“Our house now,” Amelia corrected gently, squeezing my hand. “And purple sounds wonderful, Sophie. We can choose the shade together.”
Then I had to leave for a week-long business trip—my first extended time away since the wedding. I felt uneasy leaving my little family when everything was still so new.
“You’ll be fine,” Amelia assured me, placing a travel mug of coffee in my hands as I headed to the airport. “And so will we. Sophie and I will have some quality girls’ time.”
“We’re going to paint my nails, Daddy!” Sophie added as I knelt to kiss her forehead.
Everything seemed under control. But when I came back, Sophie nearly knocked me over with her hug, clinging to me like she had right after Sarah died.
Her small body trembled against mine as she whispered, “Daddy, new mom is different when you’re gone.”
My heart faltered. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Sophie pulled away, her lower lip shaking. “She locks herself in the attic room. And I hear weird noises when she’s in there. It’s scary, Daddy! And she says I can’t go in that room, and… and she’s mean.”
I tried to keep my voice calm. “Mean how, Sophie?”
“She makes me clean my whole room all by myself, and she won’t let me have ice cream even when I’m good.” Sophie lowered her head and sniffled. “I thought new mommy liked me, but… but…”
I held Sophie close as she began to cry, my thoughts racing.
Amelia had been spending a lot of time in the attic, even before my trip. She would disappear up there for hours, and whenever I asked, she’d just smile and say she was “organizing things.”
At first, I didn’t think much of it. Everyone needs space, right? But now, I felt uneasy.
And while what Sophie described wasn’t the worst I had feared when she said Amelia was mean, it still felt too harsh.
As Sophie cried against me, I couldn’t help wondering if bringing Amelia into our lives had been a mistake. Had I been so desperate for a happy ending that I’d overlooked something important?
Still, I said nothing when Amelia came downstairs. I greeted her with a smile and mentioned that Sophie had missed me as I carried my daughter to her room. Once she calmed down, we had a tea party with her favorite toys.
I hoped the moment had passed and things would return to normal, but that evening I found Sophie standing outside the attic door.
“What’s in there, Daddy?” she asked, pressing her hand against it.
I wished I knew. “Probably just old things, sweetie. Come on, it’s almost bedtime.”
But sleep didn’t come easily that night. I lay beside Amelia, watching shadows shift across the ceiling as questions chased each other through my mind.
Had I made a terrible mistake? Had I brought someone into our lives who might hurt my little girl? I thought about the promises I made to Sarah in her final days—to keep Sophie safe, to make sure she grew up feeling loved.
When Amelia slipped out of bed around midnight, I waited a few minutes before following her.
From the bottom of the stairs, I watched as she unlocked the attic door and went inside. I waited but didn’t hear her lock it behind her.
I crept up the stairs as quietly as I could. Acting on impulse, I pushed the door open and stepped into the room.
I froze at what I saw.
The attic had been transformed into something magical. Soft pastel walls, floating shelves filled with Sophie’s favorite books, and a cozy window seat piled with cushions.
An easel stood in one corner, stocked with art supplies, and fairy lights shimmered across the ceiling. A small tea table sat nearby, set with delicate china cups and a stuffed bear in a bow tie.
Amelia, who had been adjusting a teapot, turned quickly when she saw me.
“I… I wanted to finish before showing you. I wanted it to be a surprise,” Amelia stammered. “For Sophie.”
The room was beautiful, but the knot in my stomach remained. “It’s beautiful, Amelia, but… Sophie says you’ve been very strict with her. No ice cream, making her clean alone. Why?”
“Very strict?” Amelia’s shoulders dropped. “But I thought I was helping her become more independent. I know I’ll never replace Sarah, and I’m not trying to. I just… I wanted to do everything right. To be a good mother.” Her voice broke. “But I’ve been doing everything wrong, haven’t I?”
