Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
The afternoon sunlight slanted across the living room in long, warm bands, but Essie felt cold. She’d been pretending to read the same page of her book for nearly an hour, her eyes flicking to her phone every few sentences even though it hadn’t buzzed.
They still hadn’t heard anything from Chad except for a text late last night saying he couldn’t talk yet but would reach out to them as soon as possible.
Across from her, Frank sat in his recliner, remote in hand but not really watching the golf tournament playing out before him on the television.
Every few minutes, he’d unlock his phone just to check the screen.
He’d always been the calm and steady one but right now the restless drumming of his fingers on the armrest betrayed him.
She understood. She was feeling it, too. She set her book down and exhaled shakily. “I hate this waiting. It feels like something is pressing on my chest.”
Frank nodded without looking up. “Same here. Chad said he’d text right away.”
Essie clasped her hands together in her lap. “I know she’s your daughter, but I can’t stop worrying.”
“That’s because you’re a good person who genuinely cares. If Sophie understood that, none of this would be happening.”
“It shouldn’t be happening regardless.” Essie knew there was some anger in her voice, but she didn’t like what Sophie was doing to the family. Who wouldn’t be angry about that?
Frank met her eyes again. “I know,” he said, softer this time. “But she’s hurting. And hurt people…well, they lash out.”
Essie swallowed hard. “She’s hurting us, too. You especially.”
A beat of silence passed. Frank didn’t contradict her because they both knew it was true. He went back to his golf. She went back to her book.
When Frank’s phone finally rang, the sudden sound split the quiet like a crack of thunder.
Essie jumped.
Frank grabbed it up, pinning it to his ear. “Chad?” He gave Essie a nod. “Hang on, son. I want to put you on speaker so Essie can hear.”
He tapped the button and set the phone on the arm of his recliner. “All right, go ahead.”
Essie leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees, pulse racing.
Chad’s voice filled the room. He sounded frayed at the edges, his exhaustion unmistakable. “Hey. Sorry it’s taken so long but last night was…long. I’ve got news.”
Essie held her breath.
“How did it go?” Frank asked quietly.
Chad inhaled sharply. “Not good. Not good at all.”
Essie’s stomach hollowed out. That wasn’t what she’d been praying for. “What happened?”
Chad hesitated, as though choosing where to begin. “I tried to talk calmly to her about the lawsuits. I wasn’t accusing her, I wasn’t judging her. I swear. I just I told her she was crossing a line. That she was hurting the family. That this wasn’t the answer.”
Essie pressed her fingertips to her lips.
“Sophie exploded,” Chad said, voice tight with stress. “Told me I was choosing sides. Called me a traitor. Said I was just as much to blame as you, Dad.”
Frank’s jaw clenched. “You’re not, son.”
Essie’s heart cracked open. “Oh, Chad…”
“That’s not even the worst part,” Chad continued, frustration and heartbreak mingling in his voice.
“She wouldn’t hear anything. Tasha did her best to calm Sophie down.
She even followed Sophie into the kitchen to talk privately, but Sophie wasn’t having it.
She said Tasha was brainwashed by us. Can you believe that? ”
Essie shut her eyes. A sting of tears built behind them.
“Anyway, she packed her things,” Chad said, voice raw. “Called an Uber. And left.”
Essie gasped. “She left? Just like that?”
“I tried to stop her. Tasha tried. But she was angry and out of control.” He took a breath.
“She said she doesn’t have a family anymore.
And I…” His voice cracked. “I agreed with her. Told her she didn’t deserve a family with the way she was acting.
I probably shouldn’t have said that, but I was so done with her. ”
Essie’s tears finally spilled over. She covered her face with her hands. A moment later, she felt Frank sit beside her, his hand on her back.
“Do you know where she went?” Frank asked, quietly.
“To the airport, I guess,” Chad said. “She told Tasha she was leaving as soon as possible. I checked and the first flight back to Miami leaves in about an hour, so I have to guess that’s what she’d doing. Going home. Back to that idiot Ryan.”
Essie uncovered her face to take Frank’s hand. “You tried, Chad. Thank you for that.”
Chad’s voice broke. “I’m sorry, Essie. I couldn’t stop her. I really thought I could fix everything.”
Frank cleared his throat. “Son, you did everything a brother could do. More than she deserved after what she’s done.”
Essie sniffed, trying to speak around the ache. “Your father’s right,” she whispered. “I know you love her.”
