Miriam couldn’t breathe as Mrs. Ver Beek stumbled to the door as if she’d forgotten how to walk. She was honest and blunt, incapable of sugarcoating things, much less telling an outright lie. She opened the door so stiffly and awkwardly the visitor might truly have been from the Gestapo.

“Hello, Gerda,” Mrs. Ver Beek said with a nod of her head.

“Good evening. Sorry to interrupt your dinner. The postman put this letter in our box by mistake. I thought I’d just run it over to you.”

“Thank you. This . . . this is Christina,” she said, gesturing to Miriam. “Gerda lives next door,” she told Miriam.

The woman smiled. “Hello, Christina. Nice to meet you. Are you here for a visit?”

Miriam nodded, not daring to speak. It must be obvious to their visitor that the three of them were nervous. Was Gerda just making polite conversation or were her inquiries more sinister? Her smile seemed pleasant enough.

“Would . . . would you like to come in and sit a minute?” Mrs. Ver Beek asked. Everything in her posture and stiff demeanor spoke the opposite —this neighbor wasn’t wanted or welcome.

“No thank you. I need to get home.”

Mrs. Ver Beek thanked Gerda again and closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. She stumbled back to her place at the table, clutching her heart in one hand, the letter in the other.

“I can’t do this, Henk,” she said. “I’ve been terrified all these months, and today . . . I’m sorry, Christina.”

Mr. Ver Beek’s face was beet red, as if he’d been holding his breath the entire time. “We’re both sorry,” he said. “We aren’t cut out for this . . . being always on edge . . . it’s too much.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Miriam said. “I understand. She gave us a terrible scare. I’m sure the underground can find another place for me to stay.”

“If we were younger . . . ,” Mrs. Ver Beek said.

“Never mind. I’m grateful to both of you.”

Mr. Ver Beek pushed his chair back from the table. “I’ll call Dr. Elzinga.” And just like that, her time here was over. Miriam had to leave this safe, familiar hiding place. She went upstairs to pack her things.

Mrs. Ver Beek was hastily ironing the kitchen curtains when Miriam came downstairs again. Miriam had time to help with the supper dishes before Dr. Elzinga arrived later that evening.

“Thank you for your kindness —” she began as she prepared to leave with the doctor. She spoke at the same moment as Mrs. Ver Beek.

“I’m sorry —”

“You don’t need to be sorry,” Miriam said. “I will always be grateful to you for risking your lives for me. Goodbye.”

“God go with you, Christina.” Mrs. Ver Beek had tears in her eyes, but Miriam knew it wasn’t in her nature to embrace her.