Chapter 3

The next morning, breakfast was set out for the three of them again. Nothing for us.

I helped Sophie wash up and get dressed. We'd eat somewhere else before I took her to preschool.

Zack was sitting on the couch, swinging his legs. A silver chain glinted around his ankle.

“Sophie, look! Isn't my anklet pretty?”

He sounded so pleased with himself.

Sophie recognized it immediately and ran toward him.

“Take that off!”

I recognized it, too.

Ethan had given Sophie that bracelet for her birthday the year before.

She treasured it so much that she hardly dared wear it. She kept it in a drawer in her bedroom.

Then Claire and Zack moved in, and Ethan made Sophie give up her room so Zack could sleep there.

Zack tucked his foot away, refusing to take the bracelet off.

Sophie started crying and reached for it.

He kicked her in the stomach, then burst into tears before anyone could react.

“Mommy! She's hitting me! She's being mean!”

Ethan came out of the bathroom with a scowl and pulled Sophie away.

“What are you doing now?”

“Can't you leave him alone for five minutes?”

She held her stomach and looked up at him, her face wet with tears.

“That's my birthday present from you, Daddy. He took it and put it on his foot.”

Ethan glanced at Zack's ankle and frowned harder.

“It's a bracelet. I'll get you another one.”

“We've talked about this. You're older. You need to learn to share.”

“Sophie. Listen to me.”

She shook her head, crying harder.

“No! It's mine!”

Ethan looked furious.

Then Zack suddenly lost his temper. He yanked the chain off his ankle and flung it at Sophie.

“I don't want your stupid stuff!”

“I'll make Daddy buy me a new one!”

Daddy?

Sophie straightened abruptly.

“He's my daddy! He's not yours!”

Claire hurried in with a smile, as if she could smooth the whole thing over.

“Don't take it personally, Sarah. Zack's always been close to Ethan. He's gotten used to calling him Daddy.”

Her words sounded apologetic. Her eyes looked triumphant.

For once, Ethan tried to explain himself quietly.

“It's just a name.”

“Other kids might pick on him if they knew he didn't have a father.”

“That's the only reason I…”

I didn't wait for the rest.

I took Sophie's hand and walked out.

She was upset all the way downstairs.

Looking up at me, she asked, “Mommy, doesn't Daddy want us anymore?”

I forced the words past the ache in my throat.

“That's not true, sweetheart.”

She lowered her head. Tears fell steadily from her chin.

“But I don't want to love Daddy anymore. Because Daddy loves Zack.”

My eyes stung. I couldn't get another word out.