Chapter 9 — Sophie Gets the Truth
Vanessa sat on the floor beside Sophie.
“I need to explain something in a way you can understand.”
Sophie held Bunny between them.
Vanessa continued.
“When Mommy was younger, someone I loved disappeared from my life very suddenly.”
“Olivia.”
“Yes.”
“But she didn’t want to.”
Vanessa nodded.
“That’s what I finally learned.”
“Then why were you leaving?”
Vanessa took a breath.
“Because sometimes when Mommy gets scared, she thinks leaving first will make things hurt less.”
Sophie frowned.
“Did it?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“It made me cry.”
“I know.”
Vanessa took Sophie’s small hand.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like you might lose me.”
Then:
“Adults are responsible for making children feel safe. I didn’t do that yesterday.”
Sophie stared at her.
“Are you leaving today?”
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
Daniel did not answer for her.
This needed to be Vanessa’s promise.
“No.”
Sophie leaned closer.
“Tomorrow?”
Vanessa smiled through tears.
“No secret disappearing tomorrow either.”
“Next week?”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“If Mommy ever needs to travel, you and Daddy will know where I’m going and when I’m coming home.”
Sophie considered that.
“Okay.”
Then she hugged her.
Daniel watched.
He was relieved.
But he was not pretending one conversation fixed everything.
That night, after Sophie went to bed, he told Vanessa:
“Coming home doesn’t erase what happened.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.”
“We need help figuring this out.”
“I know.”
This time, when Daniel said they should speak with a family counselor, Vanessa did not hear it as rejection.
She heard it as what it actually was.
A request to stay and work.