By Sunday, the third day after the invasion, the Dutch army was still fighting valiantly, in spite of the Nazis’ superior weapons. Lena had kept the radio on constantly as she did her chores, trying to remain calm so the children wouldn’t be frightened. Wim acted brave but he was only twelve years old. And Maaike had been having nightmares and wanted to sleep with Lena. But so far, Lena’s hope had remained alive as she’d prayed for Pieter.

An announcement came over the radio that the queen and her ministry officials were fleeing across the channel to England to form a government in exile. Lena was clearing the breakfast table, and the news stole her breath. “She abandoned us!” she said aloud. “The queen abandoned us to our enemies!” She sat down heavily, her strength gone. Was this the end of their country? How could the queen give up hope and leave when Pieter and the other brave soldiers were still fighting? The queen’s desertion struck Lena like news of a death.

She stood again when her strength returned and called to Wim and Maaike. “Put on your Sunday clothes. We’re going to church.”

Since the invasion on Friday morning, Lena had been afraid to leave the house with Nazi bombers and fighter planes crisscrossing the skies, but now she put her concerns aside, desperate for friends to talk to. The truck bounced as she sped down the unpaved road, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she finally reached town. But she was surprised to see a motley array of vehicles blocking the narrow main street. Most were farm vehicles loaded with bundles and crates and household goods. Hundreds of refugees filled the market square, mostly elderly people, women, and children.

Lena parked the truck in the only spot she could find and hurried toward the square, holding Maaike’s hand. Wim sprinted ahead to where Papa stood on the church steps in his black liturgical robe and white collar, shouting as he invited everyone to come inside the church.

“Lena! I was going to call you,” he said when she and Maaike reached him.

“What’s going on?”

“They opened the dikes to stop the Nazis, and all of these families were flooded out of their homes. I got a call from a pastor in Amersfoort, asking if our church would take some of them.”

“I’ll take a family,” she said.

“I was hoping you would.”