Chapter 6 – The Question
Sophie stepped between them.
“Okay.”
Daniel looked at her.
She said:
“Forget her.”
Claudia laughed.
Sophie turned.
“No. Seriously.”
Claudia stared.
“I haven’t spoken to you.”
“Exactly.”
Sophie took Daniel’s hand.
“Do whatever you were going to do.”
Daniel looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Daniel.”
She smiled.
“Ask me.”
That saved him.
For a moment.
Daniel nodded.
He took a breath.
Then lowered himself onto one knee.
Sophie covered her mouth.
Lena began crying.
Marta raised the camera.
Daniel opened the ring box.
“Sophie Keller—”
Claudia walked forward.
Lena saw her first.
“No.”
Claudia kept walking.
Lena stepped between them.
“Stop.”
“I need to get past.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Move.”
“Walk around.”
Claudia tried stepping sideways.
Lena blocked her.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“This is public space.”
Lena pointed behind her.
“So walk literally anywhere else.”
Claudia raised her voice.
“GET OUT OF MY WAY.”
Daniel stopped speaking.
Sophie stared.
The beach had now gone silent around them.
Lena said:
“No.”
Claudia looked at her.
Then at the sign.
Then at Daniel kneeling behind it.
Something in her face changed.
Not rage exactly.
Humiliation.
Too many people were watching now.
Too many people clearly thought she was the problem.
She could have walked away.
She didn’t.
