Chapter Fifty-Seven
Alicia's POV
I arrived at the school just as classes were letting out. Parents lined up in their expensive cars, waiting to collect their children. I stood near the entrance, scanning the crowd of uniformed students pouring out of the building.
Sophie emerged a few minutes later. When she saw me, her face lit up and she ran over.
"Alicia! I had the best day!"
Relief flooded through me. I'd been worried all day about how she'd handle her first day at a new school. Worried she'd be overwhelmed or scared or that the other kids would be cruel.
"Tell me everything," I said, taking her backpack as we walked toward the car.
She talked the entire drive home. About her teacher, Mrs. Patterson, who had a kind smile and let them pick their own seats. About the girl named Emma who'd shared cookies at lunch. About the library that was three times bigger than any library she'd ever seen.
