Page 51 of It’s Me, but Different

“Mom, stop it!” Ana Sofia shrieks, getting up from her chair and positioning herself between us with eyes full of tears.

“Ana, you don't understand. This is going to cost…”

“I DON'T CARE WHAT IT COSTS!” my daughter screams again. “Theo could have died! I called you a bunch of times,” she continues, tears running down her cheeks. “A bunch of times, Mom. And you didn't answer me. Theo was screaming in pain, and you weren't there. Sloane came. She took care of everything and stayed with me when I was scared.”

Knowing that everything she says is true, far from calming me, makes me even more furious. Especially with myself.

“And now that Theo is okay, all you care about is money. You're not worried if he's still in pain, or the fear we went through. Just how much it costs,” she insists.

“Ana, that's not… When you're older, you'll understand,” I whisper, trying to put a hand on her shoulder, but my daughter pulls away.

“Sloane has been here from the beginning, Mom,” she interrupts me. “She's talked to the doctors, signed papers, stayed with me during the operation. She's been doing everything you should have been doing.”

“That's not fair, I…” but I stop. I can't find the right words to continue while wiping tears with my palm.

“Kiddo, Mom was working because she wants the best for you,” Sloane explains, crouching down to be at the girl's height.

“Well, what I want is a mother who's by our side, not working all day.”

“I'm sorry,” I gasp. “I'm so sorry, honey. You're right, I…”

“Esme…” Sloane sighs, standing up and approaching me to gently stroke my back.

“I'm a horrible mother,” I sob, hiding my face in her neck and completely breaking down. “I let my work be more important than my children.”

“That's not true. You're an excellent mother. A mother who sacrifices every day to give them a better future.And you can't imagine how much I admire you for that,” she assures me.

“But you… you've taken care of Ana Sofia. You've found a hospital for Theo. You've done everything I should have done.”

“Esme, it's okay. Theo is okay. That's the only thing that really matters right now,” she assures me, kissing my forehead.

We separate, and I see Ana Sofia is watching us with a strange expression. Not sadness. But weird.

“Mom, do you know what I'd like?” she says suddenly.

“What, honey?”

“I'd like to be able to have both of you as mothers. You and Sloane,” she admits, shrugging and smiling.

Her words leave me stunned. I shift my gaze to Sloane, who's watching her with wide eyes.

“Ana Sofia, that can't…”

“Seriously,” my daughter continues. “You work a lot to take care of us, but sometimes you can't be there. And Sloane… Sloane when she came to our house the day we came back from Silver Peaks told you she wanted to help you. Like today. It's as if you were a team.”

I look at Sloane, who smiles. Then at my son Theo, who's watching us from the bed. Then back at the girl.

“A team,” I repeat slowly.

“Yes,” Ana Sofia nods, squeezing my hand. “A family.”

While the girl falls asleep in a chair, with her head resting on her brother's bed, I take the opportunity to talk to Sloane.

“It's been a tough day,” she sighs, nodding toward the children.

“For everyone,” I confess. “Can I ask you something?”

She simply nods slowly and smiles at me.