Lena hated the Nazis for many reasons, but what they were doing to her family was at the top of her list. Lena had often turned to her own mother when she was Ans’s age, asking about love and life and marriage. Exchanging letters with Ans simply wasn’t the same. And now her precious daughter was hiding somewhere in the Netherlands, probably in danger, cut off from everyone. Cut off from her. The thought broke Lena’s heart. She clenched her hands into fists as her helplessness stirred a powerful rage inside her. If only she could do something to save Ans and protect her —to save and protect all of her children. But how could she lash out against such an overwhelming enemy? How long until she and her family would be safe again? Would they ever be free from Nazi control? Lena had to believe that they would be or she couldn’t face another day. She had to believe that she was doing something to fight back by hiding Max and Ina in her home. “We didn’t have time to finish your work space, Max,” Pieter said. “We thought that fixing you a place to hide was more important.”

“We have three children,” Lena added, “and we don’t want them to know about you. Two of them are in school, and secrets can be a heavy burden for youngsters to carry.”

“We understand,” Ina assured her.

“I’m sorry the space is so cramped,” Lena said when Pieter showed it to them. It was going to be difficult for people their age to crawl through the small, secret panel.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Max said. “We consider ourselves fortunate to be alive.”

By the time Wolf appeared in Lena’s kitchen before dawn a week later, the hidden workroom in the cellar was finished, and Max had resumed forging documents during the night. He and Ina were seated at the table with Wolf, eating the food Lena had left for them, when she woke up. “Have you heard the good news?” Wolf asked. “Allied forces have landed in France.”

“No, we hadn’t heard,” Pieter replied. “Tell us more.”

“The size of the invasion was monumental, with thousands of warships and airplanes and troops. They had a rough time of it for a while, but they’ve established a beachhead on the French coast and now they’re fighting their way inland. Here, you can read about it.” He pulled an underground newspaper from his pack and handed it to Pieter. Lena read the headline over his shoulder.

“We’ve heard a lot of activity up there,” Pieter said, pointing to the sky, “but it’s hard to know what’s happening without a radio.”

“I brought you one,” Wolf said, patting his bag.

Lena looked up from the newspaper in alarm. “Radios are still forbidden.”