The wedding was over, but Sofia's heart was still beating hard against her chest.
She sat in the passenger seat of Riley's car, the sound of its engine filling the silence between them. Riley was driving in silence with one hand on the wheel, while the other one rested against the window. Her facial expression was unreadable.
Halfway through the drive, Riley broke the silence.
"You've been acting strange ever since Clara's scandal broke," Riley said, eyes still fixed on the road. "And today? You were even weirder. What's going on, Sofia? What are you hiding?"
Sofia's fingers tightened around her dress and her tongue went dry. "I'm not hiding anything," she lied, her reply too quick.
Riley shot her a look. "Oh, please. I've known you for 12 years. You have that look. Spill."
Sofia turned her head toward the window, watching streetlights streak across the glass. "I'm just tired." She lied.
She swallowed hard. She had buried this memory so deep and convinced herself it didn't matter anymore. But now, with Clara under the Ashfords' roof, the secret couldn't stay hidden. She closed her eyes, and the memories came flooding back.
She was sixteen again.
The smell of laundry detergent was too strong on the big sweater she had been given by her new foster mom, one of Marlene's old neighbors, a kind woman named Janet. The house was small but cozy.
Clara was there, on the couch, absentmindedly flipping through college acceptance letters. They had been there only two days, and Cade , her tiny, helpless nephew, had been taken in by another foster family across town. Clara would cry every night for him, but in quiet sobs so nobody would hear. She had told Sofia it was better this way, that Cade will grow up in a stable home, away from the chaos. But Sofia knew better. Her sister's heart was breaking.
That's when Sofia got the idea.