Sophie’s Secret (14 page)

BOOK: Sophie’s Secret

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Daddy said, “We’d be all those things whether you were adopted or not. A family is a family because of love, not because of biology.” Daddy leaned toward her. Sophie had never seen his face look confused before, ever. “I got the feeling when I was at the school today that it was the first time you believed I loved you. Is that right?”

Sophie could almost hear Dr. Peter saying,
I love that honesty, Loodle.

She tangled and untangled her fingers for a few seconds, and then she said, “Yes.”

Daddy’s face didn’t turn red. He didn’t demand to know where she got such a ridiculous idea. He just nodded. And he blinked. Hard.

“Look, Soph,” he said. His voice was thick, like peanut butter. “The reason I’m so hard on you is because I know God has you here for a very special reason, or you would have died. I want to be sure you have all it takes to fulfill his purpose for you. I want you to be physically strong—that’s why I push you toward sports. I want you to get a good education—that’s why I’m always raising the bar on your grades. I don’t want to see you wasting time on things that don’t mean anything.” Sophie shook her head. “I don’t do that, Daddy.”

To her surprise, he nodded. “I think I’m starting to figure that out, Soph,” he said.

And suddenly, Sophie figured something out too. THIS was what it meant when Jesus went home and obeyed his parents and grew up every way he was supposed to. And THEN he did what God put him there to do.

I’m gonna be that obedient too
she decided, then and there.
Even when Daddy doesn’t get me, I have to respect him.

And she had to start right now.

“Daddy?” she said.

“Yeah, Soph?” he said.

“Thank you for standing up for me today.”

Daddy’s big face broke into a grin so wide, Sophie could see right into his God-space.

“You were taking a hit for the team,” he said. “I had to be there.”

And somehow Sophie knew that he always would be.

Glossary

appalling
(uh-PALL-ing) totally shocking or almost heinous

archaeologists
(ARE-kay-AH-luh-jists) people who study the stuff that people left behind a long, long time ago

artifact
(ARE-tih-fakt) something people used in the past, like tools or artwork

camisole
(KAA-mih-sole) a short, sleeveless shirt worn underneath clothes

cardiac arrest
(CAR-dee-ack uh-REST) when someone’s heart stops beating

clandestine
(clan-DEHSS-tin) being secretive and maybe even sneaky

cower
(COW-er) to crouch or shield yourself, usually from something scary

descendants
(dih-SEHN-dunts) people who are born after a person, like Fiona is Boppa’s descendant

despondent
(dih-SPAHN-dunt) feeling totally depressed and hopeless

dignity
(DIG-nuh-tee) feeling worthy and like you’re important; being filled with good pride

documental
(DAH-kyou-mehn-tuhl) evidence like an artifact, photograph, or recording that can prove something; usually this evidence has been documented officially in writing

excavate
(ECK-skuh-vate) to dig out and remove

flabbergast
(FLAA-burr-gaast) to overwhelm with shock or surprise

flux
(FLUHKS) the condition of having diarrhea

gavel
(GAA-vuhl) a mallet used to gain the audience’s attention or confirm a decision was just made; the thing judges use

heinous
(HAY-nuhss) shockingly mean, beyond rude, or like wicked in a bad way

jeopardize
(JEH-purr-dize) to risk or threaten something dangerously

leeway
(LEE-way) freedom given to someone else to make mistakes or do something a different way

mutiny
(MYOO-tuh-nee) harshly rebelling against authority, like a sea captain or your parents

obsessed
(uhb-SEHST) thinking about something way too much

palisade
(paa-luhss-ADE) a fence of stakes used to protect a fort from enemies

precedent
(PREH-suh-duhnt) something done or said that serves as a model for someone or something that comes afterward, like a set example to follow

sedately
(sih-DATE-lee) quietly and steadily, like in a cool, calm way

swellings
(SWELL-ings) puffed up larger than normal size, especially like when it’s a body part or area of the body

vexation
(veck-SAY-shun) the act of troubling or irritating someone or when you’re being troubled or irritated by someone or something

Sophie Series
Written by Nancy Rue

Meet Sophie LaCroix, a creative soul who’s destined to become a great film director
someday. But many times her overactive imagination gets her in trouble!
Check out the other books in the series!