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65 A Daughter’s Distant Call
Elara shifted slightly in her chair, her eyes fixed on her computer screen as she waited for Beck Harper’s response.
“Yes, I did,” Beck replied after a brief pause. “But there’s no need to repay me. Consider it a professional courtesy.
Elara frowned, uncomfortable with the idea of accepting such generosity from someone she barely knew. “I appreciate the gesture, but I’d prefer to settle the debt. Please tell me the amount.”
“Six hundred and seventy–five dollars,” Beck finally answered, his tone suggesting reluctance.
“Thank you. I’ll transfer that amount immediately,” Elara said, already reaching for her banking app. “And thank you for handling the situation.”
“Of course, Mrs. Thome.”
Elara ended the call and quickly arranged the payment. As she set her phone down, she noticed Julian watching her with raised eyebrows. 1
“You really couldn’t let that go, could you?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe of
her home office.
“I don’t like owing people favors,” Elara replied simply, turning back to her computer. “Especially people I don’t know well.”
Julian walked into the room, settling into the chair across from her desk. “Fair enough. But you two seemed rather formal with each other. I thought he might be a friend.”
“Hardly.” Elara shook her head. “Just someone who works at Thorne Industries. I’ve only spoken to him a few times.”
Julian nodded, then glanced at the clock on her wall. “We should probably get back to work if we want to finish this presentation before midnight.”
The hours ticked by as they refined their PowerPoint deck for tomorrow’s meeting with potential investors. Julian ordered pizza somewhere around eleven, and they continued working side by side, pausing only briefly to eat.
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65 A Daughter’s Distant Call
By two in the morning. Elara’s ankle was throbbing again, but they had finally completed the presentation. She saved the file with a satisfied sigh.
“Done,” she announced, rubbing her tired eyes. “Thank you for staying so late.”
Julian stretched his arms above his head. “No problem. That’s what partners do. He stood and gathered his laptop and notes. “You should get some rest. I can handle the meeting tomorrow if you need to stay off that ankle.”
“I’ll work from home,” Elara decided. “But I’ll join the call. This presentation is too important for me to miss.”
After Julian left, Elara hobbled to her bedroom, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. She barely managed to change into her pajamas before collapsing into bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, she awoke to sunlight streaming through her curtains. Her ankle felt better, but still not good enough to navigate the office. She sent Julian a quick text confirming she’d work remotely today, then settled at her desk with a cup of coffee.
Midway through reviewing some code, her phone rang. Elara glanced at the screen, surprised to see Cora’s name.
“Hello, sweetheart,” she answered, unable to keep the smile from her voice.
“Mom?” Cora’s voice was hesitant, almost formal. “Dad said I should call to check on
your ankle. How are you feeling?”
Elara’s smile faltered slightly. So this was Damien’s idea, not Cora’s. “I’m doing better today, thank you for asking”
“That’s good,” Cora replied. A brief silence followed. “Aras
“Yes, I’m working from my apartment today.”
you at home?”
“Oh.” Another pause. “When are you coming back to the house?”
The innocent question stabbed at Elara’s heart. How could she explain to her daughter that she might never return to what had once been their family home?
“I’m not sure yet, sweetheart. My ankle needs more time to heal, and this apartment is easier to manage right now.”
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65 A Daughter’s Distant Call
“But I miss you, Cora said, her voice small.
Elara closed her eyes, fighting back a wave of emotion. “I miss you too, Coco. So much
The childhood nickname slipped out naturally, but Cora’s response was immediate and sharp. “Don’t call me that. I’m not a baby anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” Elara replied softly, stung by her daughter’s tone. “You’re right, you’re growing up so fast.”
“Vivienne says pet names are for children,” Cora continued, her voice gaining confidence. “She calls me by my real name. She says it’s more respectful.”
Of course she does, Elara thought bitterly. Another small way for Vivienne to distance
Cora from her own mother.
“Well, Vivienne certainly knows about respecting boundaries,” Elara managed, keeping her tone neutral despite the irony burning in her throat.
“She does,” Cora agreed earnestly. “She’s teaching me lots of things. Yesterday she showed me how to make French toast. We’re going to make it for Dad this weekend.”
Elara swallowed hard. That had been their tradition–Sunday morning French toast, just her and Cora, before Damien woke up. Now Vivienne was taking that too.
“That sounds lovely,” she said, her voice slightly strained. “I’m sure your dad will enjoy
that.”
“Vivienne says she’s going to teach me how to ride horses next month,” Coral
continued, seemingly oblivious to her mother’s pain. “She has a friend who owns
stables.”
“How nice,” Elara murmured. She had mentioned riding lessons to Damien months ago, but he had dismissed the idea as impractical.
The conversation lapsed into another awkward silence. Elara could hear muffled voices in the background–Damien, she guessed, and probably Vivienne too.
“Mom?” Cora finally spoke again.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Vivienne got me a new dress. It’s purple with butterflies. She says I can wear it to her
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65 A Daughter’s Distant Call
friend’s garden party next week.”
Each word felt like a tiny needle pricking Elara’s heart. She remembered when Cora would run to show her new clothes, twirling and beaming with excitement. Now her daughter spoke about these things with the same detached politeness she might use with a distant relative.
“You’ll look beautiful, I’m sure,” Elara replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Dad thinks so too, Cora added. “He said I look just like Vivienne when I tried it on.”
Elara bit her lip hard. The comparison wasn’t lost on her–Damien had never once said Cora resembled her mother.
“Is there anything you need, Mom?” Cora asked after another silence, her tone suggesting she was wrapping up the call.
“Just to hear your voice,” Elara answered honestly. “It makes me happy to talk to you.”
“Oh, Cora sounded slightly surprised. “Okay.”
Elara heard more muffled conversation in the background, then Cora’s voice returned.
“Dad, do you want to talk to Mom on the phone?”
Elara’s breath caught in her throat as she waited for Damien’s response, her heart
uddenly racing with unexpected anxiety.
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