Ten days later Sophie awoke to her day off. She was going to Janet’s for lunch that day, but she had plenty of time before she had to leave. From the cot that served as her bed, she reached for the Bible that lay on the floor and opened to the book of Isaiah. After paging to the last verses of chapter 40, she read aloud softly:
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God?” Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
I am so glad that You never tire, Lord, Sophie now prayed in her heart. I am so often weary of my life here. Please forgive my lack of praise. Thank You for my job and this roof over my head. Please bless those at work. Help me to show You in my life. In Your will and in Your time, Father, please take me from this place. While I am here, I will serve You, but you know, Father, how I long for a quieter place.
Sophie’s thoughts then turned to her grandmother and the small apartment in Prague. She lifted the older woman in prayer for a long time before lying quietly and thinking about the day to come. There really was much to be thankful for—Janet for one. She had had so little contact with other believers since coming to America that Sophie felt a bit starved.
It was so unlike their dreams. America was to have been the land of opportunity. Sophie had not as yet been able to bring herself to tell her grandmother just how different it all was. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that people thought you were stupid if you didn’t speak perfect English. In Sophie’s heart she dreamed that somehow her grandmother would join her someday, but she knew the older woman’s English to be even more heavily accented than her own. She was afraid of doing anything that might hinder their being together again. Sophie saw it for the pipe dream that it was, but she wished for it nonetheless and would do nothing that might make her grandmother hesitate should the opportunity ever arrive.
Sophie gave a huge sigh and then had to confess her lack of faith. If God wanted her grandmother here, she would come. She lay still for a moment longer, her heart asking God to bless her day, before rising to get some things done.
“So to leave Czechoslovakia you must put your name on a list?”
“That is right,” Sophie agreed. “But my grandmother was ill, and we did not think…”
Sophie finished with a helpless shrug, and Janet wisely let the subject drop. Lunch was over, but Janet did not have to pick up her kids for another hour, so they had plenty of time to converse in Janet’s elegant living room.
Sophia Velikonja was one of the most fascinating people Janet had ever met. She was kind and gentle, and the more relaxed she became, the easier she was to understand. However, Janet had not really learned very much about her. She knew that Sophie had left her homeland by choice and that her grandmother had remained behind. But even though she had answered all questions asked of her, Sophie’s reserved air did not lend to pressing her overly much.
“These are your children?” Sophie now asked, gesturing to the portraits on the top of the piano, her eyes caressing the instrument as well.
“Yes. We have two boys and a girl. Brian is the oldest, he’s 16. Then Jeremy, he’s 14, and Bethany is 11.”
“Bethany is a beautiful name.”
“Isn’t it, though?” Janet agreed with a smile. “They all go to the Christian school on Park Avenue.”
“How wonderful for them. Do they enjoy it?”
“For the most part. Christian schools are not without their problems, but the academic standard is excellent, and having Christ at the center of the classroom is an added blessing. Our local public schools are good as well, but we started Brian at Park when he went to kindergarten, and each and every year the Lord provided the funds for one more year, so we’ve stayed with it.”
They talked on for some time, and then Sophie thanked Janet for the delicious lunch and told her she really should be going. Janet felt rescued since it was time to get the kids, and she hadn’t known how to cut things off. Janet walked her to the door and out onto the porch, telling her she looked forward to seeing her at Bible study.
“Or will I see you at church?” Janet suddenly thought.
Sophie gave a reluctant shake of her head. “On Saturdays I work very late and then again on Sunday night, so I am not able to be at church.”
Janet then remembered that she’d told them at Tony’s how well she liked the morning. “It would be great if you could get a day job.”
Sophie looked thoughtful. “That would be good, but mostly I wish I could move to a quiet place. Chicago is noisy.”
Janet nodded with understanding, and with a wave Sophie started down the driveway. She was quite a distance away when Janet realized she was not walking to a car.
“Sophie,” she called to her as she started forward. “Where is your car?”
Sophie stopped. “I do not have car. I do not drive.”
“How did you get here?”
“The bus,” she stated simply.
“But the bus doesn’t come this far.”
Sophie had to hide a smile over Janet’s concerned look. “It is not far to walk.”
Janet was feeling so flustered that she didn’t know what to say. She never dreamed when she asked Sophie to lunch that she didn’t have a car. Every woman she knew had a vehicle at her disposal, and Janet knew then that she’d taken such a luxury for granted. She was still working on a reply when David pulled in.
Both Janet and Sophie moved out of the way and waited for him to park and emerge from the depths of a green Pontiac Bonneville. He was dressed in a light-gray suit, and he approached the women with a briefcase in his hand.
“Hello, dear,” Janet greeted him.
David kissed her cheek and held his hand out to Sophie.
“It’s good to see you again, Sophie.”
“Hello, David.”
“David,” Janet began before the other two had even finished their handshake, “is there any chance you could pick up the kids?”
“Sure. Right now?”
“Yes. I want to run Sophie home.”
