He dropped his bag and talking ceased as he greeted her properly. When they broke apart for air, her eyes looked dazed, but she smiled. “You missed me, too.”
His gaze roved over her. “I didn’t have a photo of you, and my memory didn’t do you justice.”
A blush tinged her cheeks. She looked good in pink.
“Did you enjoy getting to know your family?”
“They’re great, especially Uncle Gunnar. You’ll get to meet them when they come for the wedding.”
“Wedding?” Puzzlement furrowed her brow. “Whose wedding?”
This wasn’t the right place. His sister would roll her eyes and say, “That’s not romantic.”
Phyllis would tsk. He didn’t care.
He sidestepped a moment of doubt. They hadn’t discussed postwar plans, but now they would. He took her hands in his.
“Jennie, will you marry me?”
Cologne, Germany
July 6, 1945
Coolness embraced them when Rafe and Jennie stepped inside the Cologne Cathedral. Grit on the floor crunched underfoot. Patches of sunlight filtered in through hastily repaired holes. Groups of people slumped in chairs or on the floor. Their eyes sought out the newcomers, then skittered away at the sight of Rafe’s American Army Air Force uniform. No one approached them, but sullen stares bore into Rafe’s back. Hopefully, Bertil would quickly locate Father.
A badly scratched upright piano leaned against a wall. He ran his fingers across the keys. The discordant sound caused Jennie to wince. “In need of a tune-up, I believe.”
Rafe tried to smile. The whole city needed a tune-up. What he had seen from five miles high the year before had been bad, but not nearly as appalling as at ground level. To think, the people had been living in the rubble for years.
He continued fingering the keys, unaware of a specific tune until Jennie softly sang, “O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down.”
Grief and shame. That described the Germans they’d encountered since arriving in Germany.
His fingers stilled. A tingling sensation bloomed at the back of his neck, like his hair stood on end. Jennie looked beyond him. He turned, slowly.
The man approaching him didn’t blink. Wonder filled his face. And regret. And hope.
Father.
He stood tall, but Bertil was right. He had aged far more than natural in the nine years since Rafe had seen him. He stopped three feet away. His mouth worked, but he made no sound.
Rafe covered the distance and flung his arms around him. His father’s arms closed around him. He hadn’t lost any strength. He clung to him like he would never let go again. Nine years lost.
Father.
Even with his eyes squeezed shut, tears escaped. Father rubbed his shoulder. How well he remembered that touch. When he was devastated by a mediocre school grade or a wrecked kite, his father’s touch could right his world. When they sailed the Rhine or worked on models, his father’s touch affirmed him.
“I love you, Father.” His throat was clogged, his voice barely audible, but Father’s arms tightened.
“I love you, Rolf. I love you.”
How many minutes passed? It didn’t matter. A presence beside him touched his elbow. They were not alone. “Father, may I introduce my wife, Jennie.”
Jennie inched forward. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”
Father showed no surprise. Bertil must have warned him. He may not understand all of Jennie’s English words, but he recognized her meaning. She found herself enveloped in a hug of her own, and grinned at Rafe over Father’s shoulder.
Grossmutter had come, too. For the first time in his life, she didn’t smell of lilac soap. She reached up to hold his face between her gnarled hands. When had she become so small?
Their time together slipped away. Jennie opened the photo album she’d brought along. She pointed out various pictures. Rafe and his fellow officers enjoying a late summer sail on Lake Siljan after Rafe’s return from Gothenburg. Their wedding pictures taken at Tyska Kyrkan, attended by Bertil, Steve, Phyllis, and Astrid, the wedding she had dreamed of, just before the men returned to England. Jennie had left soon after on a civilian flight, taking her entire exhibit collection. Another page showed more pictures of the whole Martell family with her at her triumphant “Sweden, Shelter from the Storm” exhibit. Among the photos, she’d included flattering Chicago Tribune reviews.
Rafe presented Father with photographs to keep — his and Jennie’s wedding picture, and recent portraits of Rita and Albert. “Our addresses are on the back. We’ll stay in touch.”
He meant it as a statement, but it came out as a question.
“We’ll stay in touch,” Father agreed, mesmerized by the images of his far-away children.
When they returned to the military jeep waiting for them, Jennie retrieved her camera for a father and son photograph. Then they waved good-bye until their driver turned a corner.
Jennie wrapped her hands around his. Her eyes shone. “That went well, don’t you think? How is your heart now?”
Rafe twisted his hands so he held hers. “My heart is at peace. My private war has ended.”
Rafe’s grandfather foresaw the danger for Jews and prepared for their escape from Germany. Rafe’s father did nothing. How well do you prepare for the future?
Jennie is pushed outside her comfort zone by doing field work for the OSS. How do you handle uncomfortable situations?
Rafe helps Jennie identify the reason she feels inadequate. Does an incident in your past still affect you today?
Jennie experiences unease when her friends Phyllis and Emma bait Germans in Sweden. What do you do when don’t agree with your friends’ actions?
Rafe needed to confront Alan about his perceived anti-Semitism. How do you handle confrontations?
Christoph tells Rafe his father regrets sending his family away. Have you taken a divergent path and can’t return? How do you handle it?
Jennie’s father believes in an Augustine quote, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Do you agree?
