All Things New

by Felicia Mires

  He liked the sound of his name on her lips. She'd made a conscious distinction, now that they were alone, to call him Jacob. "Agreed. Go."

  Jacob was so nervous he nearly tripped, getting out of the uniform. He stepped into the tub then called out to Chloe. "All right."

  Chloe walked in and out without saying a word, and the door closed quietly behind her.

  Jacob washed quickly, dried off, and dressed in the clean clothes he found to the side. When he hobbled into their room, Chloe waited on the edge of the bed. She had taken down her long hair. It reached halfway down her back. He'd never seen her that way and stared for several seconds. She'd washed up a bit, and damp ringlets framed her face. She wore one of Antoinette's white cotton nightdresses, a trifle large, so the straps hung from her slender shoulders. Chloe probably didn't think so, but Jacob thought she looked charming, and he felt awkward and gangly with his malnourished, thin body. Her dismissive glance of him from the bed did little to encourage him.

  "What should I do?" He held a small towel in his hands and beads of water clung to the ends of his hair.

  She patted the bed. "Shut the door and sit down."

  Chloe had considered this moment, and she was ready to pay for the kindness he'd shown her and her parents. If Jacob wanted her to act like a wife, she could do it. She'd endured far worse from the Colonel. Besides, Jacob was kind.

  He pushed the door shut and leaned back against the pillows. Without another word, Chloe picked up one of his feet and bathed it carefully in antiseptic.

  "You have a splinter," she said as she picked at it. "Quite large. Probably what's causing you so much pain. Why didn't you say anything?"

  "When did I have the chance to tell you?"

  Jacob watched her delicate hands as she turned his foot, first one way then another, trying to get the best light. It amazed him, in the midst of everything, that God had sent her into his life. He'd never imagined he could feel that way again. She smiled at him, and his stomach lurched.

  "I suppose you're right." She patted the foot. "Well, that one's better. Let's have a look at the other."

  Jacob moved his other foot within her grasp, and she rubbed in the antiseptic. "Ahh, Jacob," she mumbled. "There are several cuts and a blister. You must have been miserable tonight."

  She looked up briefly, but he didn't comment. He was too absorbed by the touch of her hands on his foot.

  It was easier looking at Jacob's foot than the attraction evident on his face, so Chloe returned her attention to his foot. "I wanted to thank you for taking care of me. I know you could have traveled faster without me…anyway, I appreciate it."

  She stood and put the supplies on the dresser before reaching for the lamp.

  "Chloe, you and your parents kept me alive the past few days. I don't see that I did anything remarkable. We all do whatever…to survive."

  He got one last glimpse of her as she flicked off the lamp. The bed barely gave as she climbed in beside him. When her hand touched his bare chest, his breath caught in his throat.

  "Good night, Chloe," he said softly then turned on his side. "Sleep well."

  Jacob wanted Chloe's love not her gratitude. He made his breathing as even as possible, waiting for her to fall asleep. When he felt her relax, he turned over and wrapped his arm around her slender form. Perhaps tomorrow they would have time to discuss the future.

  An hour later, Chloe woke in a panic. The weight of an arm lay heavily across her chest. Why was the colonel still in her room? But there was no moon shining through the window to light the room. Where was she? Her body began to tremble.

  Her struggling woke Jacob. She moaned as she pushed against him.

  Jacob sat up and grabbed her arms, holding her tightly to him. "Chloe, it's Jacob. Chloe, girl," he added urgently.

  At the sound of her name, Chloe stopped fighting and collapsed against Jacob's chest.

  He patted her back gently. "You're safe, Chloe. Go back to sleep."

  Jacob continued to rub her back until she slept, but it took a while for sleep to override his thoughts. His young wife was tormented by the demons that had haunted him. As he prayed over her, he felt there was a long recovery ahead of them.

  The next day Chloe slept late. Joshua and Jacob were awakened by their sense of duty. With so much uncertainty in the Alliance, they felt it their responsibility to gauge the damage done by the traitor. Jacob especially felt the weight of duty. He now had an extra mouth to provide for, and he couldn't expect the Darnels to feed them all.

