Sophie's Heart

by Lori Wick

  "This speaker then urged us to buy life insurance for our wives. After talking it over, that's exactly what David and I did. David needed to update his own policy, and we both purchased substantial policies for our wives.

  "I have to be honest with you, Sophie, and admit that the very act made me think she would be around until we were gray with age, but that didn't happen. I don't think any man plans to lose his wife before 50 or 60, let alone 40, but that's what happened. And here I was with three kids to care for while I was trying to run a business.

  "I'll admit to you also, the first thing I said to Janet when she called about you was how could I afford it. She was the one to remind me of Vanessa's settlement. I'd received the check and

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  stuck it in the bank and forgotten all about it. Then you came on the scene, and I honestly didn't think it would work. I mean, you were the first person we'd interviewed, and it just seemed like such a huge task. But it worked out so well that I never even noticed when that month's trial period came and went.

  "I don't want you to pay me back for the clothes, Sophie. I would refuse any money you tried to give me. You came to us at a time when we needed you most, and I can't put into a dollar amount what that has meant. I quoted you a price when you took the job, but that was not the going rate for what you do. That was the going rate for women who come in at 8:00, leave promptly at 5:00, and also take an hour for lunch. I never planned to have you work on Saturdays, but then you were there and I let you. For that I apologize. You've never treated this like a job, but like some wonderful mission of comfort and care. That's what you've given us. I don't know anyone else who is willing to come to work at 6:30 in the morning and stay until after supper and sometimes into the evening."

  "But I do not mind," Sophie tried to cut in.

  "I realize that, and I can't tell you how thankful I am, but there will be no more talk of paying me back. You are a part of our family now, and I'll treat you as such. I'll be paying for things in Florida, meals and such, and I don't want you constantly reaching for your purse. If I wasn't able to afford it, I would tell you. Understood?"

  Sophie looked at him for a moment and then nodded. Alec reached out at that point and tenderly touched the end of her nose. He then smiled gently into her eyes and went to order their food.

  The food court was crowded, but Sophie couldn't see anyone but her boss. Did the children know what a special man their father was? Did they see how hard he worked and the efforts he made on their behalf? Sophie frowned a little. In her opinion, he was still putting in a little too much time at work, but she knew he was making an effort to be home more.

  After her stay in the hospital, they'd been alone at Gladys' one morning, and he had shared with her what he'd read in the Bible that day, and the way it had touched his heart. Sophie knew that he did not have devotions with his family, but maybe that would come someday. He was not a perfect parent, but Sophie admired him more than any other man she knew.

  She told the Lord how she felt and was still praying for Mr. Riley and the children when he returned. She was so preoccupied

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  with her thoughts that she didn't think to question how he knew what she would want to eat. Tory had mentioned in passing one day that Sophie liked to eat burritos at the food court. Anyone else might not have paid the least bit of attention. But where Sophie was concerned, Alec didn't miss a thing.

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  ON APRIL 6,1990, THE RILEYS, with Sophie in tow, left Wisconsin amid a snowstorm. Because of the weather, Alec had taken the kids out of school a little bit early, but the snow was actually very pretty as it fell all around them. It made the driving a bit of a strain, but Alec made it look easy. Rita had taken the front seat, Craig was in the middle seat, and Sophie and Tory were way in the back. They were literally up to their ears in luggage, and the meal for that evening was packed in a hamper at Tory's feet.

  "Do you have any swordfish?" Tory asked Sophie.

  "Go fish," she told her smugly, and Tory smiled.

  "Do you have shark?" Sophie now asked Tory.

  "Umm," Tory grumbled since she had to hand one over.

  "How about angelfish?"

  "Go fish." It was Tory's turn to be superior.

  Alec, vaguely hearing this from the front seat, felt a mix of emotions. It would have been nice to have Sophie up front with him. But if she was beside him, he couldn't look into his mirror and see her gorgeous eyes as they sparkled at his youngest daughter.

