Chapter 43

Everything Sophie owns is in the car with our bags, which isn’t much. She is, after all, a runaway from a poor town and impoverished parents. One grubby and torn rucksack that’s so full the zipper is coming undone.

The trip to the airfield is short and silent as we all mull things over in our heads. Jake has glanced down at his cell a ton of times and I know he’s been waiting for his mother to call back with more definite plans for Sophie. In the meantime, we have agreed that we’ll both stay at his Manhattan apartment with her until she’s placed in a safe environment through the proper channels. He has more than enough rooms for all of us. Jake feels she needs me there to feel safe as having her with him alone just doesn’t feel right to him, considering her back story. It’s not appropriate.

Sophie is sitting with eyes as wide as saucers; all of this so overwhelming to her and I think, realization, is finally dawning that this is the start of her new beginning. I remember feeling that way on the coach out of Chicago with Sarah by my side. Finally free, running far away from all of it. Running from the influence of my mother. Running from a lifetime of terror and fear.

She reaches out to me and takes my hand, sitting between Jake and I on the rear seat and this small motion brings up an internal feeling I had before. Maternal protective instinct. This girl will have the chance I should have had at her age. I’ll make sure she has a life that is so far removed from where she has come. In a way, I know partially my reasons are for myself, as though adult Emma is somehow reaching into the past and pulling teen Emma to freedom, saving her in a way I could not so many years ago.

* * *

Sophie looks around the apartment with the same saucer eyes and gaping mouth as she did at entering his private jet. This whole thing, like a fairy tale dream to her. I know the feeling well; first time faced with the glamour of the Carrero empire so many years ago when entering Executive House to be interviewed. Girls like us, so unused to refinery and wealth, a completely different life from where we had come.

It is amazing how in the years that followed, I have stopped noticing it at all. Become so un-phased by the expensive furnishings and more recently, with the way Jake is always surrounded by it. I stopped seeing his expensive clothes and accessories. Stopped looking at the five-star hotels and luxuries as anything abnormal. They are just a part of who Jake is; he never makes a show of it, or makes you feel in awe of it; to him it is normal.

I show her to the guest room that’s never used as it’s right beside the room I use when I stay here; Jake thought she may like my closeness. I guide her in. It’s like a modern hotel room, but the bed is laden with bags and boxes. I frown and walk over to open one and I’m hit with the tug of warmth as Donna’s perfume rises from the bag, her scent over everything. Inside are clothes, shoes, toiletries; everything a fourteen-year-old girl would ever need to start a new life. Jake and his ever-attentive nature surpassing my expectations again.

“These are all for you … courtesy of Jake.” I smile, nodding to them. “When you go, you’ll take all this with you.” I pull a bag toward the edge of the bed and nod again, this time giving her permission to look through them. Her eyes almost popping out of her head.

“I’ll leave you to get adjusted, your bathroom is through that door.” I point at the inner white door of the room.

“If you want a bath or shower, go ahead. Jake is having Nora, his housekeeper, cook for us so you’ve an hour before we eat, okay?” I smile widely at her, her face displaying her overwhelming gratitude and shock. She looks like she needs to pinch herself and get back to reality. Time alone to adjust is exactly what she needs right now. Processing time.

“It’s all too much.” A tear rolls down her cheek and I give her a quick embrace. Her eyes huge and damp, her cheeks flushed. I just can’t express how much it tugs at me.

“We all deserve better lives, Sophie … This is just your beginning.” She hugs me tightly before I leave her to absorb all of this and get herself acquainted with her temporary room. A swelling of happiness inside me now that we have her here, away from Chicago, away from the likes of Ray Vanquis. Away from my mother.

Jake’s in the large, open plan sitting room, using his cell, when he sees me approach, he grins and motions me to come over. I obey and close the gap between us smoothly.

“That’s great, Mamma … Yep … Completely … Tiamo anch’io … until tomorrow then … Uhuh.” He repeats his goodbyes and hangs up, beaming at me like an excited child.

“My mother has found Sophie a place to stay with a friend of the family. Someone she trusts, I trust too … Long-term foster arrangement while it goes through the legal process, then a forever home if she likes life with them.” He’s grinning at me in a way that makes me equally ecstatic for her; the Carreros work fast.

“That’s amazing, Jake, really brilliant news! … So, what happens now?” I gush and throw myself into him for a quick celebratory squeeze as he hugs me briefly then releases me, sighing lightly. Keeping a hand on my shoulder as we face each other, so I am held closer than before.

“Sophie will need to be interviewed as she’ll have to tell the child services her story. Everything will be video documented, so they can put her under the protective services umbrella … My mom is taking special interest in this, so she’ll be helped at every step, Emma.”

I frown and look away nervously; that will be agony for her. If she’s anything like me, the thought of telling people everything will be the hardest thing she will ever do. She’s strong and if I explain that this will help her secure a happy future, I’m sure, I can assure her it’s the best thing to do.

“She’ll do it … She wants to start over again so badly.” I look back at him with determination, already formulating my speech for Sophie in my head when I break this news.

“That’s what she’ll get … The Huntsbergers are a lovely family; they have grown children, all of whom they adopted. They have experience with troubled kids. She’ll get a loving home and a good education with them.” He’s watching me closely, his emerald eyes sparkling with happiness.

“You know them well?” I ask nervously, suddenly afraid that this won’t be a right fit for my precious little Sophie. I don’t want her life to be out of her control, unable to break free if it’s not right for her.

“Very … My friend, Leila, is their youngest daughter. She’s been my friend since she arrived at age seven, when they adopted her too. They live relatively close to my parents so my mother will be able to keep tabs for both of us, Emma.” He rests his forehead against mine, bringing both his hands to my shoulders reassuringly.

“It’s the fairy tale ending she deserves … I promise, this is a good thing. Trust me on this, trust that I know these people well enough.” He brings his focus to me and moves closer, intimately closer. Igniting the fluttering in my stomach again.

Damn. I thought I had this under control.

“If you think so, then I trust you, Jake … I just want her to be safe.”

“I promise you, Emma … This is the best outcome I could have ever hoped for.” He places a gentle kiss on my forehead, leaving his mouth against me as we stand motionless, lost in thought. My skin warms and my stomach flips at his touch, my inner worries and stress drain way.

Jake would move mountains to make things right when it’s something he’s invested emotion in. I know Sophie will never want for anything again and he’ll have the best legal team he can buy to guide her through the process of cutting all ties with her real parents. He’ll bring her perverted father to justice and I want to be there to hold her hand through it all, watch her rise like a phoenix from the flames.

Leaving my mother in her dust.