The Wartime Chocolate Maker: A totally heart-wrenching and addictive World War 2 novel by Gosia Nealon

Author:Gosia Nealon [Nealon, Gosia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2025-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

Once we are inside my villa, I experience an unexpected, blissful release of all tension. The house is warm, the savory smells wafting from the kitchen. Mama has probably made one of her soups. But just when we pad up the staircase, Mama’s voice rings out, “Katharina, is that you, darling?” She only calls me like that when we have company.

“Yes, Mama,” I say praying that she stays there, but she comes out and stares at us while wiping her hands off her apron. If she’s surprised, she doesn’t show it but says out loud, “We have a guest.” She motions toward the kitchen.

I touch my finger to my lips but say in an equally overloud voice. “I will be there soon, Mama. I just need to refresh myself.”

I leave Sara and Rebekah in my room and instruct them to be completely silent until my return. I don’t know who is downstairs, but I suspect that Sebastian has decided to pay us one of his unexpected visits, just to check on me.

“Kasia,” my brother whispers when I walk down the hall, “who’s in your room?”

“Shush,” I whisper urgently, “you must shush. I promise I will tell you later but please do not mention it downstairs.”

Sebastian roosts on our armchair in the family room while drinking Mama’s chamomile tea, his face sour. It was my father’s favorite spot for reading his newspaper and I am irrationally angered at his presumption.

“You’re here,” Mama says and gives me an encouraging smile.

“I worried when I didn’t see you coming back home after work like you usually do,” Sebastian says and holds my gaze as if I should feel guilty.

“Hello, Sebastian.” I take a seat next to my mother on a sofa. “I went shopping for a new coat.” I don’t owe him any explanations but the quicker we get on with this, the faster he leaves, and I will be able to assist the girls upstairs. They must be hungry I realize with a pang of regret: Pani Genowefa didn’t get a chance to serve her szmórowónô kapùsta.

“If you had told me, I would have given you a ride. There are plenty of bandits hiding out there.”

I wonder who the bandits are in his opinion because the only criminals I can point to right now are the Nazis. “I didn’t want to bother you. I know how busy you’ve been.”

“I will always find time for you, you know that.” He glances at his wristwatch. “It’s getting late, but I’m here to share the good news that Bruno was able to save the factory from being shut down. I’m sure that my uncle’s interventions helped as well.”

Mama claps her hands together. “This is great news, indeed. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you, Frau Hartmann. I thought you would appreciate knowing as soon as possible.” He addresses his words to my mother, but his intense eyes scan my face. “You don’t seem to be so thrilled about it, Katharina,” he says.

“Oh, I’m very happy. I’m just so tired that I’m having a hard time thinking straight,” I say with a theatrical yawn.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.