Are you willing to stand against injustice? What are some ways you could today?
Why does Rafe think Dan is good for him? Do you have a Dan in your life?
Uncle Gunnar pointed out that Rafe had his father on a pedestal. How did that hurt their relationship? Do you have someone on a pedestal? Why?
Mickey thought Heaven would be boring and Hell would have more interesting people. How would you respond to him?
I hope you enjoyed No Neutral Ground! I need to ask you a favor. Would you help others enjoy this book too?
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Thank you so much for reading No Neutral Ground and for spending time with me.
In gratitude,
Terri Wangard
Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she writes historical fiction, and won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ (ACFW) Woodland’s Chapter 2013 Writers on the Storm (WOTS) contest and the ACFW 2013 First Impressions contest, as well as being an ACFW 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a b
achelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.
Connect with Terri:
www.terriwangard.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/
‘Promise for Tomorrow’ series:
Friends & Enemies (Book 1) – 2013 ACFW Woodland’s Chapter WOTS winner – releases January 2016
No Neutral Ground (Book 2) - 2012 ACFW Genesis finalist – releases May 2016
Soar Like Eagles (Book 3) - 2013 ACFW First Impressions winner - releases September 2016
Other books from Chalfont House Publishing
and its fiction imprint HopeSprings Books
Non-Fiction
“Knights, Maidens and Dragons: Six medieval tales of virtue and valor drawn from ‘The Little Colonel’ series” by Julia Duin
“A is for Airstrip: A Missionary’s Jungle Adventure” by Marilyn Laszlo and Elizabeth Maddrey
“A Walk in the Valley: Christian encouragement for your journey through infertility” by Julie Arduini, Heidi Glick, Elizabeth Maddrey, Kym McNabney, Paula Mowery, Donna Winters, and Lynellen Perry
“How to Survive Your Teen’s Pregnancy: Practical Advice for the Parents of a Pregnant Christian Single” by Linda Perry and Lynellen Perry
“Speaking Confidence” by Lisa Bongiorno-Heidrich
“Daily Contentment With God” by Howard L. Ford
“Repairing His Story: Abortion Stress Recovery for Men” (Student Manual, and Leader’s Guide) by Lynellen Perry, Linda Perry, and Dennis Perry
“Repairing Her Story: Abortion Stress Recovery for Women” (Student Manual, and Leader’s Guide) by Lynellen Perry, Linda Perry, and Dennis Perry
“The Wisdom of the Sheep Walker: A companion journal to ‘The Sheep Walker’s Daughter’” by Sydney Avey
Fiction:
Women’s Fiction:
“The Sheep Walker’s Daughter” by Sydney Avey
“The Lyre and the Lambs” by Sydney Avey
“Marriage Takes Three” by G.E. Hamlin
“Faith Departed” (Remnants, book 1) by Elizabeth Maddrey
“Hope Deferred” (Remnants, book 2) by Elizabeth Maddrey
“Love Defined” (Remnants, book 3) by Elizabeth Maddrey
“Mrs. Covington’s Sunday School Dropouts” by Connie Miller Pease
Contemporary Romance:
“Joint Venture” (Grant Us Grace, book 0) by Elizabeth Maddrey
“Serenity to Accept” (Grant Us Grace, book 3) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Historical Romance:
“Watercolor Dreams” by Sherry Kyle
“Friends & Enemies: A World War II Romance” by Terri Wangard
Romantic Suspense:
“Fiery Secrets” by Stephanie McCall
Mystery:
“Not Guilty” (Windspree, book 1) by Teresa Pollard and Candi Pullen
“Not Ashamed” (Windspree, book 2) by Teresa Pollard and Candi Pullen
Thriller:
“Cleansed by Death” (A Jo Oliver Thriller, book 1) by Catherine Finger
Biblical Fiction:
“Tokens of Promise: A novel inspired by the life of Tamar” by Teresa Pollard
“Woman of Light: A novel inspired by the life of Deborah” by Teresa Pollard
Speculative Fiction:
“A Message to Deliver” by Jeremiah Peters
“The Visitor” by W.G. Reese
Young Adult Fiction:
“Promise of a Future” by Stephanie McCall
“Worth the Wait” (Waltham Academy, book 1) by Laura Jackson
“Worth the Time” (Waltham Academy, book 2) by Laura Jackson
Tween fiction:
“Hear No Evil” (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp, book 1) by Mary L. Hamilton
“Speak No Evil” (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp, book 2) by Mary L. Hamilton
“See No Evil” (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp, book 3) by Mary L. Hamilton
Short Story Anthologies:
“Out of the Storm” Winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" contest, sponsored by The Woodlands, Texas, chapter of The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
“Dancing up a Storm” Winners of the 2015 “Storming the Short Story” contest, sponsored by The Woodlands, Texas, chapter of ACFW.
“A Bit of Christmas: 6 Christian Short Stories Celebrating the Season” Winners of the 2015 ACFW Virginia Chapter short story contest
Connect with us:
www.HopeSpringsBooks.com
Pinterest.com/chalfonthouse
Facebook.com/groups/ChalfontHousePublishingFans
www.ChalfontHouse.com
Twitter: @HopeSpringsBook
No Neutral Ground: A World War II Romance (Promise for Tomorrow Book 2) Page 33
