Chapter 13 - The Prodigal's ReturnThe snow began to fall over Elm Street in early December, covering the small lawns in a blanket of silent white.
Daniel sat in the kitchen, a single heater humming in the corner to keep the pipes from freezing. He was wearing an old, thick wool sweater his mother had knitted for him when he was in college—the only warm clothing he had left that wasn't locked in the Pine Crest storage unit.
He was tired. His hands were calloused from the physical labor job he had taken at a local warehouse, the only place that would hire him without a background check or a reference from Vance Innovative Tech.
A soft knock sounded at the front door.
Daniel stood up, his joints aching from the cold. He walked to the door, pulling it open, expecting another legal notice or a bill collector.
Standing on the porch, her coat covered in a light dusting of snow, was Katherine. She was carrying a small, wicker basket filled with warm bread, roasted vegetables, and a thermos of hot tea.
Daniel stared at her, his voice caught in his throat. "Mom..."
"May I come in, Daniel?" she asked quietly, her breath misting in the cold air. "It's freezing out here."
He stepped back, opening the door wider. "Yes... yes, of course."
She walked into the small kitchen, setting the basket on the table. She looked around the clean, sparse room. There were no dirty dishes, no expensive bottles of scotch, no traces of the arrogant titan who had watched her fall. There was only a tired, humbled young man trying to survive.
"I brought you some dinner," Katherine said, pouring a cup of the hot tea. "You look like you haven't been sleeping."
Daniel sat at the table, his head bowed. "I haven't. I... I spent so many years thinking I was better than everyone else, Mom. I thought if I had the money, if I had the power, no one could ever hurt me like we were hurt when Dad died."
May you like
He looked up, his eyes filled with tears.
"But I hurt the only person who actually cared about me. I let Vanessa treat you like trash. I treated you like trash. I am so sorry, Mom. I don't care about the company. I don't care about the money. I just... I want my mother back."
