Page 20 of The Pianist's Wife
‘I don’t know how to thank you, Gisele,’ Amira said, placing her glass down gently as Gisele took another sip of hers. ‘What you’ve done for me, what you continue to do for me.’ Amira smiled over at her. ‘I can’t imagine having a better friend, truly I can’t. But if me being here is creating an additional burden, or you’d rather I just came during the day instead of living here with you...’
‘It’s not that.’ Gisele was silent for longer than she would usually be, before she finally spoke again. ‘I’ve loved having you here, especially with Hans gone so often. But there is something I’d like you to do for me.’
Amira smiled. ‘Anything. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, you know that. Is it something for one of the children?’
‘I need you to trust me, Amira,’ Gisele said, touching her arm.
‘Well, now you’re worrying me,’ she said. ‘When have I ever not trusted you?’
Gisele’s face brightened, but it didn’t seem genuine, not to Amira. ‘There’s someone I’d like you to meet.’
Amira’s smile faltered, an unsettling feeling passing through her. It was the first time in her life she’d ever doubted her friend. ‘I’m not certain I understand. You know I trust you, but...’ Her stomach felt as if it were flipping in a circle. ‘Gisele, what do you mean? Who do you want me to meet?’
There was a knock at the back door of the kitchen then, and Gisele walked past Amira, turning back to her with an expression on her face that Amira had never seen before, before lifting her hand to open it.
Amira didn’t have time to run or scream or find anything to defend herself with, as the heavy wooden door swung open with a loud creak, revealing a man standing there, in plain clothes, his dark hair neatly brushed off his face and his hands clasped in front of him. His eyes immediately met hers, and she searched his coat for the swastika insignia that she knew would be there somewhere.
But then she remembered something Maxi had said to her, when they’d seen the Gestapo men waiting for them outside her apartment that night.They’re in uniform. There’s a reason they’re not in plain clothes.Most Gestapo were in plain clothes. Most of them didn’t want to stand out, wanted to blend in with regular people on the street, so as not to give any warning when they were about to pounce.
Amira backed away a few steps, knowing that she was supposed to stand her ground to avoid appearing guilty, but also knowing that if she stepped far enough away, she might just be able to turn and run, and escape out of the front door on to the street.
Chapter Nine
‘Amira,’ Gisele said, grabbing hold of her hand just as she turned, as if sensing she was about to flee. ‘I’d like you to meet Fred.’
Fred?She cautiously stepped forward when Gisele pushed her, hesitantly lifting her hand when he extended his, like a caged animal backed into a corner.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amira,’ he said, his palm soft against hers as he gently shook her hand.
‘You’re not Gestapo?’
Gisele made a noise beside her that sounded as if she were choking, but rather than appearing alarmed, Fred just shook his head.
‘I can assure you that I’m not Gestapo, or anything else like that.’
‘Not even a Wehrmacht soldier?’ she asked, studying him curiously as Gisele shut the door and locked it behind him. Amira was careful to keep a few steps away, still cautious about who exactly this man was.
‘Not even a Wehrmacht soldier,’ he confirmed. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint.’
‘Come and sit down,’ Gisele said, waving him into the kitchen and gesturing to one of the seats at the kitchen table. ‘I’ll pour you a drink.’
Amira was still unsure what was happening or why this Fred was here, and she felt uneasy sitting across from him. It was a relief to know her best friend hadn’t betrayed her, which for one horrible second she’d thought was the case, but it was most unsettling having a strange man in the kitchen with the children asleep upstairs.
‘You two, you’re not...’ She stumbled over the word. ‘You’re notlovers, are you?’
Gisele laughed and Fred shook his head, an amused smile playing across his lips.
‘Another thing I can assure you of is that we are most definitely not lovers.’
‘We met when I was studying at the College of Music,’ Gisele said. ‘Before I was engaged to Hans. And then would you believe that we crossed paths again when we were invited to a special orchestral evening a few months ago. He’s quite the favourite of Dr Goebbels and his friends.’
Amira tried not to recoil at the mention of Goebbels, and she couldn’t recall Gisele ever mentioning a friend named Fred. Gisele had only been at the college for a short time though, leaving abruptly before her wedding to Hans and putting an end to her desire to be a musician. Amira didn’t even know whether she played for pleasure anymore.
‘She was the most talented flautist at the college,’ Fred said. ‘And it’s been quite a privilege to get to know one another again.’
‘Gisele, what if Hans arrives home unexpectedly, or if one of your neighbours saw a man arrive at such a late hour?’ Amira asked, her heart beginning to race.
‘Hans will not be coming home, and if anyone asks, I shall say that Fred was calling on you.’
