Chapter 2 - When She Called My Name
Mom didn't come fast. She came like she was already annoyed.
I heard her slippers on the hardwood before I saw her. The kitchen lights were warm over Daniel's head and the Christmas tree was blinking in the living room behind him, and I was still holding Bunny against my chest so tight my knuckles hurt. Daniel's hand was light on my arm, just his fingers around my wrist where the purple was, not squeezing.
He didn't let go right away when Mom stepped into the doorway.
She was in her red dress, the long-sleeve one, and her hair was still curled from that morning. She stopped at the edge of the island and looked at us. Not at me first. At him.
"Sophia," she said again, closer now, but not sharp like before. "Come here, honey."
Daniel stood up slow. I felt his knees pop a little when he got up from where he'd been kneeling. He kept himself between me and the island, like he was making room.
Lauren," he said, quiet. Not loud. Mom hated loud. "Can we talk for a second? Just you and me. What she showed me — we need to talk privately."
Mom's mouth went tight. She gave him that look she gave Dad when he talked over her in front of other people. Her eyes flicked down to my arm where his hand had been, then back up to his face, then finally to me.
I tried to read her face. I was good at that. When Mom's eyebrows lifted a little it meant she was scared but trying not to show it. When her jaw went square it meant someone was going to get in trouble after company left. Right then both things were happening.
I pushed Bunny harder into my front. His pink nose was warm from my hands. I didn't lift my dress again. I pulled the red velvet down over my knees with my free hand and felt the fabric catch on the rough spot where the mark was on my shin.
Mom held out her hand. Her nails were red, same as her dress.
"Come on, sweet pea," she said, softer. She弯 down a little and wiggled her fingers. "You left your juice in the living room. Let's go sit by the tree."
I didn't move at first. I looked at Daniel. He was breathing slow and his eyes were on mine. He gave me the smallest nod. Not a go-ahead, just a I-see-you.
"It's okay, little bird," he whispered, low enough Mom could hear but not like he was talking to her. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
That was his promise from a second before, still in the air.
Mom's hand was still out. I could smell her lotion, the vanilla one. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning either. It was the flat face she made for pictures.
I had to take it. If I didn't take it, it would be worse. I knew that from the secret game. If I didn't listen fast, Daddy got that voice and Mom got quiet.
I slipped my hand into hers. Her fingers closed around mine right away, tight, pulling me one step, then another. Away from Daniel. Away from the marble counter where I'd been standing.
Daniel didn't follow. He stayed by the island with his hands now at his sides. I saw his left wrist, the metal watch catching the recessed light. He watched us.
Mom walked me toward the living room. The tree got brighter as we got closer, all that warm bokeh light from the bulbs making spots on the rug. She kept holding my hand and she put her other hand on my shoulder, steering me, not hugging.
"You've been clingy today," she said under her breath, more to Daniel than to me, but loud enough I heard it. "She's tired. It's been a long day with the family over."
I clutched Bunny with both arms again once we passed the doorway. My forearm ached where Daniel had touched so gently, and the knee under my dress stung when my leg brushed Mom's dress as we walked.
I glanced back over my shoulder. Daniel was still in the kitchen, alone now. He hadn't moved except to turn his body to keep me in sight. He mouthed one word — okay? — and I didn't know how to answer.
May you like
Mom guided me to the couch by the tree and tugged me to sit next to her. She sat close, her red dress pooling around her, her arm around me but stiff. From there I could see Daniel through the wide doorway, standing in that bright kitchen with his hands braced on the edge of the white counter, looking at us.
He didn't call anyone. He didn't raise his voice. He just stayed there, keeping his promise to stay, while Mom held my hand too tight and stared straight ahead at the hallway like she was waiting for someone else to come home.
