Outside the window of his modest home office, the winter sun cast long shadows across the neatly trimmed lawn. His business wasn't booming, but it
semi-successful small business, a warm home, and a daughter any father would be proud of. Yet, as he glanced at the framed ph
gnized. He had buried himself in his work, throwing every ounce of energy into his construction company. At first, it had been a wa
e had built a wall be
itten list in front of her. It was Saturday afternoon, and she had spent the better
their favorite diner, a walk in the park, and maybe even a stop at the art gallery do
t, determination flickering in her chest. She mar
oice called from insid
e, her smile tentative. Gregory glanced up
t his eyes quickly dropped ba
hinking... maybe we could spend some t
g slightly as if the idea were f
rab breakfast at Ruby's Diner, then go for a walk in the park. And t
his neck. "Aria, I'd love to, but I have a lot of wo
interrupted, her voice tinged with frustrat
mer now. "If I don't stay on top of things, this bu
opped her. It wasn't anger or annoyance-it was fear. Fear
cking the list back into he
her. Gregory stared after her, guilt twisting in his chest. But inste
th her father, only to be met with the same excuses. At first, she had fought back, arguing
ouse. They spoke about practical things-groceries, bills, the occasional update abo
dn't buried herself in work or shut him out. All she wanted was to feel close to
ovided enough, it would make up for the emotional distance. But deep down, he knew it was a lie. Every time
ing when Gregory finally re
the newspaper, when Aria came downstairs. She was dressed in j
" he said, his
t him. She grabbed an apple from the fru
mewhere?"
g briefly. "I'm meeting
way she said it felt off. She didn't s
he said, for
uttered, and th
the first time, Gregory felt the full weight of the distance between them. He had missed so mu
g against the floor. He couldn't let
up with her. He would take her out to lunch, listen to her,
, his phone buzzed on the counter.
for an urgent meetin
pped the meeting, it could jeopardize his business. But if he di
and hovering over the doorknob, his thou
turned back toward the kit