“I take it you are Osbourne?” Katja smiled, and that was when he saw Jelka come alive on her face. It was that smile, the way her lips curled and her cheeks rose.
All Ozzie could do was nod as he strode toward her, closing the distance between them. The girl reached into her front dress pocket and held out a Polaroid to him. He took it. It was one of the two photos that Jutta had taken of the three of them, the one he had given to her. He looked from the picture to Katja; she had grown, and she wasstunning. His daughter. His Kitten was standing in front of him after all these years.
“Thank you, God,” he mumbled as he pulled Katja into his arms and held her tight, tears drizzling his cheeks. “I can’t believe it is really you.”
Ozzie shook uncontrollably, and he wasn’t ashamed. For he had been faithful, had done what Joe had told him to do. He had worked his recovery program, attended his weekly meeting without fail, and now his daughter was in his arms. Katja had found her way back to him. The promises of living a clean and sober life had come true.
Ozzie let go, then stared at Katja. She was only a few inches shorter than he was, tall and lanky, like his older sisters.
“Words can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am. I never meant to leave you behind in Germany.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” she offered.
“I’ve searched for you.” He grabbed both her hands. “I’ll be here for you for the rest of my days, if you will allow me.”
CHAPTER 58Philadelphia, PA, May 1966
SOPHIA
The Divine Lorraine Hotel loomed on the corner of Broad Street and Fairmount Avenue. It was dark out, and Sophia dragged herself from the car, bone-tired. When they reached the fourth floor and knocked on door 444, Sophia didn’t know how she had made it through the lobby and onto the elevator.
Mrs. Gathers ushered them into the spacious hotel room.
“Wow, this is bigger than my apartment.” Jutta whistled. “Thanks again for putting us up.”
“Certainly, how did it go?” Mrs. Gathers wore a satin pajama set, and her face was scrubbed clean.
“I met my father, Osbourne Philips,” Sophia said.
Mrs. Gathers raised her hands in the air. “Praise God!”
“He was so happy to see me. The whole family was ecstatic. I’m still overwhelmed, to be honest.”
“It was a lot to take in at once,” Jutta admitted. “But I was really glad to be there.”
Sophia was exhausted and needed a moment to herself. “Where’s the restroom? I’m going to take a shower.”
“Right down the hall, dear.”
As Sophia headed toward the bathroom, Jutta kept up a steady stream of chatter with Mrs. Gathers, but the only voice that Sophia heard was Ozzie’s.I’ve searched for you. I never meant to leave you behind.
Her father was alive, and he had tried to find her. But why had he left her in the first place? There had been too much commotion in the house, Nettie peppering her with questions, introducing her to aunts and uncles while stuffing her belly with the flakiest fried fish that she had ever tasted, to get any answers. When she had asked Jutta, she’d said she didn’t know.
The heat and steam from the shower felt good. After slipping into her only nightgown, she found Jutta and Mrs. Gathers sipping tea on the settee.
“Are you okay, love?” Jutta asked.
“It’s been a really long day.” Sophia wrapped her arms around her waist.
Mrs. Gathers said, “Why don’t you get some rest. You and Jutta can sleep in the room to the left of the bathroom. I heard you were having breakfast with your father tomorrow.”
Sophia grinned. “He invited me to his home. I can’t believe this is all happening.”
“I knew God would provide.”
Jutta lifted her mug to her lips. “Sleep well.”
The bedroom had a full-size bed, two nightstands, and a chest of drawers. Under the covers, Sophia tossed and turned but couldn’t fall asleep. It was too late to phone Max or Willa, and the high of her day had made it impossible for her mind to settle down. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and then tiptoed across the floor and reached inside her satchel. Tucked between two books was a crossword puzzle that she had scavenged from the Saturday newspaper at school. The grating of her pencil on the page scratched a part of herbrain that she couldn’t otherwise reach. After filling in half the puzzle, she was relaxed enough to doze off.
