Sophie's Heart (19 page)

“You don’t have to pay now unless you want to,” Craig explained. “You pay when the order comes in, and that won’t be for six weeks.”

“Oh, well, in that case, I shall pick something. I think these ones with pecans look good.”

“Will you buy something from me, Sophie?” Tory wanted to know.

“Of course, Tory. There is a tin of nuts I could send to my grandmother.”

“They’ll do it for you,” Craig put in, his eyes watchful. He had not been very kind to Sophie, and here he was asking favors of her. He was certain that she would send him packing any minute.

“Oh, that will be easy.”

“Yeah. You just have to fill out this section here,” he pointed to the place, “and they’ll mail anywhere.”

“Oh, this is convenience.”

“Sophie,” Rita came into the room, “I’m going to run to the bank to cash my birthday checks. I’ll be right back.”

“All right.”

“Sophie,” Tory took her arm, “have Rita cash your check.”

Rita turned around. “Sure, Sophie. You can come with me or just send it along.”

“You will not mind this?”

“No.”

“I will go up and get it now.”

“Can I go with you, Sophie?” Tory asked, and Sophie turned back to see her small face looking very excited.

“Of course, Tory. Come.”

“I just remembered that I have a phone call to make,” Rita told Sophie, “so take your time.”

Sophie kept her key pinned to the inside of her skirt waistband and, as the two climbed the stairs for the apartment, she took it out. The place was as clean as Tory would have expected, but the lack of furniture was a shock. She usually blurted out everything she was thinking, but on this occasion she was silent.

“It’s in my bedroom, Tory. I’ll just be a minute.”

Tory didn’t know if she was supposed to follow, but she did. Sophie’s back was to her as she took in the neatly arranged blankets on the floor and Sophie’s clothing lined up in orderly piles against one wall. Sophie had gone to the closet for her purse, and Tory was given a chance to see how few things hung inside. Her eyes dropped to the place where Sophie kept her underpants; there were two pairs and next to them was one bra. Did Sophie have so few things, or was most of her stuff in the wash? The answer came when Tory looked up again. On the floor of the closet was an empty laundry basket.

“All right, Tory. I have it signed and ready. What is it, Tory?” she asked after seeing the strange look on the ten-year-old’s face. The question caused Tory to start.

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking.”

Sophie smiled and took her at her word. She led the way back out of the apartment and to the Riley kitchen. The check was handed over to Rita before Sophie sat back down and finished her chocolate order with Craig. Neither one noticed the quiet way Tory left the room.

Tory woke to the sound of running water at 10:30 that night and knew her father was showering after his late-night run. Ignoring her robe, Tory slipped from the bed and walked quietly down the hall to his room. The light was on in his bedroom, so Tory simply climbed beneath the covers to wait.

Her sleepy eyes roamed around the room and actually closed before her father appeared. She must have dozed off because she felt him gently lift her before she could get her lids back up.

“Dad?”

“Go back to sleep, Tory. I’ll take you to bed.”

“I have to talk with you.”

Alec looked down to see her eyes wide open.

“It’s late.”

“I know, but I have to ask you something.”

Alec relented, placing her back on the bed and sitting down on the edge.

“Okay, Tory, but make it fast. I’m tired and you have school tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Is my furniture my own?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, can I do anything I want with my furniture?”

“Within reason. I take it you want to change your room around?”

“Not exactly” was as much as she would say, and Alec frowned.

“Tory, what is this about?”

She sighed. “Well, I never have anyone stay the night anymore.”

“But you can,” Alec cut in. “Just let me know and you can have a friend over.”

“No, I don’t want a friend over.”

Alec’s hand went to the back of his neck. His patience was deserting him. For several months after Vanessa’s death, Tory had woken up with horrible nightmares where she screamed and cried in terror. For this reason alone she did not want friends over, nor was she willing to go to anyone else’s house for the night. So what, his mind asked, was going on here?

“Then I don’t understand what we’re talking about, Tory.”

“Well, I don’t use my trundle, and I’d like to give it to someone.”

“I think that’s a very nice gesture, Tory, but you’re not going to give any of your furniture away.”

“Well, could I just loan it to someone?”

“Who?”

“Sophie.”

“Honey, Sophie has a nice apartment. I realize the stuff isn’t new, but I’m sure it’s fine and—”

“But she doesn’t, Dad. I was up there today, and she doesn’t have hardly any furniture!” Tory’s voice was adamant.

“Tory.”

“No, Dad. She just has a table and chairs. I saw it.”

“Tory, that’s ridiculous. Those old pieces from Aunt—” Alec stopped speaking and just stared. Tory heard him whisper, “Oh, good night, I completely forgot!”

The next thing Tory knew, she was being held by her father. He had lifted her back against his chest and just held her tenderly.

“You’re a wonderful person, did you know that, Tory?”

“I don’t feel wonderful.”

Alec shifted so he could see her face. There were tears in her eyes.

