Chapter 3

On the way home, Emily didn't say anything out loud, but in her heart, she was saying so much.

[I don't know how much longer I can keep going. If I really can't make it, I'll just beg him every day.]

[He's the one who let us down first. Even if he won't accept it, I still have to leave Sophie with him.]

Emily was gazing out the window, totally spaced out, and I just couldn't hold it in anymore—I started bawling.

"Mom, you don't want me anymore?

"Please don't send me Sophie away! I'll be good, I promise! I won't make you mad ever again!" I sobbed.

Emily pulled me into her arms, and we both cried our eyes out. She whispered, "Sophie, Mommy would never leave you. I'll always be here with you, forever."

But the next day, she still made me draw Ryan into our family portrait, then marched me right up to his door, practically forcing him to take me in.

But I still couldn't make Ryan like me. He threw me out again. Emily must be really disappointed in me now.

At dinner, I just slumped over my bowl, and even my favorite pumpkin soup tasted bland tonight.

Emily could see I was feeling down. Before bed, she closed the storybook she always read to me, held me close, and said, "Sophie, do you know why it's so important for Grandpa to accept you as family?"

I shook my head. If I had a choice, I'd rather just have my sweet mom with me.

Emily didn't answer right away. Instead, she asked, "Do you remember the big bear we saw at the zoo?"

The last time we went to the zoo was in winter, and all the animals that were usually so lively were just hiding out in their shelters, not showing their faces.

The lady who worked there said bears slept all winter long—they hibernated and didn't wake up until it was warm again.

Gently running her fingers through my hair, Emily whispered, "You know, Mommy's going to go to sleep for a long time.

"Just like that big bear, I'll be sleeping for a long, long time, and nobody will be able to wake me up.

"But what about you, Sophie? I'm really worried about you being all by yourself, so I need Grandpa to take care of you."

I asked anxiously, "How long will you be asleep, Mom? I'll wait for you to wake up. I won't go anywhere."

Emily sniffled and replied, "When spring comes, I'll wake up."

But inside, she was thinking. [Maybe if I put it this way, Sophie won't be so sad when I'm gone. I just hope Sophie can make peace with the old man before then.]

I didn't know where Emily was really going, but I nodded obediently, not wanting her to worry.

"I'll do whatever you say, Mom."

The next day, we got all dressed up and headed over to Ryan's place again.

Emily wasn't all tense and ready to snap like before. She just quietly knocked on the door.

But this time, it was Emma who peeked out first, looking worried.

She asked, "Emily, is your dad okay? The milkman came by earlier and knocked, but he didn't answer."

Emily's face went pale. She grabbed her phone and called for help, and soon a bunch of paramedics showed up at the door.

The door swung open, and I saw Ryan collapse on the floor. Emily screamed, and together with the paramedics, she helped carry him out to the ambulance.

At the hospital, the doctor said Ryan was suffering from poor blood circulation in his brain and told him to take it easy from now on—no more strenuous activities.

We stayed by his bedside, and when he finally opened his eyes, I was the first one to speak up, "Grandpa, does it still hurt?"

Ryan blinked a few times before answering, his voice sounding a little stiff, "Why are you here? Where's your mom?"

"I'm here," Emily said, stepping out of the restroom. She looked really pale, like she'd just been scared out of her wits.

Silence fell over the room as Ryan and Emily pointedly ignored each other, their heads turned in opposite directions. It was as if an invisible wall had sprung up between them.

I darted glances at both of them, feeling the awkward tension in the air. Deciding to break the ice, I rushed to the sink, washed an apple, and then hurried back.

I said, shoving the apple into his hand, "Grandpa, Mom picked this one up earlier. It's sweet. Take a bite!"

Ryan gave me a sheepish look and reached up to pat my head. "You've got a big heart, kiddo," he remarked.

"I'm not petty at all!" I declared, striking a proud pose with my hands on my hips.

That comment made Emily crack a smile. She reached out and booped my nose. "You little troublemaker," she said, though there was no real scolding in her voice.

The stiffness in Ryan's features softened. He took another peek at Emily, then took a hefty bite of the apple.

"You ought to get yourself checked out. You're looking too skinny these days," he said.

At that, Emily's hand jerked. The water cup she'd been holding slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces.