Daughter Bk 3 01 Inferno

Foreward

This book ends the series with a final focus on Julie & Tony. Ensemble cast will drift in as necessary. Part two and three ready to upload. My profile is updated for all other works in progress.

Thank you for reading the story. I appreciate the continued constructive criticism/comments.

Warning:

Yes. I am attempting a reconciliation... of sorts. Not a RAAC.

******

Daughter | Bk 03 | Pt 01 | Inferno

"Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita, mi ritrovai per una selva oscura, ché la diritta via era smarrita."

"In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark woods where the straight way was lost."

-- Inferno, Canto I

******

Chapter o1 | The Bandaged Brunch

Sunday June 9 2024 | 11 AM | Meadows Diner

Julie barely registered the blur of storefronts as the car glided down Route 8. Her stomach had been tight since the Throgs Neck. Twice, she nearly told the driver to turn back. But she didn't. She couldn't.

The bandage needed to be ripped off if the wound was ever going to heal.

Past the gas station, past the old bakery, every corner carried a memory. Report cards, post-game pancakes, quiet coffees with Tony. She used to know this town like her own hands. Now it felt like it was bracing against her.

The car slowed to a stop. Meadows Diner gleamed like a relic under the morning sun, chrome and red trim glinting, its windows throwing off a confidence she no longer had.

"Thanks, ma'am. Have a great day. Don't forget to rate," the driver chirped as the locks clicked.

Julie hesitated, fingers tapping a shaky rhythm on the door handle.

Places had energy. This one used to feel like home. Now it looked like it wanted her gone.

"Ma'am? Everything alright?"

She startled. "Yes, sorry. Thank you."

She stepped out, pulling her jacket tighter, smoothing her dress. The breeze smelled like bacon and burnt coffee. Familiar. Cruel.

Six months ago, she'd walked into clubs with heels and manufactured confidence. Today, she stood frozen outside a diner. Same woman, different confidence.

She inhaled, forced a smile, and opened the door. The bells over the door jingled off-key.

"Julie! Good morning," called Taylor, the hostess, from the podium.

"They're at the usual," she added with a smile.

"Thanks, Taylor. Good morning."

Julie's eyes scanned the corner booth. Their booth.

Sunlight spilled in over the table, casting warm stripes across her family. Laughter curled out of the booth like smoke. Untouchable.

And then she saw her.

Young. Pretty. Relaxed. Her hand rested on Tony's forearm.

Julie's heart dropped.

"Please don't be his girlfriend."

Then the girl leaned her head onto Scott's shoulder. His arm draped around her without a second thought.

Relief washed over her, then receded again. Bittersweet. Someone new had taken a seat in her absence. Not a replacement. But still. Someone.

Just be yourself. Smile. Breathe.

God, what if they don't want you here?

Sara spotted her first. The smile on her face faltered. Her eyes were wide as her hand found Jon's beneath the table.

One by one, they all looked up.

"Good morning," Julie lifted a hand in a soft wave. "May I join you?"

The conversation died instantly.

Julie wore a green dress with sunflower dots, a denim jacket creased at the elbows. Her ponytail swayed slightly as she hovered, not yet sitting. Not yet invited.

She didn't move, but the strain in her stance gave her away.

Tony's gaze found hers. A pit opened in his chest.

She still looked like the woman he'd loved. And that made it worse.

He gripped his fork tighter.

Part of him wanted to offer her a seat. Part of him wanted to bolt.

"Mom," Scott said, voice cracking the silence.

Sara inhaled sharply. Her fingers locked around Jon's.

Julie bowed her head slightly, her voice shaky. "Please?"

Her leg shook. The question lingered, unanswered.

Tony stared. Then he looked down.

Sara stood. "Take my spot next to Jon. I'll sit by Dad."

Julie took a half step forward, then back. "Only if it's okay. If not... maybe this was a mistake."

She turned, ready to go.

Two weeks ago, she'd been in a hospital bed. Now she looked... Older. Thinner.

Tony's voice, low and sharp: "What, no new experiences lined up today?"

"Dad!" snapped Sara. Jon's jaw flexed. Scott shifted beside Liv.

Tony looked down. Shamed by his own mouth.

Across the booth, Olivia stared at her water glass.

Her shoulders gave. The tears came as Penny reached them.

"Julie! Hey, sweetheart. Are you sitting down with your family today?"

