Chapter 5 - The Birthday Plan
Rachel canceled Sophie's birthday party.
Not because Margaret had won.
Because Sophie asked.
"I don't want people looking at me."
So they changed it.
Pancakes.
A movie.
Two friends.
No performance.
Daniel asked if he could come.
Sophie said no.
He accepted.
Lily asked if she could.
Sophie thought longer.
"Yes."
Rachel drove to Daniel's house and picked Lily up herself.
At the door, Daniel handed Rachel a backpack.
"Her pajamas. Bunny's in there."
Sophie had asked for Bunny back.
Lily had returned it without argument.
Progress no adult could take credit for.
Rachel said, "Thank you."
Daniel nodded.
He looked exhausted.
"Mom planned something for Saturday."
"I know."
"I don't know what."
"That's part of why there isn't a party."
He swallowed.
"Do you think I can fix this?"
Rachel looked at him.
"For Sophie?"
"Us."
"I don't know."
That was honest.
Daniel nodded.
At Julia's house, the girls ate pancakes.
Lily gave Sophie a birthday card covered in purple stickers.
Inside, someone had helped her write:
BUNNY IS SOPHIE'S.
Sophie laughed.
Then cried.
Rachel had to leave the room for a minute.
That afternoon Daniel called.
Margaret had shown up at the canceled party address.
With three relatives.
And a gift.
A large white stuffed rabbit.
Daniel photographed it unopened on the porch.
Rachel stared.
"Don't bring it inside."
"I wasn't going to."
"What is she doing?"
"I don't know."
Then Daniel said, "Wait."
Rachel heard his front door open.
A pause.
Then:
"Oh my God."
"What?"
Daniel's breathing changed.
"The rabbit has a card."
"Read it."
He did.
FOR LILY - SO SHE NEVER HAS TO BEG FOR WHAT SHOULD BE HERS.
Rachel closed her eyes.
Margaret had turned a toy into a statement.
Again.
Daniel said, "I'm throwing it away."
"No."
"What?"
"Don't."
Rachel thought.
"Photograph it. Put it in the garage. Not where Lily sees it."
"Why keep it?"
"Because I want Margaret to explain it."
Rachel was tired of translating.
That evening, Sophie asked where the replacement rabbit came from.
Rachel answered honestly.
"Margaret brought it."
"Why?"
"We don't know."
Sophie looked at Bunny.
Then said, "I know."
Rachel waited.
Sophie picked at the repaired seam.
"Grandma said Lily needed her own Bunny because Daniel would get mad if Lily cried."
"When?"
"Before."
"Before what?"
"The time at the mall."
Rachel frowned.
"What happened at the mall?"
Sophie went quiet.
Rachel did not push.
After several seconds Sophie whispered, "Grandma lost Lily."
Rachel's stomach dropped.
"What?"
"It was only for a little."
"How little?"
"I don't know."
Sophie started crying.
"I found her."
Rachel moved closer.
"When?"
"Christmas."
Five months before the wedding.
Margaret had taken both girls shopping.
She later told Rachel the trip went perfectly.
Sophie continued.
"Grandma told me not to tell because Daniel would think she couldn't keep Lily safe."
Rachel felt cold.
"What did she say to you?"
Sophie wiped her nose.
"She said I saved Lily, so I owed her one secret."
The pattern sharpened.
Margaret did not only manufacture conflict.
She turned children's good actions into debts.
Rachel called Daniel.
He went silent.
Then asked Sophie one question through speakerphone.
"Did Grandma lose Lily because she was watching you?"
Sophie whispered, "No."
Pause.
"She left us by the fountain and went to talk to a man."
Daniel's voice changed.
"What man?"
Sophie said, "The one from the pictures."
Rachel frowned.
"What pictures?"
Sophie looked at her.
"The ones Grandma keeps of Lily's other family."
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