A Feather on the Water(91)

“Things have to change soon,” Kitty said. “Charlie says there’s a protest movement underway in the States. All kinds of people are speaking out, saying what a disgrace it is that the government is moving so slowly.”

“Do you think that’s what Stefan is hoping for, long term, to get to America?” Delphine glanced at Martha. There was a hint of a smile in the look she gave—a well-meaning smile, no doubt—but it triggered a horrible possibility in Martha’s mind: that Stefan had come back to Seidenmühle with the sole intention of emigrating to the States, with her as his passport out of Germany. He would know that short of a sudden U-turn by President Truman, marriage to a US citizen was his only way into America. And she had never told him she was still married to Arnie. Was that why he had been so desperate to get a letter to her the moment he knew that his wife was dead?

She despised herself for harboring such thoughts. The heartache and the sense of loss he conveyed were entirely genuine; she was certain of that. There was something else as well—an act that spoke volumes in defense of his character: he had taken on the care of an orphaned child. And he had done it despite being in the desperate position of having to sell the few possessions he had left just to get out of Poland. It was a selfless decision that echoed the qualities that had drawn Martha to him from the outset. Nothing he had done while living at Seidenmühle had been anything other than decent.

“I don’t know what he’s hoping for.” Martha couldn’t look Delphine in the eye. If he had come back because of his feelings for her, she needed to step back, take a breath, allow him the time he needed to grieve.





CHAPTER 28


Martha went in person to ask Major McMahon to give Stefan a job. As she had anticipated, he wasn’t thrilled to learn that a DP who had been repatriated had come back.

“His wife is dead and his home and business were destroyed,” she said. “His child was living in a convent. You can understand why he might want a fresh start.”

“He should have gone to Silesia.” The major grunted. “Plenty of opportunity for a fresh start there.”

“But I thought that was only for people who came from the Russian side of the line; he’s from Warsaw, so he wouldn’t qualify.”

“Maybe not. But it’s not something we want to encourage—people drifting back like ghosts. They’ll be spreading stories that’ll put others off going.”

“With respect, I think Radio Moscow is doing a good job of that already. And Mr. Dombrowski isn’t mixing with people in the camp; he’s building himself a cabin in the forest.”

“You say he speaks good German?”

“He was my right-hand man when I first came here. I couldn’t have negotiated with the mayor’s office without him.”

“Well, we could use him.” The major rubbed his chin. “But there’d better not be any more DPs coming back. If anyone else comes banging on the gates, you send ’em packing—got that?”



Delphine opened one eye as Martha tiptoed past her bed. It was light outside, but she guessed that it was only about six o’clock. Martha had always been an early riser, but the past couple of weeks, she had been creeping out of the cabin at least an hour before anyone else was up. Most mornings, Delphine would be woken by the chug of the car’s engine as it headed back into camp. That was her signal to get up. It meant that Martha had collected Stefan and the girls, dropped him at the base, and was bringing Lubya and Halina back for breakfast.

“It’s only until he gets a car,” Martha had said on the day Stefan started his job. “He’s looking for something he can fix up—and as soon as he gets paid, he’ll be able to do it.” She’d worn the same matter-of-fact expression she always adopted when she spoke of him, doing her best to create the illusion that all she cared about was giving him a helping hand. Delphine could see that she was only trying to protect herself. But she wished Martha would talk to her instead of pretending everything was okay.

It was just before eight when Martha popped her head around the door of the cabin. “Want some coffee?” Delphine called out.

“Yes, please.”

“How are they all this morning?” Delphine came out of the kitchen with a mug in her hand.

“Fine.” Martha took a sip of coffee. “The girls are playing with some of the children from blockhouse five. They’re not as shy as they were when they first came here.”

“And Stefan? How’s he getting on?”

“Okay, I think.”

“You think? You haven’t asked him?”

“There’s not much chance to talk.” Martha cradled the mug in her hands, looking down at it. “I don’t like to ask how things are, with the girls in the car.”

Kitty came down the stairs, still in her pajamas. “I don’t mind babysitting one evening, if you and Stefan want to spend some time together.”

“That’s kind of you—but . . .” Martha trailed off with a shrug.

“You’re worried about what people will think?” Delphine said. “No one needs to know.”

“It’s not just that. I . . .” She hesitated. “I’m not sure if Stefan would want to.”

“Has something happened?” Kitty sat down next to Martha.