But she was.When they walked in, Sofia was behind the counter.When she spotted Sam walking in with Aiden, her face tightened.
Aiden ordered a large coffee, then turned to see what Sam wanted.“I’ll have a decaf,” she said.Then she added, “Sofia, I was wondering if I could talk with you for a minute.Do you have a break coming up?”
Sofia pressed her lips together.“Give me five minutes.”
They sat at a corner table after Sofia got their drinks.A young man came out to take over behind the counter.
“Thanks for talking with us,” Sam said as Sofia took a seat with them.
“Did I really have a choice?”Her voice was defensive.
“Sure you did,” said Aiden.“But we thought you might want to talk something out before Chief Hawkins comes back with more questions.”
Sofia’s eyes widened slightly.“What do you mean?More questions about what?”
Sam said in a quiet tone, “The fact you’re Sofia Brennan.You were Margaret’s daughter, weren’t you?”
Sofia took a deep breath.“That’s right.But it’s not what you think.I was trying to reconcile with my mother.I never wanted any harm to come to her.”
“You’d left after book club ended, you said.”Sam searched her face.“Did you notice anything else?See anyone else leaving?”
Sofia said, “I didn’t really see much.There was just so much tension between my mother and me.I thought that was the reason she stayed behind in the back room of the bookstore.She didn’t want any interaction with me.”She hesitated.“I think Claire was still in the shop when I left.She’d been talking to Charlotte.And Gerald was heading to his car when I pulled out.”
Of course, the problem there was that the murder very likely took place before anyone left the shop.After the poison in Margaret’s coffee had taken effect.
Aiden said quietly, “You said you were trying to reconcile with your mom.What happened between the two of you?”
Sofia rubbed her face.“My mom happened.”She glanced over at Sam.“You met her.You saw how she was.”
Sam said, “I’m guessing she was probably a pretty tough person to grow up with.”
“Yeah, you could say that.I mean, my mom was brilliant, but she couldn’t turn off the criticism.Not even with her own daughter.”
“That must have been hard,” said Aiden.
“She pushed me really hard in high school.No grade was ever good enough for her.If I was proud about an A I’d gotten, she’d tell me I should have gotten a 100 on the test instead of a 95.”Sofia shrugged as if it hadn’t been a big deal, but the hurt was written across her features.”
Sam said, “It’s especially bad when criticism is coming from a parent.I didn’t have the best relationship with my folks, either.”
Sofia gave her a curious look.“Are you still in touch with them?”
“Not for a few years.They’ll call me, but I don’t pick up.”
Sofia nodded.“I totally get it.My mom was furious when I didn’t get into her alma mater.She thought I’d go to Brown University, the same as she had.When I was rejected, she acted like I’d failed at life.”
“So you fell out of touch when you went off to college?”asked Aiden.
“Yep.I decided to take out loans.Well, Mom told me she wouldn’t pay for my school since I’d been ‘such a disappointment.’At that point, I just took out my loans and stayed at school instead of ever going home.Over the holidays, I stayed with a friend’s parents.”She shrugged again, but the hurt was still there.
Sam said, “When did you last speak with Margaret?Before you joined book club, I mean.”
“Three years ago.I called on her birthday to wish her a happy day.But she lectured me for fifteen minutes about my career choices.I couldn’t take it.”Sofia took a deep breath.“I like to think I can let that kind of poison just roll off of me, but I can’t do it.I guess that’s just a flaw I have.”
“Not at all,” said Sam.“Believe me, I totally get it.I’m the same with my parents.I wish it was different, I really do.But I have to consider my own mental health.”
Aiden asked, “What made you decide to join book club?Did you know your mom was a member?”
Sofia nodded.“There was a small write-up in the paper about it.The reporter had gotten a few quotes from members and one of them was my mom.It was supposed to be a piece that helped generate business for Twice-Told Tales after the hurricane had done so much damage.Anyway, I saw that and decided to join.”She paused, thinking.“I wanted to see who my mother was when I wasn’t around.I wondered if she was different with other people or if she was difficult and critical with everyone.”
