Page 42 of Awaiting the Storm (Wildhaven #1)
Sophie
Twelve Years Old
“W hy do we have to leave now?” I ask drowsily as Momma frantically throws my belongings into my pink suitcase at the edge of my bed.
“Because we need to be gone before your father gets home tomorrow. I already explained this to you.”
“I still don’t understand. What did he do that was so bad?”
“You’re too young for all the details, Sophia. I will tell you one day, but for now, we have to get our things and get out of here if we’re going to catch our flight to New York. You’ve always wanted to go to New York, right? That’s why I chose it.”
I have always wanted to go to New York City.
Ever since I became obsessed with Big City Girl , which was a television program that came on Friday nights and followed the lives of a glamorous group of friends living in the Big Apple.
They were all beautiful, wealthy, in college, and having the time of their lives.
I wanted to be Sinclair Alcott one day. I didn’t think that day would be today.
“When are we coming back? School starts in two weeks, and Blackberry’s foal is due anytime now. I have to be back in time to help. She’s my horse.”
Momma stops her progress and finally looks at me. The manic excitement is draining from her face.
“I’m not sure when we will be back,” she says a little more calmly. “You might be going to school in New York for a while.”
What? I might want to visit New York one day, but this is home. The ranch, my horse, Daddy, and all my friends are here.
“I don’t want to go to school there. I want to go to school here in Poplar Falls.”
Her face falls at my declaration. “We can discuss this later. Here, get up and get your coat and shoes on. Now , young lady.”
I begrudgingly do as I was told. I know my mother well enough to know that arguing with her when she is in this state is futile.
I’ll just have to call Daddy as soon as I’m able and get him to calm her down.
He’s the only one who has ever been able to talk her down, and he’ll convince her to come back home.
“Stop sulking, Sophia,” she says as she wraps her arm around me in the back of the taxi as we drive away from our farmhouse. “You’re going to love this new adventure of ours. I promise.”
I turn and look out the back windshield at the barn as we drive down the long driveway.
I sure hope Blackberry holds on a little longer.
I don’t want her to wonder where I am when her baby is born.
She’ll think I abandoned her. I would never leave her or my daddy and my best friend, Dallas.
They’re my absolute favorite people. Technically, Blackberry is not a person, but she loves like one.
I do my best to hold back tears as the barn fades off into the distance.
Momma continues to try to convince me of the fun we’re going to have.
“We will find an apartment in the city, close to Central Park. There are lots of animals in the park and horse-drawn carriages. You’ll be able to see horses every day.
I’ll get a job and work during the day, we’ll enroll you in a fabulous school, and in the evenings, I can audition for Broadway.
It might take me a little while to get back into performance shape, but I will, and you can take ballet classes and voice lessons.
It’s going to be an amazing adventure. You’ll see. ”
Excitement oozes from her pores as she squeezes me into her side.
There is no use in trying to reason with her when she gets like this, so I nod and play along for now.
“Sure, Momma, it’ll be amazing.”
I hope Daddy sees my note soon.