Reyona's family wanted to celebrate her in a big way.
Gladys was so over the moon that she wanted them to announce Reyona's full recovery in the news.
Carlisle's reminder that not many knew about her amnesia stopped him.
After all, Reyona has been functioning almost as well as before since she woke up.
And before that, her capable employee had been taking up the slack.
Though Gladys agreed not to make it public, she still wanted them to go out for the celebration.
Before Reyona could complete her protest, her sister, who was about as pumped as their mother, was already on the phone to make a reservation.
"This is not so necessary, you know," Reyona said, but it went right over her sister's head as the latter was already asking for the best space and telling whoever was on the phone that their best champagne should be kept on ice for them.
Reyona looked towards her mother as the latter was saying to Carlisle, "Do you think we should bake a cake?"
Before he could answer, she was already answering her question "Yes, I think we should bake a cake. It should just be like her birthday. This is a rebirth of a kind."
Reyona held her tongue as she was about to remind her that it had been a while since she had a cake on her birthday.
Most of the time she was at work on that day, and in the evening, she just came home to have a decadent evening with... the one she didn't want to think about.
She looked towards her dad as if for support, but the latter only shrugged with a smile.
When Gladys and Toria got their minds on something, their tenacity was always like that of a mule. When the two of them teamed up,? Just give up before you even try to stop them.
Carlisle simply turned to his ex-wife and asked, "When do you want to bake the cake?"
"I think we can start in... Toria? When is the reservation?"
"An hour, Mom," Toria responded excitedly as she got off the phone. She didn't look upward as she kept clicking and typing on her phone.
"An hour's…"
Reyona's shocked statement was cut short as Gladys contemplated out loud. "No, that wouldn't be enough time. We will do the cake later. After we get back."
"Or we can just give up on the whole going out thing altogether. I am sure the restaurant wouldn't miss the business," Reyona grumbled.
"Ah, dream on," Toria said as she sat heavily on the couch beside Reyona.
Reyona rolled her eyes at her and tried for the last time. "Who is paying for all this, by the way? Do I need to remind you that I am a CEO who just regained her memories? As the newly recovered memory serves, I need money to keep my business afloat, not spend it all on whatever restaurant my dear sister has chosen."
"I will pay," Carlisle said almost immediately.
Traitor. He had no intention of getting her out of this after all.
"Hear that, you penny-pincher? Now get up." Toria said imperiously.
"For what?" Reyona said in protest.
"To dress up, of course. I will do your makeup for you and choose your outfit too. By the time I am done with you, every single head in that restaurant will turn 360 degrees from your entrance."
"No, I am not..."
The doorbell rang just then.
"Are you expecting someone?" Gladys asked as they all looked towards the direction of the door.
"I am," Toria said as she leapt off the couch.
Before they could ask her who, she was already on her way to the door while saying, "That was fast."
She opened and closed the door, and they could hear her muffled tone through the door.
Reyona's parents looked at her with questions in their eyes, and she shrugged.
They would find out soon, she believed.
And they did find out.
Toria came back inside with a big, white box as she declared, "Here comes the VIP of the evening!" then she laughed as she said. "Oh, that is you. But in this fabulous dress, I found for you, you would look so much more like the celebrant. Don't worry, I used Daddy's card."
"How did you…?"
"I don't need..."
"Up!" Toria interrupted her father's question and Reyona's protest as she flicked her finger upward. "We have work to do in a short time, but don't worry, I am a magician. You old people need to be done in thirty minutes; if not, we are leaving without you."
With that, she ushered Reyona inside while the old people quickly got to the business of getting ready.
They were waiting for Reyona when she came out. She had on a sleeveless, emerald evening dress that fitted her body perfectly, like a dream.
From the neckline to the waist, the flowing gown was bejewelled with tiny rhinestones trailing the semblance of a lacy pattern on the dress. Reyona had chosen to use no neckpiece and had opted for multiple layered bangles and her earrings. Toria had given her hair such a treatment that it cascaded full and wavy over Reyona's back and shoulders. She looked like a vision as she stood and beamed at the appreciative expressions of her parents.
"You look so beautiful, my darling," Carlisle said with a hint of wetness in his eyes as he beamed in paternal pride.
Gladys just hurried forward and enveloped Reyona in a warm hug. "Oh, my dear. I am so glad we finally have you back with us fully." she sniffed and leaned back to look at Reyona again "Yes, your dad is right. You are looking radiant. I will take a picture and bring it back for the twins so they can see how..."
A sudden clearing of the throat behind them cut into Gladys' heartfelt moment. "Well, just in case anyone is missing it, I am dressed too. Well, in a dress I borrowed from Rey, but then... hello?" she said as she gestured elaborately at her short, metallic silver gown as she did a pirouette. Her dangling earrings took a flight of their own as she made her turn.
Getting into character, Carlisle said, "Wow, I am really blessed with such beautiful daughters. Have you seen how positively radiant you look?"
Toria smiled as she wrinkled her nose at him. "I know you are just patronising the neglected secondborn, but it is fine; I will take it. Now, let's go before they cancel our reservation and toss us out to eat outside. Come on, Rey."
"I don't want to use the crutches," Reyona said suddenly.
"That is okay; you can just use your canes."
"I don't want to use any of those either. I want to try going all evening without attachment."
"But wouldn't that..."
"I will support you," Carlisle said, and he looked at Gladys, who was about to protest. "She will be fine," he said in reassurance.
"I suppose," Gladys said without much conviction.
Toria looked at the time and said, "We really need to go now, please."
She watched as Carlisle went to Reyona with the curve of his elbow stretched out.
Reyona took it gratefully, as Carlisle said. "Just take it easy. We can cancel the reservation if we have to."
"No, we can't..." A look from Carlisle had Toria rephrasing her sentence. "I suppose we can," she completed quietly.
Carlisle tightly cinched his arm around Reyona's as she took the first step. Though she winced a bit, she took the next and the next.
"You are doing so well," Carlisle said.
The look on Gladys' face showed she was not so sure of it; she looked like she was ready to cancel the whole thing, but then, despite the occasional wince, Reyona had a big smile on her face as she made her way to the door in the nude wedges she wore in place of a high heel.
So, Gladys only winced with each step her daughter took, but she kept her mouth shut.
Toria had already started the car by the time they got outside, and she drove closer to the house.
Just as Reyona and her parents got outside, a car drove past, and the driver reversed quickly.
They heard the slam of the car as the woman came into view.
"How beautiful you all looked this evening. What is the special occasion?" Celia Jordan said as she came towards them.
"Reyona regained her memory!" Gladys blurted out to Reyona's dismay.
"Oh, Mom," she said beneath her breath. Then, "Hi," she said to the woman bashfully.
A trickle of guilt trickled into her as she saw the woman's hesitant smile.
Her guilt increased as she remembered why.