Chapter 2 - Sophie Had Always Known She Was Adopted
The first assumption Elena made was wrong.
She thought Sophie did not know.
Sophie had known she was adopted since she was five.
Her parents, Michael and Grace Bennett, never hid it.
They told her in the ordinary language recommended for young children.
She had been born to another mother who loved her but could not care for her safely at the time.
Grace and Michael became her parents through adoption.
Sophie grew up with two truths at once.
She was adopted.
The Bennetts were her real parents.
No contradiction.
Her adoption records were partially open once she became an adult.
At twenty-one, Sophie requested the available file.
Biological mother:
Rebecca Anne Reed.
Age at Sophie’s birth:
twenty-four.
Occupation:
seamstress and alterations assistant.
No biological father listed on the initial birth record.
Later acknowledgment named:
Peter Cole.
Sophie searched for both names.
Rebecca Reed produced hundreds of results.
Peter Cole even more.
The adoption agency’s archived file contained a note saying Rebecca had later requested that future identifying contact be allowed if Sophie chose after adulthood.
Sophie wrote once.
The agency forwarded the letter to the last known address.
It came back undeliverable.
Sophie tried a genealogy website.
Nothing useful.
Then life moved.
College.
Work.
Meeting Nathan Grant, Victoria’s son.
Engagement.
Wedding planning.
Sophie never believed her biological family had rejected her.
She simply thought the trail had ended.
What her adoption file never mentioned was another child.
No sister.
No Elena.
That was what made the photograph impossible.
After the wedding venue emptied, Sophie sat in a private bridal suite with Elena, her wedding dress still on and one shoe missing.
Nathan stood near the window.
He had arrived only after the confrontation.
He knew his mother had been slapped.
He also knew enough not to begin with that.
Sophie placed the photograph on the table.
“How old are we?”
Elena’s hands tightened around a borrowed towel.
“You were five.”
“And you?”
“Seven.”
Sophie stared.
“You’re older.”
“Yes.”
“Same mother?”
Elena nodded.
“Rebecca Reed.”
Sophie felt the room shift.
Nathan looked at her.
She barely saw him.
Sophie asked:
“Why aren’t you in my adoption file?”
Elena answered:
“Because you weren’t adopted from the same placement I was in.”
“I wasn’t told there was another placement.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Elena’s eyes moved toward the closed door.
Toward where Victoria had been escorted away from the bridal suite earlier.
Then back.
“Because your mother tried to find you.”
Sophie’s voice went quiet.
“Our mother.”
Elena nodded.
“Our mother tried to find both of us.”
Then:
May you like
“And Victoria knew.”
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