Chapter 21

Sun streaked into the bedroom, it’s light dancing on Jack’s face, he breathed deeply, enjoying Klara’s scent. He cracked open his eyes, finding her curled delicately next to him. Her bare shoulders peeked out of the comforter, the rest of her covered modestly. Her hair pooled to one side, unbrushed waves looking perfect. She sighed happily, her eyes flicking beneath her closed lids.

Jack hated that he had to get up and go to the office, getting out of the warm bed was his least favorite moment of the day. The moment he left the house meant he wouldn’t see her for eight hours, he spent the rest of the day counting down the minutes until he would see her again. He rolled out of bed, trying not to disturb her, the girls were still asleep, which meant Klara could spend a little extra time in bed.

He tried to tuck the covers around her, only to see her eyes flutter open, a smile immediately flooding her lips. Unable to resist their seductive curve, he pressed a kiss to them, feeling her smile widen. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him back into the bed. He pulled back, knowing he couldn’t fall into her embrace, knowing he had to go to work, knowing he had to leave her.

“Go back to sleep beautiful, the girls are still asleep.”

“Don’t go...” she whispered, one hand still stroking the back of his neck.

“I have to, believe me, I don’t want to. But, go back to sleep while you can, you had a late night.” he winked.

A beguiling blush painted her cheeks and she smiled again, no doubt remembering the events of last night. Jack leaned in for another quick kiss, then fled from the room, knowing she could keep him captive all day if he didn’t break free now. He showered and got ready, then went down stairs to find Klara dancing around the kitchen. She had made him an egg and bacon sandwich for the train ride to work, and packed him an excellent lunch in his tin. Before allowing him to leave she pressed another kiss on his lips, clutching him in a hug as though she needed him to stay. With one more heart wrenching separation, Jack left, walking backward down the street until he couldn’t see her any longer.

“What’s going on in there Erik?” Jack asked as he sauntered into the office.

“Not exactly sure, but they are having major trouble with Jews getting over the boarder to Switzerland. Hitler is outraged, and since we’re a communications office, some of the top Generals are here to speak with the Major.”

“What kind of trouble?” Jack asked with little emotion, despite the fear that was currently gripping his heart.

“Well I know they think that Germans are hiding and helping Jews over the boarder. They are going to set up a task force to find them out. They not only want to find the Jews, but those responsible for their flight.”

“And how are they getting them to Switzerland?”

“We aren’t very far from the border now are we? It seems like they’re sneaking them to cargo ships in boxes. The dogs aren’t picking up the scent of them in the boxes, so our soldiers haven’t been checking the ships. We don’t know how to fix that, so we need to find the Jews before they’re transported. I don’t know what they are going to decide on, but that’s what Major told me they were coming for.”

Jack’s heart sunk, they were looking for his father. Not just his father, but the group of people he was working with. He knew that Erik had been describing exactly what his father was involved with. When they had come to the basement at Klara’s house months ago, his father had described the entire process. If the Major got even the smallest hint that his own father was involved with the transportation of Jews, Jack would be questioned, Klara and the girls would be in danger.

“Eiffel, you alright?” Erik asked, leaning over his desk.

“Actually I’m not feeling very well...” Jack admitted, unable to hide his worry.

“Why don’t you go home?”

“I can’t, there are far too many officers here, and we have work to do, don’t we?”

“Not really, they’ll probably be in there all day. We don’t have any tips to look into, and, if someone asks where you are, I’ll tell them you’re looking into a tip. I just really don’t want you to throw up in the office, you throw up, I throw up.”

“If you’re sure you can cover, I would love to go home. I’m sure it’s just something I ate, I’ll be better tomorrow.”

“Get going, let that pretty wife of yours take care of you.”

“Thanks Erik, you’re a good man.” he shook his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jack walked out of the office quickly, not wanting to linger where danger could be lurking. On the train ride home he made up his mind and knew exactly what he had to do when he got home. He walked slowly, dreading his arrival for the first time in weeks. Usually he would be imagining Klara’s excitement when he planted a kiss on her cheek, but today, he couldn’t envision it.

