Sophie's Heart (35 page)

Alec shook his head. “If you had moved sooner, the guy might have hit your door or any number of things and made it ten times worse.”

Clearly, Sophie did not look convinced, but Alec was not going to browbeat her. He had told her what he expected and was now willing to let her deal with it.

“I’ve got some work to do on the garage door opener,” Alec said as he stood. “Let me know if my insurance agent calls.” With that he was gone.

Sophie was so unsettled that for a moment she couldn’t move. He had talked to her like she was one of the family—almost as if she lived here! What was she to do? Surely, he couldn’t have meant everything the way it sounded. Join them on the weekend to shop? She was already riding to church with them and wasn’t sure if she should be. How would this work in the long run? And the most difficult part—having her schedule rearranged. It was almost more than she could…

Sophie didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there stewing over the problem when she noticed Tory. She had obviously come from the living room.

“Hello, Tory.”

“Hi, Sophie. Dad told us that you’re not to work on Saturdays anymore.”

“Yes, he told me.”

“So you can do anything you want.”

“So it would seem.”

“Even play with us?”

Sophie blinked at her. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I could.”

“Could you watch cartoons with me?” The yearning in the little girl’s voice was unmistakable.

A slow smile started on Sophie’s face and stretched her mouth wide. “What is on now?”

Tory told Sophie, and the older woman momentarily put her reservations away and accompanied Tory to the family room. They ate bowls of cold cereal and laughed in delight at the animated characters on the screen.

An hour later Alec stood in Sophie’s apartment. He’d asked for her key and permission to enter so he could listen as Craig worked the garage door opener. He hadn’t heard anything yet, and thought it must be running smoother, but then again, maybe he was only distracted.

Sitting in the corner of Sophie’s living room was the tiniest live Christmas tree he had ever seen. At first glance there didn’t appear to be any ornaments, but then he looked closer. Ornaments sat on two of the branches. One was a simple green bulb and the other was a small wooden heart painted red. And as if she were trying to carry out a theme, below the tree sat just two gifts. One was the picture Rita had spoken of. It was of a woman walking in a beautiful meadow. The verse on the bottom was Proverbs 3:5-6, written in calligraphy. The other gift was a quilted sofa pillow in reds, blues, and pinks.

Alec asked himself if maybe she had put her other gifts away, but he knew better. Many folks left their gifts under the tree, and Sophie was obviously one of them.

It would be so easy to include her, Lord
, he prayed.
She’s already such a part of the children’s lives, and when I’m around she’s so quiet that I hardly know she’s there. It would be no trouble at all to make her feel a part of us
.

Alec felt a new resolve come over him. He had told Sophie to make herself at home, and he’d been glad to see her in the family room with Tory, but they might have to do more. He thought of his and the kids’ plans for New Year’s Eve, but then remembered how adamant she’d been about joining them for Christmas Eve. He knew what he wanted to do if only he could convince her.

“Dad,” Craig stuck his head in the door. “Tory says the phone’s for you.”

“All right.” Hoping it was his insurance man, Alec moved down the stairs behind his son. He’d get the van out of the way, finish the garage door opener, and then deal with the problem of his housekeeper.

Sophie never really stood a chance. The last time Alec had gone into battle by himself. This time he had arrived with fresh recruits. It was after lunch and Sophie and Tory were putting a huge jigsaw puzzle together in the living room. Alec came in with Rita, making it look like the most natural thing in the world. Alec took a chair, and Rita bent over the puzzle.

“We’re going to eat and watch old movies tomorrow night,” Alec said, although no one really looked at him. “I want you to join us, Sophie.”

The housekeeper’s head came up with a snap, and Alec continued conversationally.

“We’re going to order pizza for dinner, and then start the movies early. We’ll probably get in at least three, so if there’s something you want to see, get your order in.”

“My order.”

“Yes. Oh, and I need to know what you want on your pizza, too.”

“My pizza.”

“That’s right. We like root beer with our pizza, but if you want another type of pop, you can have it.”

“I can have it,” she chimed in again, and Alec had to fight laughter.

“What’s the matter, Sophie?” Rita put in. “You look like you don’t want to.”

“Is not that, Rita, but—” And there she stopped. What was it exactly? Sophie could not say, except that they were a family.
Nickelberrys are a family and you join them,
a voice reminded her, and it was true. But why did this feel so different?

“So do you like root beer, Sophie?” Tory wanted to know, playing her part very well.

