Sophie's Heart (68 page)

Sophie looked helplessly at Craig while Alec moved to hold Tory.

“I am sorry, Craig, so sorry.”

“No, no,” he quickly assured her, relief covering his young face. “It’s just that we didn’t know. Tory thought you might have cancer or something since you’ve been, well, sort of different. She’s just relieved.”

It was enough to start Sophie apologizing nonstop. “I am sorry,” she cried. “I have not been a good mother right now, and I know it will get worst.” Her wailing was so comical that Tory’s eyes dried. “I think it will be cry pregnancy, and I will look like rhino. I am sorry.”

She cried on in self-pity while the others tried not to laugh. It was decided at that moment that Alec would call Rita. He did so in the other room while Tory sat close to Sophie as she tried to control herself.

“It’s all right, Sophie. I’ll be here to help you.”

Sophie gasped. “Thank you, my Tory. I wish I could just be stopped.”

Craig looked on and wondered when he started to love Sophie. It had been a long time ago now, some time after they had talked in the van, but he couldn’t put his finger on the exact moment. She was really something special, and he recognized that where she was concerned his heart was very soft. He had worked at being strong for Tory in the last few weeks, but he’d been scared. He had also been unwilling to go to his father and possibly upset him. Sophie’s behavior had been so unlike her—tired and crying all the time for no reason.

And now a baby. Craig was amazed. They were going to have a baby in the house. By the time it was born, he would be 15 years old. What would it be like? There was no reason for Craig to ask if the baby would be cared for; he only had to look at his father and Sophie to know they were thrilled. But how would the rest of them fit in? Craig didn’t know, but to his surprise he wasn’t dreading it.

A baby. Cool. I hope it’s a boy.

Fifty-Nine

R
ita’s letter began “Dear Sophie,” and the expectant mother was very glad she had brought it with her to the doctor’s office. If she had been home, all she would have seen was work to be done; here, she could take the time to enjoy Rita’s words.

I know it will seem strange to you that I’m writing to you and not to Dad, but I have something to say just to you. Most of the kids at school were thrilled with the news of the baby, almost as much as I was, but there was one girl who looked at me oddly. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her until later, but when I did she said that her mother had remarried when she was in her mid-thirties and had a baby. The girl said it was awful. She was embarrassed over the baby, and when she went home that was all her mother and stepfather could talk about. The baby was born, a little boy, and the girl is still not close to him—her own halfbrother!

I wrote this so you would know that I don’t feel that way. I hated watching my dad’s lonely struggle after my mom died, and all I’ve ever wanted for him was to have you. I know I’ll love this new baby just like I do Tory and Craig, and I don’t want you to doubt that for a minute.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks for the great birthday gifts. I had a wonderful day. I can tell you all about it on the weekend, and maybe you can tell me when the baby’s due. Just think, when we see each other again, you’ll be in maternity clothes!

Much love,

Rita

Sophie told herself not to cry, but it didn’t work. She was thankful that the waiting room was almost empty. She read the letter over again and smiled ruefully when she thought about how tight her clothes were; she would be in maternity clothes long before Thanksgiving. Indeed, she was wearing elastic-waist shorts today because nothing else would fit. And as to the baby’s due date, Sophie was hoping to learn that today. Had there been any question as to whether or not she was pregnant, she would have come right in to see the doctor. But she’d had a long talk with her grandmother and with Gladys and saw no reason to rush. As it was, October had nearly come and gone, and she was just now getting in to see the doctor on the twenty-ninth.

“Sophia Riley,” the receptionist called then, and Sophie stuffed the letter into her purse and hurried in. She had met Dr. Fouch before she was married and felt confident that they would work together well for this pregnancy.

Hours later Sophie drove to the third of Alec’s housing projects and nearly wept when she finally saw his truck. She parked the van as close as she could and then carefully picked her way through the construction site. She couldn’t get to the front because of some mud, and felt very discouraged. She was asking God what to do, but just then Alec came around from the back of the house.

“Well, now,” he smiled, “this is a pleasant surprise.” He spoke as he came toward her, but his steps slowed when he saw the paleness of her face and the uncertainty of her eyes.

“Could I talk with you, Alec?”

“Certainly.”

He led the way toward his truck. When they were in the semiprivate place, he said, “You had your first doctor’s appointment today, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Sophie told him seriously.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, Alec, it is, but my dates did not match my size and they wanted to do an ultrasound.” She paused, not for dramatics, but because she was still in shock. “It is twins, Alec. There are two babies.”

Alec stared at her, and then let his body fall a few inches until he landed against the side of the truck. Twins. His wife was going to have twins! He was going to be the father of five children—not three, not four, but five.

“Are
you
all right?” Alec finally gained his wits. “Does the doctor say how you’re doing?”

“Yes. He says I am well. He is pleased with my weight and physical condition. He wants me to walk every day, not just when I have time, and he told me that many couples benefit from Lamaze classes.”

“Yeah. Okay. Well, I’m glad you’re all right.” The words sounded strained even to his own ears. “Thanks for coming to tell me.”