Then Penny paused, reading the room.

"Come on, hon. Let's freshen you up a bit."

She took Julie's hand and led her away.

They disappeared into the hallway.

******

At the table, Sara turned a firm gaze to her father.. "That was cruel. You're better than that."

Tony looked away, his jaw tight. "I know. It's just... it's still raw, Sara."

"She's broken... Like the rest of us."

Sara glanced at the others, then lowered her voice. "Look, I'm not asking you to forgive her. But I'm asking you not to shut her out."

Tony's shoulders slumped, his voice roughened. "I don't know if I'm ready, Sara,"

Sara reached for his hand. "Then don't talk to her. Just be civil. She's already acting more like the mom we used to know... and not the...bitch who tore us apart."

Tony's mouth twisted. "Hey, language. She's still your mother."

"Exactly." said Sara, her eye contact unwavering with that statement.

Tony sighed, realizing Sara had outmaneuvered him. "Scott..."

Scott rested a hand on his shoulder. A quiet nod. 'It's time, Dad. Whatever moving forward looks like for us... it's time to face it."

Tony looked at his son. His daughter. The calm in their voices.

He used to lead this family. Now they were holding him steady.

When had they grown up?

When had he become the one who needed saving?

******

Diner Bathroom

The mirror's harsh fluorescent light did Julie no favors.

Mascara smudged in dark crescents beneath her eyes. Lips trembling, breath shallow. Her hands clung to the porcelain sink like it was the only solid thing in the room.

Behind her, Penny stood by the door, arms crossed gently over her apron, giving Julie space.

"Still got the same god awful lighting," Penny said softly, "Here," offering a tissue.

Julie let out a sharp, humorless laugh as she wiped her eyes.

"I shouldn't have come," she whispered.

"Don't say that." Penny leaned against the wall, her voice calm but firm. "You showed up. That counts for something."

Julie shook her head. "No... It's too soon. I saw their faces. They hate me."

"They're hurt. And rightfully so. But hate?" Penny shrugged. "I didn't see that. They're also trying to figure it out."

Julie looked at her, surprised.

Penny offered a small, knowing smile. "I've been serving your family for, what, twenty years now? I've seen your family grow up in that booth. Heard the fights. The toasts. Hell, I remember when Sara stormed out over a bad haircut and Tony brought her back with pancakes and a joke."

Julie's throat tightened.

"You broke something sacred," Penny said. Not cruel. Just true. "And now you're trying to mend it. That road's not short. Or smooth. And it sure as hell won't be painless."

Julie looked away.

"But if you mean it, if you really want to come back from this..." Penny stepped forward, offering a fresh towel. "You're gonna need thicker skin, steadier hands, and a damn spine. Apologizing's just the start. Earning them back? That's the mountain."

Julie straightened her spine slowly, the towel still clutched in her hands. Her reflection looked battered. But in her eyes... something steadier. A tremble, yes, but not fear. Not yet.

"But you showed up," Penny added gently. "And that's the first brick on the road back."

Julie met her gaze in the mirror, eyes still wet but steadier.

"Thank you," she said.

Penny offered a nod and a small squeeze of her shoulder. "Don't make me regret rooting for you, sweetheart. C'mon, let's get you back in the ring for the next round."

Chapter 02 | Fractures

As Penny and Julie returned to the table, Sara shot her father a look sharp enough to slice.

"Okay," Tony murmured, holding up his hands.

"Here you are, Julie. I'll bring over some coffee and your usual," Penny said, giving Julie's shoulder a comforting squeeze before calling out, "Coffee on 7!"

A helper appeared with coffee pots, filling each cup with a smile.

Julie took a seat next to Jon, her voice soft but steady. "Hello, Tony. Thank you for staying." She looked around the table. "Sara, Scott, Jon... It's... good to see you all. You have no idea how much I've missed you." She wiped her eyes and smiled. "And I see we have someone new with us. She must be someone special."

Liv blinked at the compliment, unsure if it was genuine or tactical.

Scott grinned. "Mom, I'd like to introduce you to Olivia, my girlfriend."

Her hand tightened around the warm cup, the weight of it grounding her as she tried to steady the realization. She had missed chapters of her children's lives.

She swallowed it down, smoothing it away with a smile as she turned toward Olivia, her fingers twitching slightly as she exhaled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Olivia. Welcome, and I look forward to getting to know you."

