Daughter 06 A New Foundation

Chapter 06 | A New Foundation

Previously on Daughter

Tony, served Julie divorce papers at work, shattering any illusion of reconciliation. The fallout was immediate. Julie lashed out, demanding Sara bring Tony "back in line," only to be met with a fiery, long-overdue confrontation that left their relationship hanging by a thread.

Meanwhile, Jon's departure for California came with lingering tension, his frustration over Sara's secrecy and her fleeting suggestion of an open marriage driving a wedge between them.

Alone for the first time in a long time, Sara was forced to sit with the weight of her choices... her silence, her fears, and the cracks in the foundation of her marriage. But as she sifted through the wreckage, something shifted. Clarity emerged.

Now, with days of reflection behind her, Sara is ready to reassert her values, take control of her future, and fight for the life she truly wants.

******

Chapter 06 | A New Foundation

SATURDAY April 20 2024 | Reconciliation?

The roar of a delivery truck shattered Sara's dreams, leaving her disoriented on the couch, neck twisted at an awkward angle.

"Shoot. I fell asleep on the couch," Sara muttered, wincing as she felt a tightness in her neck. She stretched as she picked up her cell from the living room table.

"6 a.m.," she thought, her mind racing through quick calculations. "Jon lands at 7... just enough time for a quick shower." Folding the soft throw blanket neatly and placing it back on the couch, she hurried toward the bathroom.

"Last night was rough." She told herself in the mirror, remembering how her mind buzzed and refused to settle enough to let her sleep.

The apartment, which was already spotless... watched helplessly as she re-scrubbed counters, did the laundry, changed the bedroom set from the winter blues to the yellows and greens of spring... rearranged anything that looked even slightly out of place.

Preparing for Jon's return felt like something bigger this time... like she was clearing the tension between them. One scrub, one wipe at a time.

Now, standing in the bathroom as the shower heated, her reflection smiled back at her. There was still more interior work to be done, but she knew she was on the right path.

So much had changed for her over the last six days... with more changes to come.

Each decision she'd made in the past forty-eight hours felt like another piece clicking into place... the resignation letter drafted in her mind, the CMO offer sitting in her inbox like a beacon of possibility. Not just changes, but evolution. Growth. She could only hope Jon would see it the same way.

Tossing her underwear and nightshirt in the hamper, she felt a surge of longing as she untangled her matted pubic hair with her fingers. A week was too long without his touch... without the way he'd trace his fingers along her skin, while kissing and nibbling her neck... setting her on edge.

"Arrghh!" she thought. Since meeting Jon in college, she could not remember the last time she went a whole week without an orgasm, or three.

"Today," she promised herself silently, feeling the anticipation tingle through her. "That will change."

Stepping into the shower, she let the hot water soothe her tired muscles, still imagining Jon's hands on her body. "Today," she thought, closing her eyes with wandering hands. "We find our way back to each other today."

******

Sara emerged from the steam-filled bathroom, her skin warm and fragrant, to face the dress she'd picked out earlier. It hung from the bedroom door like a statement of intent... the azure blue fabric caught the morning light, transforming it into something more than just clothing.

Her fingers drifted across the material, remembering countless moments when Jon's eyes had followed her in this dress, the way his hand would find the small of her back, drawing her close. "It moves like water," he'd whispered once, on a summer evening that felt like lifetimes ago. But today, those memories carried new weight.

Standing before the full-length Cheval mirror, Sara held the dress against herself, studying her reflection.

This wasn't just about igniting Jon's desires. Today was her coming out party... As she slipped it over her head, letting the familiar softness settle against her skin, Sara felt something shift inside her. The woman in the mirror looked back with quiet determination, ready to reclaim not just her marriage, but herself.

******

Cell in hand, she walked into the kitchen area and prepped the coffee maker. She would take the lead in today's discussion with Jon, since her indecisiveness had started this mess.

With the coffee maker ready to go, Sara turned to sit on the stool by the counter. Her cell buzzed. 7am. Sleep mode was officially off, as the symphony of dings and beeps sounded off. She read the top alert showing Jon's plane had landed early. Must have been strong tailwinds, given the recent weather.

