Lena already knew what Avraham had learned. His family in Berlin and Miriam’s family in Cologne had all perished. Miriam’s father, Professor Jacobs, had died as well. Lena had mourned with them these past weeks, still grieving the loss of her own father. The pain never went away entirely, but time had made it easier to carry, and the waves of grief came less often.

“Do you have a place to live in Leiden?” Ans asked. “I’m sure Eloise would let you stay with us. She’ll be so excited to see you and Elisheva.”

“We’re eager to see her too,” Avi said. “I met Mrs. Spielman’s grandson when I was in Amsterdam —Mrs. Spielman was our landlady in Leiden. He was searching the records too and learned that his grandmother was gone. But he knew who Miriam and I were, and he offered to let us live in our old apartment as caretakers. He plans to list the other apartment for rent.”

“I wonder if Noah felt this way after the flood,” Ans said. “There’s so much destruction everywhere and so much rebuilding to do as we start all over again. But the world is still a beautiful place.”

“And we have much to be thankful for,” Miriam added. “I realize now that when we were in hiding, we were never hidden from God.”

“Even so,” Lena said, “it must be very difficult for you and Avi to begin again. Pieter and I still have our home and our farm. I admire your courage to move forward after losing everything.”

“We don’t understand why God allowed this to happen to our people,” Avi said. “But we won’t turn away from Him in our grief and disappointment. We’ll bring our questions to Him. Miriam’s father once told me that his favorite students were the ones who weren’t afraid to ask questions. He thought God must feel the same way. I believe it will draw us closer to Him as we wait for His answers.”

“One of my questions,” Miriam said softly, “is why we were spared when so many, many others weren’t.”

“Only God knows,” Avi said. “But Miriam and I and Elisheva owe a huge debt to all of you. And to so many other courageous people who risked their lives for us. I don’t know how we will ever repay you.”

“The best way to repay us,” Pieter said, “is to do the same thing —show kindness and generosity to others.”

“And by refusing to hate,” Lena added. “I hope none of us ever forgets that hatred and greed were how this terrible war began.”