“What I would mainly say,” said Sabina, smiling thoughtfully, “is that I feel so much myself with him—just like I do with the two of you. I can laugh and run and have fun and be playful, but I can also talk about serious things. We were so young when we knew each other. I was only sixteen. We had such fun!”

“When you knew each other—you make it sound as though you don’t know him anymore.”

“We haven’t seen one another for five years.”

“Why?” exclaimed both girls in disbelief.

“Because the war has separated us, just like it has you from Joseph, Ursula. You see, Matthew is an American, and I have no way of knowing if I will ever see him again. He has not written me a letter in three years and—”

Sabina turned away, tears flooding her eyes again and an ache suddenly filling her breast.

Each of the two Jewish girls reached out a hand to place on Sabina’s arm.

After a moment, Sabina took a deep breath, sniffed, and wiped her eyes and nose.

“But I too am lucky,” she said, forcing a bright smile. “Matthew is also very handsome!”

The girls all giggled with the radiant and innocent joy that only bubbles forth from the pure in heart.

84 Gustav Visits

84

Gustav Visits

Later that same afternoon the roar of a large automobile sounded, emerging onto the driveway of Lebenshaus.

From their vantage point on the first floor where they were in the midst of preparing several of the guest rooms for potential new arrivals, Marion and Heidi glanced out the window and down below to see the cause of the commotion.

The moment the driver stepped out of the car, Marion sucked in a breath of air. “Gustav!” she breathed.

It took her but another second to gather her wits.

“Heidi,” she said, trying to sound calm, though her voice gave away her fear, “get all the guests into their rooms—immediately! Keep them silent. Listen for the bell in case there is need to take shelter in the hidden chambers. Make haste!”

With the words Marion flew from the room to find her daughter.

Sabina was in the guest parlor with Ulrike Kropf and the two Wissen girls. They all glanced up with astonishment the instant Marion burst through the door.

“Sabina—come with me! The rest of you, take the back stairs to your rooms immediately!”

Already Marion was leaving the room. Sabina sprang after her.

“Gustav is here, Sabina,” said Marion, hastening down the hallway with Sabina doing her best to keep pace. “He drove up only a moment ago. Keep him outside. However you can, whatever you have to do, don’t let him inside if you can help it! We will try to get everyone hidden.”

“Where’s Papa?”

“Out in the fields. I’ll go for him as soon as I can.”