“Oh, Janet,” the younger woman immediately cut in. “There is no need.”
“I want to, Sophie.”
“I do the buses always,” she was swiftly growing embarrassed, so her English was failing. “And my feet, that is, I walk always too. Please, Janet.”
But Janet was already walking away, saying over her shoulder that she was going for her car keys. Sophie helplessly watched her until she felt David’s eyes on her. He was smiling and Sophie couldn’t help but smile in return.
“She wants to take care of you.”
Sophie nodded. “Mothers do that.”
“So you really don’t mind?”
“I do not wish to be problem.”
“It’s no problem. Janet’s used to having a car, so I think the idea of the bus is a little daunting to her.”
“David,” Sophie now became very serious, “what is this ‘dawning’?”
“Daunting?”
“Yes. Daunting.”
“Uh, let’s see. I guess it means a lowering of courage. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, it does. It is word I could have used often.”
David smiled gently. “There are probably many things you could say to describe yourself, Sophie, but I doubt if a lack of courage has ever been one of them.”
Sophie smiled at the kind words, but said nothing. He couldn’t know how cowardly she had been at times.
Sophie looked over then to see Janet backing a minivan from the garage. She thanked David and walked to the new-looking vehicle.
“Okay, Sophie,” Janet said, once Sophie had buckled up and Janet had backed to the end of the driveway. “Which direction?”
“Well, I live on Conner Street.”
“Conner Street?”
“Yes. In an apartment behind a grocery store that has big pig face on it.”
“The Piggley Wiggley?”
“Is that how you say it?”
“Yes, and I know just where it is.”
It was the time of day when traffic was just beginning to back up, so there was little conversation as Janet negotiated her way toward Sophie’s home. It took over 20 minutes to arrive and, when they did, Janet had to fight down her emotions. It was all so shabby: the building, the parking lot—in fact, the entire street. It looked to her as if the apartment building itself had not been painted in years. The windows, if they depicted the interior of this place, showed a lack of care as well, since many sported no drapes. The curtains Janet did see were torn and stained.
“Thank you for a ride, Janet, and again for lunch.”
“You’re welcome, Sophie.”
Janet somehow felt compelled to get out when Sophie did and walk her to her door. There was a group of teens eyeing the van, so Janet followed her friend with some trepidation.
“I’ll see you at Bible study,” Janet said when Sophie stopped before one of the downstairs doors.
“Yes. I will be there.”
Impulsively, Janet reached forward and hugged Sophie. Sophie squeezed her tightly. When Janet stepped back, she was smiling—a smile that died when she saw the tears in Sophie’s eyes.
“Sophie, what did I do?”
“It is nothing.” A tear slid down her cheek.
“Please tell me.”
Sophie hesitated, her face reddening slightly. She drew in a shuddering breath. “I have not had touch in many months—not since coming to America.”
“Oh, Sophie,” said Janet as she reached for her once again. She felt Sophie tremble, and wondered if her own heart would break. Sophie, thinking of Janet’s drive home, broke the embrace.
“You will want to go now, Janet. The traffic will be worst.”
Janet nodded, tears standing in her own eyes. “I’ll see you later.”
Sophie waved and used the key to her door. Janet was still shaking when she pulled into her driveway.
That night in bed, Janet shared with David. With his arm around her, he listened quietly to her account of seeing Sophie’s home. Again, it passed through his mind that she might be the one to go and help Al with the kids, but he kept this to himself. As he fell asleep, he prayed that if God wanted this very thing that He would burden Janet’s heart with it as well.
“You didn’t have to leave today,” Janet commented to Sophie after the Bible study just two weeks later.
“No,” she answered with a smile. “My schedule has changed, and I now have Tuesdays off.”
Janet hugged her.
“I’ve been thinking so much about you, Sophie. How are things at work?”
“They are well. Mr. Markham is giving me good things now, and I was even asked to teach new girl.”
“That’s a compliment to you.”
Sophie was not sure how this could be a compliment, but since another woman had joined them, she was not able to ask. Sophie listened quietly to the question the woman asked about Bible study and was impressed with Janet’s answer. That Janet had given this subject much thought was obvious. Sophie listened closely until she realized the other woman’s daughter was with her.
Sophie guessed the little girl to be around four, and she stood very quietly while her mother talked. She didn’t look up at all, but when Sophie noticed that the lace on the child’s tennis shoe was untied, she knelt down.
“Your shoe,” Sophie pointed and waited for the little girl’s eyes to drop. “It is untied. Would you like me to tie it?”
The darling little blond girl did not answer, but slid her foot slightly forward. With dexterous fingers, Sophie made a perfect bow and then smiled at the child. From Janet’s vantage point she could not see Sophie’s face, but that of Sandra, the little girl, was wreathed in smiles over something Sophie was saying. Janet was suddenly so struck with something that she could barely attend to the woman who was talking to her.
