Two hours later, and after much planning, Ben walked with Sam to the door.
With a heart filled with hope, Sam offered him his hand. ‘Thank you for inviting me into your home, Ben.’
Ben shook it. ‘My pleasure. We enjoyed it. Particularly Helene.’
‘You are a lucky man.’
‘I know.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Your talk with Helene... is there anything I should know?’
Sam thought for a moment. He had given his word to Helene to say nothing so he would not reveal the inner battle she had fought to stay with him. That was a conversation only she could share.
‘I think she gets homesick sometimes,’ Ben added, aware of the silence coming from him.
Sam could see the desperation in Ben’s eyes — he wanted to help his wife. ‘If you think she is homesick,’ he said, ‘perhaps you could ask her to make you a German dish now and then? I think she would like that.’
Ben understood and nodded slowly. ‘I will.’
‘And is it possible to visit her family in Germany?’
‘It is not impossible. I will ask her about it.’ He opened the door and stood back as Sam stepped out into the night. ‘Sam?’
Sam turned to look at him. ‘Yes?’
‘I’ve tried too hard to forget she is German, haven’t I?’
‘She did not say that.’
‘But it’s the truth, isn’t it? I’ll do better. I must stop ignoring that side of her because that also makes her who she is.’
Sam looked at Ben framed in the doorway and knew he would become his lifelong friend. ‘She is lucky to have you, Ben. And you are lucky to have her. Remind her that she makes you a better man for having her in your life.’
Ben’s eyes softened as he looked at him. ‘How did you know?’
Sam smiled sadly. ‘Because I know I would be a better man if Elsa was in mine.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hamburg, 1951
‘It is important for us to continue to improve Anglo-German relationships. We started with entertaining the German children and organizing sports events between the services and the population.’
Elsa looked up from her writing pad and lifted an eyebrow at the man sitting on the other side of the desk. ‘I thought that was because you needed the German facilities and land.’
The colonel accepted her observation gracefully. ‘It was for both reasons, but I would rather the latter is not reported.’
‘The local press is happy to report it as you suggest.’
The colonel smiled. ‘Good. Are you ready for the next paragraph?’
Elsa nodded and poised her pen in readiness. The colonel noisily cleared his throat. The face the colonel showed the public could be at times fierce but he had always been kind and respectful to her. Elsa had realized early on that he appreciated efficiency, covert reminders and prompts. Elsa was good at all three and their working relationship was far easier and more enjoyable than she had dared to hope.
‘We feel that the playing field should be accessible to amateurs as well as professionals. It will be a great leveller, as political matters and language barriers have little relevance in sport.’ The colonel drank deeply from his cup of tea and leaned back in his chair. ‘Of course, I’m not a fool. I’m aware more than anyone that relations between the occupying force and the general public are still variable.’ He swept his hand to one side as he continued to speak. ‘At one end it is hostile, at the other there are international marriages, and in between there’s still areluctance on either side to form deep friendships, but it is what we strive—?’
Elsa glanced up from her notes. ‘It is difficult to form deep friendships with an occupying force that requisitions land and houses, particularly when they are in such short supply.’
‘Both sides have their complaints, Elsa. The occupying forces would rather be home with their families.’
‘I know.’
