Chapter 19 - SOPHIE ASKS
Sophie was seven when she first asked why her father and I divorced.
Not the simple version.
The real question.
“Did Daddy stop loving you?”
I almost choked on my coffee.
“Why do you ask?”
“My friend’s parents are getting divorced.”
I sat beside her.
“Sometimes adults love each other and still make choices that make being married unhealthy.”
She frowned.
“Did Daddy make a bad choice?”
“Yes.”
“One?”
I smiled despite myself.
“You are very specific.”
“I’m seven.”
“Right.”
I kept it age appropriate.
“Your dad lied to me about important things and used family money in ways we hadn’t agreed on.”
“Did he say sorry?”
“Yes.”
“Did you forgive him?”
Children ask the questions adults spend years avoiding.
“I forgave parts.”
She looked confused.
“You can do parts?”
“Yes.”
I smiled.
“You’ll learn.”
She considered.
“Do you hate Daddy?”
“No.”
That answer was immediate.
“Did you?”
“Sometimes I felt like I did.”
“Does he hate you?”
“You’d have to ask him.”
She did.
At pickup.
In front of me.
“Dad, do you hate Mom?”
Nathan nearly dropped her backpack.
“What?”
I looked away so he wouldn’t see me laughing.
He recovered.
“No.”
“Did you used to?”
Nathan looked at me.
Then at Sophie.
“I was angry at your mom because she stopped letting me pretend I hadn’t done something wrong.”
My laughter disappeared.
That was a good answer.
Sophie nodded.
Then asked:
“Can we get ice cream?”
Children are merciful.
Nathan looked at me.
“Okay?”
I nodded.
“Have her back by eight.”
“Seven fifty-nine.”
They left.
I watched them.
I did not miss our marriage.
May you like
But I was grateful we had eventually built a way for Sophie to love both parents without carrying their war.
That was the ending I wanted more than revenge.
