Alec frowned at his reflection in the mirror and adjusted his tie for the tenth time. He smoothed his perfectly brushed hair again and turned away with a frown.
“How does this tie look?”
“It’s fine, Dad,” Rita said patiently. Her favorite had been three ties ago, but she decided not to mention this.
“Is that a spot?” Alec now had the tie under his nose, inspecting it like he was looking for germs, and Tory decided to exit on that note.
“No,” Rita told him, tempted to run as well. “It’s just a part of the design.”
“I’d better change.” With that he shot into the closet for the thirtieth time.
Rita flopped back on the bed and looked at Craig who was in the chair. They seemed to be sharing the same thought: If this was what their father was going to be like for every date with Sophie, then they were going to make themselves scarce the day before.
“What about this one?”
Rita almost howled when she saw that it was the tie she had liked originally.
“It’s perfect, Dad. Just put it on and go.”
“Yeah, Dad,” Craig interjected. “You’re going to be late if you keep this up.”
Alec’s wrist shot out so he could study his watch. “Oh, no! I should be there by now.” He whipped his tie into place with practiced ease and ran for the door. He was back a second later.
“Did you wash the van?”
“Yes, Dad.” Again Rita’s voice was patient.
“All right. Where are my keys?”
“I saw you put them in your pocket,” Craig informed him.
“Oh, yeah.” He stormed over to Craig now, a man with a purpose, and pulled him from the chair for a hug. Rita was next, and then he dashed off without even saying good-bye. The two young Rileys looked at one another for just a few seconds before they broke out in laughter and shook their heads in wonder.
Craig looked out the window as his father nearly tore down the street in the van.
“Did he hit anything?”
“No, but I tell ya, Rita, something better happen pretty soon or Dad’s not going to make it.”
Rita only shook her head; it was all too true. It was also anyone’s guess as to how long this arrangement would last.
Alec could only stare. He hadn’t noticed when he picked her up, but after they arrived at the restaurant, Alec saw that his wonderful, practical Sophie was wearing sandals with heels so high and spindly that it hurt to look at her. She looked lovely in a summery, two-piece outfit in mint green and white, but he didn’t know how long she would last on those stilts. Their table was called just then, so Alec did not have any more time to speculate. And as soon as Sophie sat down across from him, he forgot about her feet.
“It is nice here, Alec,” she said with a smile and contentment flooded him. She had only said his name a few times, but he couldn’t hear enough of it. Everyone pronounced his name in two syllables, and Sophie was no exception, but she put the emphasis on the A. Instead of Al-ec, it was A-lec. He loved it.
“I haven’t been here very often, but it is nice. What are you hungry for?”
“A baked potato,” she said simply, and Alec’s brows rose with amusement.
“Is that all?”
“No, but I have not made baked potatoes in long, in a long time, and I am hungry for one.”
“Sophie,” his voice had turned serious, “have I made you feel like you’re not good enough because I correct your English?”
Her eyes saucered. “Oh no, Alec! I want to say the sentences correctly.”
“You do very well, Sophie,” he told her gently. “I can see that you’re really trying, and I’m extremely impressed.”
Color rushed over her face from the compliment, as well as the warmth she saw in his eyes. His approval meant so much, and her languages had always been important to her. It was almost a relief when the waiter came to take their order.
“How is everything?” Alec asked her about 45 minutes later. They had just been served their entrée, and Sophie’s meat looked wonderful.
“I think it looks delicious, but I will start with my potato.”
Alec grinned. “How different is Czech food from ours?”
“Quite different. If I had not worked at Tony’s, I would have served nothing but Czech dishes at your house. But it was so expensive to eat in Chicago that my best meal was at Tony’s when I worked, so I learned to like American food.”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“No. I like steak and potato, but I also like hamburger and French fries.”
“You mean I could have gotten away with taking you to McDonald’s?”
He sounded so comical that Sophie could not be shocked. She smiled and offered to leave the tip.
“The tip?” Alec sounded dubious.
“Yes. Craig always offers. He says, ‘Buy low, sell high.’ ”
It took Alec a moment, and then his shoulders shook with silent laughter. Sophie leaned forward, her huge eyes larger than ever and whispered, “I have never been brave enough to ask what it means.”
Alec lost it then. He wanted to shout with laughter, but the setting was all wrong. He was only thankful that he had no food in his mouth or he would have choked. His napkin was up to his mouth, and he kept his head down until the worst had passed. Sophie saw tears in his eyes when he looked up and felt very smug. She loved it when he laughed.
Alec only shook his head at her. He knew that she was going to do this to him for the rest of their lives. She was going to enjoy waiting until they were in a restaurant or some other public place and then say something hilarious to see him struggle. It made him think the next 50 years would be anything but dull.
The restaurant they had eaten at was across the parking lot from West Towne Mall. Alec suggested they take a walk through the mall and then stop for dessert later. Sophie was all for it, but she was hobbling by the time they reached the doors. Alec got her just inside Boston Store and said, “All right, Sophie, hand ’em over.” His hand was stretched out expectantly. Wishing she didn’t understand when she really did, Sophie stared at it and then at him.
“I will ruin my stockings,” she said stubbornly.
“Better those than your feet.” Alec’s voice was reasonable, but unyielding.
Sophie frowned. “I cannot walk through mall without shoes.”
“Of course you can. Now hand ‘em up.”