Checking her location app, she saw Jon's cell was moving through the airport. She remembered he took a carryon and backpack, so no need for baggage claim. It wouldn't be long before he hit long term parking and was back home.

"Oh... he mentioned donuts." She rose from the chair and pulled out two dessert dishes from the cupboard, napkins, and coffee cups, setting them up on the counter. Her stomach fluttered. Jon was on his way. They'd face everything as soon as he walked through the door.

******

The rich aroma of brewing coffee filled the air as Sara sat perched on the counter, her feet dangling. Her phone's soft glow illuminated her face as she sifted through the morning's digital debris... promotional emails, social media notifications, each one a mundane reminder that the world kept turning despite her internal upheaval.

Then there it was... the startup's revised offer letter, sitting in her inbox. Her lips curved into a smile as she read through it, each carefully worded paragraph feeling less like a business proposition and more like permission... permission to want more, to be more.

The coffee maker's final gurgle echoed through the kitchen, a punctuation mark to her thoughts. Somewhere between Sunday's broken brunch and this moment of possibility, she'd found her footing.

The woman who'd sat in this same spot days ago, drowning in uncertainty, felt like a stranger now. The scent of coffee was the same, the morning light unchanged, but everything else... everything that mattered... had shifted.

She continued scrolling... News app was all about the coming November election, and there were some headlines about strange events occurring in Ireland and a few other global places, including the US. She was about to read into it when her cell buzzed with incoming texts from Jon.

Morning! Landed early 🛬. Already at Dazzle 🍩. Any requests?

Just you. ❤️ Coffee will be ready and waiting ☕️

They have some new flavors..:

Espresso Glazed

Raspberry Honeyed Holes

Lemon Lust

Macadamia Maple

Matcha Madness

Choco-Hazelnut Heaven

They all sound amazing. Your choice, 2 of each... whatever. Surprise me. Just get home... my honeyed hole is already filled with lust.

🤯🤯🤯

He smiled, seeing what she did there. Sara wasn't normally so aggressive with her desires over text. She wasn't a prude, but liked to keep it private between them. She must be as horny as I am to be this bold. Still, today was important for them to get through. It held longer-term consequences for their future that surpassed the need for quick sex.

He noticed a few slack alerts on his cell before putting it back in his pocket. "Corporate never messages on a Saturday," he thought, but fuck it, one problem at a time. "My marriage and Sara are much more important."

He took a deep breath as he pulled out of the parking lot.

Work can wait.

******

Jon made it home quickly, as traffic was light this early in the morning. After parking the car in their assigned spot, he secured his laptop backpack to the top of his rolling luggage, grabbed the donut box, and hustled through the parking lot toward the elevator. The aroma of fresh coffee greeted him as he slid his key fob across the apartment door and stepped inside.

Sara rose from the kitchen counter. She took a step towards him, before stopping short, her smile bright and eyes hungry.

She held in a soft breath as she regarded her husband. Over six feet, with dark brown hair she loved to run her fingers through, and those hazel eyes that shifted with his moods. Today, they had a light blue tint that made her heart race.

A smile tugged at his lips, lifting the small scar that cut through his left eyebrow.

He looked sexy in his dark jeans and wore a crisp white button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled at the elbows. "Not his normal comfy travel attire," she noted. He must have dressed for her.

Her stomach tightened in anticipation... remembering the last time they stood here... when she hugged him, but he didn't return it back.

"Hi," she breathed, her heart fluttering as she took in the sight of him.

A week apart had felt like forever, and now, seeing him standing there, she realized how incomplete she'd felt without him. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with fresh coffee wrapped around her like a welcome home.

She wanted to say more, but the words caught in her throat... there was so much to say, but where to begin?

Jon stared at the breathtaking vision of his wife.

His eyes raked over her form, his breath catching at the sight of her in the azure blue sundress he loved.

