Veronica had barely settled into her office chair when her phone began to ring. Sabrina's name flashed across the screen.
Cullen's words from the conference room about dinner plans with Sabrina echoed in her mind, making her hesitate. She stared at the incoming call but didn't answer.
Sabrina was persistent. Three consecutive calls went unanswered before a text message appeared on Veronica's screen.
"Mom, I have a fencing competition next month. Can you come with me to training tomorrow?"
Veronica's fingers hovered motionlessly over the phone, a sudden ache spreading through her chest.
The two years since Cullen had taken Sabrina to Bella had created a chasm in their relationship. Entire chapters of her daughter's life had unfolded without her knowledge. The classes Cullen had arranged, the activities Sabrina participated in—these were mysteries to Veronica.
She'd attempted conversations before bringing up divorce, but Sabrina had shut her out each time. Without this text, she wouldn't have known her daughter was even interested in fencing, let alone preparing for a competition.
The reality of how much she had missed struck her hard. She stared at the message, momentarily lost in regret.
A knock at the door pulled her back to the present. "Come in," she called, quickly composing herself.
Lester entered with a stack of papers, his expression all business. As they worked through the documents, Veronica noticed his focused demeanor—always professional when it came to work.
Their meeting concluded just as Veronica remembered tomorrow was Saturday. Lester lingered, clearly having something else on his mind.
"I saw this amazing play a couple weeks ago," he finally said. "They're doing another performance this weekend. I was thinking of going again—would you like to join me?"
Sabrina's message flashed through her mind. Veronica shook her head. "I already have plans for Saturday, I'm afraid I can't make it."
Disappointment flickered across Lester's face. "I understand..."
Another message from Sabrina appeared: "Mom, please let me know."
Veronica quickly typed back: "Got it. I will go with you to training tomorrow morning."
Seeing Veronica engaged with her phone, Lester quietly excused himself.
Almost immediately after his departure, Veronica's phone rang again. She answered to hear Sabrina's excited voice.
"Mom, you finally have time tomorrow!"
Veronica hummed affirmatively, trying not to let her emotions seep into her voice.
"So, what time are you coming home tonight?" Sabrina asked, hope evident in her tone.
"I won't be home tonight," Veronica replied, her eyes fixed on her computer screen. "Send me the time and location for training tomorrow. I'll meet you there."
On the other end of the line, Sabrina stood in the vast, empty foyer of their villa. Housekeepers moved around her, busy with their tasks, but the space felt hollow without her mother's presence. She struggled to recall the last time she'd seen her mom at home.
Disappointment settled briefly in her chest before the promise of tomorrow brightened her mood again. "Okay! I'll have Dad send you the time and address in a bit!"
Veronica hesitated for a moment. "Alright, I got it."
She paused before asking, "Are you home now?"
"Just got home," Sabrina confirmed.
"That's good." Another pause stretched between them. "I still have work to do, so I'll hang up now. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"I will! Mom, you have to take care of yourself too!"
"Mm," Veronica murmured, the single syllable carrying the weight of all the words left unsaid between them.
As she ended the call, she stared at her phone, thoughts of her daughter lingering in her mind. The distance between them felt both immeasurable and, for the first time in a long while, possible to bridge.