Chapter 14 - Emma Asked Victoria One Question at Fifteen
Victoria and Emma had no direct contact for years.
Birthday cards arrived through Nathan.
Emma sometimes opened them.
Sometimes did not.
Victoria respected:
that.
Then at fifteen Emma asked if she could speak with her once.
Video call.
Nathan nearby but not onscreen.
Victoria appeared older.
Same controlled voice.
Less armor.
“Hi, Emma.”
“Hi.”
Neither knew what came next.
Then Emma asked:
“Did you ever actually love me?”
Victoria’s face changed.
“Yes.”
Emma waited.
Victoria continued.
“I loved you badly at the end.”
That was a useful answer.
Then:
“I started treating everything I gave up as something you had taken.”
Emma said:
“I was seven.”
“I know.”
“Did you know then?”
Victoria began crying.
“Not enough.”
Emma looked away.
Then:
“I remember you teaching me to swim.”
Victoria smiled weakly.
“You hated putting your face under.”
“I still do.”
They both laughed once.
No reconciliation.
Then Emma asked:
“Why did you say the property was yours?”
Victoria thought.
“Because I needed to feel like something there belonged to me more than it belonged to you.”
“But it didn’t.”
“No.”
“Dad owned it.”
“The company did.”
Emma smiled.
“Very romantic.”
Victoria laughed again.
Then Emma ended the call after eighteen minutes.
Nathan asked:
“How was it?”
Emma shrugged.
“Fine.”
“Fine good or fine bad?”
“Dad.”
He stopped.
Not every emotional event needed immediate processing.
She would talk when she wanted.
May you like
He had finally learned that too.
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