  "I'm hungry," Craig announced.

  "So you've said," Rita commented.

  "Let's at least get out of the state, Craig," his father said dryly, and the younger man went back to his book.

  Rita was bent over a book of her own. They were going to be gone an extra day from school, and she had a paper due the day after they returned. She wanted to forget about it for the next ten days, so getting done before they left Wisconsin was her goal.

  They drove for over seven hours that afternoon and evening, making it all the way out of Illinois, and stayed in a nice motel a little ways outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Everyone fell right into bed since they knew Alec would be setting his alarm for 5:00.

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  The next day they were on the road by 5:30 with plans to eat when everyone was more awake. It was one of the longest days of Sophie's life. It helped to sit in the front seat, but by the time they arrived in Montgomery, Alabama, some 12 hours later, she never wanted to see the inside of the Rileys' van again. Over dinner that night she felt numb.

  "Are you all right, Sophie?" Rita wanted to know.

  She answered, but never took her unseeing stare from the saltshaker. "I could have been in Prague by now. I could be asleep in my bed."

  This got everyone to laughing.

  "I cannot feel my bottom," she went on, and even Alec had to get a hand up to his mouth. "I am sick of color in your van. I always like blue," she said as she sadly shook her head. "No more. I think is ugly."

  Sophie's four companions were now losing it. They had their faces in their hands or pillowed on their arms on the table, but she knew very well what she was doing to them and did not let up.

  "And the road," her voice was almost singsong now, "it goes forever. I have no time to see things because we must get to Florida. I think is all made up. I think Florida does not really exist. We have seen Illinois and Tennessee and even Alabama, but Florida is all big dream."

  "Are you folks ready to order now?" A smiling waitress had come to the table.

  "I am," Sophie told her innocently, "but this family is not. They areverytired."

  Tears had come to Alec's eyes, and he shook his head as he reached for the menu. It was quite true. They were all so tired that they could hardly function. Alec thanked the waitress and told her they would need a few more minutes. Sophie looked at him with feigned innocence for just an instant before turning to her own menu.

  Thankfully, the food was wonderful. After the meal they all felt up to a walk. It was not a long walk, but it removed the kinks from everyone's bodies and once again they all slept like the dead at their hotel. The next day they would be in Naples.

  ***

  "I've never seen you like this, Kay," Ben Riley commented as he watched her pace before the large living room window.

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  "Well, Alec's never come like this before."

  "You might be reading more into this than is really there."

  Alec's mother turned to look at him. "Oh, Ben, if only you had heard his voice. He's in love with this woman. I just know it."

  Ben only nodded, but not because he disagreed. He honestly hoped that Alec had found someone he could love, but he did not want to raise their hopes or do anything to make this young woman uncomfortable.

  "You don't believe me, do you?"

  "It's not that, Kay, but think about it. If we'relookingfor some sign, then as soon as Sophie gets here, we're going to make her very ill at ease'."

  Kay's brows rose.
"That's certainly a good point. I'm just not sure I can pull it off."

  "Well, for Alec's sake, as well as Sophie's, please try."

  Kay looked back to the window. "Well, they're here, so I better give it my best."

  "What are you doing?" Craig asked Sophie, a huge frown on his face.

  Sophie continued to touch his sides and inspect him. "I am look for other arms."

  "Why?" He was not laughing or smiling.

  "You are crab, so I look for extra arms."

  A reluctant smile tugged at Craig's mouth. They were finally here, right in his grandparents' driveway. His face, which had been frowning for the last two hours, now looked like a thundercloud. Alec and the girls had walked on up to the house, but Craig had hung back. Sophie hung back as well, but for reasons all her own.

  "What is wrong, Craig?"

  He stopped walking and looked at the large two-story house before he answered.

  "We didn't come here last year, so the last time we were down here, my mom was with us."

  Sophie should have figured as much.

  "You will have to look for the good memories, Craig," she told him.