“I feel awful. I have two beds, and Sophie doesn’t have any. Couldn’t we please give her my trundle, Dad? Please.”

“Yes, Tory, that’s exactly what we’ll do. I completely forgot that we’d cleaned the apartment out. If you want Sophie to have one of your beds, we’ll take it up to her.”

“Craig has an extra dresser, and there’s a chair in the basement.”

Alec smiled at the way she had been thinking this over. “We’ll get everything she needs. I’ll stay in the morning until I’ve talked to her. You can go to sleep now and not worry about it.”

“Please carry me.”

“You bet.”

Five minutes later Alec was able to climb into his own bed, but sleep didn’t come. He wasn’t thinking about Vanessa tonight, although she was never very far from his thoughts, but about Sophie. He had thought her proficient, but not even his mind had gone this far. She had been sleeping on the floor! They had enough beds in the house to hold a dozen people, and their housekeeper had been sleeping on the floor!

He had known Sophie was younger than he was, but he didn’t realize how much. If he had been forced to sleep on the floor at his age, he wouldn’t be able to walk in the morning.

Alec reached over and reset the alarm. There was no reason to get up so early if he was going to wait and talk to Sophie. He fell asleep much the way Tory had done earlier, his mind walking through the house and picking out furniture for Sophie.

When Sophie entered the kitchen the next morning at around 6:30, Mr. Riley was waiting for her. His look was serious, and Sophie knew that her trial period had come to an end. She wasn’t sure what she had done to lose her job, but it was clear that he was going to fire her. Sophie’s first thought as she shut the door behind herself was regret that Gladys was out of town and she would have no place to go; her second was for the children.

“Hello, Sophie.”

“Good morning, Mr. Riley. Would you like I start coffee?”

“No, Sophie, I want to talk with you.”

Her worst fears were confirmed, and her palms were so damp that the chair she pulled out from the kitchen table nearly slipped from her fingers. Alec waited until she was seated and facing him.

“About five years ago our church set up a missionary home—a place where the missionaries we support could come while they’re on furlough. The house had to be completely furnished, and my wife thought of the furniture in the apartment. We hadn’t had anyone living up there in years, so we decided to donate that furniture.

“Until last night I completely forgot about it. Tory came to see me and said you didn’t have a bed or anything. I know she tends to exaggerate, but I would like to say that I’m sorry and tell you that Craig and I are going to carry a bed up for you this morning. We also have an extra dresser that we can probably get to you sometime on the weekend.

“Again, Sophie, I’m sorry that you’ve had to sleep on the floor.”

“Oh, Mr. Riley, is not matter. I have no care.” Sophie was so relieved that she stumbled all over her words. “I am think you tell me to leave,” she finally admitted quietly. “I not worry for the bed.”

“No, Sophie, I’m not telling you to leave. If there was a problem, I would talk to you first, not just fire you.”

“Thank you. Uh, Mr. Riley?”

“Yes?”

“I do not wish to take advance, but—”

“Advantage?”

“What is word?”

“Advantage. I think you’re trying to say you don’t want to take advantage.”

“Yes, this is word. Advantage.”

“I’m not worried about that, Sophie. Just ask.”

She took a deep breath. “May I please take Tuesday mornings off? Not all morning, one, two hour, maybe.”

“Sure,” Alec agreed easily and forced himself not to ask why. She was entitled to a life of her own. He knew there were women’s Bible studies that met during the week. Maybe she was headed to one of those.

“You said yes?” Sophie asked, her body bent forward tensely.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Sophie was so pleased that she forgot to thank him. He had said yes, and that meant she would learn to
drive
. For the moment all other thoughts were pushed from her mind. Without even asking if he was done with her, she rose and began to make breakfast. Alec watched her for a moment and wondered at her funny reaction. However, he didn’t linger. He rose as well and went to wake Craig; they had a bed to move.

The whole family joined the moving party that took place that morning, and it nearly made everyone late for school. Rita grabbed sheets in case Sophie didn’t have any, and Tory even dragged an extra pillow from the closet.

“Goodness, Sophie, you don’t have any furniture.”

“This view of the street is so cool since the Murrays’ house is so pretty.”

“What have you been sitting on? These kitchen chairs are horrid.”

And such were the comments until Rita looked at her watch and ran to take the van to school. Alec told Craig and Tory to jump in the truck so he could run them over to their school. However, even after they left, he hesitated in Sophie’s apartment. She stood by the door and he in the center of the living room.

“Tory told me that all you had was a table and two chairs, but I thought she must have missed something.”

Sophie did not know how to reply to this, so she remained silent as Alec walked back into the bedroom and then joined her again in the great room.

“I thought we’d left a little more up here, but I guess not.”

“I am fine, Mr. Riley.”

“I’m sure you are, Sophie, but we have enough furniture at our house to make you much more comfortable.” He started toward the door. “I’ll see to it tomorrow.”