Chapter 13: Chapter 13

" How is work going? " Bryan asked, hoping to spark a conversation.

" Okay, I guess, " Jayden replied, his tone devoid of enthusiasm. " Got some things to do. "

Bryan felt a pang of disappointment mixed with guilt. He wished he could be there for Jayden more, to share in his son's life rather than being consumed by work. " I know things have been crazy lately, but I promise we'll spend some quality time together soon, alright? "

There was a pause on the other end before Jayden responded, " Sure, Dad. "

" When are you coming home? " Bryan asked, desperately hoping for a positive answer.

But as usual, Jayden disappointed him " Not anytime soon, I got a life here too, Dad "

" I know. Take your time, okay? " Bryan sighed

Bryan could sense the distance between them growing, and it weighed heavily on him. " Take care, Jayden. Love you. "

" Yeah, love you too, " Jayden replied before ending the call abruptly.

As Bryan put down his phone, a sense of unease settled within him. He felt torn between the demands of his job and the desire to be a more present father. The guilt gnawed at him as he returned to the sea of paperwork spread across his desk.

The afternoon stretched on, each passing hour marked by the ticking of the clock and the shuffle of papers. Bryan dove into his work, trying to meet deadlines and fulfill obligations, but thoughts of Jayden lingered in the back of his mind.

Despite being surrounded by the chaos of his professional life, Bryan couldn't shake the feeling that he was neglecting a crucial part of his world – his relationship with his son. The growing divide between them seemed insurmountable, and he yearned for more time, more moments to bridge that gap.

As the day drew to a close and the workload showed no signs of diminishing, Bryan made a silent vow to himself. He would find a way to strike a better balance between his career and his family. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to make more time for Jayden, to be there for him in ways that truly mattered.

With a heavy heart and a renewed determination, Bryan wrapped up his tasks for the day. He left the office, carrying with him the weight of unspoken promises to be a better father, to find a way to mend the growing distance between himself and his son. But the guy needed to grow up, really. Acting like a kid at 21 is... Bryan scolded himself before he could say more, thinking it was his fault that Jayden turned out that way.

**********************

Bryan's day at work was jam-packed with all sorts of tasks and meetings. As he settled into his office, he was greeted by the arrival of his good friend Alex. Alex, a charming and hilarious man in his late forties, always knew how to bring a smile to Bryan's face.

They dove right into discussing business matters, but Bryan couldn't help but let his guard down and share his worries about his relationship with his son, Jayden. With a heavy sigh, Bryan mentioned how he had called Jayden earlier, only to be met with a cold and distant response.

" You know, Alex, I feel like I've let Jayden down, " Bryan confessed, his voice tinged with regret. " I've been so caught up with work that I haven't made enough time for him. Now, things between us are so stiff. "

Alex, ever the supportive friend, leaned back in his chair and offered a comforting smile " Hey, Bryan, don't beat yourself up over this. It's not your fault, " he reassured. " Remember, Jayden's mother passed away while giving birth to him. That's a tough thing for anyone to go through. "

Bryan nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and guilt. " I know, but I can't help but feel like I should have done more. Jayden deserves better. "

Alex leaned forward, his voice filled with empathy. " Listen, my friend, you've done the best you could. Life throws curveballs at us, and sometimes it takes time for wounds to heal. But trust me, Jayden will come around. He's not a kid anymore, he's 25 for Pete's sake! "

Bryan chuckled softly, correcting Alex, " Actually, he's 21. "

Alex waved his hand dismissively, a mischievous grin on his face. " Ah, whatever! Age is just a number, my friend. The important thing is that you're there for him, showing him love and support. "

Bryan's shoulders relaxed as he absorbed Alex's words of wisdom. " You're right, Alex. I need to give myself some credit and keep being there for Jayden. Hopefully, with time, our relationship will grow stronger. "

Alex clapped Bryan on the back, a twinkle in his eye. " That's the spirit, my friend! Remember, being a parent is a journey, and we all make mistakes along the way. Just keep showing Jayden that you care, and things will work out. " They talked some more and Alex left with a promise to be back.

Bryan decided to make a quick call to Lily, to handle some tasks before he left for the day.

He picked up the intercom and pressed the button. " Hey, Lily! Can you come to my office for a minute? I need your help with something "

Within moments, Lily appeared at the door with a smile. " Sure thing Bryan, What can I assist you with? "

Bryan motioned for Lily to come closer. " I'm planning to go to an escape room with some friends later, and I need you to take care of a few things before I leave. First, could you please reschedule my 2 p.m. meeting with Mr. Johnson to tomorrow morning? Let him know I apologize for the inconvenience "