  He now looked at her, and she continued gently.

  "You will see her everywhere, and if you are not careful, the whole week will be sad. Look for memories that will warm your heart and make you thankful for time you did have."

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  Sophie wondered if she'd worded this correctly, but a look of understanding came into Craig's eyes, and she felt confident that she had. They both looked up at that point to see Alec coming toward them. Craig started up the walk, and when he passed his father they had a few words. Alec squeezed Craig's shoulder and went down to where Sophie stood by the van.

  "Maybe I should unload suitcases and bags," she suggested and started to turn away.

  "What's bothering you, Sophie?" Alec's quietly voiced question brought her to a stop. She turned back from her flight and stared at him.

  "I am have change of mind. I am not sure I should come here."

  "Why?"

  Feeling horribly uncomfortable, Sophie looked away, but she actually managed the words. "Mrs. Frazier did not like me. I have nowhere to go if Mrs. Riley does not like me, too."

  Alec ached as he thought back to the way she had been treated.

  "That's not going to happen here," he told her. But when she looked at him, he could see she still had doubts.

  It would be several more minutes before Sophie could see that it was true, but her misgivings would have vanished instantly if she had bothered to look up to the house. Ben and Kay were watching them from the window before they looked at each other and shared a conspiratorial grin.

  ***

  "Now, Sophie," Kay began, "are you certain you have everything?"

  "Yes, Mrs. Riley. Is very nice."

  "Call me Kay-everyone does. And Ben is Ben to the entire state."

  Sophie smiled and thought of how swiftly Alec's parents had proved his words. Kay had gone out of her way to make Sophie feel at home, and Ben Riley was just a big sweetheart.

  The bungalow she had been escorted to at the rear of the house was wonderful. It was beautifully furnished with every conceivable convenience. Sophie had unpacked her things and already been told "no" when she offered to help with dinner.

  The Rileys' home was wonderful as well. The rooms were large and airy, and the furniture was comfortable and "lived in." The meal that evening was delicious, too, but the trip was starting to

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  tell on the weary travelers. They ate with some conversation and even made for the beach when the dishes were washed, but by 9:00 all were headed to their beds to dream of the week in Florida.

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  Tory, Rita, and Sophie walked to the Rileys' souvenir shop first thing Monday morning. It was perhaps a two-mile walk, and the sun on their bare arms and legs felt glorious. The girls pointed out special landmarks along the way and even waved at a few familiar faces.

  "Your grandparents have lived here long?"

  "Yes," Rita answered. "They moved down here when I was just a baby, and we've visited every spring for as long as I can remember."

  "Not every one," Tory inserted quietly, but Rita didn't comment. Sophie didn't need to ask since she knew exactly to what Tory referred.

  The threesome was still walking in silence when a convertible carrying two young men passed by. They didn't whistle or do anything obscene, but their interest in the women was more than evident. Rita, who was often the recipient of male attention, took it in stride, but then realized that she had been the only one to notice the men. Sophie never even looked in their direction, and Tory was watching two sea gulls fight over a scrap of food. Rita didn't make any comment, but for some odd reason the scene stayed in her mind.

  ***

  Riley's Souvenirs and Gifts was at the Old Marine Market Place at Tin City and only one of 40 shops located there. Built from old boats and warehouses, the Market Place also had cobblestones and plank flooring. Fine dining was offered, as well as many more gift shops and a travel agent. There were constant jokes made that if you were in Florida, why would you want to go anyplace else, but the agent had a steady stream of clients.

  Sophie was thrilled with everything and wanted to see it all, but Tory insisted they start in the Rileys' shop. The shelves were

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  lined with lovely curios of every type, and one entire corner was dedicated to books-Christian titles as well as secular volumes. Sophie wandered through in a delighted haze before she got down to some serious shopping. She chose a book on Florida's history for Gladys, and for her grandmother she found a wonderful sweatshirt. She also discovered a book she knew her grandmother would enjoy, but since it was written in English, Sophie decided it would be more of a trial than a treasure and didn't purchase it.

