by Lori Wick
Sophie prayed on in this fashion for most of the journey. It was familiar this time, and each landmark she recognized caused her heart to skip a little. She did not know what lay ahead, but she did know that whatever it was, her future was in God's sovereign hands.
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Alec Riley stood next to the phone that he had set backdown five minutes ago and asked himself how the time had flown so swiftly. Janet had just called to tell him to watch for Sophie's boxes in the next few days, since she was this minute on her way to Wisconsin. It wasn't even 9:00 in the morning, and it was amazing that Janet had even caught him at home. And Sophie was on her way! Where had the last two weeks gone?
He had told Sophie that the two weeks she needed to finish in Chicago would give them time to prepare, but he'd done nothing. Well, almost nothing. He'd actually dug out the key to the apartment with the intent of checking things out, but the phone had rung before he could go up there. The key was still sitting on the counter.
Well, she's here to keep house,Alec thought.I guess she'll have to start with her own place.
Alec regretted the way things had turned out, but the fact that he had to be at the site in ten minutes and then meet with a customer tonight made working on Sophie's arrival impossible. He wrote out a quick note, taped it to the front door, and then ran Sophie's apartment key and a key to the house over to his elderly neighbor. With a fervent hope that Sophie could read English, he jumped into his truck and sped down the street.
***
Two hours later, a rather weary Czech woman, after paying the cabdriver what seemed like a small fortune, stood on the Rileys' front porch. She saw her name on the note and carefully lifted it free from the wood.
Sophie,
I'm sorry we are not here to welcome you. I have not had time to prepare your place, but I hope you'll be
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able to get settled in on your own. Our neighbor, Mr. Jenkins, has a key to your apartment and one to the house. If the kids have not arrived, please see him for the keys. Actually, don't worry about the kids today at all. Get into your apartment, get settled, and come to the kitchen tomorrow morning at 7:00. We'll get everything organized then.
Thank you,
Alec Riley
Sophie read the note twice and then looked at the house next door. The Rileys lived on a court, but a small arrow had been drawn over Mr. Jenkins's name, so this narrowed the choices. Still, Sophie's disappointment was keen. To come all this way and not be greeted by anyone was something of a letdown.
However, she knew that standing there thinking about it would accomplish nothing. Leaving her suitcases on the porch, she crossed to the blue house next door and rang the bell. It was answered a minute later by an elderly gentleman who said, "So what are we selling today?"
Sophie only stared at him.
"Or maybe you want me to sign something, is that it?"
Sophie licked her lips nervously and nearly stuttered. "I need to see Jenkins, Mr. Jenkins. I am Sophie. I need keys."
"Oh, you're the one who's going to work for Alec." Without a word of apology or excuse, he shuffled back to his kitchen and brought forth the keys.
"Here they are. Are you settled in yet?"
"No," Sophie told him and wondered if their lack of understanding was his fault or her own.
"Well, you best get to it."
"Thank you," Sophie managed, and the door was closed in her face.
She looked down at the keys in her hand and shook her head slightly. It was a most curious welcome.
Sophie walked back to the house and picked up one of her bags. She moved toward the garage and finally understood about the detached garage. There was an eight-foot walkway between the garage and the house; the two buildings did not even share a roof. She didn't take long to inspect things but hurried on. However, Sophie was not prepared for the apartment that awaited her at the top of the wooden stairs.
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Pushing the door open, she stepped inside, and stopped. She stood at the threshold of what might be called a great room. It was a kitchen/living room/dining area, all in one. There was a large window in the living room part of the long room that overlooked the street. Also at the end of the long room was another door. Sophie set her case down and moved toward it. It took her to a bedroom, and through the bedroom was a bathroom. Things were a little stale smelling, but not musty or dirty.
Sophie walked all the way into the bathroom, circled the bedroom again, and went back out to the kitchen. Mr. Riley had told her to get settled, but how was she supposed to do this? Except for a small kitchen table and two chairs, there was not a stick of furniture in the whole place.
***
She went for her other suitcase and, after climbing the stairs for the second time, she shut the door, rummaged through her purse, and found paper and a pen. She then began in the kitchen and made note of everything she would need. To her surprise, she found a good array of cleaning supplies, including a small vacuum cleaner, in the broom closet.
There was no wash pail or mop, so she wrote these on the list. Next she went to the closet in the bedroom. Other than several dozen hangers, it was empty. Sophie wrote out the things she would need for that night: at least two blankets, maybe three, and a pillow. The bathroom was next. There was no soap, but she remembered she had brought her own. There was toilet paper and a few more cleaning supplies. Still writing, Sophie went back to the kitchen and picked up the house key.
The hand that held the key this time shook with emotion. Sophie had rung the front doorbell three times to make sure no one was home before opening the door with her key. In her free hand was a list of everything she would need in order to get settled. She had already wasted 20 minutes just sitting at her kitchen table wondering what to do before it occurred to her that she was going to have to take care of herself.
