Sophie's Heart (49 page)

“Oh, my Rita,” Sophie said and she hugged her close. “You may not be normal in today’s times, but you are doing best. The others could learn much from you.”

“Thanks, Sophie. Would you handle it the same way?”

“I think so, Rita. You see, I have not had experience.”

Rita got a fiendish glint in her eye. “You’d probably go wild on the first date.”

Sophie now caught the game and nodded swiftly. “I am sure I would. I will jump in his arms and kiss his face.”

“Well now,” Alec’s voice came from behind her, and Sophie spun in surprise. “What’s all this?”

Rita laughed. “I’ve decided that Sophie’s going to go nuts on her next date and kiss the guy.”

Sophie’s face was a dull red, but that didn’t stop the teasing. Rita threw her a huge grin before leaving, and Alec came right up to her, his eyes alight with humor.

“Rita was just tease,” she stammered as she turned to face him, her eyes still huge with surprise.

“Oh, don’t apologize, Sophie,” Alec said softly, and then bent to speak into her flushed face. “I envy the man.”

With that he moved out of the kitchen, and Sophie’s hands flew to her face. Her cheeks felt on fire. She wanted to ask herself what he must think, but she was too busy with her own thoughts. He had looked at her so…Sophie couldn’t find the word, but his look had been so warm, almost intimate.

“Hey, Sophie,” Tory was talking before she even entered the room, “I can’t find that blue shirt I like. The one with—What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Sophie said faintly.

“Oh. Well, I can’t find my blue shirt—the one with the kittens and yarn.”

“It was not in wash, Tory. Did you leave it at Crystal’s?”

“I’ll bet I did. I’ll call and ask if she has it.”

She had only been on the phone for a matter of minutes when Craig came in wanting to call Rick.

“She will not be long, Craig,” Sophie told him.

“Who’s she talking to?”

“Crystal.”

Craig rolled his eyes. “She’ll be forever.”

Sophie couldn’t help but smile; Craig was just as bad when he was talking with Rick. In the midst of all this, Sophie remembered a phone call that had come in for Mr. Riley. The message was in her jeans pocket, and she now walked to the office to see if he was there. Alec happened to be on his way out at that exact moment, and they ran smack into each other. Alec’s hands came out with gentle ease and caught Sophie’s waist, and for just a moment Sophie’s right hand rested on his chest. Alec’s hands lingered even after Sophie’s dropped, and for an instant she forgot what she was doing.

“Did you need something?” Studying her face with interest, Alec was now leaning nonchalantly against the doorjamb.

“I, well, I, um, I have phone message.”

“From?”

Sophie handed him the paper and would have normally turned away, but he took it without ever taking his eyes from her face. Sophie felt rather trapped.

“That light pink is a good color on you,” he said, referring to her blouse.

“Thank you.” Sophie’s voice was barely audible.

They continued to look at each other until Sophie swallowed and said, “I have work now.”

“Okay,” Alec said easily. “Thank you for the message.” His eyes followed her until she was out of sight, and then he moved back into his office and dropped into his chair.

Rita had said that Sophie needed to feel feminine. Alec was doing his level best, but right now all it did was fluster and embarrass her. However, he still felt compelled to go on. Something remarkable had happened the day they returned from the lake. Sophie had obviously heard the van and come down to greet them. She had hugs for all the kids, and then Alec had watched something very much like yearning cross her face as she looked at him. She hadn’t embraced him or touched him in any way, but her expression had spoken volumes. Alec had known such a peace over his relationship with her that his whole approach had changed. It was finally time to court Sophia Velikonja.

In the days that followed, Alec made an effort to validate Sophie as a woman whenever possible. He was careful not to just tell her that the meal was good after they had eaten, but also to comment when he saw how graceful her hands were, or if her cologne smelled nice. His latest attempt was his comment about the color of her blouse. As usual, she didn’t know quite what to make of it. He wasn’t just going with his feelings, for they would have him moving too fast, but he was keeping careful watch of Sophie’s reaction to him. She watched him more often than she thought he realized, and this gave him great hope. She wasn’t completely immune to him, and with this knowledge Alec could carry on with great forbearance.

It was at this point, in the middle of Alec’s wanderings, that Tory called him to supper. He realized then that he hadn’t even looked at his message and swiftly read it before going out to eat. It was a blessing in disguise that it wasn’t important since he had forgotten about it the moment he saw Sophie standing in the kitchen. As usual, he thought she looked so “right.” He knew it would sound like a cliché if he said it out loud, but it was true. He wanted to sit and stare at her for hours. But for Sophie’s sake, he was careful to keep his attention in check during the meal. He was also quite aware of Craig and Tory’s ignorance. The whole ordeal was a study in patience, but at least the Fourth of July was coming up. They could spend nearly the whole day together. With that in mind, Alec could hold his feelings at bay for a little bit longer.

“Tory, please tell Sophie again about Grandma in Mazolee.”

“Mazomanie,” Tory corrected her, and watched Sophie frown. “Here, Sophie, let me write it. Rita showed me a great way to help people pronounce it.”

