The Refrain Within by Liz Tolsma

Author:Liz Tolsma
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2020-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Goosebumps broke out over Éva’s arms at Patrik’s words. “Secret? What secret of yours could put us in harm’s way?” What was Patrik talking about? With him it was always secrets and lies and more secrets. Had she ever really known him? Could she trust that Zofia had written the note of her own free will and not under duress?

The air raid sirens picked that moment to wail.

“Ignore it.”

“Igen, I will. But I’m not going anywhere or doing anything with you until you answer my question. What secret are you still hiding?”

He faced her, his eyes so familiar. She could still read them, read the pleading, the begging for trust in them. “It doesn’t make a difference in what is going on now. You still have to leave.”

“Not until I have my answer.”

“You will. Soon. I promise. But we need to go. We don’t have a moment to lose.” He swung his gaze to each person in the room, sending each of them wide-eyed glances, unspoken words of urgency tinged with panic.

Anya wiped her hands on her pristine apron. “We have to get downstairs before the planes get here. Hurry now, all of you. We’ll sort the rest out later.”

Éva scurried toward the basement steps. So what if Patrik had told them part of the truth? He was withholding information. He wasn’t trustworthy. How did they know the note was from Zofia? How did they know there weren’t German trucks waiting outside to cart them away to those unspeakable places?

“Stop, everyone. We must leave this moment.”

Patrik’s command pulled her to a halt. She stood breathless on the steps. “If we go outside now, wouldn’t that provide the Nazis you say are after us the perfect opportunity to nab us?” He did say it was the Germans they had to fear, didn’t he? Nem, he didn’t. “They are the ones after us, right?”

“Get a bag packed.” Patrik’s voice was firm and sure. Not commanding but serious.

Éva’s determination faltered. If he was telling the truth about Zofia and the danger they were in, they would be wise to listen. From what he said, their lives were in jeopardy.

But if he was lying, they could be in another kind of danger.

She gazed at Apu and motioned him into the kitchen, dishes that needed to be washed stacked next to the sink, dinner’s leftovers still on the stove. “What do you think? What should we do? Stay or go? How do we know what’s right?”

Apu scrubbed his stubble-covered cheek. “What do you think?”

“Everything in me wants to believe him. But so much of me is scared to. He betrayed me. Could he be betraying me again? He could also be trying to save my life. It’s like trying to play a sonata without the score. How do you know which notes are the right ones?”

With a gentleness that brought back a flood of childhood memories, Apu pulled her close and stroked her hair. Like he had after Károly’s betrayal. “Where does your hope lie, sweetheart?”

She nestled against his chest, a place she had always been safe and secure.

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