I was still convinced that visit from the police was her doing. She had no idea what a nighttime visit from a police officer would trigger in me or Jürgen. I might need to build bridges with just about everyone else in town, but I’d be staying well away from that woman.

“I’m afraid so,” Avril said. “Lizzie is ruthless, absolutely ruthless. It’s just such a shame that she’s so influential with the American wives. I’m sure you noticed she’s a lot younger than Calvin.”

“I don’t pay too much attention to that kind of thing.”

“When I first met her, she told me she’d only started dating Calvin because she wanted him to help her brother and she only married him because she was struggling and he was wealthy. She’s the kind of woman who doesn’t even think twice about using people to get what she wants.” Avril shrugged. “I mean, she nearly had a stroke when I mentioned I’d been to your house.”

“I do hope I haven’t caused you trouble.”

“Oh goodness, Sofie, not at all. I’m just worried about you. I don’t even care how often she asks me not to speak to you anymore—we’re friends now,” Avril said, beaming. That gave me pause.

“She asked you not to speak to me?”

“I paid no mind at all—don’t you worry. Lizzie is just that kind of woman,” Avril said dismissively. “The only thing is… Huntsville isn’t a very big place, and the rocket program is an even smaller community. I’d hate it if that kind of bad blood spilled over to Jürgen and Calvin.”

I thought about Jürgen’s concern about his future citizenship application and started to feel uneasy. What would even happen if Jürgen fell out of favor with the rocket program? I could only guess that our fresh start in America would end. And then what would happen to us?

My heart sank. Maybe staying out of Lizzie Miller’s way wasn’t going to be enough.

“Has Calvin said anything to you about his wife?” I asked Jürgen that night. I was washing the dishes and he was beside me, drying them with a towel. Maybe any ordinary husband and wife wouldn’t notice such routine moments in a day, but I tried to be grateful for every single one.