Sophie's Heart (3 page)

“It’s not eight, it’s ten.”

“What?”

Sophie, who had been working feverishly to have things ready, blinked at the waitress. Barb, not one of the more understanding waitresses, rolled her eyes and addressed Sophie as if she were an idiot.

“They changed their number. I need ten place settings,” she said as she held her fingers in the air, “not eight.”

“All right,” Sophie told her and began to shift things around.

“Why can’t people stay in their own country?” Barb muttered loudly as she moved away, and for just a few seconds Sophie stood absolutely still, thinking that the pain in her heart was going to kill her.

“I met a woman today.”

David Ring, who had been reading the paper, laid it aside. The note in his wife’s voice drew his immediate attention. They were alone in the family room. All three of the kids were in bed asleep, and it was finally “their” time of the evening.

“Where was this?”

Janet answered with a thoughtful look. “She came to Bible study.”

“A believer?”

“Well, she had her Bible with her.”

“Do you think she’ll be back?”

“I think so. I didn’t get a chance to learn anything about her, but there was just something very special—” Her words trailed off.

“What’s her name?”

“Sophie. She gave me the rest, but she’s foreign and her accent made it difficult to understand her.”

“I hope you see her again.”

“Yes. I wish we’d had more time together, so I’m asking the Lord to send her back.”

“I’ll pray for her, too. Did you decide if you’re going to call Alec?”

Tears immediately filled Janet’s eyes, but she shook her head.

“I’ve decided to write to him just so he knows I care. I also thought I might ask them to come down before school starts.”

“Do that,” David said at once. “Tell them it’s hot, but we can live at the pool.”

They fell silent then, but Janet’s mind was already working on Alec. Should she write or call with the invitation? Janet just wasn’t sure and was still working on the problem when she and David turned in for the night.

Two

A
ll eyes were closed and heads bowed in prayer when Sophie slipped into Bible study the next week. As soon as the last woman had prayed, Janet spotted her and made a very brief introduction. The women all turned, smiled, and said hello. Sophie, feeling quite awkward, was glad when Janet began the lesson.

Sophie did not have a study book, but there were verses with every question, and it wasn’t difficult to follow along. The minutes flew. The subject of Christ’s life was one of Sophie’s favorites. She was shocked to look down at her watch and see that she had to leave for work. There was more discussion going on, but she had no choice.

From the front, Janet watched her go and felt helpless to halt her exit. Knowing she couldn’t abandon her class each week, the burden to have more contact with Sophie was great. With a prayer in her heart that God would eventually bring them together for quality time, her mind moved back to the class.

“Hi, Aunt Janet,” Tory Riley said cheerfully from the other end of the telephone line.

“How are you, Tory?”

“I’m all right. We have to go back to school in just a few weeks.” The ten-year-old sounded as disgruntled as she felt.

“You sound like Beth,” Janet commented, referring to her own daughter’s opinion of school starting. “Listen, sweetie, is your dad around?”

“Yeah, hold on a sec and I’ll get him.”

Far more than one second passed before Alec came on the phone, but Janet waited patiently.

“Did you get my letter?”

“Yes, I did.”

“So what do you think? Can you and the kids come down?”

“I don’t know, Jan.” Alec’s voice was deep and quiet. “I’ve got five houses going right now and I don’t think I can get away.”

“Just for the weekend,” Janet tried to bargain. “You are taking weekends off, aren’t you?”

The silence at the other end of the line gave her the answer she dreaded.

“I appreciate the offer, Jan. I really do,” Alec said after a moment, “but it’s not going to work before school starts. Maybe this fall.”

“All right, Alec,” Janet said, telling herself not to push him. “How are you doing?”

“About the same.”

Again, it was not the answer she had hoped for, but she knew well that with the miles separating them, prayer was all she could offer. And in most ways, this was best.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Alec said, and Janet knew he was ready to get off the line.

“All right, Al. Give the kids my love.”

“Thanks, Jan. You do the same for me.”

“Good night, Alec.”

“’Night, Janet.”

The phones were hung up, but the conversation, at least in Janet’s mind, went on for many minutes to follow.

“I can’t believe you’re taking me to Tony’s on a Friday night. We haven’t been there in ages.”

“Well, it isn’t every day that a Realtor closes on the largest home he’s ever sold.”

“Put like that,” Janet said to David as she snuggled close to his side in the front seat of the car, “I should be the one taking
you
out.”

