Chapter 11 - What Sofia Saved
I wanted to confront Vanessa with every lie at once.
Mara asked me one question.
“What would that do for the children tonight?”
So I went back to the hotel.
I helped Caleb with a puzzle.
I sat beside Sofia while she read.
I answered the same question twice when my son asked whether I would still be there in the morning.
“Yes.”
“Even if I wake up late?”
“Even then.”
After they fell asleep, I sat in the bathroom with the shower running and let myself be angry where they couldn’t hear.
The next day, Vanessa arrived at the hotel lobby.
She had found out where we were because I had provided an address through the adults helping us manage contact.
She carried two shopping bags.
“I brought presents.”
Caleb took one step toward her.
Sofia stayed beside me.
I had agreed to a short meeting with Elena present. I hadn’t agreed to what happened next.
Vanessa knelt in front of Caleb.
“Tell Papa you want to come home with Mommy.”
His smile disappeared.
“Vanessa,” Elena said.
“What? I’m talking to my son.”
She turned to Sofia.
“You’ve made your point. Now tell everyone you exaggerated.”
My daughter’s face went blank.
I stepped forward.
“The visit is over.”
“You can’t keep punishing me.”
“This isn’t a discussion we’re having in front of them.”
She stood.
“Ask Sofia about the messages she deleted. Ask her how many times I told her dinner was ready.”
Sofia started shaking.
Elena took Caleb toward the elevators.
Vanessa looked around the lobby, aware now of people watching.
“I’m their mother.”
“Then stop asking them to fix this for you.”
After she left, Sofia sat on the edge of the bed.
“I didn’t delete them.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“I saved them.”
She pulled an old phone from the lining of her backpack.
The screen was cracked.
“It only works on Wi-Fi. Cora helped me charge it.”
She opened a message thread.
There were instructions from Vanessa.
Don’t bother me tonight.
Take your brother next door.
If Papa calls, say you ate.
Then one dated the day before I came home.
You want your father to lose his job worrying about you? Keep your mouth shut.
Sofia stared at my face.
“I thought if I kept them, maybe someone would believe me.”
I took the phone carefully.
“I believe you.”
May you like
She began crying.
Then she whispered, “There’s a voice message too.”