Now she walked softly through the large, empty house and hated how much she felt like an intruder. She made herself stay logical about it and began to gather items to take back to her place. It was while she was looking for a mop that she discovered the door out of the kitchen which took her to within feet of the bottom of the stairs to her apartment. Sophie moved everything
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she had piled at the front door andbegan carrying her things out through the kitchen. On her last trip out she left a note for Alec on the kitchen table.
Mr. Riley,
I'm borrowing some things I need until my boxes come in the mail. I will bring everything back.
Sophie
Three hours later the Riley children were home, but Sophie, who was cleaning her small shower, was not aware of their arrival even though they parked in the garage directly below her. Since the kids put their school things on top of the note she had left, they had no knowledge of her presence. Neither did they see her leave her apartment in the late afternoon to go in search of a grocery store.
***
"I complained to You about that cot, Lord, and I even hated it. Now here I am missing it with all my heart." There was laughter in Sophie's voice as she prayed this prayer from the "bed" she had constructed out of two blankets and a quilt placed in one corner of the bedroom.
"I'm tired, but also well pleased with myself. I worked hard and did not cause the Rileys more trouble."
It took Sophie some time to fall asleep, but when she did, she slept through the night-totally unaware of the fact that at 1:00 A.M. Alec remembered she was coming. He padded in bare feet down the stairs to the front door. The note was missing, but that didn't mean anything; it could have blown away. Alec moved down the front porch steps and to the walk. From that position he could see the apartment above the garage, but it was as dark as it had been any other night.
"What did you expect?" he grumbled to himself. "She's probably asleep."
However, he could not make himself go back upstairs. He moved to the kitchen and flicked on the light. He then went to the door that was actually a half window, and moved the curtain aside to look up
at Sophie's place again. He didn't know what he expected to see. It was still dark. Feeling restless, he moved from the door and stood staring at the floor. That's when he spotted it:
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a small piece of paper lying upside down under the leg of a kitchen chair.
Alec picked it up and saw the signature. Relief flooded through him before he had even read it. When he did read it, he felt more at peace than ever before that they had hired Sophie. She'd needed some things and simply taken care of it herself. That type of competence was very impressive to him. He already had three children; he did not need a fourth. With that positive thought, Alec hit the kitchen light and headed for the stairs. Sleep did not come quickly, but then it never did. It hadn't since the absence of another warm person in bed with him.
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Rita was the only one IN THE KITCHEN when Sophie knocked softly on the door at 7:00 the next morning.
"Sophie," she said with some surprise. "I didn't know you were here."
"Oh." Sophie wasn't sure what to say to this, so she mentioned the note.
"He said 7:00?" Rita questioned after she had heard her out.
"Yes."
"He's always gone by 6:00.Iwonder what he was thinking." Rita's voice trailed off until she realized she'd left Sophie standing outside.
"Come on in," she offered and stepped back. Sophie entered, and a moment later Tory came in the room.
"Oh, Sophie, I didn't know you were here."
Her words so echoed her sister's that Sophie had to smile. It seemed that Mr. Riley had not communicated with his children at all.
"Would you like me to fix you breakfast?" Sophie asked. Tory looked to Rita for help.
"I guess we usually get our own." Rita almost sounded apologetic.
"Maybe your lunches?"
"We make those, too," Tory told her.
Sophie nodded. "I can do dinner, then. What time would you like?"
Rita thought for a moment. "I guess around 5:30 or 6:00."
"Is that when you are home from school?"
"No, we get in about 3:30."
"You do not want to eat then?"
"Well, not supper. Maybe just a snack. But we always get that, too."
Sophie nodded and noticed how uncomfortable Tory looked. Smiling, Sophie tried to reassure her. She wasn't feeling overconfident herself just then, but she hated to see that look on the
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little girl's face. The smile drew Tory closer to where Sophie stood, just inside the door.
"We've been doing a lot of stuff for ourselves since our mom died."
"Of course, Tory. It was unfair of me to ask. I will get start with the cleaning."
"Did you eat breakfast, Sophie?" Rita asked when the older woman was halfway across the kitchen.
"Not yet."
"Eat with us," Tory invited.
"Yeah, Sophie," Rita added. "Eat something first." There was something about this woman that made Rita feel sorry for her. It would be awful to eat in front of her or send her away without food.
"All right," Sophie agreed, and turned as the third Riley child finally joined them. "Good morning, Craig."
"Hi," he said simply and eyed her for a second. "Does our dad know you're here?"
"Yes. He left me note and keys."
"Well, he sure didn't tell us." With that sour note he turned his back and reached for a cereal bowl. He poured himself a huge portion and then sat down to systematically polish it off.
At Tory's insistence, Sophie had a piece of toast and a small glass of orange juice. The toast the children made her was burned and the juice did not taste fresh, but Sophie ate it peacefully, telling herself that she would do better for these children at the evening meal.
When the meal was over, they left a huge mess to be cleaned up and, since they were running late, nearly bolted for the garage. Sophie walked out and saw them off. Rita was in the driver's seat of a navy-blue Ford Aerostar, Craig was in the front passenger seat, and Tory sat in the very back, waving and smiling at Sophie as they moved down the street.