“No way,” he said as they pulled into traffic. “In some ways, you deserve this more than I do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re the one who often holds the fort while I’m out on evening calls. I couldn’t be selling houses if it weren’t for you. And this particular buyer needed more ‘courting’ than most.”

Janet leaned close and kissed his cheek. She knew it was going to be a wonderful evening.

And indeed, Janet’s anticipation was rewarded. The food and atmosphere at Tony’s were marvelous, and with a string quartet playing in one corner, it was also romantic. They were just finishing dessert when Janet spotted Sophie. She was cleaning a table across the way. Janet pointed her out to David and then waited until Sophie was on her way to the back of the restaurant before approaching.

“Hello, Sophie.”

The younger woman turned in surprise and then smiled in pleasure.

“Hello, Janet. I saw you earlier, but I could not come. Are you have a good meal?”

“Yes, it was wonderful. This is where you work?”

“Yes. I must take my meal break in ten minutes, but I will be here until one o’clock.”

“Ten minutes,” Janet said with pleasure. “Can we talk?”

“Well,” Sophie said, looking slightly ill at ease, “I would like that, but I cannot come to the front.”

“Of course.” Janet had not even thought of this. “Where do you go to eat? Could we meet you somewhere?”

“I go in the back.” Again Sophie answered with a somewhat distressed look on her face. “Is not very fancy—not like out here.”

“Oh, Sophie, we don’t care, if you don’t. It’s so difficult to visit at Bible study, and I would really like to know how you’re doing.”

“All right.” Sophie saw her sincerity and agreed, thinking it would be nice to have some company.

Five minutes later she saw that Janet and David were comfortable in the back dining room—the place where employees could eat if there was no banquet scheduled. However, it was some minutes more before Sophie joined them. One of the girls had spilled a platter of food, and Sophie had been ordered to see to the cleanup. The last time this happened her break was cut short, but she told herself that tonight she would get all the time coming to her.

“I am sorry to keep you waiting,” Sophie spoke as she finally took a seat with the Rings. She placed a plateful of food on the table and a tall glass of ice water. “I feeling odd, eating when you are…” Sophie gestured rather helplessly with her hands, and David spoke up.

“Please don’t. We’re both so full we couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Sophie,” Janet said, “this is David, my husband. David, this is Sophie. She comes to my Bible study.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Sophie.”

They shook hands, and then Sophie excused herself and silently thanked God for her meal. Janet was telling herself not to leap on the woman, but she was so fascinated by what little she knew of this foreigner, as well as being excited to see her here, that she feared she would be overanxious and offensive.

“How do you like working here?”

This came from David. He’d seen his wife’s elation and gently taken her hand under the table. Janet was very relieved that he understood.

“I am very thankful for job,” Sophie told them. “So many do not have work.”

“Have you been in Chicago long?”

“Nine months. I am from Czechoslovakia.”

“You’re a long way from home,” David said kindly.

“Yes. Some days very long.”

“Did you work at a restaurant in Czechoslovakia?”

“No,” Sophie smiled slightly. “This has been new—” She hesitated.

“Experience?” David supplied, and Sophie nodded, her cheeks a little pink that she hadn’t been able to find such a simple word.

“I am not a late person,” she continued softly. “I like sunrise, so this is hardest—this staying up until late and missing the early day.”

“Do you ever have afternoons off, Sophie?” Janet asked. “I would love for you to come to lunch.”

Before Sophie could answer, her boss stuck his head in the door and told her that she was needed back on the floor and would have to cut it short. Sophie excused herself quietly and moved across the room. Mr. Markham was on his way out, but Sophie called to him. When he stopped, she said respectfully, “I need my break, Mr. Markham. I cannot come back early tonight.”

Mr. Markham frowned intimidatingly, but Sophie didn’t so much as flinch. Inside, she was feeling shaken, but her outside composure was admirable.

“I need you back on the floor.”

“I will come as soon as break is finished.”

“Come now, Sophie.” His voice brooked no argument, but Sophie was not going to back down. She shook her dark head, still calm and completely in control.

“This is not first. From last time I know I cannot work well without full break. I cannot do this, Mr. Markham. Not now or later.”

“Do you want your job here, Sophie?” the man asked, thinking this would end the whole conversation.

“Do you want law here, Mr. Markham?”

Sophie watched him blink and went on gently with consideration for both of their positions.