Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Thanksgiving Day
SOPHIA’S POV
Thanksgiving Day arrived.
I stood in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back at . My eyes were tired. I had dark circles under them. My whole face looked hollow.
I didn’t want to go anywhere public. I didn’t want eyes on . I didn’t want whispers, questions, or pity.
Most of all, I didn’t want to risk running into Damien again. I thought about Ashley and how much I had disappointed her. I thought about Lance too.
Everything made
feel like a failure.
I just wanted to stay in and sleep in bed all day. But Klara had talked about this day for weeks.
Every phone call ended with, “Don’t forget, Aunt Sophia. You promised.” Every visit included her tugging my sleeve, reminding
about her costu, her poem, her class.
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
I already broke so many promises, I thought. I can’t break this one too.
I chose a simple sweater and dark jeans. Nothing that drew attention. As I pulled my boots on, my wolf stirred inside . Crowds made her restless now. There would be too many scents and too many emotions.
“It’s just a school event,” I muttered to myself. “You can handle an hour.”
The words sounded thin.
Klara burst out of the house like a spark the mont I opened the door. She wore her pilgrim costu proudly, construction paper hat crooked. She had on a paper buckle glued slightly off-center.
“Look at !” she said, spinning. “Mom said I look perfect!”
“You do.”
“I’m so happy you ca,” she said into my sweater.
During the drive, she talked nonstop about the poem, about the songs, about who was sitting next to her and how her friend, Emma, forgot her lines during practice.
“I’m not going to forget mine,” she declared. “Even the turkey part.”
I laughed. “I have complete faith in you.”
The parking lot was already packed when we arrived.
Klara tugged my hand. “Co on! We’re going to be late!”
I swallowed and followed her.. Inside, banners hung from the walls. I noticed the paper turkeys. Kids ran around, laughing and playing.
I spotted the banner over the stage.
ADOWBROOK ACADEMY THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION.
My blood went cold. I stopped walking. This was Ashley’s school too.
“Klara,” I said softly.
She turned, frowning. “Aunt Sophia? What’s wrong?”
I forced a smile, even as my heart pounded.
“Nothing, sweetheart. Just... trying to find good seats.”
We sat in the back corner, as far from the center as possible. I helped her off with her coat, straightened her hat, adjusted the collar of her costu.
Parents chatted around . They laughed while taking pictures. A woman beside
smiled and said, “Crazy weather this year, huh?”
“Yeah,” I replied politely, keeping my eyes down. I hoped nobody would see , especially Ashley.
I scanned the room constantly. My wolf was alert inside .
Klara first, I reminded myself. Just get through this.
She bounced in her seat. “That’s Miss Rachel! See her?” She pointed excitedly. “I’m going third. After the corn song.”
“I’ll be watching,” I said with a small smile. “The whole ti.”
The principal stepped onto the stage and spoke about gratitude and community. The kindergarteners filed out in crooked lines for their performance. Klara was one of them. She waved wildly when she spotted .
They sang sweetly but off-key. It was still adorable.
When Klara stepped up to the microphone, she hesitated. I saw the mont of fear on her face.
You’ve got this, I thought.
She started her poem, mixed up two lines, then powered through anyway. When she finished, she looked straight at . I smiled widely.
I clapped harder than anyone. My hands stung. My eyes burned. She bead.
For a mont, everything else faded. Then the principal returned.
“And now,” she said brightly, “a special performance from one of our brightest pupil.”
When she said this I never expected Ashley to step out.
My heart pounded yet again.
Ashley stepped onto the stage. She was beautiful in her floral dress. She looked confident. My heart clenched painfully. She scanned the audience with her eyes. I shrank back, hoping she wouldn’t see .
But that was not all.
The side doors burst open and soone else walked into the stage.
Tiffany.
She wore a floor-length gown that shimred under the lights. Diamonds flashed at her throat and wrists.
I was confused. What was she doing?
I found out soon enough when she went to sit down on the piano stand and Ashley curtsied.
So Tiffany was going to play the piano and she was going to dance.
They were performing together.
Once again Tiffany got one point against .
I hissed silently.
The performance began.
Tiffany started playing. Her notes hit the room. But sothing was wrong. Her song was too fast, off too.
Ashley had started dancing but suddenly her feet began to wobble. The notes weren’t right.
The music slowed unpredictably. Ashley’s feet wobbled again. She stumbled, barely catching herself.
Tiffany didn’t look at her once.
If she heard the rubbish she was playing she made no effort to stop it.
Ashley missed a cue and stood still. She started to panic. Tears fell from her eyes.
She’s doing this on purpose, my wolf snarled. She’s fooling our pup in front of everyone.
Ashley tried again but her movents failed her because she couldn’t catch up to the notes. Her confidence shattered in front of everyone.
She was drowning yet I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t save her.
My chest burned with helplessness. Every maternal instinct in
scread as I sat frozen in my seat while Ashley stood there, shaking.
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