Oh, Sophie,” Janet exclaimed when they walked into yet another small apartment. “This is nice.”
“Yes.” Sophie looked around with surprise. The first three had been so depressing.
“Look at all the windows.”
Sophie nodded. “How much is this one?”
Janet looked at the paper in her hand. “This can’t be right.”
“What?”
“Well, I think this is the cheapest one.”
“No.” Sophie could not believe it.
“Just a minute. Let me read.”
Sophie held her breath, daring not to hope, and then felt ashamed. Did you think God wanted you to live in a rabbit hutch, Sophie? Of course He has something wonderful for you.
“It is, Sophie,” Janet now said, and named a figure that made Sophie’s heart leap. The women stared at each other in growing excitement, and then looked around a little more. The bedroom and bath were very small, but the great room, which had a nice kitchen and dining area, and even room for a sofa and chair, was quite spacious. On top of that, the walls all looked freshly painted.
“I think you should take it,” Janet told her.
Sophie only said, “I wonder why no one else has?”
Some of Janet’s joy abated. “I guess I wondered that, too, but I want you to have something nice so much that I didn’t want to think about it.”
Mrs. Kent, wife of the owner, chose that moment to knock and come in.
“Well, what do you think?”
“It’s very nice,” Janet spoke up. “Is the rent in the newspaper correct, Mrs. Kent?”
“Yes, it is.”
Janet shook her head. “It’s a wonder no one has taken it.”
Mrs. Kent’s smile split her wrinkled face. “It just went in the paper this morning. You’re the first to call and see it.” The older woman decided not to tell them she had two other parties coming that afternoon.
“I am interested, Mrs. Kent,” Sophie now spoke up. “But could you give us a few more minutes?”
“Certainly. I’ll be at the house. Now you understand what my husband said about a car, right?”
“Yes,” Sophie answered.
“Good. You’re welcome to use the yard, the swing, or anything else, but the driveway and garage can only take one car, so you’ll have to park on the street.”
“All right.”
Mrs. Kent exited on that note, and Sophie said to Janet, “We must pray right now, Janet. I want to do what is right, and I want to pray.”
Janet didn’t need to be asked twice. The women stood together, bowed their heads, and asked for wisdom and peace in the next few hours concerning this important decision; they then thanked God for His care and provision. When Sophie raised her head, she knew what she wanted.
“I want this apartment, but I want Alec to see it first.”
“Okay,” Janet agreed, thinking fast. “Why don’t I see if she’ll take $100 to hold it, and we’ll go find the guys.”
Sophie nodded and Janet sailed out the door. They had another apartment on the list, but Sophie didn’t think they would need to see it. She looked around a little more. There was a stain on the carpet by the front door, but everything smelled so fresh and clean. The inside of the refrigerator was spotless, and all the kitchen cupboards had been wiped clean. Sophie smiled and bit her lip. It was such a darling little place and not part of an apartment building. It was more like a little cottage that sat behind the Kents’ home. To get to it, they had walked down the narrow driveway and taken a path at the side of the garage. It would be quite a bit to shovel when the snow fell, but she could easily imagine how cozy and snug she would be inside.
“It’s all set,” Janet said as she came back. “She likes you, so she was more than happy to take the money and wait for your decision.”
Sophie’s smile was huge.
“Come on, let’s track down the guys.”
Twenty minutes later they were at the golf course. Sophie stayed outside to see if she could get a glimpse of them, and Janet headed into the clubhouse. She was moving swiftly through the dining area when a gentle voice said, “Where’s the fire?”
Janet turned with a ready smile for David, and for a moment he pulled her into his arms.
“What’s up?” he said in her ear, and Janet stepped back.
“We found a place for Sophie, but she wants Alec to see it.”
Husband and wife exchanged a smile. They had talked the night before when they should have been asleep, since Janet ended up in tears over the tender way Alec had looked at Sophie all evening at the party. She now wanted to cry again. David rescued her.
“I’ll get Al and meet you by the door.”
Sophie had given up on the course by then and was waiting by the door as well. Ten minutes later they were paired off in the vans and headed to the Kents’ cottage.
“It is clean,” Sophie told Alec as he drove. The excitement showing on her face also governed her movements. “Not big, but so nice. The refrigerator is clean, too, and so are cupboards. It smells good.”
“The other places didn’t?”
Sophie bit her lip. “They were not as nice.” She sounded almost apologetic.
“And the price is good?”
“Yes. I do not think I will need raise. I cannot park in driveway or garage, but I do not have a car, so it does not matter to me. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have a nice lawn and garden, too. She said no pets, but I do not want a dog or cat.”
“How far is it from us?”
“Less than two miles, I think Janet said.”
Alec glanced at her.
“It is not far,” Sophie told him. “I can walk.”
“Not after dark” was all Alec said, and Sophie fell silent. They had had this discussion before. After being in Chicago she was a little too trusting, and this concerned Alec greatly.
“You go right here.”
Alec did as he was told, and a few minutes later they pulled up in front of the house. Mrs. Kent, who was standing in the yard, came right over and gave Sophie the key. She met Alec and, smiling in a friendly way, told them to take their time.
Sophie could see that Alec was impressed. He looked things over carefully and even tracked down Mr. Kent to ask the average cost of heating and cooling. He asked if the phone jack worked, and inquired about the electrical appliances and gas heat. He must have been satisfied when he returned since he teased Sophie.
“Well, you can’t entertain a hundred people, but it’s sure cozy.”
“Then you think I should?” She looked hopeful.
“I think so. We might need to have an argument first, though.”
