Chapter 8 - The Sentence That Made Amanda Panic
Daniel told both families the wedding would not be rescheduled.
Not postponed.
Canceled.
The distinction produced immediate consequences.
Amanda’s mother stopped calling him.
Several mutual friends chose sides.
One of Amanda’s bridesmaids sent Daniel a message accusing him of humiliating Amanda over “one awful mistake.”
Daniel deleted it without responding.
He was finished managing adults’ feelings before Sophie’s safety.
Through his attorney, he arranged for Amanda to collect her belongings while Daniel and Sophie were away.
Amanda asked to speak with him once before that happened.
Daniel agreed to meet at a coffee shop near Eric’s office.
Public.
Daytime.
No Sophie.
Amanda looked at him for a long time before speaking.
“You think I found you because I wanted Laura’s life.”
Daniel answered carefully.
“Did you?”
“No.”
Then she added, “Not at first.”
Again.
That phrase.
Not at first.
Daniel waited.
Amanda looked toward the window.
“Laura asked me to make sure Sophie knew her.”
Daniel felt something tighten in his chest.
“She asked Rachel to do that too.”
“No. Not the same way.”
“What way?”
Amanda pressed her fingers against the paper cup.
“She knew Rachel would keep the family version of her. Childhood stories. Holidays. Their parents. She wanted Sophie to know who she was before all of that.”
“From you.”
Amanda nodded.
“College. Her twenties. The stupid years. The things nobody else would think mattered.”
Daniel believed that part.
The notebook supported it.
But Amanda was visibly avoiding something.
“What else did she ask?”
Amanda shook her head.
“Amanda.”
“She made me promise something.”
“What?”
Amanda looked directly at him.
Then Daniel said the sentence that changed her face.
“I’m going to ask Rachel for Laura’s old email archive.”
Amanda went pale.
“No.”
The response came too quickly.
Daniel leaned back.
“Why?”
“Because you’ll misunderstand it.”
“You keep saying that.”
“There were things Laura wrote when she was scared.”
“That isn’t your decision anymore.”
Amanda reached for his wrist.
Daniel pulled away.
For the first time since the wedding, she looked as frightened as she had when Sophie placed the pendant in his hand.
“Daniel, please. If you read those messages without me explaining—”
He stood.
“That’s exactly how you kept me from asking questions for a year.”
Amanda followed him with her eyes.
Daniel left.
That night Rachel called.
May you like
She had found Laura’s old laptop.
And Laura had never deleted the folder named A.H.
