Sophie's Heart (6 page)

Sophie looked thoughtful. “How old are the children?”

“About like ours. Rita is 16, almost 17. Craig is 12½, and Tory just turned 10.”

“So young to say good-bye to their mother.”

David and Janet silently agreed, but stayed quiet to give Sophie a moment to think. David was on the verge of telling Sophie that she did not have to answer them right now, but he wasn’t given time.

“I would like to try this,” Sophie said. “I do not know if I will be correct for this job, but I would like to try.”

Janet felt as if the Lord had just hugged her. “When are you off work again, Sophie?”

“Not until next Tuesday, but that is Bible study day. I think I can ask for a day if it is not the weekend. Shall I do that?”

“Yes, why don’t you see what you can arrange and call me. It’s about a three-hour drive, so you’re going to need all day.”

Sophie nodded, and Janet rose to get them some coffee and dessert. Although Sophie enjoyed the rest of the evening, it was a relief to get back to the shabby apartment she called home. She desperately needed some time alone to think and pray.

Sophie got off work a little early the next night but could not sleep. She’d asked for next Monday off and gotten it, but her heart was full of a hundred things. After turning in bed repeatedly for 20 minutes, she rose and turned on the light. It was just after 1:30 in the morning. Sophie sat on her one chair and started to reach for the letter she’d started to her grandmother the night before. However, she never picked it up.

“It would be morning at home,” she whispered and reached for the phone instead.

Her hand shook as she dialed the numbers and told herself not to panic over the cost. When her grandmother picked up the phone in Prague, tears filled Sophie’s eyes.

“Hello, babushka.”

“Oh, my darling, are you well?” The voice was breathless with fear.

“Yes, I did not mean to frighten you.”

She heard her grandmother crying and fought down her own emotions. She waited, knowing the older woman would need a few minutes, and prayed that they would be able to talk.

“I’m sorry,” the elderly woman gasped. “I have just missed you so. I am kicking myself that I talked you into this.”

Knowing it wasn’t true, Sophie laughed. “I miss you, too, and I needed to talk to you so badly.”

“Let me blow my nose and you can begin.”

Again Sophie laughed; her grandmother had that effect on her.

“I’m going to Wisconsin next week about another job,” Sophie said when Kasmira came back on the line.

“Translating?”

“No. There is a family who needs a housekeeper. It will be out of the busy city. I would enjoy that.”

“It won’t be a pain to be with children either.”

Again Sophie smiled. Her grandmother knew her so well.

“Are you happy where you are?”

“I am at peace, but I would love to move from Chicago.”

“Where is this Wis…?”

“Wisconsin. Get out your map. It’s above Illinois. The town is Middleton, which is very near Madison, the capital. I looked it up, and it lists the population at over 14,000. It’s not a tiny town, but David said the area to the west of it is rural, and even near the capital it doesn’t feel like Chicago.”

“What determines if you take the job?”

“The man interviewing me. Mr. Alec Riley. I can’t imagine a reason that I would turn it down, so if he wants me to stay, I will. I have so long prayed that God would take me to a quieter place, and now I feel that He has opened the door.”

“What if it closes?”

“I knew you would ask this. If that happens, I will carry on here.”

“It’s worse than you’ve written, isn’t it?”

She heard the catch in her grandmother’s voice and nearly cried herself. “I know that God is taking care of me, but it is very lonely here,” she admitted. “Everyone is very suspicious. If you’re kind to a woman, she thinks that you want something. If you’re kind to a man, he thinks you want to have relations. For such a big place, my world has become very small.”

“I heard you say David’s name. David Ring?”

“Yes.”

“Have the Rings offered this to you?”

“Yes. Alec Riley is Janet Ring’s brother. He is a recent widower with three children. You’ll pray for them?”

“You know I will. For you, too.”

“Don’t write to this address again unless I call you. Is there any word of the list?”

“Oh, Sophie,” Kasmira’s voice was filled with regret. “It will be years, and I really don’t see how…” Her voice trailed away.

Sophie sighed, but didn’t comment, realizing just at that moment how good it was to speak Czech. She had met a few Czechs here in Chicago, but their life-style of drinking and parties was not Sophie’s choice. And as she’d explained to her grandmother, it had been so lonely.

“You’ve never really said what your apartment is like.”

“It’s very near a grocery store,” Sophie said as her eyes took in the horrid little one-room place with its stained walls and smelly carpet. “It’s so convenient.”

Her grandmother, never a fool, knew exactly what Sophie had omitted from her answer. She told herself then that since she could do nothing, it was easier not to know. Still, it made her want to weep.

“This will be costly,” Kasmira said. “We should hang up now.”

“Yes. I will write or call as soon as I know something.”

“Yes. I love you, my darling.”

The tears came then and in a torrent. “I love you, too,” Sophie choked out, awash with misery as the connection was broken. Sophie did seek her cot then, where she cried herself into a raging headache before falling into an exhausted sleep.

