herophine - Trouvaille

Chapter 17

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

Obviously, they don't greet each other with a hug. Although they are mother and daughter, the fact is that they are completely strangers. 

Introductions are unnecessary and ridiculous. Everyone knows their roles, but they don't have a fucking clue about the script.

Josephine entered the house with a timidly "hi". Sofía remains in silence. Seems like letting the woman, who abandoned her, enter into her house is everything the girl is willing to yield. Hero excuses himself and goes to the kitchen to prepare something to drink, that way he gives them some minutes alone. Maybe it's not a very good idea, though. 

Annoyed, he discovers that his natural instinct is to protect both girls. And he is annoyed, not regarding Sofía, but because he thought he had overcome his feelings towards Josephine. He prepares two coffees and a hot chocolate, after gettting only one mug broken. If he stretches his neck a bit more, while trying to see what's going on in the living room, he probably breaks a vertebra too. But, for the moment, there's only silence.

Sitting on the carpet next to the chimney, Josephine Langford and Sofía Fiennes-Tiffin, observe each other quietly.

Jo clearly notices that Sofía has her same blue big eyes and blonde hair. However, the rest of her physical aspects are one hundred percent Hero: lips, ears and nose. If Sofía smiled, Jo would notice that she also has Hero's dimples. But, the chances of seeing her smile today, are pretty low.

Sofia notices that Josephine is younger than her friends' moms. She doesn't dress like them either and, even though Hero told Sofía many times that she should not judge anyone by their appearance, there is a big chance that she does not know how to bake British biscuits like Sutton's mommy. In conclusion, she doesn't look like a mom.

After seven long minutes, Hero goes into the room and leaves the tray over the coffee table. Nobody talks. The situation couldn't be more awkward. 

- Sofía. - Hero coughs, feeling the urge that he should be the guiding thread between both girls. - Would you like to... ask anything?

After a few seconds, she decides to talk.

- She doesn't look like a mom. - It's not a question, but a statement. She doesn't talk to Jo, but to Hero. And, despite she tries to whisper, she fails.

- Sofía... - Hero sighs, trying to let her daughter know it was a bit wrong of her.

Josephine tries to find something to say. Actually, she has a million things to say. Yet, she doesn't know where or how to start. Also, Jo doesn't want to scare her with confessions that she has not even made to herself.

So, there they are. In an awkward and uncomfortable silence. Neither of them knowing what they are supposed to say or feel. The situation does not look good. Nevertheless, they haven't reached that point just to give up.

There are no maps or books of self-help for that situation. "How to talk to your daughter, who you abandoned when she was born, for dummies". Josephine knows for sure there aren't any, cause she made an extense search at the hotel before going to the house. Even Siri, ended up asking her if she had hit her head. And, there aren't any guides because it's not normal.

Jo stares at Sofía and wishes to feel an automatic connection with her, but it is not like that. The child's rejection towards her, which Jo understands, probably has something to do with it.

Josephine wants to know her daughter, she wants to love her and be part of her life. But for now, she allows herself the indulgence of thinking that starting by wanting it, is enough.