Other women came over just then, and Janet was occupied with them for the next half hour. She lost track of Sophie and, by the time she had a moment to look for her, she was gone. Janet debated going to Sophie’s apartment right on the spot, but made herself stay calm. She could not talk to Sophie first. However, she did drive straight to her husband’s office. She had to talk to him about what she was thinking.
“Hi, Janet,” Alec spoke into the phone. “I was just thinking about you.”
“You were?”
“Yeah. Does David still have my tree trimmer?”
“I think so.”
“Good. I’m not actually sure I’ll get to the yard this fall, but I wanted to make sure it’s still around.”
“I’m almost positive we have it, but I’ll make a note to check.”
“All right. How are Dave and the kids?”
“Great. How about yourself?”
“I’m doing fairly well. I get the impression from your voice that you’ve called about something specific.”
Janet took a deep breath. “You’re right. I have. Will you hear me out?”
“That bad, huh?”
“I’m afraid you’ll think so.”
Alec was silent for a moment. “I’ll listen, Jan. You know that.”
“All right. I’ve met someone who would really like to get out of Chicago. She’s single and probably in her mid to late 20s and, from what I can see, very capable. Both David and I think she would be just right for you and the kids.”
“What exactly are you suggesting, Jan?”
“I’m suggesting that she come up and take care of you guys.”
“You mean a live-in housekeeper?”
He sounded so horrified that Janet swiftly jumped in.
“Not exactly live-in. She could take the apartment over the garage. It isn’t right, Alec, that the kids are fixing their own meals, or that they’re alone so much while you work. I really believe Sophie is perfect for the job.”
“So you’ve already discussed this with her?”
“Good heavens, no! I wouldn’t do that without talking to you. I can’t be sure she’ll even agree. If she’s willing, will you at least meet and interview her?”
Janet heard Alec sigh on the other end. “What in the world does that type of thing cost?” Alec knew the question was an excuse, but he asked it anyway.
“I’m not sure, but don’t forget the insurance. This is the very reason you and David took out those policies on Van and me. I know it sounds like I’m telling you what to do, Alec, but I’m simply dying to help and I’m just too far away.” Janet paused to control sudden tears. She took a deep breath and said, “I think Sophie might be a godsend.”
There was more silence on the other end. In truth, Alec had completely forgotten about Vanessa’s insurance policy. He had received the check at a time when he was still overcome with grief and had simply put it into their savings account and not given it another thought. His business was almost more than he could handle, so there had been no reason to dip into that fund.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes,” Alec said quietly. Janet couldn’t know that Alec was watching Rita, his oldest, walk by with a laundry basket. When other 16-year-old girls were helping their mothers, his daughter was responsible for the household chores.
“Just let us ask her, Al. Then if you have any doubts after you meet her, we’ll drop the whole thing.”
“So you’ll bring her all the way up here, and if I say no she’ll just calmly go back with you?”
“That’s right. I’ll make sure she understands before we come.”
It didn’t sound very kind to Alec’s way of thinking, but he knew his sister would be very tactful.
“Please, Alec.” Janet’s voice came softly to his ears.
“All right,” he said with a good deal of reluctance. “You can talk to her, but be sure she understands and that you let me know before you come.”
“I will, Alec, and please try to trust me with this.”
“All right, Jan.”
They finished the conversation quickly. After Janet told David they had one down and one to go, she picked up the phone to call Sophie.
Just a week later Janet picked up Sophie to bring her to their home for dinner. Janet’s two youngest children were with her in the van, and she prayed that Sophie would not be nervous. To her surprise, Sophie immediately began to talk with them.
“You must be Bethany, and you are Jeremy.”
Bethany nodded and smiled. “My mom says you’re from Czechoslovakia.”
“Yes. It is not like Illinois.”
Bethany smiled and Jeremy asked, “What’s it like?”
“Well, I should have said that it is not like Chicago. We have more open land, and I think Illinois does as well, but I have not seen fields.”
“We have a lot of farms,” Jeremy told her. “But if you work and live right here in the city, you never see’em.”
Sophie nodded and smiled at him.
“Where do you work, Sophie?” This came from Bethany.
“I do bus work at Tony’s Restaurant.”
“Oh, that’s pretty cool. Dad and Mom like their food. Is that what you did in Czechoslovakia—work at a restaurant?”
“No,” Sophie told her with a smile, but did not elaborate.
“Do you eat the same things in Czechoslovakia as we do here?” Bethany suddenly asked, having just thought of it.
“Some same, some different.”
Jeremy, who was very much a “people person,” asked, “Can you tell us one thing that you miss?”
“To eat?”
“Yeah. Something you guys eat a lot and we’ve never heard of.”
“That would be bela-ruza,” Sophie said.
“Bela-ruza? What’s that?”
“It means ‘white rose.’ That is what my grandmother and I call a pastry she makes with special white cream and berries.”
“Sounds good,” Jeremy remarked before Sophie heard another “cool” from Bethany. Moments later they were at the Ring home.