***
Sophie was in the kitchen when the Riley children arrived home from school, but it was not the kitchen they remembered. They came in the back door talking and arguing about something, but came to a silent halt when they saw the room. It had been almost a year since it had looked this way, and maybe not even quite this clean then. There were no dishes in the sink or on the counter. The floor looked so shiny that it appeared to be wet,
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and the aroma was wonderful. Sophie must have baked because the fragrance of something delicious lingered in the air.
"Hi, Sophie," Tory spoke first. "The kitchen looks great."
"Thank you, Tory. How was your day at school?"
"Fine. What're you cooking?"
"I made biscuits for dinner and cookies for after school. I hope you like oatmeal."
"Yeah, we do," Rita told her. "Thanks, Sophie," she said and took a cookie from the offered plate. "It looks like you worked hard today."
Sophie smiled shyly and offered the plate to Craig. He made her as nervous as Mr. Riley did, and she could only hope that it didn't show on her face.
"Oatmeal isn't my favorite," he said quietly, although the hungry way he eyed the plate belied the statement.
"Oh, all right, Craig. What is favorite?"
"Chocolate chip."
"I will remember for another time. I am make beef roast and potatoes for 5:30. Is this good?"
"Sure." Craig turned away irritably, not wanting to be asked such questions.
"Beef roast," Tory mumbled around a cookie. "I love beef roast."
Not long after that, when everyone had eaten a snack, they all wandered off. Sophie went back to work herself and didn't see anyone until it was time for dinner.
***
At 9:00 that night, Alec came home to a quiet house. Hungry as he was, he ignored the good smells in the kitchen and headed for the stairs. Once again the lights were off in the apartment over the garage. He had to talk with Rita before she fell asleep. Thankfully, her light was still on and she was reading.
"Hi," she said softly, set her book aside, and scooted back until she could sit up against the headboard. Alec settled himself at the foot of the bed with a sigh.
"I was supposed to meet with Sophie this morning and completely forgot until I was on the other side of Madison. Did you see her?"
"Yeah. She came to the kitchen door at 7:00.Itold her you were gone."
Alec rubbed the back of his neck. Rita could see that he was tired.
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"Did she stay or go back up to her place?"
"Oh, she stayed," Rita said. "Didn't you come through the kitchen?"
"I did, but the light was off."
"She cleaned, Dad," Rita told him seriously. "She tore into the kitchen, the dining room, and the family room and even made a great dinner. She wrapped the leftovers and put them in the fridge for you."
"Okay. How did you all get along with her?"
"Fine. I don't think she knows what to do with Craig because he's so angry all the time, but I can tell that Tory is starting to adore her. There was just one thing."
"What's that?"
"She set us up in the dining room, and then ate by herself in the kitchen."
Alec looked surprised at this, and then reminded himself that Sophie was not an American. It was impossible to tell the background from which she'd come.
"I'd like her to eat with you guys when I'm not here. Would you feel comfortable telling her that tomorrow?"
"I can do that. You won't be here?"
"No. I'm headed in five different directions tomorrow, so you won't see me until late. Are you really sure things are going well with Sophie?" He had to ask one more time.
"Yeah, they are. She asked me a lot of questions, and I told her the best I could."
"I'll meet with her this week, but for tomorrow you'll have to go it on your own."
"Okay."
Alec stood and came near. Bending low, he kissed his oldest daughter, who returned his embrace, and then moved from the room. Rita could tell by the way he turned in the hall that he was also going to check on Craig and Tory. He had always worked long hours, but since their mother died it was worse. Rita wondered if he would find anyone else awake. She hoped that he would, but her biggest wish was that someday they would feel like a family again.
***
Alec was as good as his word. The next day, Wednesday, he was not around at all. He was out just as early on Thursday, but he was home after lunch to do some work in his office. He came
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through the kitchen with no thought of his housekeeper and moved to the stairs. He heard her humming before he actually reached his bedroom door, so discovering her in there was not quite as abrupt as it might have been.
"Oh, Mr. Riley," Sophie spoke from where she was dusting one of the large dressers in the room. "I am just done here." With that she grabbed the vacuum and furniture polish and moved to the door. Alec stepped aside to let her pass.
He found himself struggling with the fact that she'd been in here at all. He was on the verge of stepping back into the hall and telling her to skip his room from now on, when he noticed the cleanliness. He walked in and shook his head. He'd forgotten how fresh-smelling a clean house could be.
There wasn't a particle of dust anywhere, and the carpet looked almost new. Alec moved to the bathroom and just stared. He hadn't really cleaned it in months, and now it was so shiny that the light bounced off every surface. His bedroom and bath were large rooms, too; cleaning them must have taken her hours.
Ten minutes later, Alec was back downstairs. This time he found Sophie in the kitchen, working over a muffin pan.
"May I talk to you, Sophie?"
"Yes, Mr. Riley." She moved immediately to join him at the kitchen table. He stood while she took a chair and then sat at the other end.
"The house looks good, Sophie. Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't been around. Is everything all right?"
"Yes, it is well. I must tell you, Mr. Riley. I eat your food and use your wash machine and dryer."
It took a moment for Alec to catch on as to why she felt a need to tell him this, but he finally nodded.