Olivia nodded, offering a polite smile as she shook Julie's hand. "Thank you, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm glad to see you're doing okay."

Julie's half-smile held a hint of surprise. Olivia must know about the hospital stay. "Thank you."

******

By the end of breakfast, Julie laughed alongside her family, a sound she hadn't realized she missed so deeply. The warmth of their voices and the simple joy of their banter wrapped around her, soothing and stinging in equal measure.

Her gaze shifted from Sara's animated retelling of her new role as CMO to Scott's shy smile as Olivia whispered something to him, to Jon's steady presence at Sara's side.

How much had she missed?

Julie's chest tightened painfully. She hadn't been there to see Sara's excitement or Jon's quiet pride, hadn't watched Scott's heart open to someone new. Every laugh, every glance, every tender touch at the table felt like a chapter she hadn't read, a book she used to help write, now written in a language she barely understood.

How could I have been so blind? She thought bitterly. I gave up all this... for what? Strangers? Fleeting thrills? I had everything I needed right here: a family, a husband who loved me, children who grew into remarkable adults. And I walked away.

I gave up so much for so little in return.

She looked up as Scott laughed at something Olivia said, his eyes bright with affection. I wasn't here for this. I missed seeing my son light up because of her. Hearing Sara's excitement, catching Jon's quiet pride, feeling Tony's steady presence at this table...

"I didn't find freedom... I just hurt the people I love most," Julie thought. All for validation from strangers who never mattered. Six months wasted trying to find what I thought was missing, when everything I needed was right here.

Julie eased into the conversation wherever she could, smiling at Scott's jokes and nodding along to Sara's stories. But each laugh only deepened the ache in her chest. With every shared memory, every update, her regret sharpened like glass.

I missed so much. And what if it's too late to get it back?

She watched Tony twist his coffee cup in silence, the slow motion of his fingers betraying more than he'd ever say aloud, his eyes fixed anywhere but on her. I hurt them all, but him the most. My heart aches for him the most... And now...

"I don't even know if I can fix this."

"Or if I deserve to try..."

******

Julie watched as Scott gently placed his hand on the small of Liv's back, guiding her through the crowded diner. It was an unconscious gesture, but Julie recognized it instantly. A gesture of protection. Of love. One of the many small tokens of affection she took for granted.

Sara and Jon rose next, preparing to say goodbye. Julie hugged them both a little tighter than they expected. Jon returned it quickly, but Sara paused, stiffening slightly before relaxing into the embrace. Julie held on a beat longer, then reached for Sara's hand.

"Sara? Can I call you this week?"

Sara paused, her green eyes searching Julie's face. "No."

Julie's heart sank before Sara continued. "Instead...why don't you come over to the apartment? We'll talk over coffee... face to face. And plan on sleeping over. Let's leave the phones out of it for a while."

Julie squeezed her hand, that small offer of grace landing like sunlight on a cold day. "Thank you. I'd like that. I've missed you."

Sara nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Thursday afternoon works best. I work from home on Friday, so I have some leeway. Let me know if you need me to get anything before then." She stood and left with Jon, glancing back once before the diner door closed behind them.

Settling back in her seat, Julie stared into her coffee cup. Her finger moved slowly along the rim, a quiet rhythm that steadied her breath as she braced for what came next. She lifted her head to face Tony, her chest tightening as she prepared for the hardest part of the morning.

"I'm sorry about my comment earlier," Tony said, breaking the silence. "It was a low blow."

Julie looked up, surprised. "A well deserved one, unfortunately," she whispered. "Part of me wishes you'd just gone for the jugular. Ended it."

Tony's jaw tightened, his voice sharp as he leaned closer. "Right... and then have to visit you in the hospital again? No, we were already concerned enough."

Julie's brows knitted in confusion. "Concerned? Why?"

Tony's incredulous laugh was short and bitter. "Why? You stormed out, angry as hell, and then just...disappeared. No calls, no texts. You even shut off your location. We had no idea where you were or if you were okay. We were worried, Julie. For you... us... For... What the hell were you thinking?" His voice cracked slightly. "Did thirty-five years mean nothing to you?"

Julie pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his words hitting her hard. "They mean everything to me," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Tone...for all of it."

Tony's expression hardened as he heard her pet name for him. "Saying sorry doesn't undo what you did. It doesn't bring back my trust... or the life we built."

