Chapter 4 — Sophie Asks One Question
Daniel expected Sophie to be angry.
Instead, she looked confused.
“Mom?”
Vanessa turned toward her.
“Yes?”
Sophie asked:
“Why did you want me to say I did it?”
Vanessa’s face crumpled.
There was no complicated adult answer that could improve the truth.
“Because I was scared.”
Sophie frowned.
“Of what?”
Vanessa looked toward the cake.
“That everything was going wrong.”
“The cake?”
“The cake.”
Then:
“Aunt Claire missing the party.”
“And me ruining the surprise.”
Sophie thought about that.
Then asked:
“But why was I in trouble?”
Vanessa began crying.
“You shouldn’t have been.”
“Then why did you say I was?”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Because I made a bad choice.”
Sophie stared.
“You lied?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel remained quiet.
He wanted Vanessa to answer herself.
No:
Mommy got confused.
No:
It was just a misunderstanding.
No:
Everybody makes mistakes.
Those phrases would make the moment easier for Vanessa.
Not clearer for Sophie.
Vanessa crouched.
“I damaged the cake.”
“Then I blamed you.”
“I knew I should have told the truth.”
“I didn’t.”
“That was wrong.”
Sophie looked down.
“You said nobody gets cake until I confess.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled again.
“I know.”
“But you knew I couldn’t confess.”
Vanessa stared at her.
Sophie continued:
“Because I didn’t do it.”
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment.
That sentence hit harder than anything else.
Vanessa had demanded an answer Sophie could never honestly give.
“You’re right,” Vanessa whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
Sophie didn’t hug her.
Not immediately.
She simply moved closer to Daniel.
Vanessa noticed.
And accepted it.
An apology did not automatically make Sophie comfortable again.