  When Jacob and Joshua showed themselves downstairs, Antoinette prepared a simple meal of oatmeal and cream.

  "Merci, Antoinette...Ferdinand. It's been a long time since I had cream on my oatmeal," said Jacob. He'd been too tired to eat the night before, but now the soothing, warm consistency of oatmeal was comforting and filling.

  "Oui, c'est delicieux," Joshua added. "Merci."

  "We're blessed to have a cow," Ferdinand replied. "In an age of forced rations, those that live in the city make do with whatever they can get their hands on."

  "Oui," Antoinette nodded. "Cream is scarce...and coffee and gasoline. Anyway...did you sleep well? We expected you both to stay in bed much longer, especially Jacques."

  Jacob grimaced. Antoinette was very romantic, and he had to set the record straight. "The marriage was for expediency. It will be easier to travel as a newlywed couple. I have travel papers, and now we have a reason to travel. Her father, Remy, was the Prefect of Cachet. He drew up all the necessary documents to make it legal."

  "I hear what your mouth is saying, but I see the way you look at her, Jacques. Chloe has stolen your heart."

  Ferdinand frowned. "That's enough, woman. Leave the boy alone. We've all made sacrifices for the war."

  "It will work out, Jacques. No woman can resist a handsome man that obviously loves her."

  It was high time to change the subject. Joshua had remained silent during their discourse, and Jacob didn't want them all to think he'd lost his focus. He handed over the message he had transcribed from the radio. "This is the list of those missing from the network."

  Antoinette and Ferdinand studied the names before commenting. "We hadn't heard about all of these, but most, yes. Lyon has lost several groups, but France d'Aboard is still functioning. Opossum has a radio. Elephant was captured with his notebook, and they've no doubt deciphered it by now. Others may fall."

  "We desperately need a drop of supplies," said Jacob thoughtfully. "The Lysanders are not flying now, so there will be no landings. Is the Boulet landing strip still viable?"

  "How will you get a message out? It would be very dangerous to use a radio at this time. Especially if you used one in the traboules last night. The tunnels cannot protect you forever."

  "I'll try a different location tonight."

  Joshua had listened to their debate and now raised a finger. "We know they send search teams out at night. Would it perhaps be easier during the day?"

  "They still make more arrests during the day than at night," said Ferdinand with a shake of his head. "We see the vans driving through the countryside all the time. If they do identify your location, darkness gives you a cover for escape."

  Jacob agreed with a nod. "Tonight then. I'll go alone."

  "What…tonight?"

  Chloe wandered into the kitchen, looking adorably sleepy. Jacob felt his heart beat faster.

  "Jacques is going to radio for a supply drop," Joshua answered nonchalantly.

  Thankfully, he seemed to sense Jacob's desire to mask the danger of their situation.

  Chloe crossed her arms across her chest. "He's not going alone. He can barely walk. If he's busy with his radio, he won't be able to watch for trouble. He could never run away in time."

  "Thank you for that vote of confidence."

  "I have every confidence in you," she said. "Very few men would have the courage to walk up to a German patrol boat and take it away from the soldiers. But, tell me you're walking without a limp
, that you can guard your surroundings at the same time you transmit on the radio."

  Silence reigned around the table as everyone waited for Jacob to deal with Chloe. "That's not the way we do things, Chloe. The risk is too great to send more than one. It increases our odds of getting caught when two have to escape."

  "I think she's right this time, Jacques. You're in no condition to go alone," said Joshua. "Consider that we know the location-finders will be operating. You need someone to stand guard. Let me go with you."

  Ferdinand and Antoinette chimed in. It seemed everyone was in agreement. Jacob needed a guard while he made the radio transmission.

  "All right," he said finally.

  With that settled, Antoinette offered food to Chloe. "Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?"

  "I would, merci. I'll be right back." She left the table to go upstairs.

  While she was gone, Jacob thought it best to make one comment about her.

