Chapter 21 - SOPHIA AT TEN
At ten, Sophia loved swimming.
Hated raisins.
Played cello badly and proudly.
She knew Grandma Victoria was in prison for financial crimes and lying to our family.
She did not know every detail.
Then a classmate found an old article.
“Your grandma stole from you.”
Sophia came home angry.
“Did she?”
I sat with Emma.
We answered together.
“Money meant for your support was diverted.”
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“How much?”
She was old enough for a simplified number.
“Millions over several years.”
Sophia stared.
“Was I a millionaire when I ate trash?”
Emma closed her eyes.
I answered.
“You had money designated for your care. You did not control it.”
“That’s worse.”
Maybe.
She asked:
“Why didn’t you check?”
There it was.
I told her.
“I trusted reports instead of checking directly with you and Mom.”
“Were you busy?”
“Yes.”
“Is that an excuse?”
“No.”
She nodded.
Then asked Emma:
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
“I tried. Then I stopped trying.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed he was dead.”
“Even after years?”
“Yes.”
Sophia processed.
“Everyone was kind of dumb.”
We laughed.
Not Victoria.
Not equally.
But the sentence broke tension.
Later Sophia asked to read no trial articles.
May you like
Good.
She had a life.
