Chapter 6 - SOPHIE TELLS MAYA
Maya Chen interviewed Sophie at a child advocacy center.
I was not in the room.
That was right.
It still felt unbearable.
Afterward, Maya gave me only the information necessary for safety planning.
Sophie had been doing chores at Linda’s house for months.
Nothing automatically abusive at first.
Fold towels.
Clear dishes.
Sweep.
Feed the dog.
Then Natalie moved back into Mom’s house after her rent increased.
Her children stopped doing many chores.
Sophie’s increased.
Laundry.
Cleaning Connor’s room.
Picking up Madison’s dance clothes.
Carrying grocery bags.
Scrubbing a bathroom she did not use.
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
Maya looked at me.
“She thought you knew.”
Again.
“What did Mom say?”
“That you wanted her to learn responsibility.”
I covered my face.
“What else?”
“Your sister sometimes said Sophie needed to stop acting like a guest.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Because the house was family property.”
I laughed bitterly.
“What else?”
Maya paused.
“Sophie said Natalie told Linda that you were raising her to expect everything because of ‘Adam’s money.’”
The trust.
“Did Sophie hear that?”
“Yes.”
“Did she understand?”
“Not fully.”
Good.
Maybe.
“Sophie also reported your mother sometimes made statements suggesting you were tired or overwhelmed.”
“What statements?”
“You work too much.”
True.
“You need help raising her.”
Maybe sometimes.
“You get angry when Sophie talks back.”
Also true.
“Any parent can have true facts arranged into a false portrait,” Maya said.
I looked at her.
That was exactly what was happening.
Then:
“Yesterday, before your mother told Sophie to leave, your sister had been recording on her phone.”
My body went cold.
“Recording what?”
“The chore argument.”
Of course.
“What did she say?”
“Sophie said Natalie held the phone while your mother asked Sophie why she refused to contribute.”
“Did Sophie know she was being recorded?”
“Yes.”
“What did she do?”
“She cried.”
Maya continued.
“Then Sophie said, ‘I want my mom.’”
I swallowed.
“Your sister said, ‘Your mom can’t rescue you every time.’”
I stood.
Had to move.
The room felt too small.
“They were building evidence.”
May you like
Maya did not answer.
She did not need to.
