Edward stood, obviously wanting to end the conversation. Isa stood too, and he put his hands on her shoulders and smiled like an amused older brother might. “I can see you’re convinced of all this, but I hope you—and God—will forgive me if it takes a bit more to convince me that this is where you should be.”
Her voice abandoned her. He was so close she could breathe in the scent of the soap he used, mixed with something else, perhaps the glue that wrinkled his skin or the powder that grayed his hair. “The Lord loved His apostle enough to come back and offer His pierced hands to touch. He didn’t rebuke Thomas for his doubt; He gave him a way to believe. Maybe He’ll do something like that for you.”
“I’m beyond doubt.” He went to the door, avoiding further eye contact. “I have a few things to take care of before curfew later today. In fact, I probably won’t see you until tomorrow. Remember what I said about going out, all right?”
Then he left, closing the door behind him.
7
Allies Smash German Somme Front
The Allies delivered a severe stroke against the German front along a six-and-a-half-mile stretch of the front lines. Our troops gallantly swept away German forces and gained their objectives.
La Libre Belgique
* * *
Edward sat across the table from the two people who had come to know him better in the past year than those who had known him a lifetime. Trusting each other with their lives forged a strong bond.
“Did you see him?” Edward asked. He spoke English even though his companions were Flemish and he spoke that language as if he’d been born Belgian, too. But English was preferred. These days, everyone spoke a language the Germans would least expect.
Jan Krains nodded. The straight line of his brow and matching taut lips were the closest thing to a frown—or a smile, for that matter—that Jan ever mustered. “The man has the restraint of a two-year-old in a candy shop. He’s definitely watching the Tomsk place. He can hardly wait to pounce.”
“What are you going to do?” Rosalie looked at Edward the way she always did: intently, raptly. As if he had all the answers.
He let air out of his mouth slowly and eyed the room around him instead of them. It was cheerful, like Rosalie, with embroideries and small tapestries on the walls, light wood side tables and two chairs near a settee in front of a fireplace off to the side. Upon each chair was an embroidered cushion, featuring the design of an iris. Everything was sturdy and polished, neither sleek nor of costly design yet warm and comfortable. “We’ll follow the examples set before us. Get Tomsk out. As for those of us still here . . . that’s where we must be careful. Tomsk was cautious. How was he found out?”
None of them had an answer to that.
“If he were seen distributing, they would have arrested him on the spot, with or without more evidence.” Edward shook his head. “No, he must have been named or implicated by someone else, either a German spy with suspicions or someone held at the Kommandantur.”
He stood, preparing to leave. “Be careful,” he told them. “Each of us has been seen with Tomsk in the past month, so we may be under suspicion too.”
Rosalie’s brows rose. “Aren’t you staying?”
Edward shook his head. “I want to check the Tomsk home again. And I need to see someone about acquiring some paper, if I can get the money for it from my contact. Are you staying, Jan?”
He nodded. “I don’t take the risks you do.”
“I’m not going far.”
Rosalie followed Edward to the door. “Take care.” She put her hand on his arm. “Edward.”
He turned to her expectantly.
“I must ask. How is your young friend, now that she’s home?”
He put on his hat. “I wouldn’t say she’s exactly home, since she’s living in Quartier des Marolles and not Quartier Léopold, but I’d say she’s still foolish enough to be happy she’s back.”
“Are you happy she’s back?”
He put a hand on the doorknob again. “My mother is happy to have her here again.”
“And you?”
“Why do you ask? She means nothing to me either way.”
“I thought you’ve known her since she was a child. Like a sister?”
Explaining why Isa Lassone had never, ever, stirred brotherly affection in him would take far more time than he presently had.
“Good night, Rosalie. Curfew, you know. I must go.” He pulled