“Please, can we talk about this later?” Johannes dropped his hands and motioned with his head to all the children seated behind them.
“This? What is thethisto talk about later? There is only the question. Can you get her back? Yes or no?”
It seemed to take a long time for Johannes to answer.
“I don’t know.”
Martine stared at her husband for a long moment before she spoke again. “You knew they were coming for Brigitta and you said nothing.”
“I didn’t know,” Johannes said quickly.
“You’ve known about the other terrible things the Nazis are doing. How could you not know about this?”
“This is not a military matter, Martine. It has nothing to do with the fighting, or the men I fight with. I did not know.”
Martine held his gaze for a second and then turned from him and left the room.
Johannes watched her go and then slowly made his way back to his chair. He slumped into it but did not pick up his fork.
“Why did they take Brigitta, Papa?” Werner asked.
Johannes took a long breath and exhaled before answering. “The new government thinks children like Brigitta will have a better life if they live in a place that is specially designed for people with... difficulties.”
“Why do they think that?” Liliana asked.
“I guess... I guess because people like our Brigitta will have a hard time getting a job when they are older and making a living.”
“Brigitta can live with me when I’m a grown-up,” Liliana said. “I don’t care if she can’t work.”
“She can live with me,” chimed in Amelia.
“No, with me!” Hanna said.
Johannes lifted a hand to rub his forehead, as if trying to wipe away a dirty smudge.
“Why can’t you get her back?” Kurt asked.
Johannes kept massaging his forehead. “Because I don’t make the rules, son. There are new rules now. And I didn’t make them.”
“Does she have to live at that place forever?” Amelia’s voice broke as she asked.
Johannes did not immediately answer her. I felt tears burning in my eyes and a searing pain in my gut.
“I hope not,” he finally said.
No one said anything for a stretch of seconds.
“Can we go see her?” Hanna finally asked. “I want to see her. I drew her a picture.”
Again, Johannes did not answer.
“I’m sure you can,” I said, swallowing my emotion. “I went there to try to get her. They said families can visit. On visiting days.”
Johannes lowered his hand. “You went there?”
“I did. I wanted to bring her home, Captain. I tried.”
He looked at me and said nothing. A moment later, Johannes picked up his fork, and the rest of the family followed suit. The Maiers ate their dinner in silence.
