Burned-out tanks and demolished vehicles littered the landscape. Every city they passed through had bombed-out buildings and gaping craters in the roads and fields. Allied soldiers swarmed everywhere with their guns and tanks and army vehicles. The Canadian soldiers had been right about the chaos, but after dozens of frustrating delays and detours, Miriam finally arrived, exhausted, at the Leiden train station. It had also suffered damage. She hurried through the old city to the town house, crossing bridges and canals, dodging rubble, carrying her suitcase with her violin tucked inside. With every step she took, she offered a prayer that she would find Avi and Elisheva and that they would all be together again.

Ans answered the front door. She took one look at Miriam and burst into tears. “Miriam! Thank God, thank God!” Miriam had held herself together all this way, but now a tremor started deep inside her that threatened to loosen all her bones and muscles.

“Avi . . . ? Elisheva . . . ?” she stammered.

“Elisheva is at the farm, well and happy and safe. I was just there.”

Miriam melted with relief, collapsing onto the front stoop before Ans could catch her. “My baby! My baby survived! Thank God . . . !”

“We haven’t heard from Avi yet, but Eloise contacted Dr. Elzinga and we’re trying to find him. Let me help you up. You need to come inside.” She struggled to lift Miriam to her feet.

“I need to see Elisheva!”

“I understand. But you’re trembling all over. You can barely stand. Come inside. Eloise will be overjoyed to see you.”

The town house was nearly unrecognizable, battered by the war, but it still held memories of so many emotions for Miriam. Relief after arriving here with Abba. Joy in the days spent in her wedding suite with Avi. Terror as she and Avi and Elisheva hid from the Gestapo. And sorrow at their parting nearly three years ago. But their precious daughter was alive! Miriam’s prayers had been answered.

Eloise understood Miriam’s longing to see Elisheva right away. “For goodness’ sake, Ans, take her to her child! Don’t make her wait.”

“I will; I will! But she needs to sit down and eat something. You need to get your strength back, Miriam.” Ans drew a map for Avi with directions to her parents’ farm. He could ride the professor’s bicycle there when he came. If he came.

“I’ll tell him the moment he arrives,” Eloise promised.

He’ll come. Avi will come, Miriam told herself as she returned to the train station with Ans for another journey. Please, God . . .

“Can you tell me about the past three years?” Ans asked when they were seated on the train. “How you survived?”

“I will one day. But not yet.”

“I understand. I can barely talk about the war either.”