That evening, Nate and I spoke to Sophie together.
We explained that Amanda had made an unfair decision about the wedding and wanted to apologize.
Sophie immediately asked, “Was it because of my skin?”
I didn’t want to lie.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Her face fell.
“But Aunt Amanda said my skin was pretty.”
“I know.”
“Did she change her mind?”
I pulled her close.
“She made a mistake about what matters. That doesn’t mean anything about you changed.”
Sophie thought about it for a while.
Then she said she wanted to hear what Amanda had to say.
Amanda came over that Saturday.
She arrived without flowers or presents.
Sophie sat beside me on the couch while Amanda took a chair across from us.
For once, my sister didn’t seem concerned about her appearance. Her hair was tied back, and the scar near her eyebrow was plainly visible.
“Sophie,” she began, “I owe you an apology.”
