At night, Cora couldn't sleep. Victoria's last words were ringing in her head."Maybe a divorce isn't that bad, mum."
Was she right? Should she just sign and divorce Daniel? Her marriage had started so incredibly happy. The fact that she was pregnant within the first year was prove of that and her other two girls followed soon after.
Cora must have fallen asleep, she was having a wonderful dream.
She was walking on the streets of London. It was pouring with rain, and she forgot to bring her umbrella. She tried to get to her destination as fast as possible. A guy walked next to her and held his umbrella over her head. "Where are you going? I can walk with you, so your beautiful dress will not get ruined."
"I just need to be here, around the corner 'The National Gallery', thank you." She looked up and saw the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.His smile mesmerised her for a second. She pulled herself together and smiled.
"I've lived here, in this city, for all my life and I have never been inside 'The National Gallery' are you meeting up with friends?
"No, I am on a holiday here, on my own and just wanted to see the art." She could slap herself; she was telling a stranger she was here alone.
"Do you want company? I have time and would love to see what's inside. I am Robert, so now I am not a total stranger anymore."Robert smiled.
"You are welcome to join me, on my adventure inside. I am Cora."
"May Iask where you are from?" Robert asked.
"Originally, I am from Cincinnati, but we moved to New York in my youth, and I sill live there."
When Cora woke up, she felt sad. She remembered this dream as it was yesterday. That holiday she took 24 years ago was still a fond memory. She had met a wonderful man, unfortunately he was British. And they didn't find a way to make the long-distance relationship work. Soon after her holiday she had met Daniel.
She got into the kitchen to make breakfast for the girls. She wanted to treat them and baked pancakes.
"That smells delicious, how many can I have?" Olivia asked while walking into the kitchen.
"As many as you like. Good morning, darling. Ready for school?"
"Ugh mum, don't remind me of it, we have exam week, and I am already tired."
"You didn't tell me you had your exams this week?"
Tayler walked in and took some pancakes from the counter. "Thanks mum, I can use a good breakfast, we have a long day in the field today." Tayler was studying to become a veterinarian.
"Are you playing with animals again?" Victoria sneered while walking in.
Cora gave her a look. "Good morning to you too. What are your plans for today? You look stunning in that suit."
Victoria was wearing a light grey pantsuit; her small figure made her look powerful. "I have an interview this afternoon at 'Cadwalader', you know, that law firm?"
"I totally forgot, for your internship, right?"
"I hope I can stay after my internship, they offer a permanent spot for when you graduate with high grades." Victoria answered.
"I will keep my fingers crossed for you." Olivia said. "Mum, can you bring me to soccer practice this afternoon?"
"What time do I need to pick you up?" Cora asked, while packing the girl's lunches.
Cora was working in her atelier, she needed to finish this painting for her client. She loved her job, she never could have dreamed to work as a real artist. She started painting when she was pregnant with Victoria. It turned out she was very talented.
Daniel never wanted Cora to work, so she focused on her paintings, she needed something beside caring for the girls. Now they had grown up and needed her less, it was good to have something to keep her busy. When people had discovered her paintings and started buying them, Daniel was taking all the credits, he was the reason she started painting.
She took a step back and looked at the finished product, took a photo of it and send it to her client to let them know it was finished.
Daniel stepped inside her atelier. "You have time for me?"
Cora turned around. "What do you need?"
"Your signature!" Daniel held out a bunch of papers.
Cora looked at him, she tried to remember the feelings she had for him 17 years ago. She was madly in love with him. He made her feel warm inside and they could not stop touching each other. How that had changed after about 5 years.
"Is she the same woman as 17 years ago?" Cora asked.
"Does it matter?" Daniel sounded annoyed.
"I don't know, maybe, I just want to know." Cora lowered her eyes.
"Yes, she is. Michelle and I are in a relationship for 17 years now."
"Why didn't you leave me sooner? Why did you wait. Why stay all these years?"
"We have children, I wanted to wait for them to be grown up. I was planning on waiting for them to leave the house and then leave you, if you must know. Are you going to sign or not?"
"I don't understand, Daniel we were so happy. What did I do wrong?" Cora fought against her tears.
Daniel didn't answer, he threw the papers on her desk. "Just sign, so we will both be free." He slammed the door shut.
Cora leaned against the wall and lowered her head in her hands. She let go of the tears.
Tayler found her mother on the ground in her atelier. "Mum, are you alright?"
Cora wiped away her tears. "Sorry, darling, I will be, thank you." She took the handkerchief Tayler gave her to blow her nose.
"You promised to bring Olivia to soccer practice, you should leave.
"Cora stood up, fixed her hair and straightened her back. "Thank you for the reminder. Why are you at home? You had a field day?"
"The teacher is ill, so our day got cancelled."
It was late in the evening, when Victoria came home. Cora jumped up from the couch: "How did it go?"
"I am hired, I can have my internship there, and they already offered me the permanent spot if I keep my grades up."
Cora hugged her. "Congratulations, I am so proud of you!"
"Yeah, thank you." Victoria pushed Cora away. "Have you signed the papers?"
Cora needed to recalibrate, some days Victoria could be so distant. "I have them."
"I asked if you signed them?"
"Have you talked to papa? Why are you asking me?" Cora raised her eyebrows.
"Papa wants to go on with his life, mama, without those papers, he can not."
Cora wanted to scream at Victoria that her father had stolen 17 years of her life. She was stuck for 17 years, without someone to love, all the time her father was having fun with another woman. Playing to be the busy husband, who was never at home because of his job. Instead, she said: "I go to bed, good night." And walked off.
She checked Tayler's room, she was sound asleep. But Olivia's room was empty. Cora turned on the light, the bed wasn't slept in. She checked her phone, no missed calls. She walked to Victoria's room. "Do you know where Olivia is?"
"No, I do not know."
Cora rang her number, and a giggling Olivia answered her phone. "Where are you, Olivia?" Cora asked.
"Out with my friends, I will be home late."
"It is already late, you sound drunk. Where are you, I am picking you up."
"Mama, I am not drunk, I only had one beer. I thinkā¦."
"You are just 19, you aren't allowed to drink, tell me where you are, otherwise I will check your phone location! I am picking you up."
Cora had gone to Olivia's friends home and drove a very drunk girl home. She definitely had more than one beer, but it wasn't the time to discuss that. Olivia's stomach decided to reject the alcohol the moment they stepped back inside the house. Luckily, she had reached the bathroom on time. Cora held up her hair, and once her stomach was empty helped her in bed. She placed a bucket next to her and went to her own bedroom.
Olivia was a sweet darling, but she could be rebellious. Tayler never touched alcohol, as far as Cora knew. And Victoria had waited for her 21st birthday.
She turned down the lights and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow was a new day with new challenges. She was going to sign the papers, she decided.