“We all do,” Chad replied. “But she’s in a dark place. I don’t know how she’s going to get out of it until she wants to. She’s going to have to hit rock bottom, I think.”
That was an awful thought, but Essie nodded, even though he couldn’t see. “Please keep us updated if she reaches out.”
“I will,” Chad promised. “I love you both. I’m sorry.”
The call ended. The silence that followed felt heavier than the words themselves.
Essie leaned into Frank, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He rested his cheek on the top of her head.
“I’m scared for her,” she whispered.
“I am too,” he admitted, voice unsteady. “But we’re going to hold on. And we’re going to keep praying. Because she’s still family.”
Essie’s tears dampened his shirt. “I don’t care if she hates me for the rest of her life, I just want her away from Ryan. He’s a bad influence. I think without him, we might have a chance.”
“I know, sweetheart. I think the same thing. Which reminds me, I need to call Charlie and let him know Sophie’s coming back sooner than expected.”
“Okay.” Essie nodded, wiping under her eyes. “Put him on speaker.”
Frank tapped the PI’s contact and set the phone back on the coffee table. It rang twice before Charlie’s gravelly voice filled the room.
“Frank. Everything all right?”
Frank let out a hard breath. “Not even close. Listen, you’re on speaker with Essie.”
“Hi, Essie.”
“Hi, Charlie.”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Frank shook his head. “Sophie’s leaving early. She stormed out of her brother’s house after he tried to talk to her and took an Uber straight to the airport.”
Charlie whistled low. “That’s sooner than I expected. But not surprising. That talk was kind of a Hail Mary, right?”
“Right,” Frank said. “Chad did his best but she wasn’t having it.”
Essie leaned forward, her voice thin. “We’re pretty sure she’s headed back to Miami on the four o’clock flight.”
“I’ll be watching for her,” Charlie said, calm but matter-of-fact. “I’m already surveilling the condo, so I can let you know when she arrives. Should be interesting. Anything else new?”
Essie pressed a hand to her chest. She didn’t know why Charlie thought Sophie’s arrival would be interesting, but she trusted him.
Frank rubbed her back gently, his voice steady but strained. “Charlie, the best I can tell you is Sophie’s not herself. Any news on Ryan?”
Charlie exhaled, and the sound sent a chill up Essie’s spine. “Funny you should ask. I was planning to call you tonight anyway. Things with Ryan are…developing.”
Essie stiffened.
“Developing how?” Frank asked.
“He’s been busy,” Charlie said. “Too busy. Spent yesterday meeting with a couple of local influencers—and one talent agent firm. As best I can tell, he’s trying to pitch them on a show idea starring him and Sophie.”
Essie’s stomach dropped. “A show?” That would only make things worse for her and Frank. And Sophie would think she’d really hit it big. The chances of reconciling then would be gone.
“Mm-hmm,” Charlie continued. “He’s looking for exposure. Money. Sponsors. If my lip-reading is correct, he’s been bragging that Sophie ‘owes him big’ and that she’s gonna be his ticket.”
Frank muttered something under his breath. Essie felt nauseous.
Charlie went on. “He doesn’t think she’s coming home for another day or two, right? But if she shows up early like this, well.” His tone shifted, sharpening. “That might finally give me the confirmation we need.”
Essie swallowed, voice trembling. “Confirmation of what?”
“That he’s got more going on than Sophie knows.” A pause. “And that she’s in deeper trouble than she realizes.”
Frank’s hand tightened around Essie’s. “Charlie, what do you want us to do?”
“Nothing yet,” Charlie said. “Let her get home. Let him slip up when he doesn’t expect her. I’m watching Ryan. If something breaks tonight, you’ll be the first to know.”
Essie closed her eyes, her heart pounding. “Please keep her safe.”
Charlie’s tone softened. “I think she’ll be fine but if anything changes, I’ll call the police. But I think this is going to be exactly what needs to happen. Sophie coming home early?” He let a wry note enter his voice. “That might be the thing that blows Ryan’s little operation wide open.”
The call ended, but the weight of it lingered in the room.
Essie turned into Frank’s shoulder as he wrapped both arms around her, holding her firmly, protectively, as though he could keep the whole world from cracking open beneath them.
“Whatever happens,” Frank murmured, “we’ll face it together.”
Essie nodded, but her eyes were fixed on the phone, sitting silent and still on the table—the messenger of news she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.