her. ‘It’s amazing to think your great-aunt and my great-uncle could’ve walked along this very same street together, isn’t it?’
She shivered with the thought and wondered what it must have been like to have been a couple in World War Two. For Sophie, she couldn’t easily let go of the image of the two of them in German uniforms walking the town. But there was also the conflicting thought that inside those dreadful uniforms there were two people, ordinary people who just happened to be working for a despicable enemy. What had driven them down such a dark path?
As Alex walked her to her apartment he turned to her. ‘If you want, I think we should get together tomorrow. I have the day off. We could maybe start with my family records. They are all locked away in a safe that I have access to.’
She nodded and took his hand when he offered it. It was soft and warm, and as he leaned in to kiss her gently on both cheeks, she wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but it appeared that he lingered just a little longer than he had when he had greeted her.
The following morning, Alex arrived for her bright and early. The chill of the past couple of days had been washed away by an early-morning rain, and the streets of Paris smelled fresh and new as they bustled into life.
‘My family lives in an apartment on the outskirts of the city,’ he informed her as he led her out to his tiny car that was parked on the side of the road. ‘We have many family records back there. I think it would be a good place to start. My mother is away for a few days, so we won’t need to burden her with what we are doing.’
On the way, he stopped at a little patisserie, and they went in to get breakfast before they started their journey. Once again, Sophie was drawn in by the scent of fresh bread, croissants and French pastries. Alex ordered a couple of glossy apple tarts for them, and with paper cups of dark steaming coffee, they headed out the door.
‘It is very un-French,’ he stated seriously, ‘not to stop and eat properly, but I believe we have a lot we need to accomplish, and I thought that you’d want to get out to the house as soon as possible.’
She nodded as she drank her coffee and devoured the flaky, buttery pastry and for a moment wished she lived in Europe.
On the way, he filled her in about his family. His stepsister, Dominique, lived in the south of France, while he and his mother had stayed in the north. He preferred to have a little apartment in town, close to his work. His mother’s apartment was located in a beautiful old stone chateau that had been converted into individual dwellings. Sophie was amazed at the beauty of it. Perfectly manicured gardens, a large circular pond with a fountain, and tight box hedges all framed the handsome grey-stone mansion. It was set high up on a hill, with a stunning view of the underlying countryside.
Making their way up the elegant staircase to the individual numbered flats, he produced some keys from his pocket and escorted her inside. Leaving her in the front room, he went upstairs to retrieve the documents he’d talked about.
Sophie walked towards the black wrought-iron balcony that looked out across the magnificent gardens and pushed open the patio door. After taking two deep breaths of fresh air, she turned and took in the tasteful furniture. The room had high ceilings and mirrors that reflected the graceful architecture. A beautiful chandelier hung in the centre of the ceiling, its multitude of crystal teardrops glistening and bouncing prisms of rainbow sunlight around the room. She started to stroll towards the walls and noted a couple of pictures mixed in with other modern-art pieces with Alex’s name on the bottom. Everything in the room was highly polished, a mixture of wood and glass. It was exquisite.
Alex arrived back after a short time with a large box that he placed on a table and unlocked with an ornate key. As he flipped open the lid, the musty smell of ancient documents filled Sophie’s nostrils. Alex started to sift through the papers and set apart everything to do with Marcus’s side of his family. He located his great-uncle’s birth certificate, and Sophie looked it over. She thought once again how young