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A soldier stands at the fork in the path leading away from the pond. He isn’t the only soldier keeping watch on the area, but he is the one closest to the meeting spot.
A woman matching the description I gave Oskar—blond hair, pink and green scarf, green dress—is waiting by the pond, watching several ducks swim near her feet.
Oskar puts Sonja down. She runs over to inspect the birds in the water. Her parents follow her at a more leisurely pace. While they might look unconcerned, I imagine they are trembling in the soldiers’ presence.
Oskar and Margrit approach the woman and make a show of pretending they have bumped into an old friend, like we rehearsed. And, like we rehearsed, they give each other the secret code phrases so there are no mistaken identities.
The fear thrumming through my body and the tension-ladened summer air send my heart racing. I walk towards a nearby empty bench and try not to think about the risk we are all taking, praying that will be enough to keep me from looking suspicious.
I sit on the bench and pretend to check for something in my handbag. I pretend the folded newspaper inside it is in my way and put it on the bench. I pretend to find the watch I was searching for in my bag, the watch strap broken, and pretend to check the time. I pretend to be distracted by a woman wheeling a pushchair past me, a young toddler sitting in it.
I stand up and walk away, leaving the newspaper with the money behind.
I don’t have to look behind me to know the partner of the woman by the pond will be intercepting it, and I walk in the opposite direction from which I came. Walk while praying to a god I don’t believe in for Oskar and his family to be all right. Praying one day I will see them again, happy and safe.
Praying Johann won’t believe I betrayed them.
Because my life will be forfeit if he believes exactly that.
13
Jessica
June, Present Day
Maple Ridge
* * *
Zara’s brother arranges for my hospital discharge papers. While we wait for them, Troy contacts the vet clinic and asks how Bailey is doing. He gets the green light to pick her up.
Kellan returns to my room with a nurse and an oversized men’s T-shirt in light blue that says Maple Ridge Hospital on the front and a pair of drawstring shorts that aren’t quite as oversized. “Sorry, this is all I could find.”
“That’s fine,” I tell him, grateful I don’t have to wear my wet clothes for the trip to the vet clinic and to Troy’s. Besides, they’re still a lot better than my old prison garb. “Thanks, Kellan.”
The two men leave to give me some privacy, and the nurse helps me get changed. And then Kellan drives us to the clinic.
I’ve never been happier to see Bailey than I am when Ambrosia walks her into the waiting room. Tears prick my eyes. Happy tears. And a smile stretches across my face.
I carefully lower myself to the floor, every muscle in my body grumbling. I ignore them and hug my dog. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
She licks my face, which only makes me smile more. I laugh. My ribs ache at the movement, but it’s worth it just to be with Bailey again.
Kellan drives us to Troy’s house. Butterscotch is waiting by the front door when Troy unlocks it, and the two dogs take a moment to get reacquainted.
Kellan heads to Troy’s living room. Troy and I follow him.
We walk past the hall table. “Where’s the vase?” The ceramic vase that usually sits there is missing.
“I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” Troy explains, “and bumped into the table. The vase fell over before I could stop it.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” It was a nice vase.
I sit on the couch, relieved to get off my feet. My body happily sinks into the dark-gray cushion.
Troy puts a small navy cushion in front of me on the coffee table. “Put your foot on this.” His deep, gravelly voice turns my insides quivery, and I steal a second to savor the sinful sound. Last night, I thought I’d never hear it again.
I rest the foot of my injured leg on the cushion, and Troy adjusts it so I’m comfy. He leans down and gives me a quick kiss, his lips lingering on mine for less than a heartbeat, and heads for the kitchen. I wish it could’ve lasted longer.
