45. Chapter 45
The day after we got engaged, I found out at work that all of Savannah knew where and how I became Gabriel”s fiancée. Gabriel wanted to celebrate, but a work emergency forced him to cancel and head to New York.
He wanted me at his place. His reasoning was sound: ”If Sophia calls, you”ll be next door since I”ll be too far away, so I need you here.” There was no way I”d be anywhere but his house after that.
The fact that he trusted me to be there for Sophia when he wasn”t, took the rest of the reservations I had about us away. I was not going to let him down because of my insecurities. I”d rise above them and embrace my life with Gabriel.
I never expected Sophia to call me but when she did an hour after Gabriel”s plane took off late at night, I grabbed my phone hurriedly.
”Sophia, honey, all okay?”
She was crying, and I felt my stomach bottom out. ”Aurora, is Daddy around? I tried to call but couldn”t get through.”
”He”s on a plane, honey.”
”Right. He texted. I forgot.”
”Sweetpea,” I called her what Gabriel did to soothe her, ”what”s wrong?”
”Everything,” she wept. ”It”s all wrong.”
”Talk to me.”
”You and Daddy got engaged.”
”Yes.”
”He told me he was planning to ask you and that he wanted me to pick the ring with him. But…Mama is so angry.”
”Oh, baby, that”s not on you.” I was pacing up and down Gabriel”s bedroom. I had my ear buds in, and I was texting Gabriel, telling him to call as soon as he was able.
”But it is. Don”t you see? Mama is so…I don”t know what to do.”
”I”m coming over.”
”Where are you?” she breathed.
”Next door.”
”Really?” There was such hope in her voice.
”Will you tell me what”s going on?”
I heard Iris call out for Sophia, screaming at her, and my blood chilled.
”Aurora,” Sophia sounded scared. ”Mama locked me up.”
”What?”
”She said she was going to kill herself and then locked me in my room. I was lucky I had my phone in my pocket.”
Oh, fuck that. ”I”m coming over.”
Gabriel had a key for emergencies to Iris”s place and I knew where it was. I took it with me. The door could be opened with codes and a thumbprint but also the old-fashioned way.
”Aurora, I”m scared.”
”I”ll be there in two minutes. Don”t be scared.”
I heard Iris scream. ”Who are you talking to? Tattling away already, are you?”
I fumbled as I opened the door. I wanted to hang up and call Betsy and Rafe, anyone who could help, but I didn”t want to let go of Sophia. I wanted her to know I was listening to her; I was coming for her.
I walked into Iris”s house and followed her voice. God, that woman was screaming at poor Sophia.
”I told you. I told you what to do, and you haven”t done it. When I kill myself, it”ll be your fault.”
Iris was standing outside Sophia”s room. She was in some cocktail dress—looking like the perfect Savannah socialite unless you saw into her heart, which I knew was ugly.
”Sophia?” I called out.
”What the fuck do you think you”re doing?” Iris turned to me. ”Get out before I call the cops and have you arrested.”
”This is Gabriel”s house,” I said easily, ”And I have every right to be here.” I didn”t. This was Iris”s domicile, but I didn”t give a damn. My girl was in trouble, and I wasn”t going to stay home and hope for the best.
Sophia was on the floor, leaning against her bed, sobbing.
”No.” Iris stood at Sophia”s door, barring me from entering.
”Move,” I said.
”Get out,” she screeched.
”Mama, please,” Sophia was crying now, looking so broken that my heart was crushed.
”Iris, move now,” I ordered.
”Fuck off, bitch.”
She pushed me then, and I pushed her right back. She was in five-inch heels, and I was in sneakers. I had the advantage. She fell against the wall, and I grabbed Sophia. Before Iris could find her balance, I got Sophia out of the bedroom.
”Mama, I”m so sorry,” Sophia was crying, but she was holding on to me like she”d never let me go. She needn”t have worried because there was no way I”d leave her.
I didn”t want to stay in the house next door and picked up my bag that was sitting in the foyer of Gabriel”s house.
My car was still parked up front. I yanked the electric cable out of the socket of the Leaf and opened the door for Sophia to get in.
Iris came running outside. ”Where the fuck do you think you”re taking my daughter?”
”Away from you.” I walked around Sophia”s door and got into the driver”s seat, my heart hammering hard.
Iris opened the passenger side door of my car. ”Young lady, get into the house.”
”Mama, I can”t do this anymore.” Sophia”s lowered her head.
”Move, Iris,” I demanded.
”This is my daughter, and I”ll call the cops on you for kidnapping her.”
”Knock yourself out,” I said. ”Let them know we”ll be at the Rhodes Estate. I dare you.”
I didn”t wait for Iris to move and pushed on the accelerator. She lost her grasp of the passenger door and Sophia immediately closed it and looked at me like we were engaged in a prison break, which in some ways, I think, we were.