Chapter 13: The Distance Between Us
1443 Words
David finally understood.
The anger in Victoria’s eyes the night before wasn’t just about her father’s engagement. It was deeper—rooted in loneliness, in a daughter’s quiet heartbreak at feeling replaced.
The Next Morning
The smell of fresh coffee filled the dining room. Daniel sat across from Regina, chatting cheerfully about wedding plans while David picked at his toast, distracted and distant.
Then Victoria appeared.
She was already dressed for work—sleek black blazer, hair pulled into a tight bun, her face unreadable. Without so much as a glance in their direction, she walked straight past the table, grabbed her bag, and left.
No “good morning.”
No eye contact.
Just the slam of the door echoing through the quiet house.
Daniel’s smile faltered.
David watched him closely, his mind spinning.
Regina frowned gently. “She didn’t even say hello.”
Daniel tried to brush it off with a sigh. “She’s not a morning person.”
But David could see the worry flicker in the man’s eyes. Victoria’s silence wasn’t just morning grumpiness—it was pain disguised as pride.
A few moments later, Regina realized she had left her purse upstairs and excused herself. As soon as she disappeared, David decided it was time.
“Sir,” he began carefully.
Daniel looked up. “Stop calling me sir, son. You’ll soon be part of this family. Call me Dad.”
David hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Alright… Dad.”
He took a deep breath. “I want to talk to you about something important.”
Daniel set his coffee down, giving him his full attention. “Go on. I’m listening.”
David leaned forward. “It’s about Victoria.”
That got Daniel’s attention. His brows furrowed. “What about her?”
“She’s hurt,” David said plainly. “And she thinks you don’t care anymore. I think she feels like she’s losing you, like we’ve… taken you away.”
Daniel sighed, rubbing his temples. “You don’t know Victoria yet. That’s just how she is. She’ll come around.”
David shook his head gently. “No, Dad. This isn’t just attitude. She feels betrayed. She told me last night that you didn’t warn her about us coming, that you moved on without her. Think about it—you didn’t even tell her we’d be here. She came home to find strangers sitting at her table. Can you imagine how that must’ve felt?”
Silence filled the room. The clock ticked softly between them.
For the first time, Daniel’s expression softened—not as a father defending himself, but as a man realizing his mistake.
“I see,” he said quietly.
David nodded. “Please talk to her when she gets home. She needs her father, not just a man who’s starting over.”
Daniel exhaled slowly, guilt creeping into his eyes. “You’re right. I’ve been so focused on being happy again… I forgot she’s still healing.”
He looked down at his coffee, his voice faint. “After her mother died, Victoria became my world. She took care of me when I should’ve been the one taking care of her. I thought if she saw me smile again, she’d be happy for me.”
David’s tone softened. “She wants that, Dad. But she also wants to know there’s still space for her in your heart.”
Daniel gave a slow nod, his eyes distant. “I’ve been blind. I’ll talk to her tonight.”
David stood, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. “She just wants to feel like she still matters.”
He left the dining table and went upstairs, the heaviness of their conversation sitting deep in his chest. For some reason, Victoria’s pain felt personal—too personal.
At the Office
By the time Victoria reached work, her mood hadn’t improved.
She switched on her laptop, but her thoughts were miles away. Normally by now, Angel would have walked in with a warm smile and a cup of coffee—their little morning ritual.
But two hours passed, and Angel didn’t show.
Victoria bit her lip. The guilt from yesterday twisted in her stomach. Finally, she stood and walked down the hall to Angel’s office.
Angel was there, typing quietly. She didn’t even look up when Victoria entered.
Victoria hesitated at the doorway before stepping closer. “Hey,” she said softly. “Can I talk to you?”
No response.
“I’m sorry,” Victoria blurted. “For yesterday. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I was angry, but not at you. You know me, Angel… you know I don’t mean half the things I say when I’m upset.”
Angel finally stopped typing, her expression cool. “Do you know how embarrassing it was? I was only trying to help you, Vic. You told me to leave in front of everyone.”
Victoria winced. “I know. And I regret it. It won’t happen again. Please forgive me?”
For a moment, Angel just stared at her. Then, with a sigh, she said, “Well… It’s not like I can stay mad at my best friend forever.”
Relief washed over Victoria, and a genuine smile curved her lips. “Thank you.”
Angel crossed her arms, pretending to be serious. “But tell me—where’s my peace offering? You came to apologize empty-handed?”
Victoria laughed softly. “I didn’t know what to bring.”
Angel smirked. “You owe me then.”
“Fine,” Victoria said. “How about I buy you a drink tonight?”
Angel’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait—you’re asking me for a drink? Who are you and what have you done with Victoria Bernal?”
“It’s not that deep,” Victoria chuckled. “Just one drink after work. There’s a new bar down the road—I thought we could check it out.”
Angel grinned. “Now I’m impressed. The Victoria I know would rather stay home with a book than step into a bar. Maybe we should argue more often if it brings out this version of you.”
They both laughed, the tension between them finally dissolving.
For the first time in days, Victoria felt a small spark of peace return. She had her best friend back.
But deep down, as she stared at her reflection in the office window, one thought lingered—
She might’ve made things right with Angel…
But what about her father?
The man she thought didn’t care anymore.
Later That Day
By the time the clock struck six, the office had quieted. Victoria closed her laptop, packing her things slowly. Angel was waiting by the door, tapping her phone with a grin.
“You ready?”
“Yeah,” Victoria said, forcing a smile. “Let’s go.”
As they walked out together, Angel nudged her. “You look like your head’s still somewhere else. Talk to me.”
Victoria hesitated, then sighed. “It’s my dad. I feel like he’s… gone. He doesn’t see me anymore. It’s like ever since Regina came, I don’t exist.”
Angel frowned softly. “Maybe he just doesn’t know how to handle everything. Men can be clueless sometimes.”
“Clueless?” Victoria scoffed bitterly. “He brought a new woman into my mother’s house without even telling me. And her son—” she paused, her chest tightening when David’s face flashed in her mind, “—he’s just there, acting like everything’s normal.”
Angel gave her a teasing smile. “Hmm. You talk about that son a lot.”
Victoria glared. “Don’t start.”
“I’m just saying,” Angel said, laughing lightly. “Maybe he’s not as bad as you think.”
Victoria shook her head, but she didn’t argue.
Because the truth was, she wasn’t sure what she thought about David anymore.
Back at Home
That evening, Daniel waited in the living room long after Regina had gone to bed. The television played softly, but he wasn’t really watching. His mind was on Victoria—her silence, her pain, her mother’s face reflected in her every frown.
When the front door finally opened, he stood up instantly.
“Victoria,” he called.
She froze at the doorway, startled to see him waiting. “Dad? You’re still up?”
He gave a small smile. “Yeah. I was hoping we could talk.”
The uncertainty in her eyes said everything. She wanted to walk away—but she didn’t. She sighed softly and set her bag down.
Maybe, just maybe, this was the conversation both of them needed.
- Writer
