Always, Fated by Fiona Grace

Author:Fiona Grace [Grace, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fiona Grace
Published: 2023-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Katie’s door was partly open, but the look that she gave Ariel when she knocked softly and came in was one that said not welcome.

"Katie," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity, "I need you to know how truly sorry I am for missing your art show. It was important to you, and I should have been there."

The young woman sitting on the four-poster bed beside her remained silent, her sullen demeanor palpable as she stared out the window, avoiding eye contact. The vibrant colors of her room were a stark contrast to the dark cloud that seemed to hang over her, and Ariel bore the responsibility for extinguishing the effervescent spark that normally shone so brightly in her daughter's eyes.

"Can you forgive me?" Ariel continued, desperate for some sign that Katie might be willing to acknowledge her genuine remorse.

"Fine," Katie replied curtly, her gaze still fixed on the night outside the glass. Her clipped tone did little to ease Ariel's conscience, leaving her feeling more helpless than before.

"Katie, please talk to me," Ariel implored, reaching out to touch her daughter's arm gently. "Let's work through this together."

A single tear escaped the confines of Katie's eyelashes, tracing a wet path down her flushed cheek. Ariel instinctively reached out, brushing away the salty droplet with her thumb, trying to assuage the hurt she had caused. "Can we... can we try to move past this?" Ariel whispered, her voice laced with trepidation.

"Whatever, mom. You’re just trying to make yourself feel better." There was an icy finality to Katie's response, each syllable cutting deep into Ariel's soul like the jagged edge of broken glass. She exhaled, her breath trembling. This was an emotional dam they were struggling to repair.

"All right," Ariel said softly, resigned to give Katie the space she seemed to crave. As the silence settled between them like a dense fog, she couldn't help but wonder if she had irreparably marred the bond between them.

Despite the urge to run to her daughter, Ariel resolved to give Katie the space she needed. With each step toward the bottom floor, Ariel could feel her heart folding in on itself, like a flower closing its petals against the encroaching night. She needed to go check on Darcy and the restaurant staff, see how dinner service went, and how the bar scene was unfolding for the evening.

The door to The Seaside swung open with a soft creak, revealing a scene far removed from the somewhat subdued sanctuary she had left behind earlier in the day. A cacophony of laughter and conversation echoed through the entryway as Ariel stepped inside, her gaze immediately drawn to the bar. It teemed with the same young hipster types, leather bracelets and tattered V-neck t-shirts standing out against the traditionally elegant decor she had so painstakingly curated.

"Are you lost?" one of them asked, a bespectacled young man with a scruffy beard and faded tattoos meandering up his arm. His tone was friendly, but Ariel couldn't ignore the undercurrent of condescension that seemed to say, You don't belong here.

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