Sleep took her to the place that, no matter how much she willed it, she couldn’t avoid. She was in the kitchen, and the heat from the flames started moving toward her. But just as she felt the flames shoot over her, a woman pulled her away from the fire and into her arms. The embrace felt familiar in her bones.
“Schatz.”The woman kissed both her cheeks, and when Sophia looked up, she was gone.
When Sophia opened her eyes, it was daylight, and Jutta was sitting up in the bed they shared. “Are you all right? You were trembling like a leaf.”
As bad as it seemed, there was some good news. Despite not taking the pills, Sophia hadn’t screamed or ripped the flesh from her arms with her nails. That was a first. She searched her memory. “What doesSchatzmean?”
“It’s a term of endearment. It means ‘darling,’ ‘honey,’ ‘sweetie.’ Something like that. Why? Are you dreaming in German now?” Jutta gave her a sloppy smile.
Sophia hugged her knees to her chest and told Jutta the recent iteration of her recurring nightmare.
Moving to the window, Jutta opened the curtains until full sunlight bled into the room. “Maybe it was Jelka. She called meSchatzisometimes. Maybe it was how she called to you too.”
A longing curled up in Sophia’s gut.
Jutta peered out the window. “I talked to my ex, Danny. He wants to meet for coffee while I’m in town. I hope it’s okay for Mrs. Gathers to drive you to your father’s house. I promised him that you’d be there by ten.”
Mrs. Gathers parked in front of a house with a lime-green awning. “I know you were expecting Jutta to bring you. I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re responsible for all of this. Getting me to America, helping me find my parents. It’s only appropriate for my father to meet our Brown Fairy.” Sophia smiled.
On the porch sat two railing planters filled with purple and white pansies stretching their petals toward the sun. Before Sophia reached the top landing, Ozzie pushed open the screen door. He was dressed in a green and yellow dashiki paired with dark Levi’s, his short Afro glistened, and he smiled showing all his teeth.
“Katja. I’m so glad you came.” He held the door open as he looked from Sophia to Mrs. Gathers.
“Hello, Mr. Philips, I’m Ethel Gathers, the one who organized the adoptions of the war babies out of Germany.” She held out her hand.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“Mrs. Gathers has been a godsend in helping me find you.” Sophia fidgeted with the sleeve of her sweater.
“Words can’t thank you enough. Please, come on in.”
They followed Ozzie into the living room. The walls were covered in African art, and the matching sofas were burnt orange with striped throw pillows. A curvy brown-skinned woman dressed in a floral pantsuit stood in the archway that separated the living room from the dining room. A boy about the same age as the twins leaned into her, squirming in a button-down shirt that clearly was not his outfit of choice.
“Katja?” The woman stepped forward. “I’m Rita. It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. You are absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She blushed.
“Sorry we missed you last night. I got caught up at work. Can I give you a hug?” Rita opened her arms and flattened Sophia againsther bosom. “Your dad and I have been scouring the earth for you. He told me the story, and I’m amazed that you found us first.” Then she turned to Mrs. Gathers. “Pleased to meet you too, ma’am.”
“Ethel Gathers.” They shook hands.
“I’m Maceo.” The boy waved in a way that said,Remember me?
Sophia bent down until they were eye to eye. Here was another brother, and Maceo was the spitting image of her father. Deep mahogany skin, white teeth, and kind eyes. “Nice to meet you.”
“Why don’t we all sit down for a few minutes.” Rita gestured to the sofas.
After a bit of polite small talk among the grown-ups, Sophia reached into her satchel and pulled out the tin canister with the German cottage painted on the front. “This box provided the final clue.”
“Oz, don’t you have the same box up in your closet?” Rita touched Ozzie’s thigh.
He said to Sophia, “We bought them from a street vendor shortly after you were born at a little stall in the central square in Mannheim.”
Rita glanced over at the table clock and exhaled. “Goodness gracious, I hate that we can’t spend more time getting to know you, Katja, but Maceo and I are off to a fall cotillion interest meeting.”
“We can skip it,” Maceo piped up.
