His presence beside her was like a warm hug. She swiped at her cheeks. “What would you like to talk about?”
“Well ... now that you know I overheard you in the car, would you like to tell me more about your plans? I know it’s not just to play concerts around Europe. That you have contacts and want to help people. There’s something brewing in that brilliant mind of yours. I can almost see it.”
A hand covered hers from the other side. Melanie. She squeezed and held on.
Might as well start at the beginning. “In all actuality, it did indeed start off as just a European tour. I’d thought to bring hope and music into people’s lives and unify them in the bond of humanity and the struggle everyone has faced after the Great War.” Chaisley swallowed. What had sounded so noble before the tour now sounded hollow in comparison to what people were suffering.
Melanie squeezed her hand again.
Chaisley put her other hand to her chest. “Before we left England, I felt this weight on my very soul. As if God was calling me to something bigger than myself. I had no idea what it was. Dr. Grafton said he had the same feeling, Melanie as well. When we made it to Amsterdam, Grandmother shared with us some of the awful things that are happening and that she too was being called to help. She didn’t tell us the details at the time because she was trying to protect us, but I have a feeling I know what it is.” She swallowed hard. Though proud of her grandmother for taking a stand and doing something, she also understood the consequences.
She blinked and the darkness that had become her constantcompanion pressed in on her. This was no time to falter. “Now that I know what Hitler is doing to those who are disabled, and what else he plans, I have to do something about it.”
A rush of air escaped her friend beside her. “That’s why you gave that interview and told him outright what happened and that you are blind.” She squeezed her hand again.
“Yes.” She lifted her chin toward the man she longed to trust. “Rick, Idon’tgive interviews. Never have. I’ve also never told anyone but those closest to me that I am blind. I felt like I was supposed to do the interview and use whatever standing I have to show the world how valuable a blind person can be. We’re building a network to help people. That’s another reason I’ve added more universities and schools to the schedule. Somehow, we need to let people know we are willing to help without showing our hand to the Nazis.”
“That’s wise.” Rick’s voice was soft. “I want to help in whatever way I can while I’m with you.”
Oh. That made sense, didn’t it? He would have to leave at some point. She bit the inside of her cheek against the sudden swell of sadness. To think there would be a day when hewouldn’tbe her driver ... “But what are you here to do? Why is a spy working as a pianist’s driver?” She needed answers now. Before they went any further.
“My job has always been to gather information. From whomever and wherever I can. But our informants were disappearing rapidly in Germany. There were only a handful of us agents left working in Europe. The Gestapo hunted us down and tortured people to get information. I was sent to Amsterdam to take a new position.”
“Ah. For me.”
“Yes. I didn’t know who I would be assigned to. My superior hasn’t been in contact, so I don’t even know if he is still there. But the goal is the same. Chaisley, Melanie—we are on the same side. I don’t believe it a coincidence that God brought us together.”
“Do you trust us, Rick?” Melanie asked the question, her hand stiff in Chaisley’s.
“I do.”
Forthright. Solid. He sounded honest.
“And you are willing to put your life in our hands and hold our lives in yours?” she prodded.
“I am.”
Melanie squeezed Chaisley’s hand twice.
Chaisley leaned forward. “Then let there be no more secrets between us. I can’t abide you keeping anything from us. I’ve detected from the beginning that you were hiding something. Now that you’ve told us, I need that honest connection. If I think you are not being truthful with me in the slightest—I won’t be able to trust you and that would be disastrous.”
“Agreed,” Rick chimed in. “I vow to you right now that I will be honest with you. No more secrets.”
“And we vow the same. Right, Melanie?”
“Right.” Melanie released her hand. “So how many languages do you actually speak, Rick?”
“Fluently?”
“Yes.” She tapped the seat of the couch.
“Seven.”
“Well, Chaisley’s got you beat. I believe she’s up to eight now.” Melanie’s light laugh helped break up the seriousness of their discussion.
“You should tell us which languages you speak so we can compare.” Chaisley pursed her lips. “I guess it’s only fair that I start, since we asked the question. I speak English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, and Russian ... oh, and if you want to count it, I’m fluent in braille.”
“Me too!” Melanie’s tone was much more relaxed. “Although I only speak Dutch, German, French, and English.”
