by Kitty Parker
"Everything is packed and ready to go." she announced, checking the progress of dinner while she spoke.
"Hope you don't mind sandwiches, it was all I could think of that packed easily." Jack smiled weakly.
"That's just fine, just make sure you throw some fruit in there, and perhaps a few brownies?" she added, smiling at the girls who nodded emphatically at her suggestion.
"What is your brothers name?" Arabella asked.
"Oliver."
"Does he have any kids?" Emmaline asked.
"Last I talked to him, he had a little boy, he should be three now, I think." Klara guessed.
"I'm an uncle and I didn't even know it!" Jack laughed, shoving the last sandwich into a tattered paper bag.
Klara laughed and helped pack the bags into the knapsack they would be taking with them. In what seemed like no time at all, Jack was pushing them out the door. They walked slowly through the town, Jacks arm lovingly around Klara's waist. She leaned into him, unable to believe she was about to leave him indefinitely. The train was waiting in the station, clouds of smoke billowing from beneath the carriage. Tears caught in Klara's eyes as she felt Jack loosen his grasp. She turned and threw both arms around him, pressing her body tightly to his.
"You'll call when you arrive?" he asked, whispering into her hair.
"The second we're settled." she nodded, her voice filled with false bravery.
"Come now, you must go, the train is starting to leave."
"I don't know how I'll make due without you." she sobbed, clinging to him tighter still.
"Be brave Klara, you are strong enough for this, it's one of the things I love about you."
"I wasn't strong enough to weather Grandmere's death, and if I loose you..."
"You have not lost me yet, for now, that is all that matters. Think only of today, tomorrow will take care of itself my love."
"I love you Jack."
"I love you." Their lips met in a swell of emotion, Klara's tears seasoned their farewell kiss. Jack let her go, helping her up onto the train, then said goodbye to each of his sisters before handing them up to Klara. "I will miss you all very much, have a wonderful time."
The three girls stood between the two carriages, waving frantically as the train began to chug away from the platform. When Jack could no longer be seen, Klara lead the girls to their seats. Arabella and Emmaline bounced up and down, excited to be on such a long train ride. Klara managed to maintain a smile throughout the three hour ride despite the state of her heart. The train only stopped once to be inspected by German officers, checking papers. Klara's stomach churned even though she knew everything was in order. She knew that there would always be something about German soldiers that unnerved her, every German soldier but one.
Once they arrived in the quaint town, Klara lead the girls through the winding rue's managing to get lost only once. Just as darkness began to fall on the small town, Klara found her brothers rose colored home. She knocked loudly, knowing they were not expected, a cry erupted from inside and she heard her brother grumbling before the door was tugged open. He squinted at her in the dim light.
"Klara?" he breathed.
"Hello Ollie, how are you?"
"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in five years! Mama said you were stuck in occupied territory."
"I need to ask a favor."
"Come in, please." he opened the door wider, noticing for the first time the two girls and suitcases she had with her.
"Thank you," Klara smiled, "can we talk alone?"
"Of course, Kathryn will look after the children while we talk." he ushered them through a narrow hallway to the kitchen. "Kathryn, we have a few guests, do you think you can find something for these two to eat while I talk with Klara?"
"Klara?" his wife turned, revealing a pregnant bump in her twirl.
"Yes, do we have something for them?"
"I'll find something, I think I have some cookies hidden somewhere." she smiled, laughing at the cheers of the two young girls. Squealing about getting cookies and brownies all in one day. In their little minds, it was the best trip they had ever taken.
Klara nodded gently in thanks, then followed her older brother to the parlor. Once there, he motioned for her to sit. She lowered herself into the chair and then both sat silently for a moment, each inspecting the change time had brought about in the other. Oliver looked very much the same as she remembered. His hair and eyes the same color as her own, gentle creases outlining his eyes. His face was a bit fuller and his stomach a bit rounder, but he was otherwise untouched by time.
"It's so good to see you, you look exactly the same, even after two kids." Oliver smiled. "They're beautiful."
"Oh! They aren't mine, but they are beautiful."
Oliver laughed, "I knew Mum hadn't mentioned you giving birth, or getting married."
"Well, I am married," she blushed, "it's a long story, which I promise to tell you, but before I do, I think I'd better explain why we're here."
"Please do."
"My husband, Jack, his father has been helping with the hiding and transportation of Jews into Switzerland. Jack, is a communications officer in the German army. His office is looking into the group that his father is a member of."
"You're married to a Nazi?" Oliver asked, gripping the hard wood of his chair tighter.
"Well, sort of...but not really, if you'll just listen, I'll explain it all."
Oliver nodded, but remained in an agitated state. Klara could tell she was on shaky ground, knowing her family to all be against the Nazi's as fiercely as Grandmere was. "Jack is afraid that when they discover his own fathers involvement, he will be questioned about his whereabouts. He didn't want anything to happen me or his sisters either, so he sent us away, hoping to keep us safe. Jack had been helping Grandmere and me run Allied soldiers across the boarder into unoccupied territory. He has also been destroying evidence that would lead the Nazi's to hidden Allied soldiers or Jews. He is a good man, and was drafted for the war, he never wanted to join the Nazi's, but didn't seem there was any other way out. So now, he's using his position within the army, to help where he can."
