Unable to hold it in a moment longer, she blurted, “I met a boy named Max today.” She hoped that her voice sounded neutral and unaffected.
“Max! Isn’t he a dreamboat? We are practically going steady.” Willa slapped the desk with her palm.
Sophia felt the wind being knocked out of her.
“What did he say? Did he ask about me?”
Sophia shook her head.
“He probably didn’t realize that we were roommates. Have you met Claude yet? I was thinking that he’d be a good match for you.”
“No, not yet.” Sophia picked at a ball of lint on her comforter so Willa could not see the disappointment on her face.
“Claude is also on the basketball team. I’m surprised he wasn’t with Max. They’re roommates.”
Willa started describing Claude, but all Sophia could think was that Willa was already dating Max. It was the first time she had ever liked a boy, and he was off-limits. She had rotten, stinking luck. Then she remembered what she had been holding on to.
Sophia reached into the small pocket of her school bag and pulled out the napkin-wrapped cookie. She hadn’t had the heart to throw it out. When she unraveled the napkin, Max’s bite mark stared back at her in the shape of a smile. Sophia brought the cookie to her lips, sucking on the bite until it dissolved into sugar on her tongue. Then she nibbled at it until she had eaten every stale crumb.
CHAPTER 13Mannheim, Germany, June 1951
ETHEL
At the next monthly meeting of the Mannheim Officers’ Wives Club held at Dorothy Hansen’s house, Ethel turned out more sharply than usual, in a silk floral swing dress with a petticoat. This month’s theme was pearls, so she wore a velvet tam with over fifty pearls sewn throughout.
“So good to see you, Ethel,” Dorothy greeted her warmly; a flowing string of pearls hung down to her ribs. “We haven’t bumped into each other in weeks. How have you been?”
Ethel removed her pearl-beaded gloves. “I’ve been so busy helping at a local children’s orphanage. Is it okay if I add an agenda item to our discussion today? They could use our help.”
“Certainly,” Dorothy said. “Why don’t you go in and make yourself comfortable. We will get started in a few moments.”
Ethel said a few hellos as she made her way through the living room to Julia, whose daughter cooed softly and kicked her feet against her mother’s lap.
“Well, look who decided to show up,” Julia teased. “I thought we had plans to meet at the May Day luncheon?”
“Honey, I know, and I’ll make it up to you. Promise.” Ethel slid into the seat next to Julia and tickled the baby’s feet. “I have some awesome news.” She could barely contain her excitement.
“What?” Julia leaned forward in her seat.
“I’m going to be a mother,” Ethel whispered in her ear.
“Oh my goodness.” Julia touched her stomach. “Praise God.”
“Shh,” Ethel grabbed Julia’s hands, not ready to share her news with the women in the room. “But it’s not what you think. I’m not having a baby.”
Julia’s face fell, confused.
“We’re adopting. A little girl. Her name is Anke. She’s one of the children at the orphanage I told you about.”
“The orphanage that has been taking up all of your time?”
Ethel nodded. “Bert and I are picking her up on Saturday.”
“Oh my God! That’s wonderful.” She touched her cheek. “This is such a big step. Are you ready?”
“Who knows. I’ve been running around feeling like a chicken without its head attached, trying to get our little place together.”
“How did all this come about?” Julia still looked dumbfounded. “And I better not be the last to know.”
