He nudged her arm. “I was kidding.”
“Oh.” She chuckled. “Tonight, I’ll insist that we play something more relaxing.”
“It’s all right,” Max said, slowing his pace. “There’s nothing wrong with a person having a different taste in music. It makes me happy to hear Norbie sing ‘Hänschen klein’—the more out of tune the better.”
Anna glanced at Max and smiled.
“My friends at the front loved military marches.” A flash of playing a piano, while his comrades sang and drank schnapps, filled his head. “My friend, Otto, once told me to stick to playing marches because people would pay to hear them.”
Anna leaned in.
He drew a breath, taking in her scent.
“You certainly know how to make a woman feel better,” she said. “I’m going to miss you when you leave.”
His chest ached. “I’m going to miss you, too.”More than you will ever know.
Her hand slipped away from the harness, and the space grew between them.
Max, attempting to contain his feelings, patted Nia and quickened his pace. They completed two more laps around the obstacle course. And with each step and maneuver, all he could think about was how lucky Bruno was to have Anna.
“Oh, no,” Anna said.
“What is it?” Max asked.
“Waldemar is coming.”
“Where’s Fleck?”
Anna glanced around the course. “I don’t know.”
The crunching of bootsteps grew. Hairs raised on the back of his neck. He tugged on the harness and said, “Halt.”
Nia stopped and panted.
“Fleck wants to see both of you,” Waldemar grumbled.
“What about?” Max asked.
“It’s likely concerning your poor performance,” he said. “Fleck has been scribbling notes about you on his clipboard all day.”
Max’s face turned hot. Fearing that a rebuttal could potentially get Anna in trouble, he gripped Nia’s harness and held his tongue.
“Where’s Fleck?” Anna asked.
“The barn.” Waldemar scratched at his scraggly, gray mustache and looked at Max. “I always knew that Fleck would eventually come to his senses and expel you from training. However, I’m surprised that you lasted this long.” He turned and walked away.
“Don’t listen to him,” Anna said. “He’s only trying to annoy you.”
“He’s doing a damn good job of it.” Max stroked Nia’s back. “Well, let’s see what Fleck wants.”
Inside the barn, Nia guided him toward the area of the woodstove. As he felt the warmth of the fire begin to radiate over his face, he commanded Nia to sit.
“Herr Fleck,” Anna said. “I understand that you’d like to have a word with us.”
“Ja.” Fleck removed a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He took a deep inhale and blew smoke.
A burnt scent of tobacco filled Max’s nose. He fought away the urge to cough.
