Chapter 3
My spirit drifted back to our place in the city.
I hovered in front of David, trying to get my point across.
I kept talking, but none of them could see me.
Linda didn't argue with David. She gently patted Eric's back to comfort him, put him in his stroller, and rolled him into the kitchen. "I'm going to make dinner," she said.
In the kitchen, she wiped away tears as she cooked.
Tonight it was beef again, just what Chloe loved.
I had no idea what kind of beef it was, only that it was huge. Every time, Chloe always had Linda serve it for her.
The long, tender pieces of beef were piled up like a small pyramid right in front of her.
My mouth was watering, but Linda put a forkful of cabbage on my plate and said, "Don't think about the beef."
"What's she doing now?" Linda muttered as she cooked.
She kept talking to herself while making dinner.
Before she sent me off to Frank's place, I was the one she always confided in.
She told me that David changed after Eric was born.
She said being a stepmother was tough, and Chloe never listened, but she still had to go along with everything because she was afraid people would think she was a bad stepmother.
She always said I was the only one in the family who understood her and asked me to behave.
I said, "Mom, I'm right here with you. I've always been good, so why did you send me to live with Frank?
"If I die, there won't be anyone left who gets you.
"Who will you talk to then?"
I started crying, feeling down.
Linda glanced in my direction as if she could somehow feel my presence, but she quickly looked away.
"Is Sophie okay?" Linda muttered, feeling a pang of worry.
But Eric's cries from the stroller at her feet quickly pulled her attention away.
"There, there. I've got you," she said softly.
She turned down the heat, crouched down, and lovingly picked Eric up.
My tears were streaming down my face, and I couldn't stop crying.
Before Eric was born, Linda would give me a little extra food on the side when no one was looking.
But after Eric showed up, it was like I didn't exist to her anymore.
David couldn't care less about me, and Chloe hated my guts.
After I'd been left waiting outside school in the dark for the thirtieth time with nobody coming to get me, David suggested sending me back to live with Frank.
No one at home could spare the time to pick me up.
Taking public transport was out. The round-trip fare alone was three dollars a day, on top of the lunch money I'd need at school.
David said we couldn't afford it.
Linda didn't agree at first, but when David mentioned Eric, she gave in.
Linda would call me often, but Frank's phone was never on.
She wanted to come home and see me.
But David stopped her and said, "Who's going to cook for Chloe when you're gone?
"I work my ass off every day. You want me to come home and eat air?"
Linda held Eric close and whispered, "I'm a bit worried about Sophie."
I wanted to run over and hug her. Deep down, I knew I was always on her mind.
She was too busy. She'd always told me I was her favorite.
David's eyes burned with anger. "She's got Frank. Are you going to ditch Eric and us for her?" he shouted.
Linda shook her head and denied, "You're making it sound worse than it is. I would never do that. I won't go back to see her, okay? I'll call the local community worker, Liam Smith, and ask how Sophie is doing. Please don't be mad."
David nodded, satisfied. "That's more like it. You need to remember who will be by your side for the rest of your life. Don't give up something important for something meaningless," he said.
I thought stubbornly, refusing to accept what David said.
"I'll be with my Mom for the rest of her life!" I shouted as I drifted right up to David, burning with anger. I wanted to punch him so badly.
He was always the reason Linda cried, yet as a ghost, I couldn't lay a finger on him.
"Okay," Linda replied with a bitter nod.
"Call Frank and get cooking. My coworkers are coming over for dinner tonight, so cook up a feast," David ordered, sprawled out on the couch and scrolling through his phone.
Chloe was sprawled on the other couch, earphones in, gaming away, and muttering curses now and then.
Linda carried Eric into the bedroom and then dialed Liam's number.