Sophie's Heart (55 page)

Over two hours later, after she had walked between the Rileys’ and the Nickelberrys’ houses six times, she collapsed in a chair. She was beat, but the job was done. All that was left was to clean the apartment, and that shouldn’t take long. Sophie wondered absently if Alec would rent it out after that. If he was going to raise her salary, he may not have a choice.

Sophie had kept the last few minutes with Alec pushed carefully from her mind, but now it was time to think and pray.
Maybe I will have to be careful with what I say to Alec. I don’t want to be. I want to be me and have him listen and stay open.
Sophie shared all of this with the Lord and felt better, but the deepest hurt was still trapped inside her. Was Alec ashamed that he had held her hand? Maybe he did not believe in public displays of affection. But that couldn’t be true since he’d held her hand in the mall. Sophie’s hand came to her mouth in pain and confusion. She hardly even knew how to pray. Her thoughts ran in all directions until she heard the sound of Gladys’ voice.

“Sophie, are you down there?”

“Yes, Gladys.”

“Would you like to come up and share something cold to drink?”

Sophie looked with dread at the piles of clothes and things around her, but told Gladys that she would be right up.

She forced herself not to think or look around. The piles would wait, and so would her heart pain. With a determined resolve, Sophie stood and put her perishables in the refrigerator. She then slipped into the bathroom to wash her face and hands. A few minutes later she was visiting with Gladys and cooling off over a glass of fresh lemonade; for the time being, she would put Alec from her mind.

“Where’s Sophie?”

Rita looked up from her book and blinked at her father. “Sophie? Isn’t she with you?”

“No,” Alec frowned. “She stayed here.”

Rita shook her head. “I’ve been on the phone with Kurt, and I haven’t seen her at all. I just assumed she went with you guys.”

Alec nodded almost casually, but he turned away before Rita could see his worried frown. They were all the way to the mall before he realized how abruptly their conversation had ended—or rather, hadn’t ended. He had been taking some serious think time over what she said, but he hadn’t explained that to Sophie. Vanessa would have understood, but then she’d been married to him for over 17 years.

Alec looked at his watch. Craig had seen Rick at the mall and gone home with him, but Alec didn’t have to pick him up for two hours. Rita was deep in a book, and Tory was wrapping the stuffed Panda she’d found for Anna. Alec was almost certain that Sophie did not have her own phone. Even if she did, he didn’t have the number. He wanted to drive down and go right to Sophie, but something made him hesitate. He decided he would stop first at Gladys’. He had a question to ask her, and then he would go around the house and see if Sophie was in.

“Would you like some more lemonade, dear?”

“I think water now, Gladys. Thank you.”

“How are things going, Sophie?”

“Much better. Thank you for letting me stay for a time, Gladys.”

“Take all the time you need, Sophie.”

“Well, I will need to get an apartment, since I cannot go back to Rileys.”

Gladys didn’t ask, but Sophie said, “Alec Riley and I had a date on Saturday night.” Sophie was a private person and hadn’t planned to tell anyone that, but suddenly she was very glad she did.

Gladys smiled. “Alec Riley is a very blessed man.”

“What about me? Do you not think I am blessed?”

“Yes, I do, Sophie, but I don’t know Alec like I know you. I just know that no man could want a more wonderful woman in his life than Sophie Velikonja.”

Sophie blushed with the compliment. “It is not serious right now.” Indeed, after that afternoon, she didn’t know where she stood at all.

“It doesn’t need to be,” Gladys said, dismissing her words. “You’re not children; you’ll know how to handle it.”

Sophie nodded, praying that this would be true. “This is very new for me, and it is odd at times with the children watching.”

Gladys smiled sympathetically. “I can just imagine. It must be rather frustrating for Alec. When you’re young you don’t have to think about anyone but yourself and the woman you love. With kids in the picture, it’s a whole new ball game.”

Sophie was still taking in Gladys’ terminology when the doorbell rang. Gladys went to answer it, and Sophie remained on the sofa that sat at the far end of the kitchen.

“Well, hello, Alec. Come in.”

Alec stepped just inside the door so Gladys could shut out the heat.

“What can I do for you?”

“Sophie’s birthday is next Sunday and the kids and I—” Alec cut off when Gladys’ finger came to her lips.

“She’s here,” she said softly.

Alec nodded. “Then I’ll talk to you later.”

“That will be fine,” Gladys’ voice came back to normal. “Sophie’s here. Come on in and have some lemonade with us.”

Sophie, who didn’t know about Alec’s presence until he walked into the kitchen, did not have time to get off the couch or she would have stood up. Sitting felt rather awkward as Alec’s six-foot-plus frame sauntered into the room. She had yet to see him looking poorly. She’d seen him right after work, in a swimsuit, and in a tie and dress clothes. Sweaty or windblown, he always managed to be attractive. And today in navy tennis shorts and a white shirt, tanned and tall, he was devastating.

