Celestia smiled. Chaisley’s determination was magnificent to behold when she wielded it. She was so like her father in that respect. A pang accompanied that thought, but she pushed it away. “Yes. That’s probably the best way for us to send notes to one another right now. But a time may come when we will have to use something else. Some form of code. Especially once you travel into Germany. I don’t trust our correspondence to remain private.”
Chaisley stood and paced the space between the window and her chair. “I already have an idea. Let me work it out before we leave, and I will somehow get word to Dr. G as well.” She turned her face to the window. “It’s no coincidence that we decided to start the tour in Austria, is it?”
Celestia caught Melanie’s gaze, her brows arched together, waiting for an answer. There was a new strength in the set of Melanie’s shoulders, a boldness Celestia hadn’t seen from the young woman in a long while.
Good.
Please sustain this boldness in her, Lord. In both of them. I commit these precious ones to Your will.
“No. It isn’t a coincidence.”
The room was silent for a moment before Melanie grabbed Chaisley’s and Celestia’s hands. “Wherever He leads ... I’ll go.”
The words wrapped around Celestia, infusing her with courage. “Yes, dear hearts. If we are called into the lion’s den, then we will go.”
Amsterdam, Netherlands—Monday, April 4, 1938
Watching her friend say good-bye to her grandmother was harder than Melanie thought it would be. Probably because of the knowledge they now carried. And Mrs. Frappier had been like a grandmother to Melanie as well.
The past few days had been filled with lots of short, intense conversations. Chaisley was like a dog with a bone. Once she got hold of an idea, she couldn’t let it go. So she’d pushed and prodded Celestia for information and worked with her childhood braille writing tools in her room in the quiet times.
No telling what Chaisley would come up with, but her friend had a brilliant mind.
It gave Melanie time to think and prepare for the upcoming tour, too. Quiet times at the manor had always been Melanie’s favorite thing. Reading. Drinking tea. Resting. The manor in Amsterdam was so peaceful. But the recent developments had changed it all. Would they have peace again in Europe ... ever?
Some moments she wished to be back in England in the safety of what had been comfortable. Honestly, paying attention to the newspapers and radio broadcasts upset her, so it was easier to ignore it.
Then there were other moments where she tired of hiding.
Tired of hiding the knowledge of who her father was.
Tired of fearing she had family members within the Nazi Party.
Tired of pretending it would all go away if she ignored it.
Truth be told, she’d always been afraid of someone from her family finding her and her mother.
She pushed the thoughts aside. She had no control over what happened. Fear was getting her nowhere.
Everyone around the manor seemed to have a task. Something they were doing to help this network of Dr. G’s.
Except her.
She winced. Good heavens. Such self-pity. She had her part,helping Chaisley on this tour. Perhaps they’d be able to find the Kleins and get them to safety. That was enough, wasn’t it?
Should she pray harder? Longer? She toyed with the small fringe fob on her purse, a familiar ache sweeping through her.
Mother would know what to do too. She always had such a serene peace about her, even after her husband demanded she leave if she wouldn’t obey. Not once had Melanie seen her mother anything other than calm.
With such a mother, why did she struggle so with frustration, fear, and her swinging emotions? She’d felt so brave, bold even, when they were talking about being alert on the tour to people who might need this network’s help. But now, doubt filled her, which let the fear creep back in.
Inhaling a sharp breath through her nose, she let it out and swallowed all her thoughts.
Her gaze flitted to the Frappier women. Both inspired her. Why couldn’t she be more like them?
The quiet conversation between Chaisley and Celestia ended, and they hugged once more.
Mrs. Frappier waved Melanie over. “My dear, I will be praying for you every day. Call or write or send a telegram whenever you need to. I will be here.”
