“We were almost engaged before the war. He left to fight, and when he came back, he didn’t want me anymore.” Though Krys had told me about the real reason he had stayed away, the rejection still stung.

“I’m sorry,” Sadie said, putting her hand on mine. It felt silly, pathetic even, to have her comfort me when she was the one who was suffering. But it was the first time I’d really been able to confide my feelings in anyone since it had all happened. “I’m sure that can’t be true,” she added.

“He says it isn’t,” I sniffed, seeming mollified. “He told me he is doing some work to fight the Germans and that he must stay away because it is dangerous.”

“See? He’s just trying to protect you. I could hear him on the street that day and he sounded so concerned. When the war is over and the danger is passed, he’ll come back to you and you can be together.” We both knew that promises of life after the war were too uncertain to mean much, but she was trying to offer whatever comfort she could.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” Sadie admitted.

“No?”

She shook her head. “Honestly, I’ve always been awkward and felt more comfortable around my books than boys.”

“Surely there’s someone...”

“Not at all!” she protested, but I could tell by the catch in her voice that the opposite was true.

“Saul?” I pressed, recalling the name she had mentioned.

“Yes,” she admitted. “But it isn’t like that.”

“It is exactly like that. I can tell by your face,” I teased, and we both laughed.

“No, really.” Her cheeks flushed. “His family is more religious and he’s a few years older and he doesn’t think of me that way. It’s just a crush on my part. He was engaged before the war and his fiancée was killed and he is in mourning. I’m nothing more than a friend to him. It can never be.”

“Never say never.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t see me like that.”

“You must see yourself as you want others to see you,” I said, recalling Ana Lucia’s words from when I was younger. It was one of the few useful things she had ever told me. I walked to the armoire and pulled out a freshly ironed dress. “Here, try this on.”

“Now? Oh, Ella, I couldn’t possibly! I wouldn’t want to soil it.”

“Then wash.” She looked surprised by the suggestion. “Why not? We have time. Come, freshen up.” I led her down to the bathroom on the third floor. “You can wash in there.” Sadie looked longingly at the claw-foot tub. “Go on. I’ll wait right here. There’s time for a bath if you don’t take long.” I closed the door to give her privacy. A second later, I heard the water begin to run from the faucet.

As I stood outside the door, my thoughts turned back to Krys. I wondered how he would be able to get the food, prayed that he would be able to get it. I was curious, too, why he spent so much time at the café. Did it have something to do with his work or was it simply because he had a room upstairs? Or was he there so often because of the woman with the dark curls?