Sophie's Heart (43 page)

“I don’t want you to pay me back for the clothes, Sophie. I would refuse any money you tried to give me. You came to us at a time when we needed you most, and I can’t put into a dollar amount what that has meant. I quoted you a price when you took the job, but that was not the going rate for what you do. That was the going rate for women who come in at 8:00, leave promptly at 5:00, and also take an hour for lunch. I never planned to have you work on Saturdays, but then you were there and I let you. For that I apologize. You’ve never treated this like a job, but like some wonderful mission of comfort and care. That’s what you’ve given us. I don’t know anyone else who is willing to come to work at 6:30 in the morning and stay until after supper and sometimes into the evening.”

“But I do not mind,” Sophie tried to cut in.

“I realize that, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am, but there will be no more talk of paying me back. You are a part of our family now, and I’ll treat you as such. I’ll be paying for things in Florida, meals and such, and I don’t want you constantly reaching for your purse. If I wasn’t able to afford it, I would tell you. Understood?”

Sophie looked at him for a moment and then nodded. Alec reached out at that point and tenderly touched the end of her nose. He then smiled gently into her eyes and went to order their food.

The food court was crowded, but Sophie couldn’t see anyone but her boss. Did the children know what a special man their father was? Did they see how hard he worked and the efforts he made on their behalf? Sophie frowned a little. In her opinion, he was still putting in a little too much time at work, but she knew he was making an effort to be home more.

After her stay in the hospital, they’d been alone at Gladys’ one morning, and he had shared with her what he’d read in the Bible that day, and the way it had touched his heart. Sophie knew that he did not have devotions with his family, but maybe that would come someday. He was not a perfect parent, but Sophie admired him more than any other man she knew.

She told the Lord how she felt and was still praying for Mr. Riley and the children when he returned. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn’t think to question how he knew what she would want to eat. Tory had mentioned in passing one day that Sophie liked to eat burritos at the food court. Anyone else might not have paid the least bit of attention. But where Sophie was concerned, Alec didn’t miss a thing.

Thirty-Six

O
n April 6, 1990, the Rileys, with Sophie in tow, left Wisconsin amid a snowstorm. Because of the weather, Alec had taken the kids out of school a little bit early, but the snow was actually very pretty as it fell all around them. It made the driving a bit of a strain, but Alec made it look easy. Rita had taken the front seat, Craig was in the middle seat, and Sophie and Tory were way in the back. They were literally up to their ears in luggage, and the meal for that evening was packed in a hamper at Tory’s feet.

“Do you have any swordfish?” Tory asked Sophie.

“Go fish,” she told her smugly, and Tory smiled.

“Do you have shark?” Sophie now asked Tory.

“Umm,” Tory grumbled since she had to hand one over.

“How about angelfish?”

“Go fish.” It was Tory’s turn to be superior.

Alec, vaguely hearing this from the front seat, felt a mix of emotions. It would have been nice to have Sophie up front with him. But if she was beside him, he couldn’t look into his mirror and see her gorgeous eyes as they sparkled at his youngest daughter.

“I’m hungry,” Craig announced.

“So you’ve said,” Rita commented.

“Let’s at least get out of the state, Craig,” his father said dryly, and the younger man went back to his book.

Rita was bent over a book of her own. They were going to be gone an extra day from school, and she had a paper due the day after they returned. She wanted to forget about it for the next ten days, so getting done before they left Wisconsin was her goal.

They drove for over seven hours that afternoon and evening, making it all the way out of Illinois, and stayed in a nice motel a little ways outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Everyone fell right into bed since they knew Alec would be setting his alarm for 5:00.

The next day they were on the road by 5:30 with plans to eat when everyone was more awake. It was one of the longest days of Sophie’s life. It helped to sit in the front seat, but by the time they arrived in Montgomery, Alabama, some 12 hours later, she never wanted to see the inside of the Rileys’ van again. Over dinner that night she felt numb.

“Are you all right, Sophie?” Rita wanted to know.

She answered, but never took her unseeing stare from the saltshaker. “I could have been in Prague by now. I could be asleep in my bed.”

This got everyone to laughing.

“I cannot feel my bottom,” she went on, and even Alec had to get a hand up to his mouth. “I am sick of color in your van. I always like blue,” she said as she sadly shook her head. “No more. I think is ugly.”

