Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK
Anna was preparing Leo's dinner when Grace called from the front porch.
“There's someone here.”
Anna looked through the kitchen window.
Sophia stood outside.
Her coat was buttoned to the throat. Her hair was immaculate. But the confidence she had worn at the gala was gone.
Anna opened the door only as far as the security chain allowed.
“What do you want?”
Sophia looked past her.
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
“Please. It's important.”
“You've had three years.”
Sophia swallowed.
“I know about Clara.”
Anna's fingers tightened on the door.
“What about her?”
“She spoke to Vincent. My father is being investigated.”
“Good.”
Sophia looked startled.
“You don't understand what this means.”
“I understand that your father may have tried to kill me.”
Sophia's eyes filled.
“I didn't know he would do that.”
“But you knew he had paid people to silence witnesses.”
“I was trying to protect Vincent.”
Anna stared at her.
“From what? His wife?”
Sophia lowered her eyes.
“I loved him.”
“You loved being chosen.”
The words landed hard.
Sophia looked up.
“You don't know what it was like after you died. He was broken. He couldn't sleep. He barely ate. I was the only person who could get him out of that house.”
“You were the person who got on the plane with us.”
“I was frightened.”
“So was I.”
Sophia's mouth trembled.
“I didn't know the aircraft would explode.”
“But you went back toward it.”
Sophia said nothing.
Anna felt her stomach turn.
“Why?”
“Because my father told me to retrieve a case from the cabin.”
“What case?”
“Documents.”
Anna stared at her.
“What documents?”
Sophia's eyes moved toward the street.
“My father had arranged the sabotage. He said the explosion would destroy the evidence. I didn't know you were still inside.”
“You knew I was pregnant.”
“I know.”
“You heard Vincent promise to come back.”
Sophia began to cry.
“And you still went back.”
“I was afraid of my father.”
Anna's voice became very quiet.
“So was I. But I didn't have the luxury of leaving someone else behind.”
Sophia pressed a hand to her mouth.
“I am sorry.”
Anna looked at her for a long moment.
“I don't forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don't. You get to go home tonight. You get to sleep in your own bed. You get to remember this as something terrible that happened. I have to explain to my son why his father wasn't there when he was born.”
Sophia's tears fell.
Anna closed the door.
A minute later, her phone rang.
Vincent.
She answered.
“Did you send Sophia?”
“No. I didn't know she was coming.”
“She admitted her father arranged the sabotage.”
There was silence.
“Did she tell you why she returned to the aircraft?”
“She went back for documents.”
Vincent exhaled sharply.
“Anna, listen to me. Victor and Marissa are being investigated. We have a recording.”
“Then give it to the authorities.”
“I will.”
“And don't come here tonight.”
“I won't.”
She ended the call.
In the living room, Leo was sitting on the rug with his dinosaur toys.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is Daddy coming to my birthday?”
Anna looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Leo held up a green dinosaur.
“I hope he comes.”
May you like
Anna sat beside him.
“So do I.”