  "Chloe was a hostage for her town." His hands gestured in the air as he grappled for words. "Actually, she was kept…prisoner by the Nazi commander. She's a little fragile…though she doesn't realize it."

  Tears filled Antoinette's eyes. "We'll take care of her, Jacques. They won't find her here."

  Jacob nodded and slapped his hands on the table, thankful yet again that God had spared this kind couple. "Now Ferdinand, how can Josh and I help you today?"

  When Chloe came into the kitchen, she found Antoinette humming as she spooned up a bowl of oatmeal.

  "Ah, good morning, good morning, Chloe. Did you get any rest? It can be difficult to sleep on a strange bed."

  Chloe already liked the optimistic Antoinette. A caring woman, much like Chloe's mother. "Oui, Antoinette, thank you for your hospitality. I wish I could repay you."

  "Shush, you've already done more than I. You sacrificed your town for the freedom of our country. I should repay you." She set a bowl on the table with a small pitcher of cream. "Enjoy your breakfast. If I can get you anything else, let me know."

  "Merci beaucoup."

  Now Chloe was alone at the table and immediately faced the obvious question. What was she going to do? Jacques was a clever young man. Surely they had plans for this sort of thing. Meanwhile, there were chores she could perform to help on a farm. She took a few bites of food. Jacob was going out that night to ask for a parachute drop of supplies. For some reason, the planes couldn't land but they could drop things. Perhaps that made sense. She finished her oatmeal, washed the dishes, and then searched out Antoinette. By keeping busy all day, it would be easier to pretend her life was somewhat normal.

  They all lunched together, and although Antoinette tried to keep their spirits up, Jacob wanted details on the captures of their comrades. "Is there anyone you suspect...anyone who was in contact with all or most of them?"

  "Non," said Ferdinand. "Whole groups were taken, or parts of groups, but no one serving as liaison between the groups was left free."

  "I've started making a list from memory. See if there's anyone you can add. I really want to narrow down the possibilities. If we don't, and we continue working with the traitor, we'll all be captured."

  And if something happened to Chloe, Jacob didn't know how he could go on.

  Chapter 13

  By evening, they all began to feel the effects of the previous night's run and abbreviated rest. As they sat listening to the BBC and talking in desultory tones, Antoinette leaned closer to Chloe.

  "Would you like to soak in a bath? It might help you relax."

  "I think I will." Chloe rose and left the room with a brief nod at the others.

  "Jacques," said Ferdinand. "You and Joshua should retire early if you intend to make another run tonight."

  "Oui."

  Jacob yawned as he trailed up the stairs toward his bedroom. He found Chloe there, already preparing her things for a bath.

  She glanced up at him when he came in. "Jacob, would you allow me to look at your feet again? I think you might feel more comfortable tonight if I did."

  They had barely spoken to one another all day, and Jacob felt an ocean of distance between them. Their circumstances made it especially difficult to woo her. But any contact was better than none at all. He sat in the chair and lifted his feet to the bed.

  "How are you able to call me one thing in private and another in front of everyone else?"

  "I don't know. So far, it's been easy." She rubbed antiseptic in the tender portion of his foot, but she didn't look up. "We're hardly together at all."

  Was she hinting that he wasn't taking care of her?

  "Why do you purposely use both names, Chloe?"

  "I guess to show respect...for what you've done. I see you as a person, but I also recognize we're all acting."

  She finished the bandage on his left foot and reached for the other. Jacob didn't know what to think. Why did she want to see him as a person? According to her, he was nothing but an avenue for her to reach the Resistance. Clearly, he had a long way to discovering who Chloe was and how she thought. Providing for her came much easier.

  "Did you need anything today?"

  "Non, Antoinette gave me everything I wanted," she said briskly, rubbing the insole of his foot. Her voice dropped. "Have you gotten everything you want, Jacob?"

  The sultry tone made his heart quicken. What were her intentions? He watched her face, but she never returned his gaze. It had become difficult to think of anything beyond the feel of her touch on his foot. Funny, but he'd never seen his foot as a particularly vulnerable part of his body, and yet Chloe's fingers burned a path wherever she touched. He'd had enough of nursing.

