Chapter 9 - SOPHIE ASKED TO SEE VANESSA
A year passed.
Then Sophie asked:
“Can I talk to Vanessa?”
Every muscle in my body tightened.
“No.”
Too fast.
Sophie frowned.
“You didn’t think.”
Correct.
Therapist had warned me.
Do not make her healing carry your anger.
I tried again.
“Why do you want to?”
Sophie looked down.
“I want to ask if she hated Mom.”
That hurt.
---
We discussed it with her therapist.
Vanessa’s therapist.
Attorneys.
Everyone.
Eventually, a supervised therapeutic conversation was approved.
I hated every second.
Did not attend.
That mattered.
Sophie did not need me watching her decide how she felt.
Grace took her.
---
When Sophie returned, she sat beside me on the stairs.
“Well?”
I immediately regretted asking.
She raised an eyebrow.
“You said I didn’t have to tell you everything.”
“Correct.”
“Then don’t be nosy.”
Definitely my child.
I nodded.
“Fair.”
After a minute, she leaned against me.
Then:
“She said she was jealous of Mom.”
I said nothing.
“She said that was her problem.”
Good.
“And she said I didn’t make her mad by loving Mom.”
My throat tightened.
“How do you feel?”
Sophie thought.
“Better.”
Then:
“I don’t forgive her yet.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Maybe when I’m older.”
“Your choice.”
Always.
---
Caleb never asked to see Vanessa.
Also his choice.
She eventually moved to Boston.
Built another life.
Stayed away from us except through appropriate channels.
I hoped she changed.
Not because I wanted her back.
May you like
Because the world contained other children.
---
