“I disagree. Oftentimes I feel like the Negro man in America needs a publicist. I’d love to be the one to showcase a veteran’s love and commitment to find his lost daughter.”
“She’s really good,” Sophia added. “I’ve collected as many of her articles as I could find.”
“Really?” Mrs. Gathers turned to Sophia.
“Yes, I admire what you do,” she said sheepishly, and then to Ozzie she said, “I think you should do it.”
“Well, let me run it by my wife first,” he said, winking, “but I’m sure she’ll be all for it.”
The day had gotten away from them; the hours Sophia spent with Ozzie and Mrs. Gathers passed like minutes.
“We had better get going. I’m sure Jutta is wondering where you are.” Mrs. Gathers got to her feet. She carried her mug to the sink, and when she reached for the sponge to wash it, Ozzie waved her away.
“Rita would have my head if she thought I let you lift a finger in our home. Just leave it.”
They walked back through the living room, and when they got to the door, Ozzie touched Sophia’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you how much this visit means to me. If you’d prefer that I call you Sophia, I will, but you’ll always be Katja or Kitten to me.”
On the farm, they called her Rusty; at school, she was simply Sophia. “That’s fine.”
He blew out a nervous chuckle. “I know that I have missed a significant portion of your life. But I promise you, as God is my witness, I will be there for you from this day forward. That is, if you will let me.”
“I’d like that. To get to know you and your family better.”
“Oh, darling. Between Rita and my mother, I’m going to have to hold them back from hijacking you. They’re your family too.”
Her family.Her real family. Those were the sweetest words her ears had ever heard.
“In that case,Auf Wiedersehen.” She smiled.
“Until we meet again.”
CHAPTER 59West Oak Forest Academy, May 1968
SOPHIA
Senior year for Sophia came and went. Willa had been sulking for days: Since she was a year younger than the rest of their crew, Sophia, Max, Louis, and Claude would soon graduate from Forest, breaking up their tight-knit quintet and leaving Willa behind.
“You’ll still have Henrietta and Marion,” Sophia said, making mention of the two Negro sophomore girls who lived down the hall.
“It’s not the same, and you know it. You’re going off to college in Philadelphia, and while you are living it up with your new friends, I’ll be stuck here in twelfth grade. I’ll never see you again.” Her green eyes darkened.
“Don’t say that. You can come and stay the weekend with me and even longer on your spring break. Penn’s campus is beautiful, you’ll love it.”
But her words did nothing to improve Willa’s mood, and Sophia was grateful for the distraction when she heard the swift knock at the door. “Mail for Sophia.”
An envelope skated across the linoleum floor. Sophia reached down to retrieve it.
“Who’s it from?”
Turning the letter over in her hand, she recognized Walter’s neat handwriting. “My oldest brother.”
“Well, I’m going to meet Marion at the library. I promised to share my notes from last year’s advanced world history class to help her study for the final.”
“I’ll meet you at dinner.”
“Only six more dinners with you to go.” Willa gave Sophia a pouty expression, then breezed toward the door.
Sophia took the envelope to the vanity and tugged on the folded paper.
