Chapter 14 - WHAT SOPHIE REMEMBERED
A year later, Sophie remembered weird things.
Not the trial.
Not the police boat.
Not the legal words.
She remembered hospital socks.
“They were terrible.”
She remembered the beach cottage.
She remembered Ethan burning pancakes.
“You said they were French.”
“I was under pressure.”
“They were black.”
“French black.”
She laughed.
Some memories came differently.
A slammed cabinet made her freeze.
A broken glass made her cry once.
Then less.
Therapy did not turn her into a new child.
It gave her language.
“I need space.”
“I don’t like that voice.”
“Please don’t lock the door.”
Ethan learned too.
He stopped saying.
“You’re okay.”
Sometimes she wasn’t.
He started saying.
“I’m here.”
Ava stayed in California.
Not with them.
Close.
She went back to school.
Criminal psychology at first.
Then changed to marine biology.
Ethan laughed.
“Big switch.”
“I’m tired of criminals.”
“Fair.”
Caleb accepted probation for the break-in and assault after cooperating fully.
He apologized to Ethan.
Badly.
“I thought you were a piece of garbage.”
“Thanks.”
“I was wrong.”
“Better.”
They shook hands.
Rosa returned to work.
Then quit.
“I love Sophie.”
“But your house gives me heartburn.”
Ethan sold it.
No argument.
The Malibu mansion went to another developer.
Before closing, Ethan took Sophie through once.
Her old bedroom was empty.
She stood in the doorway.
“Can we go?”
“Yes.”
That was it.
No goodbye.
Outside, Sophie ran toward the ocean.
Ava waited near the sand.
Ethan watched them.
Then Quinn called.
One last development.
The retired officer from Daniel’s case had admitted taking money from Marcus.
He turned over an old evidence envelope.
Inside was a child’s drawing Ava made after Daniel died.
A staircase.
Three figures.
One falling.
One pushing.
One watching.
On the back, six-year-old Ava had written.
THEY SAID I DREAMED IT.
Ethan drove the drawing to Ava.
She held it for a long time.
Then tore it in half.
Ethan flinched.
“You sure?”
Ava tore it again.
“Yes.”
She dropped the pieces into the trash.
“I don’t need it to be true anymore.”
That night, Sophie asked Ethan a question.
“Are you going to get married again?”
He nearly choked on water.
“Uh.”
Sophie frowned.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No plans.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
She shrugged.
“I like our house quiet.”
Ethan smiled.
“Me too.”
Then Sophie added.
“But Ava can live next door.”
From the porch, Ava shouted.
“I heard that.”
Sophie giggled.
May you like
For once, the sound did not make Ethan afraid of what might interrupt it.
