Chapter 15 - Sophie Remembered Only His Voice
Two years after the red-eye, Sophie had no memory of it.
Of course she did not.
She knew Ethan as the tall man who read picture books badly.
The man who let her steal ice from his glass.
The man whose security team she called “the uncles,” despite Rachel
repeatedly correcting her.
Rachel had completed her bookkeeping certification and started a small
accounting service for neighborhood restaurants.
She no longer worked double shifts unless she chose to.
Marisol moved closer.
Elena visited often.
Marcus’s criminal case and family-court matters had reached separate
legal resolutions.
Rachel followed the court’s safety arrangements.
She did not turn the outcome into a public revenge story.
Sophie would someday deserve an age-appropriate truth about her father.
Not internet mythology.
Vincent no longer worked for any Callahan company.
The historical audit exposed additional misconduct connected to Anthony
Russo’s era.
Ethan published the findings where appropriate.
Some relatives accused him of betraying family.
He answered:
“Family isn’t an evidence-destruction policy.”
Rachel heard about that line from Patrick and laughed for ten minutes.
Then Ethan asked Rachel something serious.
Not marriage.
Not yet.
He asked whether he could establish a permanent room for Sophie at his
Chicago home.
Rachel considered it.
Then said yes.
A room did not make him Sophie’s father.
It did not erase Marcus.
It simply meant Sophie had a place in Ethan’s life.
Ethan decorated it terribly.
May you like
Rachel made him redo half of it.
That felt strangely domestic.
