Chapter 13 - The First Visit Sophie Chose
Sophie did not see Margaret for nine months.
Then she asked.
Not because adults praised Margaret's progress.
Because Lily had started seeing her once a month and came home less tense.
Sophie wanted information.
The visit happened at the therapist's office.
Rachel sat in the waiting room.
Margaret sat across from Sophie.
No gifts.
No Bunny.
No Lily.
Sophie spoke first.
"Why did you hit me?"
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Because I was angry."
"At me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Margaret looked at the therapist.
The therapist said nothing.
Good.
Margaret answered:
"Because you wouldn't do what I wanted."
Sophie stared.
"That's not a good reason."
"No."
"Did you think Lily falling was my fault?"
"At first."
"But then?"
Margaret swallowed.
"I realized I had helped create the fight."
"Before you hit me?"
A long pause.
"Yes."
Rachel heard about that answer later.
It mattered.
Margaret knew.
Still struck her.
Sophie asked:
"Why was the recorder in Bunny?"
"I wanted to hear what happened when I wasn't there."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't trust your mom."
"Why?"
Margaret hesitated.
Then answered:
"Because I didn't want to."
Sophie frowned.
"That's stupid."
The therapist almost smiled.
Margaret nodded.
"Yes."
Then Sophie asked the hardest question.
"Did you hate me?"
Margaret started crying.
"No."
Sophie did not look relieved.
Margaret continued.
"I was afraid Lily loving you would make my place smaller."
"So you hurt me."
"Yes."
Sophie looked at the floor.
"That's worse than hate."
Margaret closed her eyes.
Maybe it was.
The visit lasted twenty-two minutes.
Sophie ended it.
In the car she said:
"I don't want another one yet."
Rachel nodded.
Months later, maybe.
Maybe never.
The answer stayed open.
Daniel and Rachel rebuilt differently.
No shared phone passwords as proof.
No surveillance.
No "if you have nothing to hide."
Trust became permission to have privacy without making privacy suspicious.
Daniel closed the secret consultation with the divorce lawyer formally.
He told Rachel.
She said, "Okay."
No celebration.
He also removed Margaret as medical emergency contact.
Replaced her with Melissa and Julia.
Rachel removed Margaret from Sophie's school authorization.
Administrative details.
Emotionally enormous.
Adam remained complicated.
After nearly a year, Sophie agreed to a video call.
Five minutes.
Adam apologized.
Sophie asked why he did not get out of the car at school.
He said:
"I was ashamed."
Sophie answered:
"You should've been."
Then ended the call.
Rachel did not correct her.
Later Sophie asked if Adam could send birthday cards.
Rachel arranged it.
No promises of father-daughter reunion.
Just one channel.
That night Daniel tucked Lily into bed.
Lily asked:
"Is Sophie my sister now?"
Daniel thought.
"What do you think?"
Lily smiled.
"Soso."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
Daniel laughed.
Across the hall Sophie heard.
"She's annoying!"
Lily yelled back:
"I love you!"
Sophie shouted:
"I didn't say you couldn't!"
Rachel stood in the hallway and closed her eyes.
This was the family everyone had been trying to define.
Messy.
Uneven.
Self-created.
Then Daniel found Sophie sitting on the floor outside Lily's room.
"What?"
Sophie whispered:
"I think Bunny needs a new ear."
The torn side had finally worn thin.
Daniel asked:
"Want help?"
Sophie shook her head.
"Mom."
Then she looked up.
"You can hold the flashlight."
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