Chapter 5 - What Sophie Remembered
Daniel sat motionless beside the hospital bed.
He wanted Sophie to repeat what she'd said.
He wanted to ask a hundred questions.
But the nurse was already checking her vital signs.
“Sophie needs quiet,” she said gently.
Daniel nodded.
“Of course.”
His daughter watched him.
“Daddy?”
“I'm here.”
“Are you mad?”
The question nearly broke him.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Grandma said you would be.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Why would she say that?”
Sophie's eyes closed.
“I don't remember.”
He stroked her hand.
“That's okay.”
“Don't let her be mad at Mommy.”
Daniel leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“I won't.”
He waited until she fell asleep.
Then he walked into the hallway and called Rachel.
She answered on the first ring.
“Danny?”
“Where are you?”
“On my way to the hospital.”
“Come straight to Sophie's room.”
“What happened?”
“She woke up.”
Rachel gasped.
“Oh, thank God.”
Daniel looked through the glass at his daughter.
“She said something about Mom.”
Rachel fell silent.
“What did she say?”
Daniel repeated the words.
Rachel didn't speak.
Then he heard her whisper, “Oh, no.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“Danny, I need to tell you something.”
He pressed the phone harder against his ear.
“Tell me now.”
“Not over the phone.”
“Rachel.”
“I'm ten minutes away.”
He stared at the wall.
Something in his sister's voice frightened him more than anything he'd heard since the crash.
“Rachel, what do you know?”
She took a breath.
“I think the accident might not have been an accident.”
Rachel showed him the video in an empty family consultation room.
Daniel watched without moving.
When it ended, he replayed it.
Then again.
The third time, he lowered the phone.
“That isn't real.”
Rachel sat across from him.
“Danny—”
“Mom wouldn't say that.”
“You heard her.”
“She was in shock.”
“She hung up on you.”
“She panicked.”
“Then why was she talking about Vanessa?”
Daniel looked up.
“Vanessa?”
Rachel told him about the photograph.
The recent visit.
The conversation at the hospital.
The words about the damage not being enough.
Daniel stood abruptly.
“No.”
“Danny.”
“No.”
He began pacing.
“My mother can be controlling.”
Rachel nodded.
“She can be cruel.”
“Yes.”
“But she wouldn't try to kill Claire.”
Rachel's eyes filled.
“I hope you're right.”
Daniel stopped.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because Sophie's awake.”
“And?”
“Because she remembered something.”
Daniel pressed both hands against the back of a chair.
“She said Mom knew.”
Rachel nodded.
“Madison saw her near Claire's car.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Near it how?”
“She doesn't know.”
“Then we're accusing her because she stood in her own driveway?”
“That's why the police are investigating.”
Daniel looked up sharply.
“The police?”
Rachel told him everything.
His face changed as she spoke.
First disbelief.
Then anger.
Then something far worse.
Recognition.
He remembered the phone call after the crash.
His mother had hung up.
He remembered her strange messages.
His future.
His strength.
Her disappointment when Claire survived surgery.
All those little details suddenly aligned.
Daniel sank into a chair.
“No.”
Rachel knelt beside him.
“I'm sorry.”
He shook his head.
“She held Sophie when she was born.”
“I know.”
“She made Claire soup when she had pneumonia.”
“I remember.”
“She kissed my wife goodbye yesterday.”
Rachel's voice broke.
“I know.”
Daniel covered his face.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then he asked a question Rachel couldn't answer.
“What kind of mother does that?”
Eleanor learned about Sophie's recovery through a hospital volunteer she had known for years.
By late afternoon, she was already on her way to the hospital.
She carried a stuffed rabbit and a bag of expensive chocolates.
She had practiced her expression in the car.
Concerned.
Relieved.
Grateful.
By the time she reached the pediatric unit, she looked like a devoted grandmother.
Daniel was waiting outside the room.
“Sweetheart.”
Eleanor opened her arms.
He didn't move.
She stopped.
“Daniel?”
“Mom.”
“Where's Sophie?”
“Resting.”
“I brought her something.”
He looked at the rabbit.
It was white with pink ears.
Sophie had loved rabbits since she was three.
Eleanor smiled.
“Can I see her?”
“No.”
Her expression faltered.
“What?”
“Not right now.”
“Daniel, don't be ridiculous.”
He looked at her.
“Why did you hang up on me?”
Eleanor blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“When I called you after the crash.”
“I was overwhelmed.”
“You didn't ask which hospital.”
“I knew you'd call back.”
“You didn't ask whether they were alive.”
Eleanor's smile disappeared.
“Daniel, you're being unfair.”
He took out his phone.
“I heard what you said afterward.”
She became very still.
“What are you talking about?”
“About introducing me to another girl.”
Eleanor stared at him.
Then her eyes narrowed.
“Rachel.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She has always enjoyed stirring up trouble.”
“Did you say it?”
“I was distraught.”
“Did you say it?”
“Daniel—”
“Answer me.”
Eleanor drew herself up.
“Yes.”
The admission struck him like a physical blow.
She stepped closer.
“But you must understand—”
“No.”
“I meant that someday, when you've healed—”
“My wife isn't dead.”
“I know that.”
“Then what exactly am I supposed to heal from?”
Eleanor's face hardened.
“You're hurting.”
“Yes.”
“And you're taking it out on me.”
Daniel laughed once.
It was a terrible sound.
“Mom, my daughter is lying in intensive care.”
Eleanor glanced toward the door.
“Which is why you shouldn't be upsetting yourself.”
He stepped between her and the room.
“You're not going in.”
Her mouth opened.
“Daniel.”
“Leave.”
The word shocked her.
She had never heard him speak to her that way.
“I'm your mother.”
“I know.”
“Then show some respect.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Respect?”
His voice lowered.
“You have no idea how badly I want to believe you're innocent.”
Eleanor's face went white.
“Innocent of what?”
Daniel said nothing.
The hallway seemed to narrow around them.
Eleanor's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Who has been filling your head with lies?”
“Go home.”
“Daniel.”
“Now.”
She stood there for another moment.
Then she turned and walked away.
But she didn't go home.
Instead, she drove to a quiet café on the other side of town.
Vanessa Price was waiting at a corner table.
When Eleanor sat down, Vanessa immediately asked, “Did it work?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Not exactly.”
Vanessa's smile faded.
“Meaning?”
“Claire is still alive.”
May you like
Vanessa stared at her.
Then she whispered, “Eleanor, what did you do?”