A thin waist length white cardigan style sweater hung off her shoulders, allowing the thin blue straps of her sundress to frame her strong shoulder and neckline that he loved to nibble and kiss.

The hem hit mid-thigh, revealing her long legs in thigh-high socks, the bands of blue alternating down to her ankles. But it was the sliver of skin between her dress and the top of her socks that drove him wild. Sara in a summer dress was always a vision, but in thigh-highs? His pulse quickened.

Her dirty blonde hair bobbed, front locks curling under her chin. It was a little messy this morning, but added a certain sexy quality to her, as her green tinted eyes stared right in to his.

In short, she looked amazing, but something about her posture seemed hesitant. He noticed her fingers twisting the hem of her dress.

"Hey. Are you okay?" he asked gently.

"Yeah... it was a rough week. I really missed you."

"Hold that thought," he said, dropping the luggage handle as he placed the donut box on the nearby kitchen counter. He crossed the distance between them in two strides, grabbing her hand and twirling her into a deep hug.

He lifted her slightly, and pressed his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo, but his mind drifted back to the lonely California hotel room where he'd spent nights wrestling with his fears. Each morning in the gym, pushing weights until his muscles burned, he'd replayed their last conversation over and over.

The word divorce hung between his reps like a ghost, taunting him with echoes of his parents' toxic marriage.

But somewhere between sets, between the platform trainings and sleepless nights, clarity had emerged.

The way Sara had looked at him that morning, vulnerable yet determined, wasn't anything like his mother's manipulative games or his father's bitter accusations. She wasn't running from their marriage... she was fighting for it, even if she'd temporarily lost her way.

Now, with her warm and real, in his arms, those late-night revelations crystallized into certainty. They weren't his parents. They never would be. Sara's stumble into silence had come from fear of hurting him, not from a desire to deceive. The distinction felt crucial, like a key unlocking something tight in his chest.

"I missed you so much..." He said, his voice thick with emotion, holding her tight. The warmth of his words melted her, and Sara hugged him back fiercely, their bodies melding together.

She glanced up from his chest as he pulled back. Their arms wrapped around each other's bodies, strengthening the hold of the new stance. Their lips met in slow, soft kisses... gentle, reacquainting kisses.

"Someone had a donut this morning," Sara teased, with an arched brow.

"I had them put the 13th in a separate bag. Needed a little more than the packet of cookies on the plane."

With a mischievous smile, she slid her hand behind his head, and pulled Jon down into a deeper kiss. Their tongues dancing. She pressed her body against his, feeling his heart race as she hugged his body closer, allowing her breasts to be crushed against him. Delighting in her passion for this man.

"Mmm... raspberry... my favorite." She murmured against his lips.

The intense hug deteriorated into a softer, warmer version as their foreheads connected. With eyes closed, they swayed to a song only they could hear.

Reluctantly, they separated. Jon closed the door and placed his bags against the wall. They turned and sat, side by side, on the counter.

The kitchen counter... the symbolic location of their separation... would now become the place of reconciliation.

******

Sara poured them coffee as Jon opened the donut box. She grabbed a raspberry while Jon opted to try the espresso glazed. They caught up on events from the past week.

Jon's week had been uneventful. The flights were smooth, and the training sessions on the new platform features had gone better than expected. He was excited to roll them out to new and existing customers, confident it would give them an edge over the competition.

He mentioned going to the company mandated dinners and team building events, but he didn't go to the after hour bars. Instead, he spent his time working out in the hotel gym. "My thoughts kept drifting back here," he breathed, his hazel eyes meeting hers. "Back to you."

Sara smiled, acknowledging the sentiment without saying much. The raspberry donut went down easily, and she reached for the chocolate hazelnut. The flavors were good, but her focus was elsewhere. She listened to Jon, asking the occasional question, but she offered little about her own week. What she had to say would take center stage soon enough.

Steam rose from their coffee cups, curling in the morning light as they gathered their thoughts. The kitchen, so recently cleaned in anticipation of this moment, held its breath with them.

