Chapter 23 - The Teenage Milestone
Sophie’s thirteenth birthday was a milestone Richard had both anticipated and dreaded.
He had read countless parenting books about the tumultuous teenage years, preparing himself for slamming doors and teenage angst. But Sophie's rebellion was entirely different.
She walked into the kitchen on the morning of her birthday, wearing a slightly oversized denim jacket.
"Happy birthday, teenager,"
Richard smiled, placing a massive stack of blueberry pancakes on the table.
"Thanks, Dad,"
Sophie said, sitting down and pouring a generous mountain of syrup.
She ate in silence for a few minutes before looking up, her green eyes serious and contemplative.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, Soph?"
"Can you tell me a story about Mom today?"
Sophie asked softly.
"Not a sad one. A funny one. I want to know what she sounded like when she laughed."
Richard felt a lump form in his throat, but it wasn't made of pain. It was made of pure, overwhelming love.
"Your mother had the worst, most embarrassing snort when she laughed really hard,"
May you like
Richard began, sitting down across from her, a bright smile breaking across his face.
He spent the next hour telling her about Claire's terrible cooking, her awful taste in 80s pop music, and the time she accidentally dyed the family dog pink. Sophie laughed until her sides hurt. They were finally able to share the memory of Claire without it feeling like a funeral.
