Elise drew her brother in for a hug, arms wrapped tightly around him. “I’ll keep her safe while you’re gone, Louis. Don’t you worry.”

He hugged her back, chin to the top of her as she pressed tight to his broad chest.

“Just make it home,” she whispered. “I’ll keep everyone safe until you get back.”

“Elise,” Adelaide whispered to her from behind, her hand closing over her shoulder as she leaned in close to her.

Elise wanted to pull away, her memories twisting with the decision she was facing, knowing that her sister would automatically be on the side of helping anyone, no matter who they were. But she didn’t. Instead she reached for Addy’s fingers and held on to her for a moment, still thinking, still remembering, still trying to decide what to do. What would her mother have done, or her father? What would her brother have urged her to do, if he’d survived? Would Louis have thought she was being soft in siding with Addy, or after what he’d seen during the war would he have wanted to help any Allied soldier?

“We have to help her,” Addy implored.

“No matter what the risks?” Elise asked, choking back unexpected emotion as she felt Louis’s hand in hers, remembering his strength. She angrily swallowed it down, clenching her fists, not used to it and not liking the wash of vulnerability that came with it as the past merged with the present in her mind.

“Elise, I don’t see what other choice we have,” Adelaide murmured. “I’ve already told the Nazi captain that she’s my cousin, so we can’t exactly turn her out in the cold now, can we? And she’s never going to leave her Jack behind.”

Elise’s shoulders were heavy as she slowly turned around. Adelaide was right. And deep down, she knew what needed to be done; she just needed to be brave enough to do it.

“Can you find your way back to him?” Elise asked Cate.

“Yes, I can find him.” Cate’s voice wobbled, but Elise didn’t doubt her.

Elise couldn’t believe what she was about to say, but she knew it was the only decision she could make. Or at least the only decision she could live with. “Well, let’s get you into some dry clothes and go find him then,” she said. “We need to do it in the dark, and we need to do it fast.”

“You’re going too?” Adelaide asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Elise said firmly. “I’m going with Cate, and you’re staying here in case your admirer comes calling again. At least you can keep him distracted if he does.”