He walked through the door, careful to close it without making a sound. He heard Klara in the parlor with the girls, they were working on arithmetic. He pulled off his boots and went to the parlor, leaning casually against the doorframe watching as Klara helped Emmaline add blocks on the table in front of her. It took a minute before Klara realized he was there, he held a finger to his lips, and she nodded in recognition. He slipped into the kitchen and heard her instruct the girls to work in their composition books then go up to their rooms and make their beds before lunch. She sauntered into the kitchen, a huge smile on her beautiful face, and collapsed gracefully into Jacks lap.

Her arms were instantly around his middle and her lips were fixed to his. Her kiss was sweet, and managed to relax him and increase his worry all in the same moment. He pulled back, brushing a hand through her dark hair.

“What’s the matter?” she asked instantly. “You look so...unhappy. And, why are you home so early?”

“You’re not going to like this Klara.” he cautioned.

“What?! Maman and Papi? Are they ok? Did something happen? Did you hear something at work!?” She peppered him with questions, jumping off his lap, worry seizing her features.

“Not yet, nothing happened yet, but I’m afraid something will. They’re looking for a group of men helping Jew’s over the boarder into Switzerland. Erik explained how they are doing it, and it’s exactly what Papi told me they were doing. They are looking for my parents. As soon as they discover them to be involved, they’ll question me to find them. They are really angry about the whole thing Klara, when they find out about my father...I don’t know what will happen.”

“Surely they won’t suspect you of anything! You’ve been a faithful soldier, a good officer.” she defended.

“Klara, I’ve been throwing tips away for a year and a half! I’ve been talked to about my lack of contribution several times. They’ve even threatened sending me to the camps! I don’t think they’ll hesitate to question me like a criminal if my father’s name comes up. And once I’m in question, I’m afraid they’ll come after you.”

Klara tensed, her face covered with unbelief, “Don’t ask me to, don’t you dare ask me to.”

“Klara, you have to.”

“I won’t leave you! I won’t leave and not know what’s going on, I won’t lose you this way, not after everything. I love you, I won’t leave, I can’t!”

“You have to. I can’t risk the girls being in danger, if I go with you, they’ll hunt us like animals, and they’ll know of our guilt. If you take the girls and I stay, we’ll all be safer, they may never discover that Papi’s involved. I won’t let you put yourself in this kind of danger.” he said quietly.

Klara lowered her head, dropping back down into Jack’s lap, pressing her forehead against his, gripping his hands in hers. “I will do whatever you ask me to do,” she whispered, “but please don’t ask me to leave you. Please.”

“I don’t want you to go, but how would I go on if something happened to you? I want to live with you forever, I want to have children with you, and grow old with you. I have to protect our future, I have to protect you. And the only way I can do that right now, is ask you to take the girls, and go somewhere safe.”

Klara leaned into him, her head resting on his neck. He held her close, memorizing the smell of her hair and the feel of her body in his arms. She was crying softly, and there was nothing he could do, wanting to cry himself. “We should go get you packed.”

“What!” she cried, locking her eyes to his. “Not yet, surely I don’t have to go yet if you’ve only just heard about it.”

“The sooner you and the girls are safe, the better. Is there anywhere you can go? Do you have any family nearby?”

“My brother lives in another part of France, an unoccupied bit. I’m sure he and his wife would take us in. I haven’t talked to him since moving in with Grandmere, what with the war, but I think he’ll welcome us.”

“You have a brother? You never said anything about having a brother.”

“Well, we’ve only really been married for two weeks, I’m sorry that it never came up, we’re not exactly the best of friends, my brother and I. We were never home the same time. He went to boarding school while I was home, and he was home while I spent my summers with Grandmere.”

“Very well, let’s get you packed, and the girls too, we’ll all have lunch, and then we’ll be on our way. Better to go in the daylight so they don’t think we’re up to anything sneaky. I have a friend at a border crossing who will let you go past if you’re my wife. We’ll just tell him the truth, you’re going to visit your brother.”

“Just visiting my brother...” she said softly, as if trying to make herself believe it would just be a short visit.

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