“Hi,” he spoke directly to Sophie, his eyes intent on her face.

“Hello.” Sophie’s hand fluttered nervously for just an instant before she forced it into her lap. Alec sat next to her on the couch, and Gladys pressed a glass into his hands. The two older people began to talk, and Sophie sat quietly for most of it. She was attentive, but as soon as there was a break, she stood.

“I have much to do,” she explained, not able to look at Alec. “Thank you for lemonade, Gladys. I will see you later.” Her last glance managed to encompass them both, so she didn’t have to meet Alec’s eyes.

Gladys said good-bye, but Alec was silent. The older woman watched him as his eyes tracked Sophie all the way to the door, his expression unreadable. After a moment he looked back to find his hostess’ eyes on him.

“You didn’t say good-bye, Alec.”

He grinned. “As you might have guessed, I’ll be heading down there in a few minutes. She can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Do you think she wants to?”

Alec shrugged. “I don’t know what to think, and she probably feels the same way about me.” He shook his head in wonder. “I haven’t done this courtship thing in more years than I’d like to mention.”

“And is that what this is, Alec—courtship?”

“I know that Sophie doesn’t realize the intensity of my feelings; I’ve worked very hard at that. But there are some people in my world—you included—who can tell by looking at me.”

“I’ve known since that night at the hospital.”

Alec’s brows rose, but then he smiled. “She wasn’t happy when I brought her here for recovery, but I think that’s been forgiven.”

“And today?”

The smile faded. “I’m still working on that.”

Gladys was still curious, but knew that she must leave them be. She asked Alec about what he’d started to tell her, and after he’d explained their plans for the weekend, he stood.

“You can go down the stairs, Alec, but I don’t suppose it’s fair if Sophie’s not expecting you.”

“I don’t mind going around, and I think you’re right—she’s entitled to her privacy.”

With that he was gone, his step light, but his heart prayerful. He didn’t think he was headed into a confrontation, but he knew they were off on the wrong foot. It was too early in the relationship for hurts and misunderstandings. His only prayer right now was that he hoped to make things right that very hour.

Forty-Seven

S
ophie hung her winter clothes at the back of the closet and rubbed at her arm where a wool skirt had brushed. The very thought of wool on a day like today was unbearable. There was a fan overhead in her bedroom, and Sophie hit the switch. Even with the air-conditioning it was hot, and the swirling air felt wonderful.

Sophie was back out in the living room gathering more bags of clothes when Alec knocked at the door. Sophie was not really surprised, but neither did she feel ready to face him. He looked very serious as she let him in, and Sophie didn’t know what to do when he only leaned against the door and looked at her.

“I think I owe you an apology,” Alec said quietly.

Sophie felt better just hearing his voice. “Come and sit down, Alec.” Sophie rushed ahead of him and cleared a path.

“Is this all your stuff from the apartment?”

“Yes. I do not remember getting all of it, but there it was.”

“It’s awfully hot out for a move.”

“Yes, it was.”

“What did you use, the van?”

Sophie blinked at him and shook her head. He was sitting on the end of the sofa now, and Sophie took the chair. She would have sat on the sofa as well, but suddenly feared his disapproval.

“Did you borrow Gladys’ car?”

“No, I just walked.”

“Why?”

“Rita had the van yesterday.” Alec had worked and completely forgotten about this.

“Well, you didn’t need to do it all in one day.”

“I did not. I did today, too.”

“In this heat? Why?”

“Because I had time.” Sophie was feeling slightly exasperated.

“But you could have had the van.” Alec was frowning at her.

“You had van at mall!”

This last sentence told him he had frustrated the life out of her. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I didn’t mean to attack. I just never dreamed that you would walk everything down here.”

Sophie shrugged. “It was hot. It would have been easier with the van, but it is over and I am fine.”

“And you’re all moved?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re fine. But if you move from here, will you please talk to me?”

Sophie nodded. She knew her motives had been pure; she had not done it to spite him or to prove her worth. It was as she said: She had the time and took care of it. However, she would gladly take his help the next time, especially if the weather was scorching hot.

“I’m sorry about the way I left you at the house,” Alec suddenly said, and Sophie didn’t know how to reply to this change in subject. “I was thinking about what you said about joy, and not until after I left with Craig and Tory did I realize that I hadn’t told you.

“In fact, I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon. I mean, Craig will mow the lawn, but only after he’s made sure I know he doesn’t want to. And the same goes for Tory. She hates to unload the dishwasher and complains the whole time. The jobs get done, but not with the right attitude. I’ve been just as bad about certain things.

“Sometimes I need time to think things through, and that’s what I was doing when Tory interrupted us. I wasn’t angry at you or ignoring you. I just needed some time.”

“I am glad you were not angry. I was afraid I could not talk with you. I thought I was out of lines.”

It was such a cute mistake that Alec couldn’t correct her. He smiled and said, “I’ll tell you if I feel that way, and I want you to do the same for me.”