"No, it doesn't," Julie said quickly, her voice trembling. "I know that. And I'm sorry for that too. But it gives me a starting point to pick myself up. I can't even explain the regret I feel. I was selfish...blind."

Tony leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "Selfish? Blind? Your eyes were wide open when you made those choices, Julie. You knew exactly what you were doing."

Julie's desperation spilled out, her voice trembling. "Yes. I got caught up in something... a moment of pure madness."

"A moment?" Tony said bitterly, his voice cutting through her excuse. "That moment lasted for months, Julie. Months of lies and betrayal. That's not madness... that's a choice."

Julie's hands trembled as she reached for her napkin, the linen catching awkwardly between her fingers as if even that small motion required strength she didn't have.

Tony's repeated use of the word choices pummeled her, forcing her to confront the truth she'd been avoiding. This wasn't something that happened to her; it was something she'd done, step by step, decision by decision.

"You're right. I did this. Every step, every lie. I walked straight into it. And I told myself whatever lies I needed to justify them. That you didn't love me anymore. That I deserved more. But all I was doing was running away from the best thing that ever happened to me. You."

Tony looked away, his jaw tight. "It's not just me, Julie. It's Sara, Scott. You didn't just leave me... you left all of us."

Julie's chest tightened as she thought of her children. "Yes. And I don't know how I can ever forgive myself for that." She took a breath. "But I want to try. To show you all that I can be better. Not with words, but with actions. I'm not asking for forgiveness, not yet. Just... a chance to try."

Tony let out a bitter laugh. "A chance? Like the one you gave me? Before the ultimatum? Before you flipped our life upside down and told me to just accept it?"

A long silence stretched between them, heavy with unsaid words. Tony looked away, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping his coffee cup.

"I don't know what to say, Julie," he said finally. "I don't know if I ever will."

Tony sat back, his gaze drifting until a glint of light caught his eye. He stared for a moment before speaking, his voice quiet but pointed. "You're still wearing your ring?"

Julie looked down at it, her voice trembling. "I never took it off."

Tony's jaw clenched. "Why?"

She swallowed. "Because I'm still your wife. Even if I'm not acting like I deserve to be."

Tony didn't answer right away. Just stared at the band on her finger like it had betrayed him too.

Julie reached across the table, her fingers brushing his hand. He didn't pull away, but he didn't move either.

"Can't we just... keep talking?" she asked, her voice tentative.

Tony's gaze met hers, and for a moment, his eyes softened. "Maybe," he said after a long pause, nodding slowly.

Julie exhaled shakily, feeling the tiniest crack in his walls.

"Are you going back to Cassie's?" Tony asked, breaking the moment.

"For now," she said hesitantly. "But I was hoping to stop home... by the house, I mean... to pick up some things. I wasn't thinking straight when I left, and I... I need things."

Tony studied her, his face unreadable. "You still call it home?"

Julie nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "It still feels like home... to me." She didn't dare tell him how much she needed that house to be her anchor, a lifeline to the life she was desperate to rebuild.

Tony leaned back in his seat, his expression hardening as though steeling himself against her words. "Fine," he said finally, his tone clipped. "I'll meet you there."

He hated how easy it was, falling back into old habits. Hated that a part of him still wanted to protect her, even now, when she had been the one to burn it all down.

Without another word, he rose and picked up the check.

His hand tightened briefly around it, a small, involuntary flash of something deeper, before he forced himself to move.

Julie cradled her cup with both hands, the remaining warmth of the ceramic barely reaching her fingertips. Her thoughts churned, restless and unfinished, chasing all the things she didn't say, and wasn't sure she ever could.

She remembered countless mornings at this table, Tony leaning back in the booth with that easy grin, Scott and Sara arguing over pancakes, her hand brushing his under the table just because she could.

The ghost of those memories hung around her like mist now, cold and untouchable.

She sat in the booth a while longer, the chill of the untouched coffee matching the heaviness in her chest. It was cold now... forgotten, like too many things she once took for granted. There was so much pain in her family now, pain she created. But as she stared at the door Tony had walked through, she couldn't ignore the faint glimmer of hope.

The door wasn't shut completely. It was cracked just enough for her to try.

"My actions will define my fate," she thought, steeling herself as she pulled out her phone, swiping for a rideshare.

Julie was going home. At least, she hoped she still could.

Chapter 03 | The House We Built