I couldn’t find the words to respond.
“What did you do?”
“I was told to clean the kitchen before the guests arrived. Then Patricia said I couldn’t come downstairs because I was wearing old clothes and would embarrass Bianca.”
My hands tightened beneath the table.
“Did you have anything to eat?”
“Not until everyone left.”
She stared at the pancakes.
“You called that night, Dad.”
I remembered the sound of traffic in the background when I had spoken to Patricia.
“I wasn’t asleep,” Sofia continued. “I was outside.”
I stared at her.
“Outside where?”
“In the backyard.”
She looked down at her hands.
“I could see them through the living room window. Bianca was opening presents. Everybody was laughing. Patricia took pictures of them beside the cake.”
Her voice became quieter.
“I could hear them singing.”
She pressed her lips together.
“I stood outside until they finished. It was cold, but I didn’t want to knock because Patricia said if I interrupted the party, she’d make sure I regretted it.”
