Chapter 9 - THE CHILD DANIEL PROMISED A HOMESophie replied the following week.
This time, the envelope had a stamp.
She was thirteen.
She liked astronomy, hated mushrooms, and had been accepted into a summer science program Renee could no longer afford. Daniel had promised to pay the tuition.
He had also promised to attend Sophie’s school presentation, teach her to drive when she turned sixteen, and build shelves for her collection of astronomy books.
None of those promises appeared in the financial records.
Daniel had spent thousands of dollars creating the appearance of generosity. Yet when I searched the accounts again, I found only one payment connected to Sophie: a telescope purchased nine months before his death.
Even that charge had been disguised as office equipment.
I wanted to stop reading.
Instead, I called Patricia.
“I received a letter from Renee’s daughter.”
There was a brief silence.
“Has Renee contacted you directly?”
“No.”
“Do you believe the child is asking for money?”
“She didn’t ask for anything.”
“That does not mean an adult isn’t guiding her.”
Patricia’s caution was reasonable.
It still hurt to hear.
Fraud changes the meaning of every innocent gesture. After enough deception, kindness begins to look like strategy.
I arranged to meet Sophie and Renee at a public library.
My sister came with me and waited near the entrance.
Sophie was smaller than I expected. She wore a navy sweatshirt and held a thick astronomy book against her chest like armor.
Renee looked older than she had at the hospital.
Not older in years.
Older in consequence.
“I didn’t tell her to write,” Renee said immediately.
“I know,” Sophie interrupted. “Mom told me not to.”
Renee’s face tightened.
I looked at Sophie.
“Why did you contact me?”
She glanced at her mother, then back at me.
“Because everyone keeps saying Daniel lied. But nobody tells me which parts were lies.”
There it was.
The question every betrayed person eventually asks.
Not Why did he hurt me?
But Was anything real?
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
May you like
“I may not know the answer,” I said. “But I won’t lie to you while we look for it.”
For the first time, Sophie loosened her grip on the book.
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