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Chapter 25
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2023-12-10 22:36:35Related chapters
Distant Hearts Chapter 26
Four years agoTate:I wake from my slumber, stretching and slowly opening my eyes only to see dads eyes already on me. He’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. I sit up, throwing suspicious glances his way.“Being creepy doesn’t suit you, dad”, I say, if not for anything, then to avert his strong gaze from me. He doesn’t.“There’s Tylenol on the nightstand”, he says instead, pointing towards the glass of water and card of drugs beside me. I’m confused at first, but I recall that I cried myself to sleep the night before and judging from the raging headache I’m suffering, dad was really nice to bring me the pills. I stick one pill in my mouth, swallowing it down with the water. Dad uncrosses his arms and makes his way towards me, sitting on the edge of my bed and staring at me.“We need to talk”, he says and I groan.“Too early daddy. I’m exhausted”. I’m honestly not, but I’m not ready for heavy talk. “Sleep later. We talk now”. His tone leaves no room for argument.
Last Updated : 2023-12-27Distant Hearts Chapter 27
Four years agoTatumIt’s been two weeks since the day I tried to break up with Nigel. I couldn’t do it that day and still haven’t been able to do it. He’s been busy, more than before. Going on trips to and from San Francisco, trying to speed up the process of opening his own firm. I hardly see him these days, we hardly communicate except for the few calls and messages, keeping me updated on his whereabouts and activities. I appreciate it, all of them. Dad has been busy as well. He hasn’t asked me if I broke up with Nigel, he hasn’t asked anything about my relationship and I don’t know how long he’ll hold off the conversation, how much longer I’d have that freedom. Either way, I’m definitely not prepared to answer the question. I just hope he remains occupied and doesn’t ask. Bridget has been quiet. She hasn’t called me to her office again, I haven’t seen her around either. Carrito started college recently so she’s been at school for the past few weeks and Kate, Nigel and I haven’t t
Last Updated : 2024-01-17Distant Hearts Chapter 1
Four years agoTate There’s a picture frame in my hand. It’s my moms smiling face in the picture encased in the frame. Looking at her now, I realize how much the similarities between us are. A beautiful smile that displays neat white rows of teeth and that little chip at the bottom of the second incisor. I have one too. It isn’t hereditary though. My mom had hers from an accident when she was little and i got mine at 10 when I jumped too high on the bed and ended up face first in the headboard. Our chips are similar though. It’s uncanny how the creator decided to make sure we looked almost like twins. Her light, almost transparent brown eyes are another thing we have in common; the most similar thing actually. She was a very beautiful lady that had heads turn at every turn. “Was” because she died. Horrible twist of fate. I thought I’d have her till she meets my kids and that’s the problem. I had way too many happy wishes for us that it made it all harder to accept her death. I have
Last Updated : 2023-10-20Distant Hearts Chapter 2
Four years agoNoahHeidi and I used to run every morning before I left for college but now, she’s in bad shape. That’s mostly due to the fact that she probably stopped running the moment I wasn’t around to push her again. She’s the last of all my siblings and also the sweetest. Heidi couldn’t hurt a fly but that doesn’t mean people won’t want to hurt her. Sadly, they’d most likely take her sweetness for naïveté and try to hurt her in unimaginable ways. I have two sisters, Heidi and Gwen. Gwen is the feisty one and as much as I also take her on runs like this, she can pretty much hold her own so I focus a lot more on Heidi. I won’t let anyone hurt her“Can we stop already?”, she asks, bending over her knees to get more air into her lungs“Come on, just ten more blocks” She groans“Let’s just take a break please”“No.. Now take five more breaths and let’s move on”. I continue jogging ahead without really waiting for her. She catches up and stays a few paces behind me. We reach a tur
Last Updated : 2023-10-20Distant Hearts Chapter 3