  "That's fine, merci," he said, pulling his foot away. "I probably won't see you again until morning. I'm going to rest until time to use the radio. Good night."

  "Of course. I'll wash and join you." She moved toward the door.

  If she intended to mount an assault against his senses, he'd never get to sleep. "Don't feel you have to, Chloe. Go to bed whenever you tire. You won't wake me."

  They would eventually have to discuss their personal life. He had invited this problem when he told her he wanted a real wife. She was trying to accommodate him, but he would rather give her time to genuinely care for him.

  He shrugged out of his shirt and dropped on the bed. For now, he would have to ignore how she made him feel and get some sleep. He had almost dropped off when a softly scented Chloe slipped between the sheets. He fought the desire that awakened and forced his body to stay lax, but exhaustion claimed Chloe almost immediately. When he heard her regular breathing, he curled against her and draped his arm over her. Instead of the tension he expected, he fell asleep.

  At one in the morning, an alarm went off by his head. He jumped to hit the button before it woke Chloe but found himself entangled in her arms. He finally reached the clock and switched off the noise. He lay there a few seconds, luxuriating in the feel of her wrapped around him. With great reluctance, he picked up her arm, kissed it, and set it down on the sheet.

  Jacob retrieved his shirt from the chair and pulled it on before carrying his shoes downstairs. He woke Joshua, put on his shoes, and yanked two jackets out of the back hall closet. When Joshua ambled into the kitchen, Jacob threw one at him. On the kitchen table, they found a carafe of coffee with a note. This should warm you before you go.

  Jacob poured out two cups. "Where does Antoinette get coffee? That woman is amazing."

  "She is. I haven't had a cup of coffee for over a year."

  They rinsed their cups then left out the back door, Jacob carrying the precious radio transmitter and Joshua the artillery.

  Jacob shifted the radio under his arm. "I think it would be best if we walked to the northeast. It will take us several miles further away from Cachet."

  "Oui. We should also be able to tell if the Nazis have increased their occupation to that area."

  "So, what are you going to do when the war is over, Joshua?"

  "I haven't though
t about that for so long, I don't know. What about you?"

  "Get to know my son again. He's twelve now, and I haven't seen him since I came to France. He writes, and sometimes I get a letter off, but it's not the same."

  "I didn't know you had a son. What happened to your wife?"

  Somehow, Jacob didn't feel like explaining Geli and his past. "The war. She died in Germany."

  "I'm sorry." They walked a few minutes more before Joshua spoke again. "Are you just trying to help Chloe escape from the Nazis or did you fall the second you saw her?"

  Jacob laughed. "Not the second I saw her, but close. She seemed fragile, like my wife, only they look nothing alike, so I can't explain the attraction. My wife was blond, very Aryan. Chloe is dark."

  "Then the marriage is definitely not an escape issue. Does she know?"

  Jacob didn't mind Joshua's probing. It had been a long time since he'd had a personal conversation with anyone.

  "I mentioned it briefly, but she has no idea really. I'm not sure myself. My family, my parents, my son…are all in England. Chloe is French, and I don't know if she'd consider leaving France. Then again, I'm not sure I want to live in France or England."

  "Where would you go? You don't honestly think there will be a place in Germany for the Jews after the war."

  "I can't see how any Jew on the surface of this planet could ever want to live in the nation that tried to annihilate them." Jacob became hesitant to share his thoughts. He hadn't ever voiced this desire to anyone. "I've been thinking about Palestine. I heard the British might allow the Jews to form a state, but that's just hearsay."

  "You amaze me, Jacques. As far as I can tell from the little you've said, when you lost the war in Germany, you came to our aid, and now, when you've finished helping us, you want to start over again in Palestine. When will you rest and enjoy life?"

  Jacob thought about that as they walked in silence. Had losing Geli made it impossible for him to settle anywhere? That was another topic to discuss with the heavenly Father.

  They'd been walking more than two hours when Jacob called a halt. "We're over twelve miles from the farm. That should be far enough."