Her lower lip trembled.
“But she didn’t want me in her car.”
“That’s her decision, honey. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.”
Emma nodded, but tears had already filled her eyes.
A moment later, her phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen, then handed it to me.
It was a message from Sophie.
I’m sorry. I told Mom you could sit on my jacket so the seat wouldn’t get wet. She said I should stop arguing.
I read it twice.
Part of me had still been trying to excuse Vanessa’s behavior as a moment of panic over a new car.
But Sophie had given her another chance to reconsider.
Vanessa had refused again.
I hugged Emma, then ordered a rideshare.
The fare was almost painful to look at. Money was already tight, and I had a dead car sitting in my driveway.
Still, I got Emma to school.
