Nonperson. This was the only word Alec could find to describe the way he had felt about Sophie. Before tonight he had not seen her as an individual with wants and needs. He was now ashamed of how disinterested his feelings had been. He had appreciated her, but it was more like the way he appreciated his truck starting every morning. He’d seen emotions on her face before, but never had they touched him. Until tonight.
It had been like watching one of his own children in pain as she described herself as a child in the grasp of that brutal man. And he knew that he had not been tender with her himself. She hadn’t needed tenderness just now, though. There was time for that later. She had been in shock, and when a person is in shock he knew you don’t ask—you tell.
And now it was time to make some changes. Alec was no longer working on Saturdays, and now Sophie wouldn’t be either. That was the first thing he would do Saturday morning. He would talk to her about it. But Friday had been a long day, and for right now he would join the rest of the household in sleep.
“Saturdays are your own,” he explained again. “I know the kids like to do things with you, but if they ask you to shop or sled or skate, and you’ve made plans, don’t hesitate to tell them no.”
“So I am not dismissed except on Saturday?”
“You’re not dismissed at all,” he told her gently. “I’m just changing your hours to a five-day workweek. You’re welcome here anytime on Saturday or Sunday, but there is to be no cleaning or cooking.”
Sophie nodded, but her brow was furrowed.
“What’s the matter?”
“I bake breads on Saturday.”
“Bake on Friday,” Alec told her simply.
“I clean on Friday.”
“The house is always spotless by Thursday,” he reasoned and was rewarded with a frown. He’d never seen her as anything but compliant, and now this Sophie, who didn’t like to have her schedule altered, was most interesting to watch. She clearly wanted to argue, but had too much respect for their positions to let herself go. Alec almost wished that she would.
“So we’re all set.” Alec spoke and stood.
It’s not all settled, but I have no choice.
“Is something wrong, Sophie?” Alec asked innocently, knowing that the answer was yes, no matter what she said.
“I do not mind work on Saturday.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I appreciate your hardworking spirit, and I hope you and the kids will do some things together. But you’re not going to cook or clean down here on the weekends.” Alec held her eyes a moment to make certain he had made his point.
His word is law, Sophie. It’s his house. But such thoughts still did not keep her eyes from flashing just a little, or stop the slight lift of her chin. Alec, who was not at all offended or angered by her reaction, still thought rescuing them both sounded like a good idea. He made a move to leave the room, but Sophie’s voice, filled with frustration and speaking in another language, stopped him.
“What did you say?” Alec turned back and asked her.
It was only then that she realized she had spoken in Czech.
“How will van be paid if you cut Sophie’s hours?”
Alec came right back to the kitchen table and sat down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t explain. First of all, your salary will remain the same. Secondly, you will not pay one dime of the repair charges on the van. The accident was not your fault and the van is insured. In fact, I expect my insurance agent to call or come by anytime. He will have inspected the damages and tell us what they’re willing to do. But no matter what the outcome, you will not be financially responsible.”
“But if I had moved sooner,” Sophie argued.
Alec shook his head. “If you had moved sooner, the guy might have hit your door or any number of things and made it ten times worse.”
Clearly, Sophie did not look convinced, but Alec was not going to browbeat her. He had told her what he expected and was now willing to let her deal with it.
“I’ve got some work to do on the garage door opener,” Alec said as he stood. “Let me know if my insurance agent calls.” With that he was gone.
Sophie was so unsettled that for a moment she couldn’t move. He had talked to her like she was one of the family—almost as if she lived here! What was she to do? Surely, he couldn’t have meant everything the way it sounded. Join them on the weekend to shop? She was already riding to church with them and wasn’t sure if she should be. How would this work in the long run? And the most difficult part—having her schedule rearranged. It was almost more than she could…
Sophie didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there stewing over the problem when she noticed Tory. She had obviously come from the living room.
“Hello, Tory.”
“Hi, Sophie. Dad told us that you’re not to work on Saturdays anymore.”
“Yes, he told me.”
“So you can do anything you want.”
“So it would seem.”
“Even play with us?”
Sophie blinked at her. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I could.”
“Could you watch cartoons with me?” The yearning in the little girl’s voice was unmistakable.
A slow smile started on Sophie’s face and stretched her mouth wide. “What is on now?”
Tory told Sophie, and the older woman momentarily put her reservations away and accompanied Tory to the family room. They ate bowls of cold cereal and laughed in delight at the animated characters on the screen.
An hour later Alec stood in Sophie’s apartment. He’d asked for her key and permission to enter so he could listen as Craig worked the garage door opener. He hadn’t heard anything yet, and thought it must be running smoother, but then again, maybe he was only distracted.
Sitting in the corner of Sophie’s living room was the tiniest live Christmas tree he had ever seen. At first glance there didn’t appear to be any ornaments, but then he looked closer. Ornaments sat on two of the branches. One was a simple green bulb and the other was a small wooden heart painted red. And as if she were trying to carry out a theme, below the tree sat just two gifts. One was the picture Rita had spoken of. It was of a woman walking in a beautiful meadow. The verse on the bottom was Proverbs 3:5-6, written in calligraphy. The other gift was a quilted sofa pillow in reds, blues, and pinks.
