“Are you sure?” Norbie asked.
Max nodded.
“I appreciate that,” Norbie said. “My back isn’t what it used to be.”
A swell of gratitude filled Anna.It’s sweet of him to think about Vater.
“Is that all right with you, Bruno?” Max asked.
“It is,” he said.
Minutes later, after Norbie and Max had gone to bed, Anna and Bruno sat side by side on the sofa. To catch Bruno up on her life, she told him about Dr. Stalling, Emmi, and Fleck, as well as the challenges that she and Max encountered with Waldemar, including his refusal to allow them to train inside a church.
“Your letters didn’t mention that Max was a Jew,” Bruno said.
Anna shifted in her seat. “I didn’t think it would matter to you.”
“It doesn’t,” Bruno said. “I’m merely surprised that he wouldn’t be housed with a Jewish family. Even at the front there are separate chaplains—Feldrabbiners(field rabbis) serve the Jewish soldiers.”
“All of the blind veterans are boarding with trainers, none of whom are Jewish.” She crossed her arms. “I’m honored to have Max stay with us.”
“I’m glad that he’s been a suitable guest.”
Anna’s shoulder muscles tightened.
“I could speak to your supervisor about Waldemar, if you like.”
“I would prefer that you didn’t,” she said. “It might make things more difficult for Max and me. Fleck doesn’t condone Waldemar’s behavior, but he tolerates him because there are few trainers, and we’re expecting larger groups of battle-blinded veterans to arrive in Oldenburg. I appreciate your offer, but for now, I think we can deal with Waldemar on our own.”
“All right.” He moved close, his leg touching her knee.
She drew a deep breath and gestured to the gramophone. “Would you like to listen to music?”
“Only if you do.”
“I do,” she said, hoping the music would ease the awkwardness of their reunion.
Bruno stood and went to the gramophone, where he sorted through a box of records. After making a selection, he placed the disc on the gramophone and lowered the tone arm. Static hissed and, a few seconds later, a boisterous beat of bass and snare drums filled the air. After a few bars, the beating drums were joined by a brass band, comprised of trumpets, baritones, and tubas.
“We have lots of music choices,” Anna said, “including several piano suites that you might enjoy.”
Bruno sat, placing his arm around Anna. “I didn’t recognize the names of the songs, except for the military marches.”
A memory of Max’s question flashed in her head—What type of music does Bruno like?
“Did I pick the wrong record?” he asked.
“Nein,” she said, not wanting to disappoint him.
He pulled her close.
“I think we should take it slow,” she said.
“Of course.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb, then eased back on the sofa.
She rested her head on his shoulder.It’s irrational of me to be on edge. I’ll feel better about things tomorrow.But the longer she sat with Bruno, listening to the oom-pah rhythm of deep brass instruments, the more she yearned to be with Max at the piano while Nia thumped her tail on the floor beneath their bench.
CHAPTER27