Klara tried to gauge her brothers expression after taking a big breath. His brow was raised, and it was clear he was thinking through the legitimacy of her claims. "If you don't have the room for us, or don't want to risk your own families safety, perhaps you know of somewhere else we might go?"
His face softened, "I'm glad you came here, we will find room. I will make sure you are all safe."
Klara stood and sighed with relief, she gave her brother a thankful hug and smiled down at his familiar face. "Do Mum and Dad know you're married?" he asked.
"No, like I said, it's a long story, and I haven't gotten around to telling them yet."
"Oh Klara," he laughed, "come on, let's see where we can put you three for the night. Ralph and Gracie are already sleeping."
"Gracie?"
"Our youngest, for now, she's a year and a half."
"Yes, I noticed that Kathryn is expecting again. I'm sorry I've missed so much, I'm a terrible sister."
"I am just as terrible a brother."
"Well, that's true." she giggled.
Oliver shoved her playfully, "I can't wait to hear about what you've been up to."
"I think we'll have plenty of time to talk about it. Though I hate to say it, I don't think Jack will be calling us home any time soon."
Oliver quickly explained to Kathryn that Klara and the girls would be staying with them for a little while. She greeted the news with a smile, and set about finding enough blankets and pillows for them. They would be staying in the parlor for the night, sleeping on the couch and the floor, and then tomorrow they would make more comfortable arrangements. Klara helped with the makeshift beds and then bathed Arabella and Emmaline before tucking them into their bed on the floor. After singing one of her mothers famous lullabies and was sure the girls were asleep, she joined her brother and sister-in-law in th
e kitchen, where a cup of tea was waiting for her.
"I didn't know you could sing like Mum." Oliver smiled, stirring his tea slowly.
"It seems to be the only thing that gets those two to sleep."
"Maybe you can try it on Ralph and Grace tomorrow." Kathryn laughed. "I always have a hard time keeping them in their beds. You must have heard Gracie cry when you knocked. I'm surprised they haven't been down tonight, especially with all the unfamiliar noise. I must have worn them out today."
The three siblings sat and talked for a while at the table, catching up on the years they had missed. Klara remembered that she needed to call Jack and begged excuse from her brother and sister. They took the opportunity to head upstairs to bed while Klara enjoyed a short conversation with her husband. She explained where they were, and that they were safe before saying goodnight, knowing the expense of the phone call she was making. After he said goodnight in his most tender voice, Klara moved to the couch and curled up on the long worn cushions.
She pressed her body against the back of the couch, pretending she was curling up next to Jack beside her. She snuggled the t-shirt of his she had taken, breathing deeply the smell that had become so familiar. For a moment, she almost had herself believing he was beside her. Before succumbing to the sleep her body begged for, she gazed briefly at the sapphire on her left hand. She gave it a simple kiss, hoping that some how it would find it's way to Jack. He needed all the strength she could send him, after all, she was safe and had the girls for company, he was alone, the anticipation of discovery constantly lingering over his head. She said a silent prayer for Jack, asking that he be spared, unable to believe that they met only for him to be taken away, unable to think about losing him forever.
Chapter 23
Jack drug his feet into the office, his life had been a grim shadow since Klara and his sisters departure. The only light that brightened his day was his brief phone call each night with his wife. They could never talk long, knowing how expensive even the shortest conversation was. So he was left with dull silence, drugery and anticipation of the inevitable. He ate eggs for almost every meal, that being all he really knew how to cook. One night he ventured to remember Klara's cream of onion soup, but it came out watery, tasteless and ultimately inedible.
Each day he entered the office he grew more and more anxious, he knew it couldn't be much longer before they discovered his fathers involvement, and then the connection to Jack. His only question was what they might do with the information. Would they simply ask him if he knew his fathers whereabouts and be done with it all, or would his lack of enthusiasm cause concern for even greater accusations. His life became one of waiting, and walking on egg shells around everyone he knew, with no Klara to comfort him.
"Morning Eiffel." Erik grunted, not looking up from the report he had been reading.
"Morning."
"Looks like we're getting close to the group responsible for transporting Jews, sounds like most of them are from Kandern. That's your hometown, right?"
Jack's stomach dropped, "Yea, how close are they to getting names?"
"They hope to have everything by the end of the week. They have patrols asking about suspicious happenings, and missing neighbors. We're quite sure that most of the transporters have left their homes, realizing how close we are to them. If we can manage to get names, descriptions and possible whereabouts, we'll be sure to catch a few soon. And once we have a few, we can find the Jews and put them where they belong."
"What if the neighbors don't talk?" Jack asked, trying to sound as calm as he possibly could.
"Why wouldn't they? They're Germans and we all want the same thing, our country to be free of the specks that have been pulling our nation down for years. If we can become a country of Germans, and Germans alone we would be un-stoppable, and able to stand on our own two feet."
