"Oh, Dad," Rita's voice was understanding, "she's like that. She brings emotions out in me that I didn't even know I had. I talked to her about not wanting to date, and she told me not to rush it. Well, I haven't and it's been just great. I mean, guys have asked, but I no longer panic. She said I would know when the time was right."
"I wish I could have told your grandmother that. She seemed a bit concerned over how attached Tory has become."
"You mean if Sophie takes another job?"
"Well that, but also about any influence Sophie might be having on you kids, and I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't been as aware as I should be."
195
"I don't think you have anything to worry about, Dad. Her standards are pretty high. I've never heard her say a negative word about anyone. Actually, I'm not sure she has that many friends. Even if she did, she's just not the gossipy type."
Alec nodded, feeling a little better, but there was something he still had to say.
"Rita, if I've been a stumbling block to you in all of this, I want to ask your forgiveness."
"I don't know what you mean."
"I mean, you've probably watched me walk around like a zombie, and that's why you have no desire to get serious yourself. I'm sorry. I was pretty laid out for a time, and I have no excuse, but I'm now trying to be the man God wants me to be."
"Oh, Dad." She was crying. "The only time I struggled was when you worked so much. But you don't do that now, and I am starting to feel like we're a family again."
"All right, Rita, but don't be too easy on me. I know I've made a lot of mistakes, and I count on you to keep me accountable."
"All right."
They fell into an easy silence then-one that was unbroken until Rita reminded her father that she had an eye appointment that next day. Alec told Rita he wanted Sophie to accompany her. Rita agreed, and by the time they were at the state line, Craig and Tory had woken up. Rita put a tape on, and the van was filled with the songs of Michael Card the rest of the way home.
***
Rita's eye appointment was with Dr. Carl Nickelberry that next afternoon, and Sophie was delighted to see his office. She had been running errands with all the kids for several hours, so she sank gratefully into one of the padded chairs in the waiting room. The three Rileys picked up magazines, but Sophie sat back and closed her eyes.
Rita was called in a few minutes later and was gone for close to an hour. She had told Sophie that the exam was routine, so the housekeeper just sat back and rested her feet.
"Sophie, I can't find the second pencil or the mouse in this picture."
Sophie bent over the children's magazine and searched with Tory. She found one pencil, but Tory had already spotted that one. Craig's head came into the scene, although he tried not to be too obvious, and he found the mouse.
196
Tory thanked him, but he ruffled her hair, so she sat back indignantly and glared at him while she fixed it. Sophie eyed them sternly since they had been at each other all day, and they settled down for the moment. However, they were starting up again just as Rita was coming out. She was accompanied by Carl, and Sophie rose to go to them.
"Hello, Sophie. How are you?"
"I am well, Carl. How is Candy's cold?" She had been feeling sick on Christmas Day.
"She's much better. Do you have big plans for New Year's Eve?" His eyes sparkled at her with fondness.
"I am sure I will," Sophie twinkled right back. "I'm thinking of staying up until 10:15."
Carl laughed and then noticed the kids. Their expressions made him want to laugh again.Like most kids, they probably don't think she has a social life at all.
"Well, Rita's all set," he told Sophie and then turned to the younger girl. "Tell your dad that everything looks good."
"Thank you, Dr. Nickelberry," Rita said from behind some huge cardboard sunglasses.
They moved en masse to the door. Tory commented about Sophie knowing Dr. Nickelberry, but Sophie was too busy keeping an eye on Rita to pay much heed. It was getting dark, so the street lamps were coming on, and Rita put her hand to her eyes.
"He said this will last for about an hour, Sophie. Maybe you'd better drive."
"All right. You climb in and make comfortable. Watch this ice. Craig, please take her arm."
Craig did as he was told, and Tory jumped forward to get the door. They climbed in, and Sophie started the engine with a promise to have them home in just a few minutes. What she didn't anticipate was a vehicle that was stalled just up the street. She sat behind him for a moment, checking her mirrors and decidingthe best way to get around. She was still contemplating what to do when a car shot out of a driveway to the side of them. Sophie actually looked up in time to see it coming. The words "oh, no" escaped from her mouth just before the large car piled into the driver's side of their van.
Everyone in the van screamed-Tory the loudest since her small head was thrown hard against the opposite window. Rita clutched at the cardboard glasses as Sophie called to see if everyone was all right. Craig answered yes as he started out the
197
sliding door, and Sophie undid her own seat belt and slipped out. She was trembling violently, but not as badly as the man who had hit her.
