The doorbell rang the next day just before 2:30, and Sophie laughed in delight to see Gladys on the front step.
“Come in,” Sophie cried, and the women embraced as soon as Sophie shut the door.
“How is your daughter?”
“Doing great. The doctor has given her leave to get out of bed, and even though she has to rest in the afternoons with her feet up, she’s out of the woods.”
Sophie frowned. “She is allergic to trees, maybe?”
Gladys blinked and then chuckled softly. “No. ‘Out of the woods’ means she’s out of danger. In this instance, out of danger of losing her baby to a miscarriage.”
“Oh, yes. I am see now. Come, Gladys, come and sit in kitchen.”
“I’d love a cup of coffee if you have it. I got in late last night, and all I’ve done today was try and catch up on my mail.”
“I just got letter from my grandmother,” Sophie remembered and told her. “She is doing well, but says she is very tired.”
“What does she say about the political situation?”
Sophie looked a little confused and then said, “I think is pretty much the same.”
Something was wrong here. Gladys could feel it.
“Sophie,” she asked her slowly, “haven’t you been reading the papers or watching the news?”
“No, and I miss it, but Rileys do not get local paper here and I never watch TV.”
Gladys stood. “Do the Rileys have cable?”
Sophie only shrugged and followed Gladys when she marched into the family room. A moment later she put the TV on and found the news. World coverage came on the heels of a sports report, and Sophie listened in wonder to the changes going on all over Europe. Her grandmother had not written of such things, but the maps clearly showed that Czechoslovakia was included. Sophie wondered if her grandmother had been waiting to hear her own response, and here she hadn’t even known of the dramatic changes. Sophie had heard rumors from time to time in the last weeks, but dismissed them as such.
Now the screen changed. Sophie watched in amazement. Footage of the Berlin Wall coming down flashed at her from thousands of miles away. Sophie’s emotions overcame her. Tears poured down her face as she heard Germans talking and understood every word.
“Victory!” they shouted.
“We have freedom!”
“The rule is over!”
“Oh, Gladys,” Sophie cried. “I am so out of touch. This house has become my world. I realize now that this was talked about at Sunday school, but I missed the understanding. If only I had waited, my babushka could have come with me.”
Sophie was openly crying now, and Gladys moved to put an arm around her.
“It’s all right, Sophie. You came when God wanted you to, and He never makes a mistake. Maybe He’ll open a door now. Maybe He’ll provide a way. Your coming was not a mistake.”
“I am try to believe this, Gladys, but I am so confused right now and feeling so stupid for not knowing. I could have searched out paper. I could have bought my own, but I am try to save all my money. I miss the news, and now I have missed the world.”
She was crying again, and Gladys waited patiently as she sat with her. It took some time, but Sophie finally calmed. Her face looked ravaged with pain and grief. Gladys prayed, first in her heart and then out loud while she held Sophie’s hand. When she was done, Sophie was much calmer, and Gladys knew it was time for a change in the subject.
“I came by to ask you to join my family and me for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Oh,” Sophie sniffed a little and used her handkerchief. “I saw this on calendar, but then forgot about it.”
“Well, we have a wonderful time at our house, and I want you to come. We’re eating at noon.”
“I would like this, but I do not know, Gladys. I might have to work.”
“I’m sure not, Sophie. Hasn’t Mr. Riley discussed it with you?”
“No.”
“Well, the invitation is open, and if I don’t hear otherwise, I’ll look for you.”
“What should I bring?”
Gladys wanted to say yourself, but knew that in order for Sophie to feel a part of things, she needed to contribute to the meal. “How about a salad? Something you really like.”
“All right. If the plan is difference, I will come and tell you.”
“Or you can call.”
“Oh, yes.”
Gladys was already writing her number down and pressing it into Sophie’s hand.
“Are you going to be all right now?”
“I think so. I am going to watch news little more and then it will help to fix supper and make me distract.”
“All right. The reports are coming on again, so I’ll just see myself out.”
“Thank you, Gladys.”
“It’s my pleasure, dear, and I look forward to seeing you Thursday.”
