When It's Over by Barbara Ridley

Author:Barbara Ridley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26

SUSSEX, AUGUST 1940

Lena walked to the shop to get bread. She opened the door—and literally bumped into Eva. They both gave a startled cry.

“Eva! Dobré nebesa! What on earth are you doing here?”

“I was just asking directions to your house,” Eva laughed. She adjusted a gray and mauve hat that was perched on her head at a jaunty angle.

“I thought you were coming tomorrow.”

“I came a day early. To spend more time together,” Eva said. “I hope that’s all right.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“No, of course it’s wonderful. You just took me by surprise.” Lena wrapped her in a hug. “You look very smart.” Eva’s dress matched her hat, the material stiff and starchy, obviously brand new.

Eva gave a nonchalant shrug. “Oh, well, you know.”

“How on earth could you afford a dress like that?”

“I met someone. He treated me.”

“Eva, you’re amazing. I don’t know how you do it. I have to get some bread,” Lena said, taking her by the arm.

“This village is very picturesque,” Eva said. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale.”

Lena switched to English as she led the way back into the shop. “Later, I will show you everything.”

But Eva continued in Czech. “Už jsem to viděla. I walked all the way from the station. I think I’ve seen most of what there is.”

Lena laughed. “There’s so much more! I have to show you the fields and the woods, and wait till you see Muriel’s house! It’s fifteenth-century, really charming.”

Back at Oak Tree Cottage, Lena put the water on for tea. Otto sat outside in the garden with the newspaper, poring over the list of names of people lost on the Arandora Star. The others were out for a walk.

“I went to see my father and Ernst up in Cheshire at the Czech army base the week before last,” Lena said. “My father hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still trying to tell me how to lead my life. We got into one argument after another.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Have you heard anything from your family?”

“No, nothing,” Eva said, as Lena fiddled with the primus stove, trying to turn up the flame. “So, tell me all about your wedding. How did Otto propose? Was it very romantic?”

Lena laughed lightly. “It wasn’t quite like that. We more or less had to get married to keep Otto out of trouble with the authorities here. But we’re happy. He’s being very nice to me these days.”

“He was certainly very keen to get you here.”

“What about you and Heinz?” Lena said. “What happened with those plans to go to America?”

Eva took a deep breath. “I have no idea where Heinz is,” she said. “He was arrested by the French police. About a month before the invasion.”

“Oh my God. Why?”

“Initially on some sort of visa technicality, I believe. But then they discovered one of his schemes. You know, all that black-market stuff.”

Lena carried a tray with a teapot, a bottle of milk, and two thick white mugs into the living room and set it on the floor in front of the sofa.

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