Four years ago: Tate Carrito is fuming. She doesn’t like me. No that’s the understatement of the year, she actually hates me but unfortunately, I can’t pluck out her eyes and feed it to her since she’s Bridget’s only daughter and Nigel’s only sister. I sometimes wonder how they are siblings when they act nothing alike but then again, Nigel is adopted so that explains it. However, she’s Bridget’s copy. Both are bitches. “Oh, miss, Tatum is just helping me out here”, Nana replies sweetly. It’s a farce, she also hates the whiny bitch.“Well, I don’t see how she’s helping. What if she poisons the food!”Wonderful!“But miss-“. Nana actually looks affronted so I cut her off unless she might actually deck the little shite across the head. “It’s okay Nana, Carrito is just being paranoid… or is she”, I add the last part with a wicked glance in Carrito’s direction. She pales and stills then just as rapidly reddens“Did you just threaten to poison the food??”“No I didn’t, sweet girl”. I ste
Last Updated : 2023-10-20Distant Hearts Chapter 4
Four years agoTateMy answer is honest. It’s a reflection of Nigel’s thoughts about me. He always tells me, he always tells me how beautiful I am. Never misses an opportunity to say it to me and everytime, he has wonder in his eyes when he says it . He smiles at my cocky tone then lays on the other side of the bed while I lay on his chest and trace his eyebrows. “How was college?”, I ask“It’s good. I wish I could be doing something else with my time though”That earns a chuckle from me“What? You don’t think the education is worth it?”He bites his lip in response. “No, I just wish you were there with me”My breath catches in my throat and I stare like an idiot at him. It’s him who chuckles this time. “Anyways, I’d be done very soon. Just a few more months. I’d round everything up as soon as possible so I won’t have to spend any more time than needed there. God knows I’ve spent too many years there already”I laugh. Nigel is five years older than me. I recently turned 19 and he’s
Last Updated : 2023-11-09Distant Hearts Chapter 5
Four years agoNoahThe next day, I get off work late and manage to order dinner this time around. I finished everything at the office so I won’t have to work while home. Delivery doesn’t take a lot of time and I sigh in relief while moving to open the door. The knock sounds again followed by a feminine “Delivery for Noah ‘sugar’ Brooke”. I can almost hear the mocking smile in her voice and for once I wish Dorothy wasn’t always so extra.I swing the door open a little bit more forcefully than normal while grunting out a hesitant “That’d be me”I must have used a bit too-much force on the door because the girl jerks back in surprise and I still because I recognize her. It’s annoying that I still do after so many years but my memory is potent. She looks much different than before but at the same time, she looks like she hasn’t changed at all. She’s still a little lady, albeit with certain parts of her body more formed than her earlier, most likely teenage self and a certain maturity t
Last Updated : 2023-11-09Distant Hearts Chapter 6
Four years agoTate“Jesus. Seriously Tate? All this time, have you seriously thought Nana knows nothing about us?”, he asks, surprising me.“Uhm..”, I try to come up with something to say but words elude me. The possibility that Nana knows about us has been a nagging thought in my mind for the longest time. But hearing him voice it makes me realize that she really has known all along. All the side comments, the knowing looks, oh my God, she knows!“Nana knows everything in this house. I don’t know how you possibly thought that she didn’t know. But don’t worry, she won’t tell on us”, he continues, trying again to pull me to him.“Yeah, but I still have to finish this”“Ugghhh”, he’s groaning now and it makes me smile till I hear him speak up again.“Oh hey chica”, he shoots down from the counter and goes towards Nana- I didn’t see her come in- then circles his arm around her shoulders and leads her towards the fridge.“What is it now boy?”, Nana asks, trying to sound exasperated. It
Last Updated : 2023-11-09
Latest chapter
Distant Hearts Chapter 27