Alcohol fumes assailed her nose even before she reached him, and when she did, he eyed her through watery eyes. Sophie knew that talking to him wouldn't help at all.
"Okay, folks," a voice suddenly split the air. "What seems to be the trouble?"
Sophie looked at the policeman in surprise. She hadn't even seen his car. The man who had hit them jumped in and tried to explain, but he was cut off by the beefy police officer.
"Never mind that right now. Let's just see some ID. You, too," he said to Sophie, and she turned back to the open door for her purse. She fished inside and handed him her license and green card and then turned back to check on Rita who had gone to Tory in the rear.
"Just wait a minute," the policeman said, and it took a moment for her to realize he was talking to her. "Whose van is this?"
Sophie was taken aback by his tone, but she managed to answer.
"I have registration here that shows belongs to Alec Riley. I work Alec Riley."
The man speared her with his eyes, and Craig actually came forward, his face full of fear.
"Maybe you should just come inside with me," he said, and Sophie suddenly saw other officers surrounding them. The man took Sophie by the arm and began to lead her away.
"Oh, please, no." Panic made her voice high. "I have in charge of children. Please," she was begging now, but it didn't matter. She was being led gently but inexorably closer to a building that she now recognized as the Middleton Police Department. Upon realizing her destination, fear clutched at her throat, and for a moment she thought she would become completely undone, but then Craig appeared beside her.
"Where are girls?"
"They're coming. Why is he taking you? It wasn't your fault."
Sophie opened her mouth to answer, but the door was opening, and she had to pay attention or run into it. She was tempted to pull from the man's grasp, but she refrained and looked behind her instead. A man was trying to see to Tory's head. Rita was by her side and Sophie shouted. "Rita! Tory! Come to me! Now!"
198
The girls nearly snapped to attention at the sound of her voice and rushed awkwardly to where Craig was still holding the door. The interior of the building was blessedly warm, but Sophie still trembled. She was once again close to lashing out at the man holding her, but he suddenly let go and the children surrounded her.
"Are you right? Are you hurt?" The words tumbled out of Sophie's mouth, and Tory began to cry again.
Rita tried to hush her while still holding the glasses in place, and Craig looked terrified. Sophie wanted to cry out to them that she had done nothing wrong, but she knew the words would not be right.
"Now, Miss Velkna," the man said, "if you'll just come in this room with me. We'll try to figure out wh
at happened."
"Come, children," she said automatically.
"No," the man said. "They can wait for you over here. We might want to talk with them, too."
"No! No!" Panic had now come on in full force. "I am charge of them. Cannot separate you from me. I must stay with me."
But of course he wasn't listening. Sophie was taken by the arm again and walked down a long hallway. A look behind told her the children were being led away as well, and she could still hear Tory crying. It was as though she stood outside of herself, watching the scene unfold, but helpless to act.
"Now, how long have you lived in Middleton?"
"I am charge of them. I must go to them. Tory's head."
"Someone will see to her. You just answer my questions."
But it was all pointless. Sophie was so upset that nothing she said made sense, and the man learned nothing. Nearly half an hour passed. Seeing that she was about to come completely undone, he decided to leave her alone for a moment. He had just stood up when another officer came to the door. With him, and looking completely in control, was Alec Riley.
"Oh! Mr. Riley!" Sophie cried and jumped up. She grabbed his arm with bruising strength. "They have children! The man hit us and cannot make them explain. They take my Craig and Tory. Tory's head. She might be confused."
"It's all right, Sophie. Tory's been checked. There's no concussion." Alec's calm voice got through. "I've seen the children, and so has a paramedic. They're fine. They're just worried about you."
"I must find to them."
199
"Shh," he helped her sit back down in the chair, and the other officer spoke.
"There's a man out here, Mike, who says he saw the whole thing. The woman in the van here was sitting still, and the guy that hit her is almost too drunk to stand."
The next minutes passed in a blur. Alec was questioned as to how he knew Sophie, and after the report was filed both Alec and Sophie made their way from the room. The kids were waiting just down the hall, and Sophie's trembling increased when she saw them. She rushed forward and tried to wrap her arms around all three.
"Are you hurt? Are you pain?"
They all told her no, but she kept touching their arms and hair. Alec could see that the four of them were on the verge of a mass crying session, so he collected Sophie's license and green card and ushered the family to his truck.
"How did you know, Dad?" Craig asked.
"I was coming out of the village office and saw the van. It wasn't hard to figure where you all were."
