Chapter 4 — Helen Comes Downstairs
Helen heard voices and came downstairs.
“Why is Sophie crying?”
Then she saw the red glass pieces.
Her expression changed.
“Oh.”
Robert stood.
“Helen, I’m sorry.”
She looked toward him.
“What happened?”
Sophie answered:
“Milo broke it.”
Helen looked toward the cat.
Milo was now sitting innocently on the staircase.
“Of course he did.”
Robert started:
“But—”
Sophie continued:
“Grandpa said it was me.”
Helen’s eyes moved toward Robert.
“What?”
Daniel handed her the phone.
“Watch.”
Helen watched the recording.
Milo entered.
Reached toward the ribbon.
Struck the branch.
The ornament fell.
Then Sophie arrived several minutes later.
Helen handed the phone back.
“Robert.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“You accused her?”
“Yes.”
“Did she tell you she didn’t do it?”
Robert looked toward Sophie.
“Several times.”
Helen’s face hardened.
“And you kept pushing?”
Robert nodded.
“Yes.”
Sophie leaned against Daniel.
Helen crouched beside her.
“Sweetheart, I believe you.”
Sophie nodded.
Then Helen looked toward the broken ornament.
Robert expected anger.
Instead she sighed.
“I’m sad about the ornament.”
Then she looked toward Sophie.
“But I’m more upset that you were blamed for it.”
Robert looked surprised.
“Helen, that ornament came from—”
She interrupted.
“I know where it came from.”
“I know how long I’ve had it.”
“It’s still an ornament.”
Then:
“She’s a child you were asking to confess to something she did not do.”
Robert went quiet.
Helen had put the two things in the correct order.