Page 86 of Hearts of Resistance
The moment she saw them Rose screamed and ran across the room. Hazel opened her arms and hugged her, not letting go as tears streamed down her cheeks and Rose cried against her shoulder. Then Sophia took over, holding them both at the same time, her arms tight around them.
‘It’s so good to see you!’ Rose whispered.
‘And you,’ Hazel said. ‘I can’t believe it.’
They finally parted and she watched as Rose dabbed at her eyes, looking at them in disbelief, as if she simply couldn’t believe they were standing in her home.
‘Rose?’
They all turned when Rose’s housekeeper called her, and Hazel stared in disbelief at the little girl she held in her arms.
‘Mama,’ the child babbled, wriggling to get away. ‘Mama.’
She watched as Rose dropped to one knee, arms outstretched, and the girl leapt towards her, pudgy little arms around her neck as she sat on Rose’s hip.
‘Mama?’Hazel asked in a low voice.
Rose’s smile was bigger than Hazel had ever seen before. ‘This is Sebastian’s daughter,’ she said. ‘My brother had a little girl.’
Hazel froze.‘Had?’She glanced at Sophia and saw her nodding, as if she knew something Hazel didn’t.
‘He was killed, he and Charlotte both. Maria here,’ Rose said, gesturing towards her housekeeper, ‘cared for her until I came home. It seems Charlotte came back here to give birth sometime after I last saw her and before she was caught.’
Tears welled in Hazel’s eyes as she watched them together. It was clear Francesca adored Rose; the love shining from her little face was unmistakable.
‘I’m so happy for you,’ Hazel said as she moved closer to Rose. ‘I’m sorry for your brother, I know how much you loved him, but what a wonderful thing to be able to raise his daughter as your own for him.’
Rose leaned in and kissed her cheek, and they looked into each other’s eyes for a moment. When she stepped back Sophia opened her arms, holding Rose close and whispering something that Hazel couldn’t hear. They embraced for a long time, and when they stood back, Sophia and Rose both had tears in their eyes.
‘She’s beautiful, Rose,’ Hazel said, stepping forward and stroking the little girl’s hair. ‘How lucky to have a second mummy as delightful as you.’
They all stood and chatted, clucking over Francesca and admiring her chubby little cheeks and cherubic smile, until the child struggled to get down and toddled off after something. Rose turned to them all then, her smile making it impossible for Hazel not to return it.
‘My husband would have loved having you all here today. He would have liked nothing more than to hear about some of our adventures and escapades, and to share stories about what we had all loved and lost over the years,’ Rose said bravely. ‘I lost the love of my life to the war that we all so bravely fought, but it makes my heart happy to know that we made it, and that you both made the journey here to see me today.’
Hazel had tears in her eyes listening to Rose’s words. They had an unbreakable bond after what they’d been through together, one that nothing could shatter.
‘Peter loved his champagne, and I found a few hidden bottles the other day when we were sorting through some of his affairs,’ Rose said. ‘So I propose we sit down to a long lunch with free-flowing champagne and raise a glass to my husband, in case he’s looking down and watching our little get-together.’
Hazel wrapped an arm around Rose’s shoulders and squeezed, smiling over at Sophia on her other side. To her, it sounded like the perfect day.
SOPHIA
Sophia’s face was hurting from smiling so much. It had been a difficult choice deciding to come, but she was pleased she had, and that it was just the three of them. And she was also pleased to have been able to whisper to Rose that she’d seen Sebastian, that she’d been in his presence before he’d been killed. She’d wanted to tell her but never known how, not wanting to write it in a letter and...She sighed. She was just pleased she’d finally said the words she’d been needing to say to her. She also understood now what he’d meant when he’d spoken of his wife having to return to Paris for family matters.
‘It’s hard to believe we’re all here, isn’t it? I mean, who would have thought we’d all make it?’
Rose and Hazel laughed, holding up their glasses, and Sophia did the same before taking a long, sweet sip of champagne. Only between the three of them could they ever laugh or even smile about what they’d been through.
‘I’ve been hesitant to mention it, but you’re wearing a ring,’ Rose said. ‘Dare I ask if you found your Alex?’
Sophia’s neck warmed and the heat rose all the way to her cheeks. It was ridiculous blushing when she had nothing to be embarrassed about with her friends, but something about falling in love with Alex all over again made her feel like a lovesick teenager.
‘I did,’ she said quietly. ‘I returned to Berlin to find him, and three weeks later he met me just like we’d always planned.’
Rose’s smile told her how pleased her friend was for her, but it was Hazel leaning in and waiting for more. They might not have been best friends immediately, but she couldn’t feel any closer to Hazel now if she tried.
‘Tell us,’ Hazel said. ‘I want every last detail!’
