Page 42 of The Berlin Sisters
‘I am like Hitler in that I will stop at nothing to get what I want. But unlike him, I will not tolerate hate nor lies. I want all people unified, not one race promoted as being better than another.’
‘Why?’ she found herself asking. ‘Why do you think so differently to everyone else?’
‘Because I’ve lost people I loved very dearly. Because I have seen the pain in the eyes of those taken against their will.’ He placed his glass on the low table beside him. ‘And because I’m one of the few people who spent time in one of the camps and lived to tell the tale. I also don’t believe that I’m different to everyone else, I believe that many others feel the same as me but are too scared to do anything.’
Ava forced herself to finish her drink, taking a moment to feel the heat pooling in her belly. Perhaps she could get used to it, after all.
‘Then what exactly are you planning to do?’ she asked as he pulled his chair even closer to hers. ‘Why do you need me to look at the diary? What am I even looking for?’
He smiled and reached up to brush a stray hair from her face, his fingers whispering gently across her skin. ‘We are trying to create a fresh start for Germany,’ he said. ‘An end to the war.’
‘And you think that the information I gather for you will help you to do that?’
His eyes darted to her lips and back again. Ava found herself waiting for him to close the distance, her breath catching in her throat as she tilted her face upwards. Heinrich couldn’t have been further from her mind.
‘Yes,’ he whispered. ‘You, Ava Müller, could help us to change everything.’
She swallowed. ‘I think I should go now.’ Her voice was a whisper as his breath warmed her skin.
‘You’re free to go whenever you like. I’m not keeping you here.’
But Ava didn’t want to go, and when he finally kissed her, she slipped her arms around his neck, lost in his embrace, wondering how she’d ever thought she was in love with Heinrich, because his kisses had never made her feel like this.
Chapter Fifteen
ELIANA
Eliana stood in the store and looked around. It was just before opening, which meant the shelves had been stocked, and despite the people already lined up outside, it was still quiet inside. Silence had become normal for her during her months in the attic, the constant quiet so hard to adjust to at first, fuelled by a fear that had been all-consuming. If they made any noise, they could be found, which had led to them moving about like mice.
But despite all that, it hadn’t taken her long to adjust to being back in the world, albeit in a different world to the one she’d left behind. No one saw her now. She was able to move about the store, talk to customers, live a life that hadn’t been hers to live for years. She felt as if she were both visible and invisible at the same time – women she recognised as mothers from her old school had passed her and even spoken to her, without seeing her. The blonde hair and change of appearance hadn’t truly changed whatshesaw in the mirror when she looked at herself – the same eyes blinked back at her, she wore the same expressions – but it had been enough to stop anyone from recognising her. Or perhaps it was simply that no one expected to see a girl like her any more; they clearly thought all the Jews had been well and truly eradicated from politesociety. Regardless, she was no longer scared that someone might know who she was. The more days that passed, the more confident she became.
‘Eliana?’ Ethan called to her and she turned, seeing that he was carrying more goods into the store. His blue eyes caught hers, and she couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders and strong arms as he hefted the box in front of him, his dark hair lifting from his forehead as he tilted his head back.
She ran over to help him, only too pleased to be of assistance. He’d been so kind to her since she’d arrived – he was shy but polite, warm yet a little nervous – which was incidentally exactly how she was feeling being around his family and in the store. It was the first time she’d ever had a proper job, but all those years helping her father had helped her settle quickly into her new role. She was just grateful Ethan was such a patient teacher.
Eliana helped Ethan to place the flour on the shelves, knowing how quickly it would disappear as soon as the doors opened for the day. By the time they were down to a few sacks, fights would begin as those queueing realised there wouldn’t be enough for everyone waiting. Because according to Ethan, there was never enough, no matter how much they started with each day.
‘How are you?’ he asked, glancing at her as they both placed the sacks of flour on the shelves.
‘I’m fine. Grateful, above anything else.’
He smiled, catching her eye. ‘You don’t have to pretend with me. I know you must be missing your family.’
She hesitated. ‘You know about me, don’t you? About how I came to be here?’
His smile was warm, and she found it so easy to be around him. The fact that he was the same age as her was refreshing too, after so long having only her parents and brother for company. She hadn’t realised how much she’d been craving the company of others.
‘I know enough,’ he replied. ‘But you can talk to me, when it’s just the two of us. I promise that I’m very good at keeping secrets.’
Eliana laughed. ‘Well, I have a lot of them. Are you sure you want me to offload everything on you?’
Ethan laughed, too, and Eliana found herself wishing for more time with him as his father came in and called out that he was opening the doors. In other words, the chaos of the day was about to begin.
‘Ethan, has there been any news?’ she whispered, as they readied themselves behind the counter. ‘Of what happened to all the Jews? Those that survived the first waves of violence?’
The laughter that had lit his eyes earlier was gone now. ‘No news that’s good. There are multiple concentration camps where they’re holding German, Polish and French Jews by the sounds of it. They’ve rounded them up all throughout Europe, and it’s still happening.’
She shivered as she saw the sadness in his face. ‘You’ve lost someone you loved, to one of the camps?’
