“No!” Miriam buried her face in Avi’s chest and wept, not caring that he was dirty and sweaty. His arms came around her, enveloping her and the baby. “Ans and Eloise warned me this would happen, but not so soon! Everything’s happening too fast!”

“It seems we have no choice,” Abba said. “I see no way out this time.”

“Yes, there is.” Miriam dried her eyes, determined to be strong. “Ans and Eloise said we shouldn’t wait for them to take us away. They offered to hide us in their town house.”

“How will we get there without being seen?” Avi asked. “If we wait until after dark, we’ll be breaking curfew.”

“Ans is coming back tomorrow with a plan.”

“God bless them,” Abba said as tears ran down his face. “They are saving our lives for a second time. May the Almighty One bless them for this.” He and Avi bathed and changed their clothes, then walked to the synagogue to pray. The other men would have received the same notice by now. The sun wouldn’t set until after curfew on these long, hot summer days, but as soon as the men returned, Miriam lit the candles and they sat down to eat the Shabbat meal.

“The Sabbath is our island of peace and rest,” Avi said as he broke the bread. “Tonight, let’s not talk of tomorrow.” But Miriam knew the future was on everyone’s mind and a prayer for deliverance in each of their hearts while they ate.

It was still the Sabbath the following afternoon when Ans arrived at the apartment with an old-fashioned hatbox. They sat around the table, still spread with the white tablecloth, to hear her plan.

“Professor Huizenga and I came up with the idea last night,” she said, opening the box. “The safest time for all of you to be out in the open will be on Sunday, when everyone in Leiden will be walking to church. I brought each of you a Sunday hat, and a dress and white gloves for you, Miriam.” She pulled the items from the hatbox and handed them out. “We also added ties like the Dutchmen wear on Sunday.”

Abba looked uncertain as he fingered the necktie. He used to seem so strong and robust to Miriam with his broad face and sturdy body, but he’d been whittled down in the years since leaving Cologne, and silver threads now peppered his dark, thinning hair. “And you believe these disguises will work?” he asked Ans.