Tory brought forth paper and printed
MAY-ZOE-MAY-KNEE
in large, bold letters.

“You see, May-zoe-may-knee. It’s an Indian name that means Walking Iron.”

“Walking Iron,” Sophie tested the words.

“Right. For the railroad.”

“Oh.” Sophie now understood. “And your grandmother lived there, in Mazomanie?”

“Dad’s grandma, my great-grandma. She went to church in Black Earth, you know, where we went to The Shoe Box.”

Sophie nodded.

“Anyway, every year the church—Black Earth Congregational— has a great Fourth of July picnic. We eat and play games and then have fireworks. It’s really fun. We go every year, even though my great-grandma died about four years ago.”

“I see.” Sophie finally understood. Gladys had asked her about her plans for the Fourth, but by then the Rileys had “claimed” her—Mr. Riley, to be exact. He had told her that they had plans for the day, and then asked if she would join them. He had looked at her very tenderly, and she had forgotten to ask what they were going to do. Now it was just two days away, and she finally understood.

Rita and Tory had been assigned to prepare the food for the potluck supper, and Sophie was to have the day off. She was feeling tired these days with all the new emotions she was experiencing, and sleeping late in the middle of the week sounded like bliss. But what in the world was she going to do about her employer? He had been wonderful to her in the past, but now…now he was indescribable. Sophie had tried so hard to keep the emotions from her face, but she knew she had not succeeded.

What if he pities me?
she asked herself, and knew an ache so deep she thought she would cry.
It just can’t be,
she told the Lord.
Please don’t let him pity me. Please don’t let me make a fool of myself. I know he thinks I’m capable, but he may not want a younger woman. I must accept this. My babushka said I would understand, but still I search in the dark. Please, Lord, please help me to know.

“What are you doing, Sophie?” Tory broke into these anguished thoughts. For a moment, Sophie didn’t answer.

“You’ve been acting weird lately, Sophie.”

“Have I, Tory?” She felt agony over Tory’s words.

Tory nodded.

“I am sorry. I will do better.”

Tory smiled as if she’d already forgotten all about it, and Sophie was admittedly relieved when she left the kitchen.
If Tory can see this, what do the others see?
No answer came to Sophie, and she continued on in confusion. She told herself she would do better, but didn’t know how. Going to the picnic and spending all day in Mr. Riley’s presence suddenly did not look so fun. Sophie asked herself how she would ever get through the ordeal.

The drive—20 miles west, out through Cross Plains, Black Earth, and then to Mazomanie—was beautiful. The bluffs and hills were lush with greenery, and the farms, with Holstein cows standing in their fields, made Sophie smile. It took about 30 minutes to reach the Barsness farm where the picnic was held, and Sophie enjoyed the warm reception Alec and the children received. Tory had told her that they only came out here one time a year, but it was clear that they were welcome.

Rita introduced Sophie to Dale and Katie Barsness who owned the farm, and Sophie was able to tell them in all sincerity how much she enjoyed their home and acres. She was introduced to several others who made her feel right at home as well. Craig placed their cooler in the shade of a tree, and when someone told Alec the volleyball game was just about to start, he and Craig loped off.

The girls also disappeared. Sophie wandered a bit, looking at the creek and the beautiful trees before joining into conversation with several different people. Nearly everyone she spoke with knew Alec, or at least knew of him. And anyone who didn’t know Alec knew Tory. Sophie could see why. Tory chattered and made her way to nearly every corner of the farm, leaving smiles as she went. She joined Sophie at one point while she was in the middle of a conversation, but didn’t interrupt. When the woman who had been with Sophie moved off, Tory gave the housekeeper a swift hug.

“That was nice,” Sophie said as she looked down at her.

Tory looked a little self-conscious and then glanced across the way. “You know those Christian romance books that Rita reads?”

“Yes,” Sophie said carefully, wondering where this had come from.

“You were just talking to the author.”

“An author! Living here?”

Tory nodded, feeling glad that she’d been the one to tell Sophie. “Rita says I’ll like those books someday, but I don’t know.”

Sophie smiled very tenderly. “Give it much time, my Tory. There is no need to rush.”

“You haven’t rushed.”

“This is true.”

“Will you get married, Sophie?” The thought had only just occurred to Tory.

“I do not know, Tory.” The little girl’s question brought a rush of emotions to Sophie’s heart, and she had to force herself not to look toward the volleyball court.

“I hope not,” the little girl said selfishly. “I want you to stay with us.”

Sophie decided not to comment, but she did hug Tory, all the while thinking how much she wanted the very same thing.

Forty-Two

W
hen darkness fell that evening, an air of excitement moved through the group. Sophie heard the word
fireworks
over and over, and not just from the children; the adults were excited as well. Sophie readily joined in as the group gathered around the basketball court and watched as someone named Bob lit fountains of every size and color. Oohs and aahs seemed to be the order of the evening, and after a while it became rather comical. Laughter seemed to have no end, and Sophie joined in this as well, as jokes and sparks flew in unison.