Alec asked himself if maybe she had put her other gifts away, but he knew better. Many folks left their gifts under the tree, and Sophie was obviously one of them.
It would be so easy to include her, Lord, he prayed. She’s already such a part of the children’s lives, and when I’m around she’s so quiet that I hardly know she’s there. It would be no trouble at all to make her feel a part of us.
Alec felt a new resolve come over him. He had told Sophie to make herself at home, and he’d been glad to see her in the family room with Tory, but they might have to do more. He thought of his and the kids’ plans for New Year’s Eve, but then remembered how adamant she’d been about joining them for Christmas Eve. He knew what he wanted to do if only he could convince her.
“Dad,” Craig stuck his head in the door. “Tory says the phone’s for you.”
“All right.” Hoping it was his insurance man, Alec moved down the stairs behind his son. He’d get the van out of the way, finish the garage door opener, and then deal with the problem of his housekeeper.
Sophie never really stood a chance. The last time Alec had gone into battle by himself. This time he had arrived with fresh recruits. It was after lunch and Sophie and Tory were putting a huge jigsaw puzzle together in the living room. Alec came in with Rita, making it look like the most natural thing in the world. Alec took a chair, and Rita bent over the puzzle.
“We’re going to eat and watch old movies tomorrow night,” Alec said, although no one really looked at him. “I want you to join us, Sophie.”
The housekeeper’s head came up with a snap, and Alec continued conversationally.
“We’re going to order pizza for dinner, and then start the movies early. We’ll probably get in at least three, so if there’s something you want to see, get your order in.”
“My order.”
“Yes. Oh, and I need to know what you want on your pizza, too.”
“My pizza.”
“That’s right. We like root beer with our pizza, but if you want another type of pop, you can have it.”
“I can have it,” she chimed in again, and Alec had to fight laughter.
“What’s the matter, Sophie?” Rita put in. “You look like you don’t want to.”
“Is not that, Rita, but—” And there she stopped. What was it exactly? Sophie could not say, except that they were a family. Nickelberrys are a family and you join them, a voice reminded her, and it was true. But why did this feel so different?
“So do you like root beer, Sophie?” Tory wanted to know, playing her part very well.
She realized then that they were all watching her. Craig had come in, too, and she blushed uncomfortably.
“I’m sorry, Sophie,” Alec now said smoothly. “You’ve obviously made plans, and we’ve put you on the spot.”
“No,” Sophie said automatically, and then almost wished she’d lied. “I have no plans,” she finished weakly.
“Well, you do now,” Alec said in triumph. “We’ll plan on it. Right after church tomorrow we’ll go pick out the movies, and then we’ll be all set.”
With that, everyone but Tory filed out. Sophie stood for a long moment not working on the puzzle or focusing on anything until she found Tory’s wounded eyes on her.
“Don’t you want to eat with us, Sophie?” This time the question was real.
Sophie stepped close and drew the younger girl into her arms, her eyes closing in pain.
“Yes, I do, my Tory, but I do not wish to be in the way.”
“You’re not, Sophie. We like you.”
Sophie couldn’t talk anymore. She was so confused and uncomfortable with what they were asking. Again she questioned herself as to why she could do this with Gladys’ family but not with the Rileys. No answer came.
Tory let the subject drop as well, and soon they finished the puzzle. Sophie, who had not been home since the day before, collected her things and finally excused herself. Tory didn’t press her to come back later or tarry, and Sophie went home to clean her apartment with a vengeance.
When Sophie climbed the stairs to her apartment at 1:30 a.m. the next night, she was tired, but also rather elated. She had never laughed so hard in all of her life. They had watched an old Abbott and Costello movie, a Shirley Temple classic, and ended with a Laurel and Hardy. Sophie laughed until tears ran down her face. At midnight they had welcomed in the new year with cans of pop and bowls of chip and dip, as well as plenty of laughter. It had been a wonderful evening. She had not been treated as anyone special—just as part of the family. She helped with cleanup, but was not expected to wait on anyone.
You have brought me to a wonderful place, my Lord. I have not thanked You enough. My heart has been so afraid, but You knew what I needed and You knew what they needed. Craig is struggling again, but he was joyful tonight, Lord. May he continue to find Your peace. Give Mr. Riley the words, Lord, and help Craig to open his heart for love and rebuke as well.
Sophie could have prayed forever this night, so full was her heart. She readied for bed as she petitioned God on behalf of this family, and then again as she lay down waiting for sleep to come.
I must be willing to change, Lord. I have been a slave to my schedule, but if You need me to alter, I must. I have not wanted to get in so close that I would feel as if I was dying if they sent me away. But it was too late for that after the first day, and I’ve been a fool not to see this. Help me to keep on, Lord, but to keep on for You, not for myself.
Sleep claimed Sophie just after this, but God had heard every word. And in the weeks to follow, God moved in ways that Sophie wouldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. She continued to pray for Craig, thinking his father was the key, but not seeing that God was going to use her in the most powerful way of all.