Page 28 of Hearts of Resistance
‘I saw what happened earlier,’ the woman said. ‘You were very brave. These men owe you their lives and none of us even know your name.’
Rose nodded, still feeling a bit wobbly. ‘I’m Rose,’ she said.
‘Josephine,’ the woman said, coming closer and touching her arm, her smile warm. ‘I took the bullet out and cleaned the wound. You’ll need to keep the bandage on for a while.’
Rose stared at her arm and then back at Josephine. ‘Thank you.’
‘We’re all impressed by your bravery.’ She laughed. ‘Aren’t we? This woman took a bullet for you and managed to pull one over on the Germans.’
A collective chuckle went up around the table and Rose felt her heartbeat slow, suddenly not so nervous about so many strangers being in her house.
‘I did what anyone would do.’
‘No,’ Josephine said. ‘You didn’t. Becausemostpeople were hiding in their houses with the curtains pulled. You were the one running through the forest and then pretending you had a baby.’
Rose nodded. She didn’t think she was anything special, but she appreciated this woman’s kind words. ‘When you have nothing to lose, it makes you brave. Or maybe just stupid.’
‘Brave it is then,’ Josephine said. ‘And even when we don’t think so, we always have something to lose.’
Rose didn’t reply, but when one of the men pulled out a chair for her, she graciously took it. She could do with the seat.
‘Thank you.’
‘You’ll need something to eat to get your strength up. It’s only soup. There wasn’t a lot left after those damn Germans raided the place.’
Rose nodded. ‘Do you live near here?’
Josephine sat down when a chair was vacated for her, too. ‘Yes. I’m staying in one of your neighbours’ homes.’
‘We wanted to say thank you,’ one of the men said, and cleared his throat. ‘What you did for us today, well, we owe you our lives.’
Rose shook her head. ‘Please, it was nothing.’
‘Your husband will be proud when he hears,’ one of the others said, laughing. ‘He’ll no doubt hardly believe it.’
She tried to smile, but she felt it falter, couldn’t make it stick. ‘My husband, he’s, well...’ Her face flushed and a hot feeling rose in her throat, making her want to vomit. Rose took a deep breath. She needed to start saying it, start admitting to what had happened. ‘My husband is dead,’ she said simply.
Two of the men looked down, but one kept her gaze. The same one who’d not wanted to hide in the closet.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said in a low voice. ‘We’ve lost so many men. I’m so sorry for your loss.’
Tears prickled Rose’s eyes and a solitary drop escaped her lashes. ‘Thank you.’
She bent her head and dipped her spoon into her soup, taking a mouthful and forcing it down. Then another and another.
‘We’ve all lost someone we love to this war,’ Josephine said.
‘And how do you keep going?’ Rose whispered.
‘We find something to do to get back at those who’ve taken from us.’
Rose put her spoon down. ‘Is that what you do? You help?’
Josephine gave her a look she couldn’t decipher. ‘Finish your dinner, then I’ll take you upstairs to check your bandage.’
She went to open her mouth and say she felt fine, then stopped herself. There was something in the other woman’s words, the way they were issued as more of an instruction. So she did as she was told as the men started to talk in low voices around her.
Rose watched as Josephine closed the door behind her and came to sit with her on the bed. There was something mysterious about her, even though she’d been nothing but kind and thoughtful all evening. Now, the others were staying quiet downstairs, the lights out and the curtains drawn. It was dangerous having them here at all, but strangely Rose felt comforted by their presence.
