Chapter 2 — The Man at the Store

After that first meeting, Tony Parker started calling more often. Linda Miller answered his calls with a soft smile that her daughter had not seen in years. She laughed again, she talked for long hours, and she looked happy. For Sofia, it was strange and painful at the same time. She wanted her mother to smile, but not because of that man.

Every evening Linda spoke about Tony. She said, “He is kind, Sofia. He listens to me. He says nice things.”
Sofia nodded slowly. “Mom, sometimes people say nice things only to get what they want.”
Linda shook her head and replied, “Not everyone is like your father. Tony is different.”
Sofia didn’t argue, but inside her heart she felt something wrong.

A few days later, Tony came again. He brought flowers for Linda and a small book for Sofia. He said, “For the young lady, to help her learn about the world.” His voice was calm, but his eyes didn’t look kind. Sofia smiled politely and thanked him. She didn’t want to hurt her mother’s happiness.

Tony started visiting more often. He came with gifts, compliments, and his smooth words. He said, “You both make a beautiful family.” Linda blushed like a teenager. Sofia stayed quiet. She watched her mother falling into a dream that didn’t feel safe.

One evening, after Tony left, Sofia said softly, “Mom, I don’t like the way he looks at me.”
Linda frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He looks… too much,” Sofia whispered.
Linda became upset. “You’re imagining it, Sofia. Don’t spoil a good thing for me.”
Sofia lowered her eyes and said, “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Linda turned away and said quietly, “Maybe you don’t want to see me happy.”
Those words broke Sofia’s heart. She didn’t reply.

In the next few weeks, Tony became a big part of their life. He called every day, sometimes even at night. Linda felt young again. She started dressing nicely and humming old songs. Sofia stayed quiet and tried to keep her feelings hidden. She didn’t want to fight with her mother.

One night, Linda said gently, “Tony wants to meet you both for dinner.”
Sofia looked surprised. “Why me?”
“He says we are a family now. He wants to know you better.”
Sofia felt uneasy. “Mom, please go alone.”
Linda sighed. “You’re being rude, Sofia. He cares about you too.”
Sofia had no choice. She agreed.

At dinner, Tony kept smiling. He held Linda’s hand and said, “You are lucky to have such a beautiful daughter.”
Linda laughed, but Sofia looked away. She could feel that his words had another meaning. She stayed quiet all night.

When they came home, Sofia went straight to her room. Linda followed her and said, “You didn’t talk much tonight.”
Sofia said softly, “Because I don’t trust him.”
Linda crossed her arms. “You are just jealous.”
Sofia’s eyes filled with tears. “Jealous? Of what, Mom? I only want to protect you.”
Linda said coldly, “Then stop. I know what I’m doing.”
Sofia didn’t say anything after that. She cried quietly in her bed.

Tony’s presence started changing their home. He called Linda his “queen” and said he wanted to give her a better life. Linda began believing him completely. She said to Sofia, “He will take care of both of us. You’ll see.”
Sofia only said, “I hope so.” But her voice didn’t sound hopeful.

A week later, Tony gave Linda a small ring. “You mean everything to me,” he said. “I want to marry you.”
Linda gasped in surprise. She told Sofia the news that night. “Tony proposed to me!” she said with tears in her eyes.
Sofia froze. “Mom, no. It’s too fast. You don’t even know him.”
Linda smiled through her tears. “Sometimes the heart knows faster than the mind.”
Sofia begged softly, “Please wait, Mom. Please.”
But Linda shook her head. “I can’t live alone anymore, Sofia. I want someone to hold me when I’m old.”

Sofia sat quietly, holding her mother’s hand. “You already have someone,” she said. “You have me.”
Linda smiled sadly. “But one day you’ll go, and I’ll be alone again.”
Sofia whispered, “I’ll never leave you, Mom.”
But she knew her words were useless. Her mother’s heart was already gone.

That night, Sofia lay in bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. She could hear her mother’s phone buzzing again. Another message from Tony. She heard her mother laugh softly.

Sofia turned to the wall and whispered, “Please, God, don’t let this man hurt her.”
But God was silent.