Page 106 of The Velvet Hours
“It will take them all day to get out of Paris and probably several more to get any further.”
I touched the sleeve of his shirt. We had all been counting the days until our own departure, and the frustration and impatience with the situation was thick.
I peered down at the streets, my eyes again falling upon the abandoned dogs.
“Those dogs were once beloved pets, but now their owners are just leaving them...”
His hand slid down to squeeze my fingers.
“We’re not leaving anyone behind.” He came closer and whispered into my ear. “You know that, Solange. Not you, not Solomon, not his family.”
“I know,” I said. “But I wish we could take one with us...”
He shook his head. “I do, too, but the car will be too tight as it is with Solomon’s family.
“Someone will care for them. I promise you.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if what he said would prove true. If the Germans came into the city, would they be kinder to the dogs than they would to the men and women whose lives fell into their hands? I knew there wouldn’t be enough kindness to go around for both.
***
We left at the crack of dawn, moving as silently as mimes, gesturing what to bring and what to leave behind. Outside, black birds flew overhead, and the sky was cloudy as quartz.
We packed only the essentials. The car would be taking seven people, so the children would have to sit on Rachel’s and my laps. The suitcases were loaded and secured atop with rope.
I stood just outside the car waiting for Monsieur Armel’s signal that I should sit inside. I felt Alex slide up against me. “I want to give you something before we set out.”
He reached into his pocket. “Consider it a promise,” he whispered as he pulled out a gold ring and slipped it on my finger.
I stared at the slender gold band, hardly able to believe my eyes. “It was my mother’s,” he whispered. “Papa gave it to me last night.” He leaned over and kissed me. “We’re leaving everything behind, Solange. So this is my first step to putting down roots, wherever we end up.”
I felt my heart in my throat. My hands reached for his. I wanted Marthe’s watch. I wanted to believe it was possible to make time stand still.
But Monsieur Armel had a schedule to maintain. Both Alex and I heard him barking orders for everyone to get into the car.
As Rachel slid in with the children, Monsieur Armel came over to Alex and me and patted him affectionately on the back. “Congratulations to the two of you... We’ll celebrate once we get to Marseille, but for now, there is no time to spare.”
***
Solomon sat on the passenger side, with Alex, Rachel, and me squeezed in the back with the children.
We were already packed tightly against each other, with one in the middle. Leo, the more restless of the two children, was on Rachel’s lap, and the young boy was fidgeting to get comfortable.
“Let me take Eva,” Alex whispered to me.
Eva had just turned six, but she was finely boned and felt nearly weightless on my lap.
“It’s no bother,” I told him. “I find her a comfort.” The warm smell of the little girl’s skin close to mine was soothing.
“We have a long ride ahead of us.” He squeezed my hand. “You must tell me if your legs get tired from the extra weight.”
I tightened my fingers around his, marveling with the new sight that my ring finger was no longer bare. The gold band shimmered in the light.
“I will, I promise,” I told him. And my heart fluttered. I nearly wondered if the precious butterfly clasp, which I now had hidden beneath my hair, beat its wings against my neck.
***
Monsieur Armel took one final look to make sure the suitcases were tightly secured. The night before, Monsieur Armel and Solomon had carefully examined the Haggadah one last time before packing it in several layers of protective paper.
