“No, today is no different from any other day. You’re living through this war in a way that holds firm to your faith. You lost your husband tragically and clung to that faith. And today you are concerned for someone else whom you love, yet your faith remains strong. I’ve seen some lose their faith altogether. Or so it seems.”
He frowned, and barely aware of what she was doing, Genny touched his shoulder, letting her hand rest there gently. In a moment he placed his hand, the one not leaning on his cane, over hers.
Just then Genny heard a noise, but she’d imagined so many today coming from the front door, she was reluctant to see if someone might be there. It had been so long since she’d felt a man’s touch, so long since she felt a kinship with someone her own age, so long since she felt anything but grief and worry and hunger. . . .
“Genny. I’m back.”
The quiet voice didn’t penetrate at first, but Genny saw the shadows out of the corner of her eye. And there was Isa, disheveled and staring as if confused. Just behind her stood Edward.
Genny rushed to Isa’s side, scooping her into an embrace and blotting out all the thoughts as to why Edward might scowl or why Isa looked so perplexed. It didn’t matter. “Isa! Oh, I’m so relieved.”
Isa laughed and hugged her closer. “It’s over, the whole awful mess.”
Edward stepped around the women to stand before the Major. “Yes, and it is no thanks to you for having invited your friends, is it, Major?”
The Major stiffened. He said nothing.
“I trust we all understand that von Eckhart is no longer welcome here?”
“Of course,” the Major said.
Genny neared her son, grateful the Major was the amiable type. No one used such tones with German soldiers, not even to one of lesser rank than he. “Perhaps we should have tea and welcome Isa home.” She looked at the Major. “You’ll excuse us for a little while? We’ll go into the kitchen and be out of your way. Can I have Clara bring some here to you?”
The Major shook his head. “No. I was thinking of going outside this afternoon.”
Genny led the way to the kitchen, where she immediately turned to Edward. “You were not only rude, your words were on the edge of foolish. He may not own this house, but the German army thinks it owns this city, and we cannot very well give any one of them orders, now can we?”
“I don’t care,” he shot back. “His recuperation is about finished, I’d say. Why doesn’t he go live at the Kommandantur with the rest of his cronies? Or back to the front for all I care.”
“Many houses have soldiers billeted in them. He isn’t going anywhere.”
“And why is that, Mother?” Edward’s tone was pure bite.
Genny’s pulse raced, but she didn’t look away. She would not be cowed by her son. “Is there something you wish to say, Edward?”
“Yes, and God forgive me for saying it with anger. Do you know why some of the families of the boys taken to St. Gilles won’t let their sons see Jonah anymore?”
Caught by surprise, Genny shook her head.
“Because you came with him to see Jonah.” He cocked his head toward the parlor, as if aiming at the Major himself. “Because it was obviously your influence with a German officer that obtained their freedom. And just now when we came into the room, you hardly noticed us. I thought you were worried about Isa. Yet when she finally came home, you barely looked up.”
Genny shook her head, thoughts swirling so fast she could make no sense of them. Pain shot through her temples and she rubbed them, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she saw that Isa had come to her side and that Henri and Clara had unobtrusively left the room. She took comfort in Isa standing beside her, but it was small comfort.
She took Isa’s hand. “You know I worried about Isa. As for those at Jonah’s school, I cannot be responsible for the malicious thoughts of others. I will talk to Jonah, assure him—”
“I’ve done that already, Mother.”
“Then how can you speak to me in this tone of voice? The Major saw I was worried. He was a friend to me today, and I’ll not apologize for that.”
“A friend? One of them? A German occupier? Not to mention that he sat at that dinner table and let his friends say