Elizabeth leaned against the velvet-cushioned headboard of her king-sized bed, wrapped in a cream silk robe. The window was half-open, letting in the summer breeze. Her room was warm with soft light, fresh roses from the garden in a vase by her bedside.
She picked up her iPad and tapped the screen, calling her daughter. The ringtone buzzed briefly before the screen lit up.
"Mom!" Rebecca beamed, her face glowing in the bright Santorini sunlight."You called at the perfect time!"
Elizabeth smiled instantly, her eyes lighting up. "You look radiant, darling. Is that the Aegean Sea behind you or are you just glowing from marital bliss?"
Rebecca giggled and turned the camera slightly. "A bit of both, maybe." Nick leaned into the frame, shirtless and smiling, sunglasses pushed up on his forehead. "Hey, Elizabeth."
"Well, well," Elizabeth teased, "is that a tan I see, Nick? Or just newlywed joy?"
He laughed. "A little of column A, a little of column B and are we still supposed to be called newly weds....its almost five months."
"It doesn't matter" Elizabeth replies.
Rebecca snuggled into Nick's side and said, "Mom, this place is insane. I mean, the food, the people, the views...you outdid yourself. Thank you again for the best wedding gift ever."
Elizabeth pressed a hand to her heart. "Seeing you happy is all the thanks I need. But go on, tell me everything. I want to live vicariously."
"Oh God, where do I start?" Rebecca said, setting the phone down to show more of the view. "We've already done a catamaran cruise, explored Oia, ate so much baklava I think I'm 90% honey, and oh....the couples spa you booked us was super amazing"
"Tell her about the mud wrap!" Nick chimed in, smirking. Rebecca playfully elbowed him. "Okay, so imagine us wrapped up like sushi rolls, covered in warm mud, while this Greek woman whispered sweet nothings in my ear about 'relaxing my heart chakra.' It was heavenly."
Elizabeth burst into laughter. "Sounds positively spiritual."
"Oh, it was. I nearly cried when it was over."
"I'm so happy you're both enjoying it," Elizabeth said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted your first trip as husband and wife to be unforgettable."
Rebecca's voice softened. "It already is, Mom. Thank you."
Elizabeth smiled again. "Enjoy every minute, both of you. The world will wait. Just hold on to this time."
"We will Elizabeth and don't worry we've already started packing gifts and souvenirs for you" Nick said grinning.
"That's more like it sweetie.take care of each other "
They said their goodbyes, blew kisses, and the screen went dark. Elizabeth set the iPad aside with a sigh, her laughter never fading.
She stood, walking slowly to her dressing table. The late afternoon sun cast golden streaks across the wood-paneled floor. She was reaching for a hair clip when the door creaked open.
Her husband stepped in
"Tell Mitch to look into it and get back to me". He said removing his tie and his Bluetooth earpiece after talking.
He set his phone aside momentarily and looked at his wife. "I just got out of the meeting with the Hong Kong partners. We might be able to secure the merger before the week ends."
"And the deal with the south African company is almost done, before it ends we world have made a bigger expansion"
"James...." She called.
"I was thinking of flying to South Africa to oversee it myself....."
"James..."she called again.
He paused, caught off guard. "What's wrong?"
Elizabeth didn't turn around. "You're always in a meeting." She then turned slowly to face him. "You walk in, and the first thing out of your mouth is work. Not how I'm doing. Not asking about Rebecca. Not even how was your day, Elizabeth? Just numbers. Always numbers."
He exhaled. "That's not fair. I was just updating you."
She folded her arms. "Why? So I can applaud you for another deal closed while your family crumbles around you?"
He frowned. "Elizabeth...."
She raised a hand, her voice tightening. "Don't. You're so good at pretending everything is fine if it fits neatly into your calendar."
His tone softened, wary. "This again?"
"Yes," she said, voice cracking. "This again. Because it doesn't go away. Don't you ever get exhausted of this? The endless meetings, the plans, the contracts? Don't you ever stop to remember that… it cost us everything?"
Elizabeth rose, setting the phone on the table. Her voice quivered slightly, but she didn't let it break. "You lost Emma. We lost her. And all you've done since is work. Work and pretend like that day didn't splinter this family apart."
James looked away, jaw tense. "I haven't forgotten Emma."
She stopped, breathing hard.
"I know," He whispered. "God, Elizabeth. I know."
There was a raw silence.
He rubbed his temples. "There's not a day that goes by I don't wish I'd not answered that call. That I'd gotten in that damn car instead of thinking one meeting couldn't wait."
Elizabeth's lips trembled. "And yet, you're still doing it. Still putting work above everything. Jace hates you for it. I resent you for it. You come in here talking about expansions and contracts like it's what keeps us alive."
The silence in the room stretched, tense and fragile.
"I've told you how sorry I am," he said. "A thousand times."
"You keep saying you're sorry....but it doesn't change that she's gone forever"Elizabeth said.
His voice was low and hurt. "Do you think I don't carry that with me every day? That I don't see her face every time I close my eyes? I would trade every damn dollar I've ever made just to take back that day."
"But each time,You talk about contracts and deals like its going to bring our poor Emma back "
James turned to her, eyes rimmed red. "That's all I have left, Liz."
"No, it isn't," she said, her voice softening. "You have us. What's left of us."
He looked down.
"I'm retiring," he said after a moment.
She blinked. "What?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while. I want to hand the company over to Jace."
Elizabeth scoffed. "Jace has never wanted it."
"I know," he said, quietly. "But maybe… if I show him that I'm letting go, that I'm done forcing him to follow in my footsteps… maybe he'll forgive me. Maybe it's not too late."
She was quiet for a long time. Then she whispered, "You think handing over the company to him will fix everything?"
He shook his head. "No. I just want to try. He's our son, Elizabeth. And I don't want to die with nothing left but regrets."
She sat on the edge of the bed, her face softening, but still guarded. "You should've tried sooner."
"I know," he murmured. "But I'm here now. I'm trying now."
She looked out the window, voice trembling. "He's not the boy who used to wait for you at the door every evening. You broke him."
His voice caught. "Then let me at least try to rebuild something with him. Even if it's slow.
"At the end of the year. I'm done. I've spoken to the board. I want to hand everything over to Jace."
Elizabeth blinked. "But you know Jace has never wanted the company. You know that."
James reached out, hesitating, then took her hand gently. "Help me fix this....help me fix our family."
Elizabeth looked down at their fingers.....so unfamiliar now after years of quiet dinners and separate schedules. But she didn't pull away.
"Then start by showing up, James," she said. "Not for a company. Not for a legacy. For your son. For us."
He nodded, swallowing hard.
"I will."
Silence hung between them. More than a decade of hurt and distance stood like shadows in the room. And yet, something had shifted. Just slightly.
Elizabeth didn't say anything.But this time, she didn't turn away either and for the first time in a long while, the past and future were finally allowed to breathe in the same space.