Sophie nodded, still feeling rather numb. “I better let you get back to work.”

“Right.”

“Good-bye, Alec.”

“Bye.”

Sophie’s door was open on the van before Alec shouted her name. She watched him jog to her, and a moment later she was in his arms. She was trembling all over even though the day was warm.

“It’s going to be all right,” Alec said for her as well as himself.

“I am in shocked, Alec.” She leaned back so she could see his face. “I tell you that the women in my family do not get pregnant, and now I am pregnant not with one baby, but two. We will need two of everything, Alec. Two cribs, two strollers, two high chairs. How did this happen?”

Alec’s smile grew teasing. “Honestly, Sophie, at your age, asking me a question like that. Why, I thought you understood all about that.”

Sophie laughed. It was a sound of joy and a sound of relief. They were going to be all right. The tease was back in Alec’s voice, and the shock was receding from his face. Sophie still felt like she was reeling, but who could blame her?

“Did the doctor say when you’re due?” It was such a wonderful,
normal
question.

“May 23.”

“Almost to our anniversary.”

“What if I am in the hospital on our first anniversary?”

Alec just smiled. “Then I’ll have to make mad, passionate love to you on another night.”

“Oh, Alec,” Sophie said with a sigh. “I need you so much.”

Alec hugged her tightly. They did need each other. In the midst of this, Alec had a sudden thought. Sophie had it, too, and they stepped apart to look at each other.

“The kids,” they said simultaneously.

“Shall I wait until you get home or tell them after school?”

“Wait for me, okay?”

Sophie nodded, and then suddenly smiled. “They are going to be thrilled—at least Tory will be.”

“I think you’re right. I can hardly wait to see their faces.”

Their expressions were worth the wait. Tory’s eyes didn’t shrink for half an hour, and within five minutes she was on the phone to every girl in her class. Craig’s reaction was a bit different.

“I wondered why you were already so big.”

“Craig Riley!” Sophie was outraged.

“Well,” he laughed a little, “Pete said his mom didn’t need maternity clothes until she was in her fifth month, and you’re already wearing baggy shirts.”

Sophie still looked put out, but when Craig grinned at her she had to laugh.

“Remember, Sophie,” he added. “You were the one who told us you were going to look like a rhino.”

They all laughed now, and it was then that Alec realized she wasn’t crying as much as she had been. More than usual certainly, but it wasn’t bad at all anymore. Several hours later he was ready to change his mind again, however.

“Will I be an embarrassment to you, Alec?”

“What are you talking about?” He was climbing into bed.

Tears came to her eyes. “I am going to look like a blimp.”

Alec had to laugh, and Sophie really cried then. He tried to apologize, but he klutzed the whole thing because he still wanted to laugh.

“Go to sleep, Sophie,” he finally said.

“You are trying to change the subject,” she accused.

“That’s right. Go to sleep.”

“I want to talk.”

“No. You’ve had a long day, and so have I. We both need to sleep.”

“You are talk to Sophie like she is child.” She was angry now.

Alec didn’t answer, and for a time they lay silent in the dark. Alec heard a muffled sob just before Sophie said, “I am sorry, Alec.”

“It’s all right, honey,” he said as he put his arms around her.

“I really do need to talk, but I am so tired.”

“I’ll come home for lunch tomorrow, all right?”

“Okay.”

“And we’ll call Rita on the weekend and tell her.”

Sophie nodded against him because she was in the midst of a huge yawn. She really was amazingly tired, but not so tired that she didn’t recognize the sin of pride.

You are worried about how you might look, when all you need to concern yourself with is these babies. For shame, Sophie. Help me, Lord. Help me to keep it all in perspective.
And with that, Sophie couldn’t think anymore. Moments later, sleep rushed in to claim her.

Sophie walked down the hospital corridor, tugging at the hem of her maternity top and thinking that Alec was going to laugh when she told him. Down in the lobby, she had nearly knocked a little boy to the floor since she never saw him. He ran smack into her round stomach because she had no downward peripheral vision at all to tell her to dodge out of the way.

Room 209. This was the one. The door was open, but Sophie didn’t recognize the woman in the first bed. The curtain was pulled between the beds, so Sophie peeked around the end.

“Sophie,” came a pleased voice.

“Hello, Mrs. Kent.”

“You didn’t say you were going to have a baby.” The old woman, sick as she was, was immediately distracted.

“Yes.”

“It looks to be soon, too.”

“No, not until May. It’s twins.”

Mrs. Kent laughed weakly. “You don’t say. Well, if anyone can do it, you can.”

Sophie smiled and then grew serious. “How are you?”

The old eyes grew a bit dim. “They say they can’t do any more. They’re discharging me tomorrow. After that I’ll take my chances on my own.”

“The cancer is spreading?”

The gray head moved on the white pillow slip. “No, but it was all through me before we knew. The ankle was the first sign that something was wrong. I was only back on it for a few weeks before it broke the third time.”