Sophie's Heart (64 page)
Craig hugged her. He was almost as tall as she was, and Sophie sighed when he wrapped his long arms around her.
This is my boy,
she told God.
This is the son of my heart. Alec asked if I would want children. I think I can say no, I have children—children of the heart.
The church was emptying then, and Sophie was very mindful of the individuals who must have planned the service and worked to make it happen. They would want to head home now and not wait to dim the lights. But much as she’d done in Florida, Sophie lingered a moment in the sanctuary. She loved the house of the Lord and loved His people. And as the children had already voiced on this night, she had so very much for which to be thankful.
G
ilbert Ring is David’s brother, and his wife is Gail. They go with Russ, Selia, and Christopher. Bonnie Lambert is David’s sister and she is with Hank, and they have only Hannah who is Rita’s age. Paul Ring is the oldest, and he is divorced, but he’s here with his daughter, Melissa, her husband, Tom, and their baby girl, Jade. Mr. Ring is Kevin and Mrs. Ring is Else. And there are more who are not here, so I won’t try to keep track of them.
Sophie had been at this mental torture for an hour, and still wasn’t sure if she had it right. She had not used anyone’s name in conversation for fear of using the wrong one. Rita had been so excited to see and be with David’s extended family, but Sophie never dreamt there would be so many people. Only Gilbert and his family were actually staying at the house with them, so it wasn’t crowded all of the time, but the meal at noon had been unlike anything Sophie had ever known. Janet had taken it all in stride, but Sophie was still in shock that 24 people had found places to sit.
She had looked at the food before everyone had arrived and thought they would be eating turkey for weeks, but now the huge roasted bird was nothing but a bony carcass. Her salad had looked huge, but the bowl was empty. Sophie wanted to laugh when she thought about celebrations in Czechoslovakia—Christmas, birthdays, whatever. It would have been her grandmother and maybe Eduard, and that was it.
“It’s snowing!” Sophie heard someone shout as they barreled down the stairs. Almost everyone moved to the window. It had been threatening for most of the day and was now falling from the sky in huge flakes. They had all brought their snow boots and other gear, and Sophie could hear Tory, Bethany, and Selia making plans on the spot. Sophie had not moved to the window, and Alec suddenly landed on the sofa beside her.
“How are you?” he asked in a low voice.
“I am all right,” she told him softly.
“A little overwhelmed?”
Sophie smiled and nodded. “I am having a good time, Alec. I just did not expect so many.”
He put his arm around her, and Sophie let herself relax against his side. It was snowing hard now, but a fire was blazing in the fireplace, and Alec was warm against her. He was leaning toward her ear now, about to say something, when the kids burst in wanting to use the VCR. The noise they made was enough to discourage all conversation, and Alec promised, “After today it will be quieter, when people clear out a little bit.”
However, it didn’t turn out that way. Thanksgiving Day the noise went on strong until late in the evening, and then everyone was back on Friday; it was another mob scene from mid-morning to late evening. Sophie was sharing a room with Rita and Hannah, so she really had no place to which she could escape. When everyone came once again on Saturday, this time for a sledding party, Sophie was at her limit. Nearly all the sledders begged her to come, but Sophie was gently adamant. Alec, who would have loved time alone with her, made himself leave with the others. He could see in her face that she needed time alone.
Sophie stood for long minutes after they left and reveled in the silence. Janet, who had also seen that Sophie needed some space, made a point of telling her to help herself in the kitchen. But Sophie wasn’t hungry for food, only solitude. She walked to the edge of the living room and simply stood there and stared. It had been two years since she had touched a piano. Would she remember how to play? Sophie knew only one way to find out.
With legs that wobbled just a little, she moved to the bench and sat down. She fingered the keys with light pressure and then pressed down. Her eyes closed with pleasure as she played a lullaby, one she had learned as a child, and in the process time fell away. There were books on the stand, and Sophie played through one of them. She pounded the keys at some points, and also played as gently as one tickling a baby. She was intently watching her fingers and playing Claude Debussy’s “Clair du Lune” when Alec returned. He was alone and entered the house silently, only to stand and listen in amazement.
Sophie had told him she liked to play, but he hadn’t understood that she really knew how. She wasn’t Beethoven, but she played beautifully. He stood at the entryway to the living room for long minutes, his boots dripping on the vinyl, before Sophie noticed him. The smile she threw his way was beaming, and Alec moved to the back hall to divest himself of his outer garments. He then slipped back into the living room, sat in a chair that allowed him to see Sophie’s face, and just enjoyed. She moved from one song to the next, even hitting an occasional wrong note, but Alec barely noticed. All he could see was the mixture of delight and determination on her face. Alec was as rapt with her response to the music as he was with the woman herself. Tears nearly came to his eyes when she played “Amazing Grace,” soft and slow, her eyes closed, head tilted back as her lips silently mouthed the words.
It was her last song. She lifted her hands from the keys and gave a great sigh. When she opened her eyes and smiled serenely at Alec, he moved to join her on the piano bench. Sophie’s legs were still under the keyboard, but Alec’s were out, right shoulder to right shoulder, faces close. They looked at one another, and for a short time neither spoke. Sophie knew he was surprised and was certain he was going to tell her she played well, but she was to be surprised.
