Lena caught her breath. “A dominie? Of course you could, Wim! You’d make a wonderful pastor.” Maybe God would use the ordeal of the war and Wim’s capture —the very things Lena had wanted to protect him from —to show her son a glimpse of his future.

“You wouldn’t mind?” Wim asked, turning to Pieter. “If I didn’t take over the farm, I mean?”

“Mind! Wim, your mama and I would burst with pride!”

CHAPTER 62

The Allies had arrived in Leiden. Ans dragged Eloise and everyone else in the town house —including Sientje and Meta, who hadn’t dared to go outside in three years —over to the city center to welcome them. Eloise’s household had food again, thanks to parcels the Allies air-dropped into starving cities for five straight days. Ans could hear the noise of the celebration long before she got close enough to see the Canadian soldiers for herself. “They’re here . . . they’re really here,” she murmured. Liberation! Freedom! What glorious words! She and Eloise had made it through the war. They had survived.

Dozens of young women ran to the soldiers, hugging and kissing them. Children climbed onto their army vehicles. The citizens of Leiden looked thin and dirty and hungry, their clothes worn, yet they laughed and cheered and waved flags, happy to be alive. And free. Ans hoped she never took freedom for granted again.

Eloise gave Ans a nudge as they watched the celebration. “Such handsome fellows, these Canadians, hmm? What do you think?”

Ans smiled and nudged her back. She hadn’t noticed. She’d been scanning the faces in the crowd, wondering if she would see Erik, wondering how he was and what he would do now that the war was over. Continue as a policeman? Return to Java? She also wondered how long it would take to get over him.

“I’m tired,” Eloise said after a while. “Let’s go home.” They told the others they were leaving and walked home to the town house. There was nothing to do now but wait to hear from Professor Huizenga. Ans knew he was on Eloise’s mind every waking moment and when she lay in bed at night, unable to sleep. She had asked Ans to sleep in her bedroom with her and she’d agreed, afraid to leave Eloise alone. Caring for the people who’d taken refuge with her had kept Eloise strong so far, but Ans didn’t think she would survive the loss of her husband. Ans could never keep Eloise from despair without Herman. She prayed that she would know what to do if he didn’t return.