he losing it? Or was his guilt playing tricks on his mind?
Shocking Find
Darell swallowed the lump in his throat as he approached the table. He had no idea what to expect, but it wasn’t like he could refuse their request because of his own insecurities.
So he swallowed his pride and gave them the bill. Theresa put a few notes in there, but before she handed it over, Jonathan slipped an envelope into the cover. When Darell saw what it contained, his heart stopped beating.
Refusing To Accept
Darell stared at the cheque and rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t believe that there were five zeros after the one. There must’ve been some kind of mistake.
He pushed the cheque back into the envelope and handed it to Jonathan. “I don’t know what this is, but I can’t accept it,” he said. Darell was about to walk away when the bell rang again.
Nine Police Officers
Nine police officers walked into the shop, and it didn’t look like they were there to grab a bite to eat. They were there on official business, which meant that Darell was in a world of trouble.
He didn’t know what to say or where to go. So he just stood there, looking at the officers with pleading eyes.
He Didn’t Understand
Darell was in shock. He didn’t understand anything that was going on around him. The day started so well.
There were so many customers, which meant he’d be able to make some profit. And then he saw Johnathan and Theresa… But now… Now he had no idea where he was standing. Jonathan pulled his sleeve and slipped the cheque into the pocket of his apron.
What Was Happening?
The entire waffle house was quiet when Angelo stood up and walked to the bathroom. Darell was sweating. His heart was beating in his throat. And he was silently begging the man to stop.
But then Theresa got up, and she said something that would turn his world upside down. “Johnny found your secret a few weeks ago, and we decided that it was time for you to come clean.”
Secrets Exposed
Angelo walked out holding Darell’s son, Lucien’s, hand. Darell felt the tears welling in his eyes as Theresa continued. “You gave everything up for a chance at a new life,” she said as she lifted his son into her arms.
“You and your family have been living in the restaurant because you couldn’t afford to rent a home. But that’s all over now,” she added.
Community Effort
With the help of the community and the nine police officers, Theresa managed to raise $100,000 so Darell could buy his family a house and furniture. But that wasn’t all she did.
“All these people have also agreed to come around in shifts to help you bring this place back to its feet,” Theresa said. “And they’ll do it free of charge.”