“I love you, Sophie,” Alec whispered, and Sophie’s heart melted inside her. Her eyes, already loving, turned perceptibly warmer as she whispered back, “Oh, my Alec.”
Alec’s hands came up to gently cup her face. He kissed her for the first time since the Fourth of July—a kiss so tender that Sophie’s lids fluttered downward and sensation flooded through her. When his arms came around her she did not know, but she kissed him back, her heart bursting inside her.
When her eyes finally opened, she found herself fully supported in his arms. Alec looked down into her face and liked what he saw. Her mouth was gently smiling, and her eyes were dreamy with wonder.
“I liked that,” she told him, and a smile broke over Alec’s mouth.
“I liked it, too.”
Sophie then frowned almost playfully. “I think I could like it too much.”
Again Alec grinned. “In other words, I’m going to have to make an honest woman of you.”
Sophie cocked her head to one side. “You think I am not honest?”
“No, I didn’t mean that.” Alec felt terrible. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Someday I’ll explain it to you.”
Sophie frowned in earnest. “I want to know now.”
Alec sighed, but his hold was still just as gentle. “It’s an old phrase that refers to when a man gets a woman pregnant—one who is not his wife. It was said that he had to marry her to make an honest woman out of her.”
Sophie sat up straight and took herself out of Alec’s embrace. She looked out over the top of the piano, very aware of Alec’s eyes on her profile. She wanted to be indignant, but in a way he had very nicely put his finger on her words’ exact meaning.
“I guess in a way I did mean that. I do enjoy your kisses, Alec, but I must be careful that I do not go beyond the bounds of obedience to my God. We are not married, and since I cannot see the future, I do not know if we will be. That is what I meant.”
“Are you upset that I kissed you?”
She finally looked at him. “No, but I am an affectionate person, and I must keep my guard handy.”
“That goes both ways, I can assure you, Sophie. You’re a very desirable woman, but now let me ask you this: Will my kisses be welcome again?”
Sophie nodded immediately. “As long as we are careful.”
Alec nodded and then mentally kicked himself.
He
should be the one saying all of this, and in the next few seconds he apologized again and explained.
“So you see,” he finished, “I feel my place before God is to lead this relationship, and I’m sorry that I made that joke. I’ll do my best to honor both of us before God in this relationship.”
“Thank you, Alec. Do you think I am not a romantic person?”
Alec blinked. “I’ve never given it any thought.”
“Well, we do not talk like people in love. We talk like we are working on a business deal.”
Alec laughed softly. “I think I prefer it this way. I’ll be glad to bring you flowers and shower you with compliments, but when it comes to a decision as to whether or not you want to commit your life to another person, let’s go ahead and keep the romance to a dull roar.”
“What is this dull roar?” The adorable frown was back on her face, and Alec leaned forward to swiftly kiss the corner of her mouth.
“I only meant that it’s better to play that down and not have it be the only thing our relationship is built upon.”
“Oh.” Sophie’s eyes began to twinkle. “Dull roars and honest women. Dating you is an education, Alec Riley.”
He found this highly amusing, and their talk in the next 15 minutes was very light and fun. After that they were joined by the others who trooped in, frozen and looking for popcorn and hot cocoa. Alec, who had not sledded for very long, and Sophie who had not sledded at all, joined them to hear all about the fun. Not long afterward the remainder of the family cleared out. By supper they were down to the Rileys, the Gilbert Rings, and the host family. Since it was a Saturday night, the kids went off to bed at a decent hour. Only the six adults remained. They talked for hours, and Sophie felt it was a most fitting end to the weekend. They planned to attend services with David and Janet that next morning and then leave for home right after lunch. Sophie thanked God for all the sweet memories.
On the ride home there were times when Sophie’s attention would drift, but who would have blamed her? Alec loved her. It was a wonderful thing. And the way he kissed and held her made her feel cherished beyond words. What would the immediate future bring? This question and many others floated through Sophie’s mind in a hazy wonder. There was only one thing she knew for certain: Courting with Alec Riley was going to be fun.
S
ophie climbed stiffly into the cab of Alec’s truck and sat shivering. She had never been so cold in all of her life. Alec shut her door and went around to his side. He started the engine and turned the heater onto high. He then reached beneath his seat for the thermos. A moment later he pressed a cup of hot black coffee into Sophie’s hand and then shifted his body to settle back against the door to watch her.
“You’re crazy. You know that, don’t you?”
Sophie shook her head, her teeth still chattering. “How am I to know about your job if I do not go with you?”
“You could come with me in June instead of February.”
Again Sophie shook her head. “The summer is too far away. Sophie wanted to know now. I cannot remember what you said about trusses.”
Alec patiently told her again as Sophie looked through the windshield at the partially built house and tried to see what he was explaining. Little by little warmth was stealing back into her limbs, and she could hold her teeth still. Alec filled her cup again, and Sophie continued to question him. He loved the fact that she took such an interest, but he saw no reason to freeze her. None of his houses were in the last stages right now, or he could have shown her one that was already centrally heated.
“Alec,” she suddenly said, “the coffee is visiting.”
He pointed. “There’s an outhouse right over there.”