Page 73 of Happily Ever After

She poured herself a mug of coffee and took a few quick sips. Maple stood by the door, ready to go.

“Okay,” Essie murmured, downing a little more coffee. “Let’s go.”

She clipped Maple’s leash on and they stepped outside. She was grateful for the excuse to move. Maple trotted ahead, nose low, intent on inspecting every scent in case the world had changed overnight.

In some ways, it had.

Essie let Maple set the pace. The quiet of the early morning gave her room to think without interruption or politeness getting in the way.

She’d spent too long worrying about saying the wrong things to Sophie. About pushing too hard. About being the wicked stepmother instead of the understanding one. But understanding, Essie knew now, had turned into avoidance. And avoidance wasn’t helping Sophie at all.

Essie stopped while Maple investigated a hedge with great seriousness. Essie stared down the street, at the little houses and trimmed lawns, and felt something settle into place inside her.

This conversation had to happen.

Essie resumed walking, her thoughts lining up as neatly as the houses along the street. She prayed about what to say and when she was done, she saw things more clearly. She wasn’t going to lecture or accuse, but she also wasn’t going to cushion the truth.

Regardless of how Sophie acted and lived, she was an adult.

It was time to talk about the lawsuits. The pretense that TikTok was a job. The refusal to decide anything while still insisting things weren’t her fault. The unwillingness to deal with the grief of losing her mother.

None of it could keep going unchecked. Not with a baby on the way. Did Sophie not realize she had a family ready to help her if she would only get out of her own way?

Maple looked back at Essie, tongue out, tail wagging, as if to say this was the best walk they’d ever had. Essie smiled, deeply grateful for the little dog.

By the time they turned back toward the house, Essie knew what she was going to say. Not every word, but the heart of it. She would be calm and kind, but direct.

She refreshed her coffee and sat in her chair to read her Bible and have her devotions.

When Sophie finally emerged from the guest room, she looked rumpled and tired, her hair tangled, her face pale in a way that didn’t seem sleep related. She padded into the kitchen barefoot and stood there, staring at the coffee maker like it might betray her.

“Morning,” Essie said.

Sophie glanced over, startled. “Oh. Morning.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I really want coffee, but I don’t know if I can. Because of…you know.”

“No more than two cups.”

“Okay.” Sophie reached for a mug.

“Bring your coffee in here,” Essie said. “And have a seat.”

It wasn’t a command. More of a firmly worded suggestion.

Sophie hesitated, then came into the living room and settled on the couch, a very uncertain look on her face.

They sat in silence, Sophie blowing gently across the surface of the coffee, Essie watching her hands tremble just slightly as she lifted the mug.

Essie took a breath. There was no reason to put this off any longer. “Sophie,” she said. “We need to talk.”

Sophie’s shoulders stiffened immediately. “About what?”

Essie held her cup of coffee with both hands, resting it on her lap. “I want you to know something before I say anything else. This isn’t about you being in trouble. And it’s not about me being angry.”

Sophie nodded once, eyes widening a little.