Four years agoTatumIt’s been two weeks since the day I tried to break up with Nigel. I couldn’t do it that day and still haven’t been able to do it. He’s been busy, more than before. Going on trips to and from San Francisco, trying to speed up the process of opening his own firm. I hardly see him these days, we hardly communicate except for the few calls and messages, keeping me updated on his whereabouts and activities. I appreciate it, all of them. Dad has been busy as well. He hasn’t asked me if I broke up with Nigel, he hasn’t asked anything about my relationship and I don’t know how long he’ll hold off the conversation, how much longer I’d have that freedom. Either way, I’m definitely not prepared to answer the question. I just hope he remains occupied and doesn’t ask. Bridget has been quiet. She hasn’t called me to her office again, I haven’t seen her around either. Carrito started college recently so she’s been at school for the past few weeks and Kate, Nigel and I haven’t t
Distant Hearts Chapter 26
Four years agoTate:I wake from my slumber, stretching and slowly opening my eyes only to see dads eyes already on me. He’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. I sit up, throwing suspicious glances his way.“Being creepy doesn’t suit you, dad”, I say, if not for anything, then to avert his strong gaze from me. He doesn’t.“There’s Tylenol on the nightstand”, he says instead, pointing towards the glass of water and card of drugs beside me. I’m confused at first, but I recall that I cried myself to sleep the night before and judging from the raging headache I’m suffering, dad was really nice to bring me the pills. I stick one pill in my mouth, swallowing it down with the water. Dad uncrosses his arms and makes his way towards me, sitting on the edge of my bed and staring at me.“We need to talk”, he says and I groan.“Too early daddy. I’m exhausted”. I’m honestly not, but I’m not ready for heavy talk. “Sleep later. We talk now”. His tone leaves no room for argument.
Distant Hearts Chapter 25
Present NoahI take Tatum to my apartment after we leave the supermarket. She doesn’t complain which makes me realize that she always intended to cook here anyways.When I put in my code, I open the door for her and she waltzes in, her confidence captivating. Stepping in and locking the door behind me, I see her reach into one of her jacket pockets and grabbing a chocolate bar.How did she get it? She walks to the kitchen counter and prepares a pot of boiling water. When I get to the kitchen, she barely looks up at me when she instructs me to place the groceries on the counter, chewing on her chocolate bar.“How can I help?”, I ask and she shakes her head.“Just go get changed. You must be tired. I’m good here”I don’t bother arguing even if I actually want to help because if there’s one thing I’ve learned with Tatum so far, it’s that she does things on her own terms and hardly gives space for arguments. So I go into my room, change and pull out my laptop, working for a few minutes
Distant Hearts Chapter 24
Tatum: Four years agoNigel leads me into his room and closes the door behind us, locking it. He rests his forehead against the door, breathing heavily. When he turns to face me, anger and pain fill his eyes."You should've listened to me, Tate. If you had, I would've taken care of her and none of this would've happened.""Your mother threw a 1kg glass frame at me, barely missing my head by an inch, Nigel! This happened because she's crazy, not because I spoke up.""Mother has anger issues," he defensively states, infuriating me."Anger issues?" I incredulously ask. "Don’t pretend like you didn’t see her try to kill me, you even called her out on it so don’t fucking pretend, Nigel!""For fucks sake, Tate. You know she would never approve of our relationship, and you only made it worse by insulting her."I scoff in disbelief, speechless. How dare he defend her?"Let me check if you're hurt," he says, moving closer, his gaze fixed on my shoulder."Get away from me." I push him aside and
Distant Hearts Chapter 23
Noah: Present "Shall I drop you off at the restaurant, or would you like to go straight home?" Tatum turns to answer my question."Drop me off at the restaurant. I need to wrap things up with Dotty and go over what I discussed with Sophie.""Did you guys finalize the menu?"She shakes her head. "No, not yet. But that's why we'll meet up again.""Hmm." I pull up at the restaurant about five minutes later, and Tatum steps out with a goodbye. I wait for about a minute, then restart the engine, and as I'm about to pull out, I see Tatum hurriedly stepping out of the double doors. There's a panicked look on her face, and without thinking too much, I step out of the car just in time for her to basically fly into me."Dot-Dotty is...," she rushes out frantically but chokes on the words."Tatum, calm down," I say, and she does. I take her hand to lead her back inside, already knowing that something is wrong, and it probably has to do with Dorothy. Sure enough, Dorothy is slumped over on one o
