Daniel slammed the door, leaving Cora alone in the room. She just stood there, breathing heavily.
They had another fight; she didn't even know exactly why this one started. Recently it was starting when Cora said something, Daniel just got mad. It didn't matter what she said.
The door opened slightly, and a blonde head poked around the corner. "Are you ok mama?"
"I will be, darling. Don't you worry." Cora answered. Olivia was her youngest daughter and always so thoughtful.
The door closed and Cora was alone again. She picked up the pieces of the vase Daniel smashed. She cut herself and was cursing inside her mouth, why didn't she just use a dustpan.
While she was cleaning her hand and wrapping it in a bandage, a girl with dark hair walked in the kitchen. She was more a young woman than a girl, but in Cora's eyes, she always stayed a little girl. Victoria just turned 21.
"Why were you fighting with papa?"
Cora looked up. "I don't know dear, it happens sometimes."
"Well, you can leave that sometimes away, it is almost everyday, and now papa stormed out of the house. What did you do?"
Victoria sounded like she was blaming Cora for it. Cora took a deep breath: "Really, I don't know what I did wrong this time, your father didn't like the vase I used for the flowers, I think. Can you help me for a second?" She put out her hand so Victoria could wrap the bandage around her hand.
"What's for dinner?" a third voice said. Cora turned around and saw Tayler in the doorway. Her middle daughter was the tallest, her hair was blonde like Daniels, golden locks Cora always said.
"I didn't start yet; we can order pizza?"
From the hallway came cheering: "Yeahhh pizza and Olivia stepped into the kitchen."
"What are you wearing Olivia?" Tayler sneered looking at the yellow and black striped stocking on Olivia's legs.
"Papa, gave them to me, and I like them!"
"Girls, please don't fight."
"Yeah, because mum and dad, do the only fighting here in this house." Victoria sneered.
It hit Cora like a dagger, but she tried not to show it. She knew how the fights between her, and Daniel affected her children. And she wished for it to be different, but what had started as a fairy-tale 22 years ago, had changed into a drama.
Cora thought back at her wedding day. It was in a beautiful Chapel near a lake. Daniel in a dark grey suit and she in a white lace dress with a long train. The Chapel was decorated with soft pink roses and their family and friends had attended. Within a year she was pregnant with Victoria. Tayler and Olivia followed in the next two years. She had so many romantic nights with Daniel, and every week he brought her flowers.
The flowers stopped after they had their 5th anniversary. Daniel changed, he was more absent and didn't want to touch her. The only reason to touch her was when she was in his way. She had accepted the fact that there wasn't love anymore. But they were still a family. Although she missed physical touch, she didn't want it from Daniel anymore. 6 months ago, their problems exploded.
It was the afternoon of Victoria's 21stbirthday party. Daniel said he needed to go to the office and left. When it was time for dinner, Cora went to pick him up. She walked in his office and found a woman on his lap. She was in total shock, returned to Victoria's party and acted like nothing happened.
Daniel didn't return home that night, and the next day, he presented Cora, divorce papers. Cora didn't accept it and forced Daniel to stay with her and their family. He couldn't abandon his children. But now she was starting to dread that decision. Daniel was really upset, and it got worse everyday. She decided it was time to tell their daughters.
Daniel was at work, but all three of her girls were home. She stood at the bottom of the stairs and called out for them. The first one to react on her voice was Olivia. Olivia had warned her sisters and now they sat at the dinner table.
"I need to tell you something."
Three pair of eyes were staring at her. The first one to say something was Tayler. "How ill are you?"
Cora reached out to touch Tayler's hand. "No, darling, no I am not sick, it is nothing like that."
"So, you are going to leave papa?" Victoria said.
"Victoria don't say that." Olivia exclaimed.
With her free hand she brushed Olivia's cheek. "Darling, Victoria is very warm. Your dad wants to divorce me for several months now, but I was holding it back." She paused and saw the shock on her daughters faces. "Your dad is in love with another woman, but I couldn't accept it."
"Is that why you are always fighting? Since Victoria's birthday party?" Olivia asked timidly
Cora looked at Victoria's face, it had thunderclouds on it. "I found out about your father cheating on Victoria's birthday party, and it turns out, that it started 15 years ago. Your father is seeing that other woman on and of since then.
Victoria threw her chair back, crossed her arms in front of her chest: "If you paid more attention to dad, he wouldn't need to find another woman" before Cora could answer Victoria stormed out of the kitchen.
"Mama? Is that true? Did you force daddy out?" Tayler asked.
"A fight is always between two people, so two people are to blame. I will make a cup of tea." And she stood up.
Standing at the counter she felt two arms around her, it was Olivia: "Mama, I am sorry."
Cora turned around "What are you sorry for? You girls didn't do anything." She wrapped her arm around Olivia's shoulder and rested her head against Olivia's. Tayler joined in on the hug, and so they were standing there for a while. Cora was soaking up this moment, it was quite rare her girls gave her a hug these days. They were all grown up they said.
Victoria stepped back in the kitchen, watched for a second and when she saw her mother's hand reaching for her, she joined. "Maybe a divorce isn't that bad, mum."