She realized then that they were all watching her. Craig had come in, too, and she blushed uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry, Sophie,” Alec now said smoothly. “You’ve obviously made plans, and we’ve put you on the spot.”

“No,” Sophie said automatically, and then almost wished she’d lied. “I have no plans,” she finished weakly.

“Well, you do now,” Alec said in triumph. “We’ll plan on it. Right after church tomorrow we’ll go pick out the movies, and then we’ll be all set.”

With that, everyone but Tory filed out. Sophie stood for a long moment not working on the puzzle or focusing on anything until she found Tory’s wounded eyes on her.

“Don’t you want to eat with us, Sophie?” This time the question was real.

Sophie stepped close and drew the younger girl into her arms, her eyes closing in pain.

“Yes, I do, my Tory, but I do not wish to be in the way.”

“You’re not, Sophie. We like you.”

Sophie couldn’t talk anymore. She was so confused and uncomfortable with what they were asking. Again she questioned herself as to why she could do this with Gladys’ family but not with the Rileys. No answer came.

Tory let the subject drop as well, and soon they finished the puzzle. Sophie, who had not been home since the day before, collected her things and finally excused herself. Tory didn’t press her to come back later or tarry, and Sophie went home to clean her apartment with a vengeance.

When Sophie climbed the stairs to her apartment at 1:30 a.m. the next night, she was tired, but also rather elated. She had never laughed so hard in all of her life. They had watched an old Abbott and Costello movie, a Shirley Temple classic, and ended with a Laurel and Hardy. Sophie laughed until tears ran down her face. At midnight they had welcomed in the new year with cans of pop and bowls of chip and dip, as well as plenty of laughter. It had been a wonderful evening. She had not been treated as anyone special—just as part of the family. She helped with cleanup, but was not expected to wait on anyone.

You have brought me to a wonderful place, my Lord. I have not thanked You enough. My heart has been so afraid, but You knew what I needed and You knew what they needed. Craig is struggling again, but he was joyful tonight, Lord. May he continue to find Your peace. Give Mr. Riley the words, Lord, and help Craig to open his heart for love and rebuke as well.

Sophie could have prayed forever this night, so full was her heart. She readied for bed as she petitioned God on behalf of this family, and then again as she lay down waiting for sleep to come.

I must be willing to change, Lord. I have been a slave to my schedule, but if You need me to alter, I must. I have not wanted to get in so close that I would feel as if I was dying if they sent me away. But it was too late for that after the first day, and I’ve been a fool not to see this. Help me to keep on, Lord, but to keep on for You, not for myself.

Sleep claimed Sophie just after this, but God had heard every word. And in the weeks to follow, God moved in ways that Sophie wouldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. She continued to pray for Craig, thinking his father was the key, but not seeing that God was going to use her in the most powerful way of all.

Thirty

J
ust take me home, Rita!” The argument continued within the confines of the Rileys’ fully repaired van.

“Come on, Craig.”

“No. I thought you guys didn’t want to go back there.”

“Well, we changed our minds. You can just sit in the van.”

“
No!
” The shout came so loudly in the closeness of the vehicle that both Rita and Tory started, and then anger showed on Rita’s face. She maneuvered to the right as soon as traffic would allow and made for home. She did not drive unsafely, but her siblings could tell she was furious. Tory hated it, and Craig in his own rage didn’t care.

It was a temptation to drop Craig at the end of their court and speed away, but before she could do this, Tory said, “Maybe Sophie would come with us.”

“Do you want her to?” Rita asked without looking at her sister.

“Yes.”

Rita didn’t answer, but when she got to the house she got out with Craig. Tory followed. In his rage Craig nearly ran through the kitchen door. As usual, Sophie was taken unawares. Her smile and greeting died a swift death as Craig nearly knocked her over in his haste. There was nothing unusual about this, but the pattern was about to be broken.

“Craig!” Sophie’s voice lashed through the air. Surprise alone stopped Craig in his flight. He turned to her, and she now spoke softly, but with authority.

“I do not wish you to come in this way. I have not done anything. Please do not anger at me.”

He nodded, looking thoroughly ashamed.

“Would you like to talk of this, Craig?”

He shook his head.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “I have homework.”

“All right.”

Not until Sophie said this did he leave. Then she turned to the girls.

“It’s my fault,” Rita said. “Tory and I decided this morning that we wanted to visit our mom’s grave today. We didn’t ask Craig; we just assumed he’d want to go. When he didn’t, I said he could just sit in the car, but he blew up.”