Ethan was doing his homework for school when his computer started beeping. It was a video call. He couldn't identify where it was coming from, but he answered it anyway. The screen brought up Deanna's image.
- Deanna! -
- Hi Ethan, how are you? Her smile was barely a grin.
- Deanna! Where are you?
- I'm so sorry for what happened... I'm so sorry... I was told you wanted to see me -
- Yes! Wait for me, I'm going to get my siblings! Wait for me, Deanna! -
- Sure...
Ethan ran outside, but didn't find his siblings in their rooms. He went downstairs and saw them in the living room with Daniel and Camilla.
- Naomi! Jonathan! Come quickly! It's Deanna! -
Jonathan jumped up, his little face full of excitement.
- Where?! - Naomi asked him.
- Upstairs, on the computer in my room! Come here! -
Naomi ran out with the little one behind her.
- Where are you going?! Kids! - Camila called to them.
None of the three heard her.
- Daniel, do something! That woman...! -
All he did was lock himself in his office again. If he wasn't going to do anything, she was.
- Deanna! -
- Hey, little girl... Hey, little gentleman! –
- Where are you? Will you come back? -
- No... I'm so sorry... - Her voice sounded so sad.
- Why? - Naomi's too.
Jonathan stood in the middle of his siblings, trying to hog the whole screen to get a better look at her.
-Because we're no longer together with your dad... I'm really sorry that I left without saying goodbye to you. I couldn't do it, I didn't know how... I was so sad... -
- We missed you - Ethan told her.
- Me too, very much... How are you? -
- We're fine, but Dad's not. He seems angry all the time - Naomi replied.
- I see... -
Camila listened from outside the room. What did she want? To find out about Daniel? She had no shame.
- Promise me one thing, doll, okay? Take good care of your daddy, okay? No matter if you see him with a long face or if he doesn't say much, don't hesitate to show him how much you love him. He loves that about you, you know that, don't you? -
- I don't understand why you care about him, Deanna, he was horrible to you - Ethan told her indignantly.
- That has nothing to do with it, Ethan. He's your father and he loves you more than you know. What happened between us doesn't have to affect your relationship with him... You're getting older every day and you understand things better, you're his pride and even if it's hard for him to get closer to you, all he wants is for you to know that you can trust him... Don't leave him alone, okay? -
- Yes.
- My little gentleman, have you grown up a bit these days? Why do you have this face? Don't be sad, I haven't stopped loving you one bit... Each of you... Just because I'm not there doesn't mean I won't think of you, I always will, so give me one of your smiles, please? –
The little boy smiled, even though it cost him a little.
- Look how cute you look when you're happy! -
- What will you do now? Will you go back to your mother? -
- No, Naomi. I have to find a job and an apartment... I'll tell you a secret: I'm going to an audition in a week and I'm nervous... But if I'm lucky, at least I'll have a job, isn't that great? -
- You'll do great, Deanna - Ethan told her while Jonathan nodded his head.
- Thank you! I hope so...
- When can we visit you? -
- I don't know... But we can continue to talk by video call whenever you want. At the moment I don't have a phone, but if you need to talk to me, you can call me at this contact or write to me... - She said looking at the little boy.
- Yes," Naomi said.
- But first you have to ask your father for permission.
- What? Why?
- Because he is your father, Ethan, and he should always know who you are talking to.
- I'll ask him," Naomi said.
- Well... I have to go now... Don't forget that I love you very much... Be good, okay? -
When the call ended, Deanna started to cry. Camila didn't say anything, she just stood outside. And despite her sweet words, she still believed that everything she was doing was for a hidden interest. It had been confirmed that she was with Leonard and had made a complete fool of Daniel.
Naomi left, determined to tell her father that they wanted to talk to Deanna, even if they couldn't see her.
- Where are you going? - Camilla asked.
- To talk to Dad, Grandma -
- You can't talk to that woman again -
- Why not? - Ethan asked her.
- Because. She is not part of this family anymore.
- We don't care - Naomi replied.
- Well, you can't -
- I'm going to talk to dad anyway.
- Naomi! -
And again the three of them ignored her and went downstairs to find Daniel. They entered his office ready to plead their case.
- Dad... -
- What's wrong? -
- Deanna just called us and we want to talk to her some more -
- Yes, Dad. Since we can't see her, let's at least call her sometimes," Ethan said.
Daniel looked at them, they formed a united front. He saw the joy in the little boy's eyes.
- Of course not! - Camila intervened.
- Mom...
- You can't talk to her anymore, it's time for you to understand that she has nothing to do with us anymore -
- Mom...
- No, Daniel. I told you from the very first moment that this whole circus would have consequences and you didn't want to listen to me, now you're on everyone's lips and it's all because of that... -
- Mom! -
- You never loved Deanna - Naomi accused her.
- And you are right.
- Mom, I'm talking to my kids, don't interrupt me anymore... If you want to talk to her, you can -
- Daniel! -
- Thank you, Daddy! -
It was the first time in a long time that his children looked happy again. He couldn't deny them that, even if it hurt. Naomi remembered Deanna's words and went straight to kiss him on the cheek, and behind her, Jonathan. Apparently he'd finally forgiven him. Ethan just smiled at him as if to thank him, and the three of them left, leaving him alone with an indignant Camilla.
- I can't believe it, son... What are you thinking about? -
- About my children, Mom...
- Daniel... You have to end this once and for all. You have to ask her for a divorce, you can't go on being the joke of everyone's conversation -
- Beverly also told me... -
- Of course she did! She knows everything that is said... -
- And I'll give you the same answer: my private life is none of your business. -
- You're still dazzled by this woman after she left you to go off with Leonard!
- That's enough! If I have to make the decision, I'll make it when it's necessary... –
Asking for a divorce was the last step, the end. It meant that the little that held them together would be dissolved forever, and he didn't want that. He found it hard to let her go in spite of everything; in spite of Leonard, in spite of Beverly and Harry, he felt that if he cut this bond with her, there would be no going back. He believed that if he cut it, he would bleed to death.