A mixture of excitement and fear raced through Ivy’s chest. “It must be. The Germans shut down the telephone services this morning, and they’ve posted guards throughout town.”
Mrs. Le Huquet fingered the coil of silvered black hair at the nape of her neck. “Finally this nightmare will come to an end.”
“Yes, finally.” Much of the danger to the men she loved hadalready come to an end. After the German field police raided Uncle Arthur’s home the week before, Gerrit had stopped drawing maps and Charlie had stopped sending them.
If the invasion had indeed come, it was too late to provide the Allies with more intelligence. Gerrit had only to avoid evacuation and lie low until the Allies came. Somehow.
The rumble of aircraft engines spoke comfort to her.
Ivy’s kitchen timer dinged, and she gave Mrs. Le Huquet an apologetic smile and packed her timer in her bag. Thank goodness, her patients had accepted her new habit as an eccentricity. “I’m afraid I must be on my way, but it was lovely visiting with you. I would love to borrow that book when you’ve finished.”
“I’ll set it aside for you.” Mrs. Le Huquet scooted forward in her chair.
Ivy held up one hand. “Please don’t rise. I’ll see myself out.”
Mrs. Le Huquet settled back with a relieved smile. “Happy Liberation Day.”
“We can hope.” Outside, Ivy mounted her bicycle and pedaled up Roseville Street under a cloudy sky throbbing with airplane engines.
Her next appointment was one she’d made herself—at the farm for the BBC news broadcast at noon. Surely Uncle Arthur had been listening to his wireless set since dawn. When listening to the BBC was no longer a crime, the secret of how he hid his set so well could emerge.
Elation overrode fear. A laugh erupted, and she pedaled faster. All around, people waved to each other, wearing red or blue—although not enough of both to incite German ire.
Along Hill Street, German soldiers behind sandbag barriers guarded States buildings with machine guns, and on the Esplanade, two German ambulances parked in front of the Pomme d’Or Hotel, ready for casualties. Soon the hotel would no longer be German naval headquarters, adorned with a swastika flag, but would return to hosting sunburnt English tourists on holiday.
“Oh, the joy,” she said. She couldn’t help herself.
A familiar auburn-haired woman approached along the Esplanade, and Ivy waved. “Good day, my friend!”
Joan swept her hand skyward with the biggest smile Ivy had ever seen on the chemist’s face. “A magnificent day, my friend.”
More laughter flowed, and she stood on the pedals to gain speed. Soon to have open and honest friendships.
And an open and honest love. No more meeting Gerrit clandestinely on the farm, and he could burn his detested uniform. Wouldn’t he be handsome in a civilian suit? Dark blue to bring out his eyes, a homburg at a slight angle.
What must he be feeling today, knowing the Allies would soon use his maps? Yes, he’d be interrogated after liberation, but he’d be interrogated by the Allies with civilized methods. The truth would quickly surface.
Gerrit had hidden his last dozen or so silk maps in Aunt Opal’s scrap bag. Once the Allies developed the maps and compared them to those he’d sent earlier, Gerrit’s story would be validated.
When Ivy arrived at the farm, she knocked. “It’s Ivy.”
Aunt Opal flung open the door and wrapped Ivy in a giant, laughing hug.
“It’s true, then?” Ivy said. “The Allies—”
“They call it D-day, but there’s been little in the way of news yet.” Aunt Opal shut the door behind her. “Your uncle and Bernardus and Charlie have been listening to the BBC all morning. The Germans sent the ship and dock workers home.”
They feared invasion and rightly so.
“They’re in the kitchen. Go on through. I’m on sentry duty.” Aunt Opal snapped up a military salute.
Ivy laughed and opened the kitchen door. “Good—”
“Hush!” Three hands raised in her direction. Three heads tucked in close to the wireless set on the kitchen table.
Ivy pulled up a chair.
“D-day has come,” the BBC announcer said. “Early this morningthe Allies began the assault on the northwestern face of Hitler’s European fortress.”
