“Not to fret. Jonah’s old tin bank, for safekeeping. He thinks the Germans might go house-to-house looking for tin and metal and didn’t want the bank your father gave him to be requisitioned.”
“So you buried it in broad daylight?” He shook his head at Jonah. “You both could have gotten into trouble if you’d been caught.”
“But we can’t go out after dark, Edward.”
“And we weren’t caught.” Isa’s voice was as untroubled as always. Here, in the middle of occupied Brussels, she sounded as if she hadn’t a care in the world. It irked him. “So, what were you doing in Quartier Léopold?”
“I went past your old house. Still occupied by German troops, so you might want to rethink where you’ll be living.”
Her smile hadn’t the sense to dissipate even the smallest bit. “I went to see Brand Whitlock today, and he’s promised to help.”
“Ambassador Whitlock will see you in your house again?”
“He didn’t promise, but he’ll try.”
Edward smirked. “Of course he didn’t promise. What do you think he is, Isa, a miracle worker? He’s a good, decent man who probably had a hard time saying no to his old friend’s daughter. You had no right to put him in such a spot.”
“I have a right to my own house, haven’t I? He’s just doing his job, protecting American interests. Believe me, if Mr. Whitlock didn’t want to help me, I’m sure he wouldn’t.”
“I think we’d better come up with another place for you to live just in case he can’t achieve the impossible.”
Isa raised one brow. “Such as . . . wherever you’re living?”
“No. I was thinking you might be more comfortable with an old neighbor or another friend of your parents. Anyone come to mind?”
She cocked her head with a teasing smile. “Most of them went with King Albert when the royal court left the country.”
“Why don’t we just take you to see Mr. Whitlock and he can arrange for you to follow that path, right out of Belgium.”
Instead of being offended, she patted his arm. “I wouldn’t dream of deserting you now, Edward.”
He sighed, soft and brief, then set a brisker pace.
“Halt! Halt!”
Edward stopped and saw that the others did too, in the same step. His heartbeat quickened, and he looked around hoping to see a soldier calling attention to someone other than them.
There was no one.
Slowly, Edward pulled his arm from Isa’s and slipped his hand around hers. He took Jonah’s hand as well and the three of them leaned together on the pavè as one. For a moment he was tempted to thank God he’d just rid himself of his contraband, but the thought ended there.
“You will show your papers, please.”
Edward saw Isa scramble to get her papers first and stuff them under the nose of the stern German soldier. He was broad shouldered and strong, despite his thick glasses that no doubt guaranteed his position in occupied territory rather than at the front.
“And you?” He eyed Edward.
The soldier looked at his Passierschein, perhaps less closely than Isa’s, and when he handed them back, he didn’t even address Jonah, who still stood nearby but, Edward noticed for the first time, had not produced his identification.
“Very well. You may go.”
Edward was the first to turn away. He thought he’d gotten used to these searches. Blast Isa; why did she have to be here to see things like this, anyway?
After they turned the corner, Jonah laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Edward asked.
“I didn’t have my papers!”
Edward eyed him. “And you find that funny?”
“He didn’t ask for them, did he?”
“He’s right about that,” Isa said with a grin. She winked at Jonah. “I thought you were going to give those angels a rest?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Edward asked.
“Only that I’ve been important to God lately,” Jonah said.
Isa tousled Jonah’s hair. “I couldn’t agree more.”
* * *
They reached the home they shared with Viole and her husband by noon, although Jonah left them before that. With so many school days interrupted for one reason or another—German raids, imprisoned teachers, lack of supplies—Jonah was one more Belgian with too much time on his hands. He disappeared when they passed a house he said belonged to a friend.
Noon was one o’clock German time, the clock having been changed shortly after the invaders arrived. Other than for the trams and trains, no Belgian seemed to pay attention to the change.
Genny and Viole sat on stools just outside Viole’s home, busy making lace. Isa watched, amazed as their fingers nimbly chased