Chapter 13 - The Woman in the Visiting Room
Rebecca requested to see Lucas four months later.
He refused twice.
The third request came through her attorney.
Not because she wanted reconciliation.
Because she wanted to return something belonging to Sophie.
Lucas agreed to meet her in a supervised conference room at Ian's office.
Rebecca looked different.
Her blonde hair was shorter.
No jewelry.
No expensive dress.
No carefully controlled smile.
She placed a small box on the table.
"Bunny's key."
Lucas opened it.
The silver key lay inside.
"You kept this?"
"My father took it after I found it in Sophie's room. I got it back from evidence."
Lucas closed the box.
"Anything else?"
Rebecca looked at him.
"I pleaded guilty."
He had heard.
Obstruction.
Attempted fraud related to guardianship documents.
Interference with correspondence.
Her cooperation against Charles reduced the likely sentence.
Lucas did not know exactly what consequences she would receive.
He had stopped following every development.
"I testified about the forged signatures," Rebecca said.
Lucas nodded.
"Good."
She swallowed.
"I know that doesn't fix anything."
"No."
"I wanted you to know I finally told the truth."
"That should be for you, not me."
Rebecca looked down.
"You're right."
Lucas stood.
She stopped him.
"How is Sophie?"
He stared at her.
"You don't get updates unless her therapist says they're appropriate."
Rebecca nodded.
"I understand."
Lucas moved toward the door.
"Lucas."
He turned.
Rebecca's eyes were full of tears.
"I really did love you."
Lucas believed her.
Months earlier that sentence might have destroyed him.
Now it only made him sad.
"I know."
Rebecca looked surprised.
"You do?"
"That's what makes it worse."
She began crying.
Lucas continued.
"People keep imagining betrayal means nothing was real. Sometimes something real existed next to something terrible."
Rebecca wiped her face.
"I don't expect forgiveness."
"Good."
She flinched.
Lucas softened slightly.
"Forgiveness isn't something Sophie or I owe you on your schedule."
Rebecca nodded.
"Will she hate me forever?"
"I hope she doesn't carry you long enough to hate you forever."
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Lucas left.
He gave Sophie the silver key that evening.
She held it in her palm.
"Do we need it?"
"The box is empty now."
Sophie thought.
"Can I keep it?"
"Of course."
She placed it inside the repaired stuffed rabbit.
Mrs. Carter had sewn Bunny's seam closed.
Sophie hugged it.
"Now Bunny has his secret again."
Lucas smiled.
A week later Sophie received a letter.
Not from Rebecca.
From Evelyn Whitmore, Rebecca's mother.
Lucas read it first with Sophie's therapist.
Evelyn apologized.
She admitted she had suspected Charles was involved in questionable business deals for years.
She chose comfort over questions.
She chose her marriage over people outside it.
She wrote that watching Lucas choose Sophie in the hallway had forced her to see something she had avoided her entire adult life.
Evelyn had filed for divorce from Charles.
She also turned over several financial records investigators had never seen.
At the end she wrote:
Sophie, when adults tell you something is too complicated for children to understand, sometimes what they mean is that the truth makes them ashamed.
Lucas read that sentence twice.
He showed the letter to Sophie.
She asked one question.
"Is she still Rebecca's mom?"
"Yes."
"Even if Rebecca did bad things?"
"Yes."
Sophie nodded.
"Then families don't stop being families."
Lucas smiled.
"No."
She looked toward him.
"Even after weddings?"
"Even after canceled ones."
May you like
Sophie climbed onto his lap.
"Good."
