“Ja,” Max said. “But the pleasure is mine.” He positioned his hands over the keyboard and played.
A deep sadness swelled within Anna.We might never sit together at the piano again.Memories of their shared moments flashed in her brain. The night he opened his heart and revealed how his parents perished in the sinking of theBaron Gautsch. The compassionate manner in which he empathized with her having lost hermutterat a young age, and how he labored to tune hermutter’s piano to honor her memory. The day Max, despite the risk of being removed from school, convinced Fleck to permit her to train him and Nia. His gifts of food to help nourish her and Norbie, and his courage to play the piano, overcoming his inability to hear the high-pitched keys. The tingling of her skin as Max, desiring to know what she looked like, gently glided his fingertips over her face. And the periodic thumping of Nia’s tail in response to their voices as they worked on his piano composition.I’m going to miss him terribly.
Max played the movements ofLight Suite, and as he finished, he slipped his hands from the keyboard and placed them on his knees.
“Bravo!” Norbie shouted, his eyes welling with tears.
Emmi clapped her hands. “It’s so beautiful.”
Anna drew a jagged breath, struggling to maintain her composure.
“I’m glad you like it,” Max said.
Norbie wiped his eyes, and then blew his nose into his handkerchief. “Excuse my weepiness, Max. Your piece is most divine, and it stirs up emotions inside me.”
“I didn’t mean to make you sad,” Max said. “But I think I know something that’ll cheer you up before I leave.” He placed his hands on the keyboard and played.
“ ‘Hänschen klein,’” Anna thought.It’s sweet of him to play Norbie’s favorite folk song as a departing gift.
Norbie grinned and joined Max at the piano. He sang the verses, insisting that Anna and Emmi join him. And for the moment, everyone was joyful.
Max finished the song and rose from the piano. “I’m afraid it’s time for me to go.”
Anna’s chest ached. “I’ll walk you to the train station.”
Max nodded.
Norbie approached Max and hugged him. “I’m going to miss you, my boy.”
“Me too,” he said, releasing him.
Norbie kneeled to Nia and patted her head. “Make sure Max gives you plenty of treats and belly rubs.”
Nia swished her tail.
Max smiled, and then extended his arm in the direction of Emmi.
Emmi leaned in and gave him a squeeze. “Take care of yourself, Max.”
“I’ll be in good hands with Nia,” he said. “I’ll keep Ewald in my thoughts and prayers. And keep up the grand work with caring for shepherds—they need you, and so do all of the veterans who will arrive in Oldenburg.”
“I will,” Emmi said.
Anna retrieved her coat. She fought to steady her hands as she slipped on her gloves.
Max, running his hand along the wall, located the coatrack. He put on his coat and cap, and then picked up his leather case and cane. “Come, Nia.”
Nia padded to Max’s side, and then followed him and Anna down the stairs.
They spoke little on the way to the station due to heavier than normal pedestrian traffic. Anna held back, allowing Max and Nia to focus on navigating the streets. And at the station, a large crowd of people were standing on the landing. Eager to have a few words in privacy with Max, she led him to an empty bench at the far end of the station.
Anna fidgeted with a button on her coat. “I packed some food for you and Nia. It’s in a paper sack in your case.”
“Danke,” he said.
“Do you remember the way from the Leipzig station to your apartment?”
“I think so,” he said. “If I have any trouble, I’ll ask for directions from someone on the street, and Nia will guide me home.”
