When the past arrives in the present

Building Bridges

After the emotional meeting between Erin and Sophie, Hailey suggested that she and Erin have a private conversation to discuss the future. They sat together in Hailey's cozy living room, the evening light filtering through the curtains as they both took a moment to gather their thoughts.

"Erin, I know this is a lot to process," Hailey began, her voice steady but gentle. "Sophie means the world to me, and I've been thinking a lot about what's best for her."

Erin nodded, her expression a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. "I understand, Hailey. And I appreciate everything you've done for Sophie. She's lucky to have you."

Hailey took a deep breath. "I've been thinking... Sophie needs stability and love. And I want to provide that for her."

Erin's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by Hailey's words. "Hailey, I... I'm not here to take Sophie away from you. I have no intention of trying to get custody."

"I know, Erin," Hailey said, her eyes softening. "But I also want Sophie to have a stable home, a place where she feels safe and loved. And I want to provide that for her."

Erin's shoulders relaxed slightly, a sense of relief washing over her. She had feared that Hailey might resent her presence, but instead, she was met with understanding and compassion. "Thank you, Hailey. That means a lot to me. I... I want to build a relationship with Sophie, too. Even if I have to go back to New York."

"I'm glad to hear that," Hailey replied. "I think Sophie would benefit from having both of us in her life."

Meanwhile, Sophie sat in her room, her mind racing with thoughts of the meeting with Erin. She had so many questions—about her birthdate, about why Erin had given her up, and about her biological father. When Erin had mentioned that he wasn't a good person, Sophie's curiosity had only deepened.

A knock on the door pulled Sophie from her thoughts. She opened it to find Erin standing there, a tentative smile on her face.

"Hey, Sophie. Can we talk for a bit?" Erin asked.

Sophie nodded, stepping aside to let Erin into her room. They sat down together, Sophie studying Erin's face with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"I... I want to know about my real birthdate. And... why did you give me up?" Sophie finally said, her voice tinged with a hint of anger.

Erin took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she prepared to share her truth. "Your real birthdate is July 15th. As for why I gave you up... It wasn't because I didn't love you. I was young, scared, and I didn't have the support I needed. I wanted you to have a better life than the one I could give you at the time."

Sophie listened quietly, her heart aching at the pain she heard in Erin's voice. But instead of feeling relieved, she felt a surge of anger. "So you just gave me away? Just like that? Do you have any idea what it was like for me?"

Erin's eyes filled with tears, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, Sophie. I thought you were in a loving home. I never wanted you to suffer."

Sophie crossed her arms, her anger not so easily soothed. "Well, I did. And now you just show up out of nowhere, expecting everything to be okay?"

Erin shook her head, her own heart breaking. "No, Sophie. I don't expect that. I just... I want to be here for you now. To try and make things right."

Sophie hesitated for a moment before asking her next question, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about my biological dad? Do... do I have one?"

Erin's expression darkened slightly, a shadow passing over her features. "Yes, you do have a biological father. But... he's not a good person, Sophie. He hurt me, and I couldn't let him hurt you, too."