The drive to Wisconsin was made in marvelous comfort in the Rings’ van with Janet the following Monday. Sophie had worked until 2:00 a.m., but they had brought along a thermos of coffee, so she wasn’t as tired as she might have otherwise been. It was encouraging to know that she had the following day off as well.

They talked of different things on the way, and twice Janet tried to gauge what Sophie’s reaction would be if Alec and the children did not want her. Both times she felt as though Sophie was accepting of this very possibility. This reminded Janet once again as to why she had thought Sophie the perfect choice in the first place.

Now, Janet,
she reminded herself,
just because David had the same thought does not make it God’s will. You’ve got to let Him lead here and keep trusting if nothing turns out like you planned.

It felt good to have this little talk with herself and even better when Sophie diverted her attention by asking her where they were. The drive continued with a good mix of companionable silence and conversation until they turned onto the court where the Rileys lived.

Sophie had all she could do not to exclaim with delight over the houses and yards. She didn’t think Janet was aware of her reaction, but Sophie spoke sternly to herself, knowing that her hopes were rising every minute.

They stepped down from the van just seconds after Janet pulled into the driveway, and Sophie felt her hands sweat with anxiety.

“Alec and Vanessa bought this house ten years ago and refurbished it,” Janet spoke conversationally as they moved to the front door. “It’s amazing the changes they’ve made. It has all the fun nooks and crannies of an old house, plus all the modern conveniences.”

Sophie could do nothing more than nod as she stood next to Janet, who rang the front doorbell. A man, taller and broader than Sophie had anticipated, opened it in just a few seconds. Sophie watched as Janet stepped immediately into the house and embraced her brother.

“Come in, Sophie,” Janet now turned and said. “This is my brother, Alec Riley. Alec, this is Sophie.” Janet felt badly that she had not thought to learn Sophie’s last name, but she didn’t ask now for fear of ruining the pronunciation.

“Hello, Sophie,” Alec said and held out his hand.

“Hello, Mr. Riley.”

“Come on in,” Alec then said. “The kids are in the kitchen. Why don’t you go into the living room while I get them.”

“It’s right through there, Sophie,” Janet directed her. “You go ahead.”

“You kept the kids home from school?” Janet asked her brother as soon as Sophie was out of earshot.

“Yes,” he told her calmly. “I really find it hard to believe that this is going to work. But if we do want her to stay, I think it involves the whole family. If she’s going to be alone with my children, then I need to have feedback from the kids.”

“That makes perfect sense. I was just surprised.”

“We’ll be right in,” Alec told her before moving toward the back of the house.

Janet moved silently to the living room and found Sophie standing uncomfortably inside.

“Here, Sophie, would you like to sit down?”

They both sat, and for a moment Janet watched Sophie study the room. Signs of neglect were evident in the light dust line along the edge of the carpet and the various socks and snack papers that could be seen peeking out from beneath the chairs and sofas. It was a beautifully decorated room, but the dust and clutter were a distraction.

Sophie, Janet noticed, looked very nervous. She would have spoken some reassuring words to her, but she heard Alec and the children approaching. To Janet’s surprise, Sophie came respectfully to her feet as they entered the room.

“This is Sophie,” Alec began, taking immediate charge. “Sophie, this is Rita, Craig, and Tory.”

Sophie nodded to each of them in turn and sat back down when they all took seats. No one approached Janet, but Sophie noticed the kids smiling at their aunt. The scene was all so solemn and serious that Sophie felt herself perspiring all over again.

“I’m not sure what Janet told you, Sophie,” Alec began, still very much in charge, “but I must be honest with you that you are the first person we’ve talked to, and we want to make sure everything suits.”

Sophie nodded in understanding. David had used the
suit
word. Since Sophie had looked it up, it now made sense.

“We would need someone to clean the house,” Alec continued, “wash and take care of all the clothes, prepare meals, grocery shop, and be here for the kids when I’m at work.”

Sophie nodded, not realizing that Alec had so blatantly laid it out for her in the hope that she would run for the door. It did sound like a lot of work. But Sophie had seen the faces of these children and, unless they sent her away, she would be staying.

“Do you have some references with you?” Alec now asked.

“I do not,” Sophie told him and shrugged rather helplessly. “I did not think. I have job in Chicago. I can get paper from Mr. Markham for proof.” In Sophie’s nervous condition, she sounded illiterate.

Alec stared at her in shock, asking himself who in the world Janet had brought to them. He’d noticed that her clothing was like that of an old migrant worker, but he had not put the two together. Was she Russian?

“I’m sorry, Alec and Sophie,” Janet now spoke up. “I never thought to suggest to Sophie that she bring references.”

“So you do not work as a housekeeper now?” Alec asked her.

“No, I work Tony’s Restaurant.”

“How long have you been there?”

“Since coming to America, ten months.”

“Where are you from?”

“Czechoslovakia.”

“And were you a housekeeper there?”

“No,” Sophie answered simply, seeing that this was not going to work. She looked to Janet, who came to the rescue.

“Sophie, would you excuse Alec and me for a moment? I think we should have talked some more.”

“Of course.” Sophie smiled at her friend to reassure her, hoping that the disappointment in her heart did not show on her face.