Chapter 8: Café Confessions

Eliza wasn’t expecting to run into her stepmother, Sarah, that afternoon. She had gone to the little café off campus for some time alone, a chance to gather her thoughts without the noise and confusion of the world around her. But as she entered, the sight of Sarah sitting alone at a table by the window made her pause.

“Sarah?” Eliza said, her voice filled with surprise.

Sarah looked up, her eyes widening slightly before she smiled. “Eliza! What a coincidence. Come, join me.”

Eliza hesitated for a moment before making her way over. She hadn’t seen her stepmother much since Alex had returned, and something about the way Sarah looked—her eyes a little tired, her smile just a bit forced—made Eliza’s heart ache. She pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

“You look… tired,” Eliza said, offering a small smile. “Is everything okay?”

Sarah sighed, a weary smile crossing her face. “You noticed, huh? It’s been a rough couple of weeks. Marriage is… well, let’s just say it’s more complicated than I ever thought it would be.”

Eliza frowned, her chest tightening. She had always thought of Sarah and her father as the perfect couple. They seemed to get along so well, always laughing and joking. Seeing the vulnerability in Sarah’s eyes was unsettling. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked gently.

Sarah looked out the window, her gaze distant. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s not easy to talk about your problems with your husband to his daughter, you know?” She let out a soft, bitter laugh. “But at the same time, it feels like I have no one else to turn to.”

Eliza reached across the table, placing her hand on Sarah’s. “I’m here. I know I’m not exactly the best person to help, but I’ll listen.”

Sarah’s eyes softened, and she turned her hand to squeeze Eliza’s. “Thank you, El. You’ve always been so kind.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “It’s your father. He’s… distant lately. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s always working, and when he’s home, it feels like he’s not really there. I try to talk to him, but it’s like he’s shut me out.”

Eliza’s heart sank. She knew her father could be a workaholic, but she hadn’t realized it was affecting his marriage. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I wish I could do something to help.”

Sarah smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “You being here helps more than you know. It’s just hard, feeling like you’re losing someone you love and not knowing how to stop it.”

Eliza nodded, her chest tightening with empathy. She understood that feeling all too well—the fear of losing someone, the helplessness of watching a connection slip through your fingers. “Have you tried… I don’t know, maybe taking a trip together? Just the two of you? Maybe getting away from everything might help him open up.”

Sarah sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ve thought about it. But every time I bring it up, he says he’s too busy. I don’t know if it’s work or if he just… doesn’t want to be around me anymore.”

Eliza squeezed Sarah’s hand, her own heart aching. “I don’t think it’s that. I think he loves you. He’s just… he gets lost in his work sometimes. Maybe he doesn’t realize how much it’s affecting you.”

Sarah nodded, wiping at her eyes quickly. “You’re probably right. I just… I wish things were different. I wish he would see me the way he used to.”

Eliza swallowed the lump in her throat, her thoughts drifting back to Professor James and the way he looked at her—how his gaze made her feel seen, understood. She wondered if that’s what Sarah was missing with her father. “Maybe you need to remind him,” she said softly. “Remind him why he fell in love with you in the first place.”

Sarah looked at her, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “You’re wise beyond your years, you know that?”

Eliza shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. “I just want you to be happy. You deserve that.”

Sarah let out a shaky breath, her eyes glistening as she looked at Eliza. “Thank you, El. I’m really glad I ran into you today.”

Eliza smiled, her heart feeling both heavy and light at the same time. “Me too.”

They sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them. It wasn’t often that they talked like this—really talked—and Eliza realized how much she had missed it. Despite everything, Sarah was family, and seeing her hurting like this made Eliza want to do whatever she could to help.

“Listen,” Eliza said after a moment. “Why don’t you and I do something together soon? Just us. We can go shopping, or to a spa, or whatever you want. Just to take your mind off things for a while.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up, and she smiled—a real, genuine smile this time. “I’d love that. Thank you, El. You always know how to make me feel better.”

Eliza returned the smile, her heart warming. “That’s what family’s for, right?”

Sarah nodded, her eyes misty as she looked at Eliza. “Right.”

As they finished their coffee and made plans for their day out, Eliza couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe things weren’t perfect, and maybe they never would be, but moments like this—moments of connection, of understanding—were what made everything else worth it. And maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make things better, one step at a time.