It was a tight squeeze in the cab of Alec's truck, but with Alec behind the wheel and Craig at his side, Rita crowded near Craig and Sophie sat against the door. Tory sat on Rita's lap. Conversation flowed around Sophie, but she could not take it in. She was so cold-so very, very cold.
"We weren't even moving, and he piled right into us."
"Then that man took Sophie by the arm. He treated her like she'd done it."
"Tory's head slammed right against the window, but no glass broke."
"Where will they tow the van?"
Sophie barely remembered climbing from the truck, but when she realized where she was, she moved numbly toward the stairs. At the last moment, however, a large hand landed on her back and directed her to the kitchen door. Once inside, with Alec in front of her, she looked up and said, "Oh, yes, I forget to make supper."
"Sit down, Sophie," he commanded, but she stood there.
Her arm was taken for the umpteenth time, and she was directed to a chair and ordered again to sit. Slight pressure to her shoulder aided in this, and she sat trembling, staring vacantly at Craig.
"Are you all right, Sophie?" he asked, his face revealing that he was still shaken.
200
Sophie tried to get a hold of herself, but it was all coming back. She was with her father and there were so many men-men in uniforms. And there was a long hallway, so dim and shadowy. Sophie began to speak. She wasn't focused on anyone or anything, but words suddenly came pouring out of her.
"I was so little. They took my father in other room. I could not go with him. I am taken to room with so little light. I was so afraid. I try to run. I cry my papa's name, but that man, he grab my arm. I thought it would break. He twist it and squeeze so hard. And then I struggle and my hair is caught in his belt and it pulled and pulled and I thought that you-"
She couldn't go on. Sophie looked into their pitying faces and then at Mr. Riley.
"But this is not same today, and I make fool of myself." A trembling hand came to her throat. "And I wreck your beautiful van. I will understand dismissal. I know you must."
"Give me your key, Sophie," Alec stepped in and ordered.
"My key?"
"Yes, to your apartment."
Sophie dug in her purse and handed it to him. She wondered how she would get her things, and then if Gladys was home. It would be a cold walk this night.
"Go upstairs and find something for her to sleep in and wear tomorrow. Anything you think she might need."
Sophie heard the words, but they didn't really register, and then Rita was leaving with a laundry basket in her hands.
"Craig, go pull your trundle out. You can sleep in Rita's bed, and Rita and Sophie can take your room. Tory, go help Craig make up the bed." They obeyed without question.
Alec came to the table then and put a hot mug in Sophie's hands. He sat, putting himself more at her eye level, and again Sophie spoke.
"I am so sorry I wreck your van."
"You're going to stay here tonight with Rita. You'll take a hot bath to get warm and then go to bed. Do you understand me, Sophie?"
Sophie nodded, and then Rita was back.
"How are eyes, Rita?"
"They're fine, Sophie," she lied. The light still made them hurt. "Come on upstairs."
Sophie did as she was told, although her limbs trembled as she climbed the carpeted steps. Rita ran a very hot bath for Sophie,
201
pulled some night things from the laundry basket, and Sophie soaked for a time.
I've let them down, Lord. I panicked and upset everything. I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry. You have taken my babushka through cancer and radiation, and here I fall apart over a drunk in his car.
But even as she prayed this, she knew it wasn't true. She was being much too hard on herself. The incident from her childhood had been a very painful thing, and to expect herself never to think of it was unreasonable. She quieted then and let God comfort her. She could tell her employer that she was all right now, and even go up to her own apartment. She had even worked out how to word all of this, but Alec was waiting for her in the hall, and she didn't have a chance.
"All right, Sophie. Would you like something to eat?"
"No, but I-"
"Okay. Go ahead and get settled in Craig's room. If you need anything, send Rita. It's a little early, but I think all of us could use an early night."
"I am feel better, Mr. Riley. I could return-"
"Go ahead now." He gently steamrolled over her objections, and Sophie saw by the determination on his face that there was no point in arguing. Rita was there, too, and in a moment Sophie was in Craig's room with the younger girl, tucked between clean, warm flannel sheets. A shudder ran over her as some of the evening replayed itself in her mind, but she was already drifting off when Rita made her way from the room.
Alec was waiting for her in the hall, and Rita closed the door and just stood there. Alec didn't speak, not even when tears filled her eyes. He put an arm around her and brought her gently up against his side. Neither one spoke, but then there was no need. Even if there had been, neither of them could have found suitable words.
202
NONPERSON.THIS WAS THE ONLY WORD Alec could find to describe theway 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 ap
preciated 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.
203
"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.