"I suppose you're right, it would be so much easier for all of us if they cooperate. We'll find them in no time." Jack added, leaning into his desk, his heart beating out of his chest. "Oh no, Klara asked me to pick something up for her on the way to work, and I forgot. I'm going to go call her so she can run out to get it."
"Why don't you just call from here."
"You know the Major doesn't like us to make personal phone calls from the office, I'd rather not get in trouble."
"Right, I forgot, I don't have any personal phone calls to make, so that rule went in one ear and out the other."
Jack walked quickly out of the office and down the street to the nearest phone booth. He called the operator with speed, spinning the rotary dial as fast as it could go. When the woman answered, he pelted her quickly with the number he wished to be connected with, and tapped his foot impatiently while he listened to the slow ring.
"Hello?" A sweet female voice entered on the other end, it must have been Klara's sister in-law.
"Hi, this is Jack, Klara's husband, may I speak with her please?"
"She's playing in the garden with the children..."
"I need to talk to her now, it's urgent, sorry, would you mind getting her for me?" Jack gushed, unable to wait for the detailed explanation of where Klara was at the moment.
"Of course, I'll get her right now, hold on."
Jack tried to calm his breathing as he waited for Klara to pick up the phone. Finally she answered, a tremor in her greeting, he knew she was afraid the worst had happened. He didn't know how to tell her he doubted he would be a free man come this evening.
"Klara, they're getting closer, they know the group that has been transporting Jews is located in Kandern, my home town. They have patrols there now, knocking on doors, they are going to look into those people who are not in their homes, who have been mysteriously missing for a couple weeks. My parents names will most definitely be on that list, which I'm sure will be reported to the office before the end of the day. I know they'll haul me in for questioning, I just don't know when, or how harsh they will be."
"Oh Jack." she whimpered.
"Listen to me Klara, I don't know where my parents are, so I won't be able to tell them, and I would die before I told them where you and the girls were hiding, you have nothing to be afraid of. But I have to ask you NOT to come here, for any reason. They are going to threaten me with your safety, threaten to rip you and the girls from your beds. But I know they have no way of finding you. You can't come back to town at all, not for any reason."
"But Jack!"
"Promise me Klara!"
"I can't, I need to see you."
"Promise me Klara!"
"But what if they do something horrible to you? What if they're going to excecute you, surely you don't expect me to let you go without saying goodbye?"
"That is exactly what I expect. They won't kill me if they think I know something but I'm not talking. As long as they don't find out about me helping runners, I should be relatively safe. You have to promise me Klara."
He could hear her sobbing on the other end of the phone, his heart broke at the thought of her enduring this alone. He wished he could hug her and assure her that everything would be alright. The hug would also probably help relax him, unsure of what would await him the rest of the day.
"I promise..." she finally said softly,
"Thank you darling," he heaved a relieved sigh, "I will find my way to you again."
"Is there anything I can do for you? Can I write to you, or send you food or books, anything?"
"No, I would never want them to discover where you were sending it from. We will have to be without each other for a few weeks. I can't talk any longer, it will look suspicious if I'm gone for too long. I love you Klara."
"I love you too Jack."
He couldn't bear hearing her sobs any longer and he hung up the phone with a definative click. Tears welled in his eyes as he thought about his wives fear tumbling out of her, but he could not go back to the office looking a mess. He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Knowing he had spent too long with Klara on the phone
, he ran back to the office, hoping it would not look suspicious.
He got to his work, copying addresses onto proper report forms of those place that had been submitted for inquiry. His fingers pounded harshly on the typewriter, muffling the sounds of heavy boots storming down the hallway. In the silence of pulling a report from the machine, he realized that there were several officers occupying the space in his small office. Erik sat wide eyed, unaware of what was going on, and Jack turned, pretending to be oblivious to the meaning of the visit.
"Captain Eiffel, it has come to our attention that your Father has been missing from his home in Kandern for almost five weeks now." A tall man spoke, Jack had never seen him before, but by the badges on his uniform, he knew he was a high ranking officer.
"Is that so?" Jack answered, unwilling to give them any information they might not have.
"We believe he may be involved with the group that has been aiding Jews over the border in Switzerland."
"I doubt it, I'm an officer in the German Army, I can't imagine my Father doing anything that might put him or my family in danger."
"You know how these things go Eiffel, we still need to make a thorough investigation into his background, ask him some questions."
"Yes of course."
"So, if you'll be so good as to tell us where he's gone, we can bring him in and ask him those questions."
"I'm sorry sir, my Father hasn't told me of his plans. I had not even realized they were gone."
"I find that hard to believe Captain Eiffel, especially since a neighbor reports seeing you escorting your younger sisters to the train station a month ago, and they've not been home since."
His heart dropped, he should have been more careful in taking the girls. "My sisters were excited to spend some time with me and my wife. Since joining the army, I've not been able to spend as much time with them, they miss us, so we decided to have them stay for a bit."
