“Enemy?” Fern slapped both hands on the dressing table, and hairpins bounced. “Jersey is governed by Germany. I’m supporting our country.”
What a way Fern had for twisting words and ideas to justify her decisions. Yet nothing but sadness filled Ivy’s heart. “You’ve betrayed our family, betrayed the practice. So many patients have left.”
Fern gasped. “They’ve left because you’re always late, always daydreaming, always drawing.”
“We’ve lost far more due to your job and your affair. I’ve been branded as a collaborator because of you.”
Fern sprang from her chair and wheeled on Ivy. “Why, you pathetic, priggish little spinster. Just because no one wants you, you can’t bear to see me happy.”
Ivy’s head swung back and forth. “Not when your happiness comes at the expense of everyone you claim to love.”
“Get out!” Fern pointed to her door, her arm and her voice shaking in tandem. “Need I remind you of the man who was imprisoned for telling a woman not to step out with German soldiers? Six months in prison.”
Ivy studied her sister. Her own sister, who had just threatened her. One half of her hair pinned up and sophisticated, the other half wild and disordered.
Without a word, Ivy left her sister.
chapter
27
St. Peter’s Parish
Sunday, October 17, 1943
For the past two months, Gerrit had become nostalgic for his former life in Amsterdam, confined though it had been. In his current life, he built for Organisation Todt without the consolation of aiding the Allies, without Bernardus’s constant companionship, and without the pleasant Sunday services at the Parish Church of St. Helier.
Gerrit climbed the stairs in the Jouny farmhouse. Only on Saturday and Sunday afternoons could he forget he was nothing but a collaborator now.
He opened Bernardus’s door. In the sun-dappled room, Bernardus sat in a chair with his foot elevated on a stool—and Ivy and Charlie sat on one of the beds.
“I’m sorry.” Gerrit stopped in the doorway. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
“No, no.” Charlie stood and beckoned him in. “I have news about the network, and I wanted to talk to all of you.”
Ivy picked up her medical bag from the floor. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“Agreed,” Bernardus said.
She already knew too much for her safety, and Gerrit stepped aside to let her pass.
“Stay, Ivy.” Charlie set a hand on her shoulder. “I want your opinion.”
“You know the rules,” Bernardus said with a growl. “Each person must know as little as possible, must have only one thing. Ivy is already treating fugitives. That’s enough.”
“No.” Charlie fixed a strong gaze on Bernardus. “We’re family. In the past few months, I’ve learned how each person’s actions affect the others in the family. I won’t proceed without discussing it with Ivy. Not again.”
She gazed up at her younger brother with respect and gratitude—and a touch of sadness in her dark eyes.
Gerrit swallowed hard. “That’s only fair. If you agree, Ivy, that is.”
Ivy nodded and lowered her head, not concealing the pink creeping across her cheeks. She hadn’t met his gaze since he’d entered, not that he blamed her. Didn’t he skitter away like a rabbit every time he saw her lately?
Bernardus heaved a sigh and banged his crutch on the floorboards beside him. “I call this meeting to order. Charlie, you have the floor.”
Gerrit sat on the empty bed.
Charlie settled down beside his sister. “When I was in France yesterday, Marie took me to a safe house. The British agent was there. He’s establishing a new network, and he wants us to join him.”