  Ben spotted Sophie minutes after she'd started through the books. He came over just as she had a question about a particular title, and they enjoyed a long chat.

  It was during this time that Rita, who was standing an aisle away from the books, noticed a man staring intently at someone or something in the book section. Rita didn't want to stare outright, but after several surreptitious glances, she realized he was studying Sophie. Rita might have been alarmed, but she knew he lived in the area and was well known by her grandparents.

  While Rita was still watching, her grandfather moved on, and the other man approached. He opened up a conversation with Sophie right away. Although she was kind, she might have been speaking to Craig or Tory. The man was still watching her intently, his eyes warm as they studied her face, but there was no awareness on Sophie's part whatsoever.

  "What are you doing, Rita?" Tory asked out of nowhere, and Rita nearly jumped from her skin.

  "Oh, Tory! You scared me."

  "Sorry. What're you doing?"

  Rita's face flushed with guilt, and Tory frowned up at her.

  "Nothing," the older girl finally managed. "Did you find something to buy?"

  "Yeah. What do you think of this T-shirt?" Tory held it up.

  "It's cute, but is it going to fit?"

  Tory looked down at the garment in her hands. "I thought it looked too small, too, but it's the only one in this color."

  "Let's ask Grandpa."

  The girls moved off, and Rita missed the final exchange with Sophie and her admirer. He was trying his best to find out if she would be willing to go on a date, but he was being much too subtle. Sophie wasn't catching on.

  Not that it would have mattered. Rita had already decided on

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  acourse of action. Had she seen Sophie's innocent conduct, it would have only strengthened her resolve.

  ***

  "No one makes her feel like a woman."

  Alec was in his parents' backyard, lying on a chaise lounge. He laid his book across his bare stomach, pushed his sunglasses back, and blinked at his daughter.

  "What did you say?"

  "I sa
id," Rita began again, "no one makes Sophie feel like a woman. Men notice her, but she doesn't even pay attention. I've decided that no one has ever shown Sophie that she's wonderful."

  Alec studied Rita's determined face and then motioned to a chair. She sat down.

  "When did you decide all of this?"

  Rita explained what she'd seen in the store and on the street.

  "You could take her in your arms and lay one on her, Dad, and she still might be in the dark." Rita's voice was chagrined.

  "Lay one on her?" Alec questioned, and Rita grinned.

  "You know, kiss her. I think it's the only way to get her attention."

  Alec shook his head. He was still getting used to having these conversations with his 17-year-old daughter, but she was absolutely right.

  "That's undoubtedly the last thing I would do right now, Rita, but I'm glad you pointed this out to me." Alec slowly shook his head. "Sophiedoesn'tsee herself as she-"

  Alec cut off when they were joined by Tory and the very woman they were discussing. Alec recovered nicely and asked to see what they'd bought at the harbor. Tory took a long time explaining and twice Alec caught Sophie's eyes on his bare chest. He nearly reached for his shirt and, indeed, would have if he had not just talked to Rita. But maybe this was one more area where Sophie needed to alter her thinking. It didn't seem that she really saw herself as a woman. And in light of that, it would make perfect sense if such a view ran to men as well. He was her employer, nothing more.

  Alec would have dearly loved to talk to her on the spot, and then to take her in his arms and kiss her until she had no doubts. But as usual, the timing was all wrong. With a determined mental move, he focused his mind back on his youngest daughter. He had been looking forward to this week ever since Sophie

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  had agreed to go. He now wondered if it might be as much work as staying at home.

  ***

  It was growing late in the week when a game of keep away took place on the beach. Sophie and Tory were in the middle for what seemed like years, but Alec misjudged at one point, and Sophie finally got her hands on the Frisbee. Both Rita and Craig had to go into the middle this time, and it was some work on Sophie's part to stay on the edge. Alec had just headed into the middle when things began to fall apart.