Page 10 of The Pianist's Wife
Gisele smiled. ‘The pictures it is then. And don’t worry, I’ll find you something to wear.’
‘If I don’t go soon, Papa will start searching,’ Amira said, her stomach leaping at the thought of what they’d planned. ‘He likes me to hurry straight home and be waiting for him.’
‘Then go,’ Gisele said. ‘But we’ll see each other again soon, won’t we?’
Amira embraced her. ‘Of course we will. You have handsome young men for me to meet, remember?’
They both laughed, hugging again before Amira hurried off towards home. But unlike most nights, this time she had a spring in her step, and she knew that she’d have to hide her smile before she reached the apartment, or her father would know for certain that she’d been doing something forbidden.
Chapter Five
It took Amira weeks to finally gather the courage to agree to meet Gisele’s friends, content in the meantime to meet Gisele, just the two of them, when they could, and hear all about the exciting things she was doing. She imagined sneaking out and going to watch one of Gisele’s recitals, still remembering how beautifully she played the flute, but they were always in the evening and she didn’t have the nerve.
But that all changed when Gisele told her that she’d arranged a double date and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. And so Amira lied to her father about being needed at the orphanage one Saturday afternoon, and although she almost didn’t go through with it, she couldn’t help but imagine what fun Gisele was having every weekend. And she wanted to have fun too, to just be a young woman for once without the weight of the world on her shoulders. Although, as she fretted about what she was about to do, she tried to tell herself that being worried was just part of her life now – she had a cover story to maintain after all, and hated the thought of anyone asking her questions. Or of Gisele having to mind her words so as not to put her in jeopardy.
As she walked, she knew that the young men she was meeting wouldn’t so much as look at her if they knew the truth, but the moment she saw Gisele in her pretty cream dress waving to herfrom outside the picture theatre all her worries disappeared as if they’d never existed in the first place.
‘Amira!’ Gisele called, letting go of the arm of the handsome man she’d been clinging to and joining her. ‘I’m so glad you could make it.’
‘I can’t believe I’m here,’ Amira said, breathless as she glanced past Gisele at the two young men waiting for them.
‘The dress is perfect,’ Gisele said, holding out her hand and giving Amira a twirl. ‘I knew it would fit you like a glove.’
Amira beamed back at her, holding her coat over her arm. She’d left the apartment with every button of her coat done up to disguise the pretty navy dress beneath it, one that Gisele had given to her the week before when they’d met at the park, and she felt like a million dollars wearing it.
‘I have something to show you,’ Gisele said, holding up her hand to show a modest diamond ring. ‘We’re getting married!’
‘Oh my gosh, congratulations,’ Amira said, staring at the diamond before looking up at Gisele. Her happiness faltered as she realised just how quickly Gisele’s life was changing, but she quickly fixed her smile. ‘I’m so happy for you. When’s the wedding?’
Gisele had tears in her eyes, and when Amira hugged her, she whispered in her ear. ‘I wish I was asking you to be my bridesmaid, but—’
‘It’s fine. I’m happy for you, Gisele, truly I am,’ she said, ignoring the little flare of jealousy inside of her. ‘Now, introduce me to your fiancé and his friend before I lose my nerve.’
Gisele tucked her arm through Amira’s and marched her over to them. Both men were in uniform, which sent a shiver through Amira, but she forced her worries away. Not all young men in uniform were evil; she knew better than anyone that everyone did what they had to do to stay alive. So instead of doing what her fatherwould have wanted and retreating into her shell, she forced a bright smile and held out her hand as they were introduced.
‘I hear congratulations are in order,’ she said as she shook Hans’ hand.
‘Thank you,’ Hans said, gazing confidently at Gisele in a way that told Amira he was very much in love with her friend. ‘I feel like the luckiest man in the world right now.’
‘Amira, this is Maxi,’ Gisele said, gesturing to the young man standing beside Hans. He had a cheeky smile that was impossible not to return, with light-brown hair that was almost too long and in danger of brushing into his eyes. ‘He and Hans have been friends for years.’
‘I suppose that means you can ask him anything you need to know about me,’ he said with a wink.
Amira fought against the blush that was heating her cheeks as Maxi offered her his arm. He was terribly handsome and she’d never held a young man’s arm before, never stood so close that she could smell a man’s aftershave or feel the giddy wave of nerves at having her skin touch someone of the opposite sex. But right now, all she could think was that it had been worth defying her father. What could possibly go wrong, seeing some friends for the afternoon?
It wasn’t like she was going to marry the man.
Gisele winked at her as she walked past her, and Amira felt the overwhelming urge to laugh. It had been so long since she’d just had fun that she’d forgotten how good it felt. And besides, it wasn’t like she was going to be asked for her identity papers to go to a movie, which meant that she wasn’t really taking a risk at all.
After the movie, the four of them strolled down the hill for ice cream, Gisele still clinging to Hans’ arm as if she might never let go of him, and Maxi and Amira walking with a respectable distance between them.
‘So, tell me about yourself, Amira.’
‘Well,’ she said, stalling for time as she reminded herself that she knew her cover story inside out. She’d been dreaming of being around people her own age for so long, and she refused to let her nerves ruin the afternoon. ‘I volunteer at an orphanage most days.’
‘You like volunteering?’
‘I love it. I’ve always wanted to spend my days with children, and I hope to become a teacher after the war.’ She glanced at him, catching his smile. ‘What about you? Do you have a passion for what you want to do once all this is over?’
