“Is there anything that can be done?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Anna’s heart sank. She finished drying the dishes, and she showed Max, per his request, the precise location of where she and Norbie stored kitchenware.
“Would you like to join me in the living room?” Anna asked. “Perhaps you could try out one of the braille books, or I could read to you.”
Nia stood and wagged her tail.
“I’m a little tired from the journey. I think I’ll go to my room.” He paused, fiddling with a button on his shirt. “But first, I’d like to tell you something. And I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”
She clasped her hands. “Okay.”
“The work that you and the school are doing sounds incredible, and I’m certain that many battle-blinded men will be eternally thankful for your efforts to help them.” He placed his hands into his trouser pockets and shifted his weight. “But I’ve lost far more than my sight. My life was stolen from me at the front. There is no way to restore my hearing and, without it, I have no chance of regaining a career as a pianist, let alone a composer. I did not come here on my own accord; I’ve been ordered here by the government. I realize that I’m extremely fortunate to have been given one of the few slots at the school, but I have misgivings about the school’s ability to repair a lost future.”
Anna’s mouth turned dry.
Nia padded to Anna and nuzzled her leg.
“I do not mean any disrespect, and I hope you are not upset with me. I merely want to be forthright with you.”
Anna, attempting to dispel her angst, ran her fingers through Nia’s fur. “Please, you mustn’t quit. After a few days of training at the school, you’ll feel better about things.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that I was going to quit,” he said. “My intent is for you not to be surprised or disappointed when this doesn’t work out for me.”
“Promise me that you’ll at least give it a try.”
“I will,” Max said. “Thank you again for dinner.” He ran his hand over the wall to locate his stick, and he shuffled up the stairs.
Anna’s eyes welled with tears. She sat on the floor and cuddled Nia.
Nia licked Anna’s cheek.
“We must find a way to help him,” Anna whispered. She wiped her eyes and hugged Nia. “Somehow, we need to show him that his life is worth living.”
CHAPTER14
OLDENBURG, GERMANY—DECEMBER3, 1916
Anna rolled over in bed and turned off the alarm clock, silencing clanging bells. An uneasiness stirred inside her. For much of the night her mind reeled with thoughts of Max, and she’d gotten little sleep. She rubbed her forehead, attempting to bury her worry.His spirits will improve once he begins working with shepherds.
“Nia,” she called, dangling her arm over the bed.
She waited for the click of toenails over the hardwood floor, typically followed by a wet lick to her hand, but nothing came. She lifted her head, propping her elbows on the mattress. The door was ajar and Nia’s blanket was bare.She’s probably in the kitchen with Vater.
She got out of bed, the cold floor sending a chill through her bare feet. She dressed for work, adding extra layers of clothing beneath her wool dress, and then knocked on Max’s door.
“Come in,” Max said.
“Good morning,” she said, opening the door. Max, wearing his uniform except for his boots, was sitting on a neatly made bed with Nia curled at his feet. Her eyes widened. “Good morning to you, too, Nia.”
The dog’s tail thumped the floor.
“She pawed at my door last night, so I let her in,” he said. “I hope it was okay.”
“Of course.” She eyed his clothing. “Are you wearing long underwear?”
“Nein,” he said, staring toward a wall.
