She dropped the girl off at school, but around lunchtime returned to pick her up early. Instead of going elsewhere, she brought Sofia straight back home. Oleg waited thirty minutes before sneaking up to the back door.
The windows were cracked open because of the heat. He could hear everything inside.
“Sofia, eat something and then take your medicine,” Larisa said.
“I don’t want to… that medicine makes me sleepy all the time,” the girl protested.
“The doctor said it’s for your anxiety,” Larisa insisted.
“But Daddy doesn’t even know about any doctor!” Sofia argued.
Alarmed, Oleg peered through the kitchen window. He saw Larisa holding a glass of water in one hand and a box of pills in the other.
“Sofia, don’t make me insist. You know what happens if you don’t behave.”
That was enough. Oleg stormed into the kitchen, his voice firm:
“What is this?”
Startled, Larisa dropped the pills to the floor. Sofia rushed to her father, wrapping herself around his leg.
“Oleg! I… I thought you were on your trip,” Larisa stammered.
“What medicine is this?” he demanded, snatching up the box.
“It’s just a mild tranquilizer, prescribed by the pediatrician…” she tried to explain.
“What doctor? When did you take Sofia without telling me?”
