"Mum! Mum. MUM!" Victoria shouted.

"MUUUUUMMMMM. Why isn't my dress washed? MUM, where are you?"

Cora was in her atelier, painting with her headphones on. Her door flung open and Victoria bursted in.

"Mum!"

Cora looked up, startled. "Darling? Sorry, I didn't hear you. What can I do for you?"

"Why is my dress not cleaned? I asked you to clean it last weekend."

"I know you did, but I told you to put it near the washing machine, there was nothing this weekend."

"Oh, come on, Mama. You knew I wanted to wear this one to the party tonight."

"You will have to wear something else. You know I will not search for clothes to be washed. If they are not near the washing machine, they will not get cleaned by me. You are old enough to do your own washing. If you don't mind, I have to finish this painting before tonight, so can you leave me be?" Cora put on her headphones again, her music wasn't playing yet and she could hear Victoria's last words.

"I totally get Papa for cheating on you."

Cora needed to restrain herself from following Victoria. She took a deep breath and focussed on her painting. Victoria was always a daddy's girl, but Cora never expected her to choose a side this clearly.

A few hours later, her door opened again. Olivia stepped inside and brushed her mother's arm. "What are we going to eat tonight?

Cora saw the sweet face of Olivia and smiled. "Sorry darling, I totally forget about dinner. What do you want?"

"I would love a good pasta. I can already start with dinner?"

"Would you? I am almost finished with this painting, but it needs just a few touches."

Olivia took a good look at the painting. "You are being a perfectionist, this painting is perfect already, really.'

Cora stepped back and look at it again. "Maybe you are right. Come I will go down with you to make dinner." Cora hooked her arm in Olivia's and they went downstairs.


Daniel was home to pack his last clothes. "Cora, where is that blue suit? I can't find it."

Cora was standing in the doorway. "You mean that dark blue one?"

"The one, I wore on Victoria's birthday party."

"If you didn't pick it up, it is still at the dry cleaners." Cora said.

Daniel's face got red. "What! You never picked it up for me? That was an expensive suit."

"But it is your suit and not mine. Your stuff isn't my responsibility anymore." Cora answered without any expression on her face.

"Her birthday party was months ago, I can't believe you!"

"Can you please hurry with the rest of your stuff? I want you out of my house."

Daniel sat down on the bed. "Cora? Can we talk?"

Cora raised her eyebrows. "About what?"

"Well, you know my job isn't paying that well and it is hard…."

Cora started laughing. "And now you want me to help you and Michelle?" She started to laugh even harder. "I don't think so, good luck with adjusting to a life where you have to think about what you are spending. You lived of my pocket for 22 years and you threw me away like garbage." She turned around and walked away. She got in her jacket and went outside, she couldn't be around Daniel anymore.


Cora was sitting on the couch reading a book when Tayler sat next to her.

"I know this sounds strange, because Papa wasn't at home a lot in the evenings, but I miss him."

Cora pulled Tayler close. "It is different now, I know, darling I understand."

"I feel guilty saying this, because Papa hurt you."

"Ssssh, don't you worry darling. He is your papa, of course you miss him." Cora brushed Tayler's hair.

They sat there for a while, Cora felt Tayler's body going limp, she had fallen asleep. Cora cherished moments like this. Her girls had grown up so fast, the years had gone by without really realising it. Cora's mind went back in time, what if she had made a different choice back then. What if she had stayed longer in London, or had went back. She remembered Robert like yesterday, his dark, slightly curly, hair and his blue eyes. His voice warm and deep, she had felt at ease with him those three days in London. When she went back to New York, she had sent him a lot of letters and they called each other a lot. His letters were in a special box in her linen closet. She moved Tayler, so she could get up from the couch, she needed to read them.

"My darling Cora, I know you only left yesterday. But I wanted to talk to you, so that's why I started this letter. I had the most wonderful days with you. Thank you for showing me the treasures inside 'The National Gallery' I am still ashamed I never set foot in there before. I hope your trip was smooth and that your jet lag isn't that bad. Good luck with your next semester, I know you will finish it with good grades. What do you say, if I come to New York when you have your next holiday? Rosamund, you know that's my sisters right?, was upset that she didn't get the chance to meet you. She invited me yesterday for dinner and asked everything about you. I have to confess, I didn't mind talking about you. You did something with me, you truly did and I hope we will meet again soon. My dear, I have to hurry, I am already late and Papa wants to take me on a business trip. Lots of love, Robert.

Cora's heart fluttered again, even after all these years, Robert had a special spot in her heart. He never came to New York. Soon after her trip she met Daniel, and Robert was pushed to the back of her mind. She didn't think about him for a couple of years. When Daniel started to get distant, he came back to visit her in her dreams and recently he was even in her mind when she was awake. Did she make the wrong decision? The good thing about her marriage with Daniel, were her three beautiful girls. She loved them dearly. But she couldn't help thinking where Robert would be. Was he married? Did he have children? Could she write to him?