“You’re never alone,” Opal said.
“I know. I’m trying to lean on God, but God also gives us family and friends. And this—I need to talk to someone, and it needs to stay in the family.”
Gerrit winced and glanced at the back door. He wasn’t family. He shouldn’t listen. But he couldn’t leave without making noise, making a scene.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
Silence pulsed. Was Ivy speaking in a low voice or not speaking at all? “I’m worried about Charlie and Fern.”
Charlie’s eyebrows jumped high.
“Oh?” Opal said. “Why are you worried about Charlie?”
“He’s been tense since he returned from France yesterday. He won’t tell me what happened.”
Charlie scrunched up his face. He couldn’t tell his sister his resistance contacts had been arrested.
“He’s becoming a man,” Opal said. “He’ll be sixteen soon.”
“I know, but I’m afraid something’s horribly wrong. I want to help.”
Regret pinched Charlie’s dark eyes.
Anyone could see how much he loved his sister, and Gerrit picked up the pencil.“Do something nicefor her tonight.”
Charlie nodded a few times and wrote“I’ll take her to a Sunday show.”
Gerrit smiled at the boy. If only he could take Ivy to a show and hear her laugh.
Opal was speaking. “And you know he makes wise decisions.”
“He does. He’s grown up so much. Dad and Mum would be proud. I wish I could trust Fern to make wise decisions too.”
“Oh dear.” Opal’s voice stiffened.
“I don’t know how to say this. Fern’s been staying out late with—as she says—her friends from College House. Germans.”
A flat murmur. “I’ve heard the rumors.”
“Rumors?” Ivy’s voice climbed. “Oh no. What have you heard?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“It isn’t a group, is it? It’s one man.” A sob.
Gerrit clenched his fists, stopped himself from rushing to Ivy, holding her to his chest. Fern was married. How dare she carry on with another man, much less an enemy soldier?
And Charlie—his face drew long, pale.
“Now, now,” Opal said. “Rumors are often wrong.”
“Not this one.” Ivy sobbed the words. “She’s acting as she did when she was falling in love with Bill. Oh, poor Bill. And the boys.”
“Three years Bill’s been gone. Fern never forgave him for leaving.”
“But he had to do his duty. He would have hated himself had he stayed.”
Charlie’s expression warped with confusion, grief, anger.
