“I’ve also met an interesting family from Cologne, Germany. Miriam Jacobs and her father are Jewish refugees. Professor Huizenga helped Mr. Jacobs find work as a lecturer at the university, and Mrs. Huizenga and I helped them get settled in an apartment.”

“From the looks of things,” Papa said, “they got out of Germany just in time.”

“Miriam’s mother and the rest of her family didn’t make it out. They’re still there. And Miriam’s boyfriend is stuck in Westerbork.”

“War brings so many horrible disruptions,” Mama said. “All of the boys you went to school with, Ans, have gone off for military training.”

“I wish I was old enough to be a soldier,” Ans’s brother said.

“Oh, Wim!” She punched his shoulder. “You’re just a boy.” She could tell by the stubborn jut of his chin that he disagreed.

“We have work to do now that spring has arrived,” Papa said, “and we’re shorthanded.”

“Your father went away for military training too —” Mama began.

“And I’m still in the reserves,” he finished. “I’ll be called up if I’m needed. This invasion of Norway and Denmark worries me. In the meantime, I’m needed on the farm. The government has been stockpiling food so our country will survive if the war disrupts trade.”

“Like Joseph and Pharaoh in the Bible,” Opa said. “Storing food in times of plenty is a very wise thing to do.”

“Wars always bring famine and disease and starvation,” Eloise had told Ans. She looked at the bountiful meal in front of her and couldn’t imagine it.

Papa read from the Bible and prayed after dinner, as he’d done for as long as Ans could remember. Mama asked polite questions about the city and Ans’s job as they did the dishes but seemed hesitant to pry into her personal life. Ans longed to tell her about Erik and how much she missed him now that he was away. But mentioning Erik would bring unwelcome questions about his background and his faith, questions that Ans wasn’t ready to answer.

When the dishes were done, Ans slipped into the barn to talk with Papa. He was diligent about not working on the Lord’s Day, but he still made sure his animals were cared for. He’d changed from his Sunday suit and looked more like the papa she loved in his well-worn work clothes.

“Do you think we’ll be caught up in the war?” Ans asked.

“We managed to stay neutral the first time. We should be able to do it again.”

“Then why do you seem so worried?”

“Do I?” He raked his hand through his thick hair, and Ans thought she saw a few silver strands among the blond ones.