Distant Hearts Chapter 22
Tatum: Four years ago.I'm floating. At least, it feels like I am. I have no idea where I am, and my mind is foggy. But slowly, I start to come to, and I feel my body being moved around. I'm being carried. I reach out my hand to touch him."Nigel?""Shh, go back to sleep, baby. I'll take you to bed."Sure enough, he puts me down on a bed that I recognize as the one in the cottage. Suddenly, my mind clears up completely, and I remember the events that led up to this moment — Kate, getting caught by Bridget, and Nigel's promise to meet me at the cottage. However, he never came as soon as he promised. I fell asleep waiting for him."Where were you?" I ask him. "What time is it?""A little past midnight," he replies, ignoring my first question.I sit up and persist, "Where were you?"He doesn't respond."You promised you were going to meet me here right away.""I know, baby, and I'm sorry. I got caught up," he sighs frustratedly."In Kate?" I ask scornfully. His surprise is evident, even
Distant Hearts Chapter 21
Noah: Present Julius and I arrive at his family house a little after noon. We have work together and he had things to do at home so he suggested we move our meeting here. I’m not exactly happy with the idea but arguing with Julius is a waste of time. He rings the door bell and his little sister, Jennifer opens up the door with a wide smile on her face. “Hey Jelly”, Julius greets, immediately walking past her and into the house. I nod at her, about to follow him but she shifts a bit and I can’t get past her now. “Noah”, she greets, “it’s been quite a while since I last saw you”Her signature smile is on her face. She’s the last child in the Dale family and also the most spoiled. “Yes. Hello Jennifer…how are you?”, I add for courtesy sake.“I’m good”, she replies, the smile on her face seeming to widen. “Come in then, I’d take you in”I’ve come here countless times but I still indulge her. She doesn’t take me to the living room, instead, she takes me to their lounge room and there
Distant Hearts Chapter 20
Tatum: Four years ago I've been in this compound for a while now, and Bridget is the most feared person here. Even when her husband was alive, she commanded fear while he earned respect. The staff felt more comfortable around him.I've seen Bridget's anger enough times to recognize it, but this time it's different. She is absolutely furious. There's no other way to put it. If we weren't so far apart in Nigel's large room, I'm sure her anger could physically harm me.I'm too shocked to move away from Nigel. I'm frozen, unable to take a single step.She glares at us from the doorway. The light streams in, revealing our shocked expressions, frozen in time."Maid, leave. Nigel, my office. Now!" She doesn't wait for a response, simply walks away, the angry click of her heels signaling trouble.Nigel turns to me. "Stay here, okay?""What? Don't leave me," I protest, but he interrupts."I promise I'll be right back." He kisses my forehead and leaves the room without waiting for another wo
Distant Hearts Chapter 19
PresentNoahI can't tell if I'm nervous. I'm hardly ever nervous, so I really don't know what it truly feels like. But right now, I think what I'm feeling could pass for nervousness. Tate is short, just a little above 5 feet tall, and I'm 6'3", which is a significant height difference between us. So, explain to me how she's managing to glare down at me like she's not the one who's closer to the ground."How could you even let him?" she asks, enraged."You have to understand that this isn't my fault," I say, not sure if I'm trying to defend myself."Well, obviously it is. You could've simply told him no from the get-go, but you chose to ask me instead, knowing that my answer would be no either way.""Tate—""Forget it," she cuts me off. "It's useless, and I'm not doing it." She turns and walks away, but I don't stop her because I warned Julius this was gonna happen. She gets to the door of my apartment and is about to reach for the knob when the door opens, and Julius steps into the