Sophie’s chin went in the air. “About walking.”
“Yes. It’s not a far walk, but unless it was across the street, you won’t be walking to and from my house in the dark.”
“This is Middleton, not Chicago,” Sophie objected.
“It’s still not safe.” Alec was so reasonable and sure of himself that Sophie felt flustered. She really thought he was being overprotective.
It was at that moment that both Alec and Sophie realized they were entertaining the Rings. They were watching and listening shamelessly and grinned at the arguing couple when they were found out.
“Don’t mind us,” Janet said cheerfully.
“No, indeed,” agreed David. “You sound like an old married couple.”
Alec’s look swung to Sophie, who went red to the hairline and turned away. The Rings stepped back outside, and Alec went to where Sophie was standing, looking down at the kitchen sink. The U-shaped counter made it like a hallway, and he conveniently blocked off her only exit with his large frame.
“You do not think I should take this,” she said, her back still to him.
“Yes, I do.”
Sophie turned to him.
“Sophie,” he tried again, “it doesn’t matter where you live. You can’t walk after dark. When the days grow shorter, you cannot walk in the dark, even if you stay at Gladys’.”
“How will I go home?”
“I’ll take you.”
Sophie shook her head. “That is so much trouble.”
Alec captured her jaw in his large hand. “When are you going to understand that you’re no trouble? When are you going to see that I enjoy being with you and seeing to your needs? I’d drive you across Madison every night, if I knew you would be safe. Please don’t ask me to agree to something that might put you in jeopardy, because I won’t do it.”
Sophie sighed. “You think I have been stubborn.”
“Not exactly. But you are used to taking care of yourself and very naive about the danger.”
“I cannot remember naive.”
“Innocent. Too trusting.”
Sophie nodded, and then realized Alec still had her jaw. His long fingers gently stroked the lower part of her cheek until they heard Janet and David coming in. Alec turned and dropped an arm across Sophie’s shoulders.
“What did you decide?” David wished to know.
“I am going to take it,” Sophie told them.
“Oh, Sophie, I’m so glad,” Janet exclaimed. “They really are the nicest folks. Mr. Kent told David that they would prorate the rest of this month or hold it for you until August 1, whichever you want.”
Sophie had to turn to Alec about the word prorate. As soon as she understood, she began doing sums in her head.
“I think we’ve lost her,” David commented, but Sophie didn’t hear. She asked Alec if he had any paper, and he fished some from his pocket. The three other adults stood quietly while she wrote for a time.
“Did we lose $100, Janet, or will Mrs. Kent give it back?”
“She said she would put it toward the $200 cleaning deposit that you have to pay with the first month’s rent.”
“Then I owe you $100.” She went back to her paper. She was lost for another few minutes until Alec placed a blank check beside her. It had obviously been folded in his wallet, but it grabbed Sophie’s attention. She looked up.
“Let’s find out what Mr. Kent wants today, and I’ll take care of it for you. You can settle up with me later.”
“But I owe Janet.” This seemed to be bothering her.
“I’ll take care of that, too. We’ll work out the details later.”
“Oh.” She sounded so pleased and relieved. “Thank you, Alec.” She turned back to the Rings. “Thank you, Janet. I thought I would have to look for weeks.”
“You’re welcome, Sophie. I only wish we could be here to help you move.”
“I do not have much—mostly clothes. I will be back sleeping on the floor again for a time.” With those good-humored words, Sophie moved outside to talk to Mrs. Kent. The Rings looked to Alec for an explanation.
“It’s a long story.”
“It might be, but you’re not really going to let her sleep on the floor, are you, Alec?” Janet couldn’t help asking.
“No, but she has every reason to expect it. I’ll have to tell you later.”
Thirty minutes later the apartment was Sophie’s. The Kents were very fair about the rent for the last half of July, so Alec encouraged Sophie to take the cottage now.
“We’ll move you next week,” he said. “Monday evening, Tuesday if we need it.”
Sophie could only smile. Alec took her hand, and she held on very tight. Happiness and excitement surged through her until she felt giddy, and Alec’s hand felt very stable and sure. They made their way back to Rileys’ house then, the kids beginning to think they were lost. All ten of them spent the rest of the day at the Middleton pool. It was packed with people, but at least it was wet and cool.
Everyone was too worn out to grill that night, so they sent for pizza. They all stayed up way too late talking and eating, but still made it to the early service and Sunday school before taking off for the Dells the next day. It was one of the busiest weekends Sophie had ever had with this family, but it had been so full of fun and sharing time with Alec that Sophie decided it was worth every minute of lost sleep.
She readied for bed with a heart full of memories: the surprise party and wonderful cake; Alec holding her jaw so tenderly and writing the check so she would have a wonderful place to live; David asking how she was really doing; Tory begging her to share an inner tube at the water park where they landed in the water with a huge splash; the water fight with Craig when he actually was the first to give up until he came back with his male cousins to nearly drown her. And Alec, soaking wet, his lashes spiked with water, his teeth so white as he laughed and smiled at her.
The end-of-the-day memories were also fresh: Janet hugging her as she said good-bye, tears in her eyes that she could not explain, but tears that Sophie understood nonetheless; Alec waiting until they were alone before he gave her his gift—a beautiful, musical jewel box that she would always treasure; and finally, Alec taking her home, both of them tired but content, and then getting that wonderful twinkle in his eye as he thanked her for having a birthday that exhausted him.
Such memories. Sophie finally lay in bed thanking God for each one. She wasn’t even half through when sleep rushed in to claim her.