They embraced again before Sophie sat right back down and watched more of the news. In fact, when the kids came in just ten minutes later she was still in that spot. It was the first time she hadn’t been there to greet them in the middle of the kitchen, and they all stood in the doorway of the family room and stared at her in surprise. Sophie didn’t even notice them until they took seats in the room with her.
“Hello,” she said softly. Even though she never looked at them, everyone could see she’d been crying.
“Is something wrong, Sophie?” Rita asked.
“I am just learn of the wall,” she said in explanation, and the kids all nodded. It had been discussed many times at school in the last few days.
A man’s face came on the camera now, and he spoke some foreign words before the announcer’s voice overrode him.
“What did he say, Rita?” Tory wished to know, but the older girl did not acknowledge the question.
Sophie could have told her word for word, but she wasn’t in the mood to explain how she would know such a thing. It was not as bad as the way she was treated at Tony’s in Chicago, but Sophie was well aware that the Rileys, to a certain extent, thought her somewhat dull-witted. Right now, however, what others thought of her was the least of Sophie’s hurts. All her mind could see was Kasmira’s dear face.
Help me to make it, Lord. I hurt so much inside. I can’t stand the thought that I left her behind or that I may never see her again. She could come now, but I know it won’t be easy, and the airfare will be so much. Help me, please help me.
It was in the middle of this anguished prayer that Sophie realized Tory was speaking to her.
“Yes, Tory, what is it?”
“Can we have something to eat?”
Sophie finally looked at their faces. What must I look like to receive these looks of pity? Even Craig was watching her closely.
“Sophie,” Rita cut in before she could answer Tory, “you know lots of people over there, don’t you?”
“Yes, Rita, I do.”
“Are you happy for them or upset?”
“I am happy, Rita, but I left my babushka behind and I could have brought her with me.”
“Your grandmother?” Rita guessed.
Sophie could only nod. “I will fix snack now.” With that she rose and went to the kitchen, but the kids did not follow right away. They watched a few more minutes of the news before going quietly into the kitchen.
Rita was in her father’s bedroom late that night in order to talk to him about the scene in the family room that afternoon. She described in detail what she had seen, and related the different things Sophie had said as the afternoon and evening progressed. Rita was most touched by the fact that she seemed totally cut off from the world she had known.
Sophie was swiftly becoming their port in the storm, and the episode after school was very upsetting since they had never seen her like that. It hadn’t helped that Alec had missed supper with his children. He told Rita he was going to miss Tuesday night as well. With plans to be gone over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, it couldn’t be helped.
And indeed, he was even later on Tuesday than he had anticipated. This was why at 9:00 that night he was standing outside of Sophie’s apartment door, a newspaper under his arm. He knocked softly and waited. Sophie was clearly surprised to see him, and he would have been blind not to notice she’d been crying.
“Mr. Riley, is okay? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Sophie, everything is fine. I just need to speak to you for a moment.”
Sophie backed up, and Alec stepped in but stayed close to the door. It was cold outside, so he shut it, but he did not plan to stay or get comfortable.
“I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you before now, but the kids and I are leaving right after school tomorrow. We always spend Thanksgiving with Jim and Peg in Superior.”
“Oh, this is all right, Mr. Riley. You did not need to say to me before.”
“Well, I do have a favor to ask. Could you have some type of lunch ready for us to take on the road? We have about six hours of driving to do, and if we don’t have to stop we’ll get there that much sooner.”
“Of course, Mr. Riley. I am happy for this. What is the time again?”
“Oh, 3:30 to 4:00. Somewhere in there.”
“All right.”
“I know that Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but do you have plans, Sophie?”
“I do, Mr. Riley. Thank you that you ask.”
“Good, good. Well, I’ll leave you alone now. Oh!” He had almost forgotten. “I eat breakfast out every morning before I go to work and that’s where I read my paper. I never bring it home, since the kids don’t look at it, but I’d be happy to bring it here if you’re interested.”
Sophie couldn’t speak. Tears had pooled in her eyes so swiftly that she couldn’t even move. Alec simply held out the paper and smiled gently at her before saying, “Good night, Sophie.”
Sophie managed a nod, and then he was gone. The door had barely closed before she sank to the floor on the spot and sobbed all over the paper in her hands.