Sophie’s four companions were now losing it. They had their faces in their hands or pillowed on their arms on the table, but she knew very well what she was doing to them and did not let up.

“And the road,” her voice was almost singsong now, “it goes forever. I have no time to see things because we must get to Florida. I think is all made up. I think Florida does not really exist. We have seen Illinois and Tennessee and even Alabama, but Florida is all big dream.”

“Are you folks ready to order now?” A smiling waitress had come to the table.

“I am,” Sophie told her innocently, “but this family is not. They are
very
tired.”

Tears had come to Alec’s eyes, and he shook his head as he reached for the menu. It was quite true. They were all so tired that they could hardly function. Alec thanked the waitress and told her they would need a few more minutes. Sophie looked at him with feigned innocence for just an instant before turning to her own menu.

Thankfully, the food was wonderful. After the meal they all felt up to a walk. It was not a long walk, but it removed the kinks from everyone’s bodies and once again they all slept like the dead at their hotel. The next day they would be in Naples.

“I’ve never seen you like this, Kay,” Ben Riley commented as he watched her pace before the large living room window.

“Well, Alec’s never come like this before.”

“You might be reading more into this than is really there.”

Alec’s mother turned to look at him. “Oh, Ben, if only you had heard his voice. He’s in love with this woman. I just know it.”

Ben only nodded, but not because he disagreed. He honestly hoped that Alec had found someone he could love, but he did not want to raise their hopes or do anything to make this young woman uncomfortable.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“It’s not that, Kay, but think about it. If we’re
looking
for some sign, then as soon as Sophie gets here, we’re going to make her very ill at ease.”

Kay’s brows rose. “That’s certainly a good point. I’m just not sure I can pull it off.”

“Well, for Alec’s sake, as well as Sophie’s, please try.”

Kay looked back to the window. “Well, they’re here, so I better give it my best.”

“What are you doing?” Craig asked Sophie, a huge frown on his face.

Sophie continued to touch his sides and inspect him. “I am look for other arms.”

“Why?” He was not laughing or smiling.

“You are crab, so I look for extra arms.”

A reluctant smile tugged at Craig’s mouth. They were finally here, right in his grandparents’ driveway. His face, which had been frowning for the last two hours, now looked like a thundercloud. Alec and the girls had walked on up to the house, but Craig had hung back. Sophie hung back as well, but for reasons all her own.

“What is wrong, Craig?”

He stopped walking and looked at the large two-story house before he answered.

“We didn’t come here last year, so the last time we were down here, my mom was with us.”

Sophie should have figured as much.

“You will have to look for the good memories, Craig,” she told him.

He now looked at her, and she continued gently.

“You will see her everywhere, and if you are not careful, the whole week will be sad. Look for memories that will warm your heart and make you thankful for time you did have.”

Sophie wondered if she’d worded this correctly, but a look of understanding came into Craig’s eyes, and she felt confident that she had. They both looked up at that point to see Alec coming toward them. Craig started up the walk, and when he passed his father they had a few words. Alec squeezed Craig’s shoulder and went down to where Sophie stood by the van.

“Maybe I should unload suitcases and bags,” she suggested and started to turn away.

“What’s bothering you, Sophie?” Alec’s quietly voiced question brought her to a stop. She turned back from her flight and stared at him.

“I am have change of mind. I am not sure I should come here.”

“Why?”

Feeling horribly uncomfortable, Sophie looked away, but she actually managed the words. “Mrs. Frazier did not like me. I have nowhere to go if Mrs. Riley does not like me, too.”

Alec ached as he thought back to the way she had been treated.

“That’s not going to happen here,” he told her. But when she looked at him, he could see she still had doubts.

It would be several more minutes before Sophie could see that it was true, but her misgivings would have vanished instantly if she had bothered to look up to the house. Ben and Kay were watching them from the window before they looked at each other and shared a conspiratorial grin.

“Now, Sophie,” Kay began, “are you certain you have everything?”

“Yes, Mrs. Riley. Is very nice.”

“Call me Kay—everyone does. And Ben is Ben to the entire state.”

Sophie smiled and thought of how swiftly Alec’s parents had proved his words. Kay had gone out of her way to make Sophie feel at home, and Ben Riley was just a big sweetheart.

The bungalow she had been escorted to at the rear of the house was wonderful. It was beautifully furnished with every conceivable convenience. Sophie had unpacked her things and already been told “no” when she offered to help with dinner.