Sophie did as she was told, but with a long-suffering sigh.
Alec hooked the thin straps over the fingers of his left hand.
“Where did you get these?”
“They were Gladys’ and I thought they were so pretty.”
Sophie shrugged helplessly, and Alec winked at her before catching her left hand with his right. With that they were off. It didn’t take long for Sophie to forget all about her feet.
They talked of dozens of things as they window-shopped through the mall, sometimes walking along and sometimes sitting on the benches and sharing in low tones. The mall was open until midnight because of some sale, and rather crowded as well, but Alec and Sophie didn’t notice. They were too busy learning about each other. At a small shop that sold coffee, coffee mugs, teas, teapots, and everything in between, Sophie commented, “My mother collected china teapots. I do not remember, but my babushka has told me. She keeps them packed away. Someday I will send money to her and she can mail them.”
“Vanessa was never one for collectibles,” Alec spoke thoughtfully. “She was more interested in furniture and decorating.”
“She did a wonderful job; your home is lovely.”
“Yes, she did. I think if she hadn’t married and had children, she might have pursued a career in home interiors.”
“Maybe she would have done this after the children were grown.”
“Maybe.” Alec slanted a look her way. “It really doesn’t bother you to talk about her, does it?”
“No. Did you think it would?”
“Well, we talked about her after the picnic on Wednesday and I just—”
“That was when I thought you kissed her,” Sophie admitted softly, and understanding dawned on Alec’s face. He now looked down into Sophie’s eyes and wished that they were alone.
“But you do understand now who I was kissing?” he asked for her ears alone.
Sophie, feeling trapped by his eyes, could only nod.
“You’re certain?”
Again that sweet nod, and Alec took ahold of her hand. It was moist, and he wondered if he made her nervous. He hoped not, but then thought about their situation. What else would she be? It had all been rather sudden, and she must see him as a person completely in control. Alec grinned when he thought of how many times he’d changed ties. She would have seen the real thing then.
“How old are you, Sophie?” Alec suddenly realized that he didn’t know.
“Almost 29.”
“What do you mean almost? ”
“Next week.”
Alec stopped, and naturally Sophie stopped with him. “Were you going to tell anyone about this?”
Sophie shrugged. “I was going to bake a cake and put on a million candles to confuse everyone.”
Alec only shook his head and began to walk again. “What day is your birthday?”
“The fifteenth.”
“That’s a Sunday, isn’t it?”
“I think so. Can I watch you build a house someday?”
Alec’s head snapped around at the change in subject.
“Where did that come from?”
“I was looking at that little house-shaped teapot in coffee store, and I had to ask before I forgot.”
“Oh. Well, you can certainly come, but I don’t know how interesting it will be.”
“I would like to watch you pound nails.”
Alec smiled. “It’s not exactly like that, Sophie. You see, I’m a general contractor for a large housing firm. They build panelized housing.”
Sophie stared at him questioningly.
“Panelized housing,” Alec explained, “means that when an order comes in, the walls of the home are constructed in the manufacturing plant. They come to the site where we put them into place. I contract it, but there are men to do all the jobs. I make sure the plumber has us on his schedule, and the electrician. There’s concrete that has to be poured, sometimes landscaping, painting inside and out, and dozens of other jobs. My job in the midst of all that is a little like an orchestra leader. I don’t play the instruments, but I make sure the music comes out in tune.”
Sophie stared at him in delight. “I did not know. It sounds wonderful.”
“What shall we do for your birthday?” Alec changed the subject as fast as Sophie had, and she now blinked at him.
“I do not know.”
“Let’s eat out.”
“Oh, we do not have to do that. I was going to make something I liked and have a cake.”
“You can’t make your own birthday dinner or bake your own cake.” He sounded very adamant, and Sophie’s eyes widened charmingly.
“There are rules about this in America?”
“Yes.” Alec spoke with mock seriousness. “There are rules. First, you must not bake or cook that day.”
“What if I enjoy doing these things?”
Alec shook his head sadly. “You’re missing the point. Your birthday is a day for you to take off and enjoy yourself.”
“You were off work on your last birthday?”
She had him there, and for a moment he didn’t answer.
“The rules are different for men,” he finally managed, and Sophie laughed.
“What are the rules about telling your date she may have dessert and then not giving it to her?”
“You’re ready?”
Sophie nodded, and Alec pulled her around with him to walk in the opposite direction. They headed back to the food court in the mall and, in their dress clothes and Sophie’s bare feet, ordered sticky buns and coffee. They talked until after 10:30, and Sophie couldn’t have dreamed up a better end to the evening.
An hour later, when Alec made his way slowly upstairs for bed, Tory came into the hall. She was the only one to waken, and Alec hunkered down in front of her for a moment.
“Did you have a good time?” Her voice creaked a little with sleep.
“Yes, Tory. I held her hand,” he whispered. “Is that okay?”
Tory smiled sleepily at him. “Yeah.”
Alec stood now and, with a hand to the middle of her back, saw her back to bed. He didn’t linger because he was tired and knew that the morning was going to come way too soon. Of course, it was going to be Sunday, and he could spend the day with Sophie and the kids. Suddenly it wasn’t at all hard to set his alarm. Trying to get comfortable, Alec shifted around under the covers until he had one arm stretched out across the bed. He could still feel Sophie’s soft hand in his; it was a wonderful way to fall asleep.