As Jon finished his second donut, he looked at Sara. "You've been... quiet."

"Enjoying the donuts and my time with you... I'm eager to talk about how we left things last week. But, whenever you are ready."

Jon studied her face for a moment. She seemed different... calmer, more sure of herself. He nodded. "Ready now," he said, refilling their cups. "Do you want to move to the living room?"

"No, let's stay here." Sara said, her voice steady. "This is important. I want to look you in the eyes."

A week ago, Sara would have been nervous about the coming confrontation, scared of being hurt or hurting someone she loved. But now, that fear was gone. She had spent the last few days preparing... mentally and emotionally... she was ready.

As she met Jon's gaze, she saw the same calm confidence that had melted her heart so many years ago. They were finally going to face this, and Sara wasn't scared.

Jon noticed the shift in her... the way she held herself, the strength in her voice. He couldn't help but feel a surge of hope. Maybe today wouldn't be as hard as he thought, as he placed his hand on hers with a smile.

******

Sara felt the jolt course through her body when his hand touched hers. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. This was it... the moment she'd been preparing for all week. She gazed deeply into his eyes.

"I need to start with an apology," she said, her voice firm but laced with emotion. "I'm sorry for how I handled myself throughout this entire situation. I've never been in a position where a family member's actions caused so much chaos... and I didn't know how to deal with it. Unlike you... I naively believed my family was immune to this kind of mess. We were so freaking happy until mom shocked us back into reality."

She paused, her fingers intertwining with his. They leaned toward each other unconsciously as they talked, their bodies remembering their connection even as their words worked to rebuild it.

"For most of last week, I felt like I was dead to the world. I didn't know where to begin fixing things with my mom, my dad, Scott... or you. Every action I took felt wrong. Every explanation... useless."

Her gaze softened as she looked at Jon. "I'm sorry that I let this become such a massive deal. And I'm especially sorry that it affected you the way it did. You didn't deserve to be blindsided by my actions."

Jon sat quietly for a moment, his brow furrowing as he processed her words. He knew this was hard for Sara. He could see it in her eyes, the way she was holding herself together. But despite everything, hearing her take responsibility made something inside him shift.

Finally, he nodded. "Apology accepted," he said softly, meeting her gaze.

Sara's shoulders relaxed, and she smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you," she whispered.

******

Sara took a breath before continuing, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "Next, I want to update you on the situation with our family."

"I connected with Scott Tuesday night, and we worked through our issues over dinner. I'm back in my little brother's good graces." She allowed herself a small smile before her expression turned more serious. "But he needs our help. He's been visiting dad every other day, and the travel from Brooklyn to Westchester is hard on him. Once I reconnect with dad, we'll need to step in and help until he's in a better place."

Jon smiled softly. "Ok. Let me know how I can help."

Sara nodded, appreciative of his support, and continued, "I've been avoiding calls from mom all week. I needed time to process everything... to work through this numb feeling. I didn't even know what to say to her. But dad served her with divorce papers at work this week on either Wednesday or Thursday."

"Wow," Jon said, eyebrows raising. "He's really pissed... probably paid extra to make it move that fast."

"Probably," Sara agreed, sighing. "But, unfortunately for me, things escalated yesterday. I had a major blowout with my mom in the morning. It was so bad she disconnected the call. I went in, hoping she'd be remorseful, ready to work on fixing things. Instead, she was unrepentant. She actually tried to bully me into getting dad back in line and stopping the divorce."

Jon shook his head, but stayed quiet as Sara continued, her voice tightening. "I couldn't take it. So, I exploded and read her the riot act. I don't know where we stand now or how to fix it with her. I miss her so much, Jon. But every time I think about calling her... She's still deluded, still trying to control the narrative, and still demeaning dad! I can't be a part of that anymore."

"Wow... again." Jon paused before reaching across the table and resting his hand on her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over her skin. "I would've loved to have seen her face when you hit back." He smiled softly. "But I get it. That had to be hard for you... really hard. You know I love your mom. And she's going to need you to... when reality hits her. It always does."