Marie nodded enthusiastically. ‘Exactly. Now, enough about work. How are you? You look tired.’
Clara managed a smile. ‘I really enjoy working at the clinic and being able to conduct home visits is something I haven’t done before. In fact, I still have one more to do before I finish today.’
They continued chatting about work, colleagues and the small details of their daily lives – safe subjects that felt like a refuge from the darker currents swirling around the city. All too soon though it was time to get back to work and reality.
After giving Marie a brief hug goodbye, Clara took the tram across the city to Ursula Müller’s home. Twenty minutes later, she was knocking on the door.
‘Frau Bergmann, please, come in,’ greeted Frau Müller. A little, tan-coloured dachshund trotted down the hallway, giving several enthusiastic barks. ‘Now, Kaiser, that’s enough.’
‘Thank you,’ said Clara, stepping into the house and giving the pregnant woman a quick glance over with her trained eye.
‘Ignore Kaiser. He’ll stop barking in a minute. He’s a big dog in a little body.’
As Clara followed Frau Müller into the house, she scanned the hallway, checking the layout of the property, trying to work out where the study was situated.
‘Please, sit down. Can I offer you a drink?’
‘No, thank you.’ Clara looked around the room at the pillow and blanket on the chaise longue. The room was very tastefully decorated, with a sophisticated elegance. She could imagine during the day, especially the summer months, daylight streaming in through the tall windows, which were draped with heavy silk curtains in a soft shade of blue. A gleaming mahogany display cabinet showcased delicate porcelain figurines and silver-framed photographs. Across the room, a grand piano stood majestically by the marble fireplace. The furnishings spoke of wealth and taste. ‘Shall I examine you here?’
‘If that’s all right with you.’ Ursula sat down on the chaise and swung her legs up, before adjusting her dress so Clara could feel her stomach. Kaiser jumped up onto the chaise and curled up protectively beside his owner. ‘Hans tried to train him to stay off the furniture, but I’m afraid I’ve spoiled him terribly,’ Frau Müller said, stroking the dachshund’s head. ‘He’s my constant companion these past weeks. Do you have any pets?’ She passed Clara her ante-natal record card that was on the side table.
‘No. I work so it wouldn’t be fair to leave a dog on its own all day.’
‘That’s very true.’ Frau Müller stroked the dog’s head. ‘I can’t imagine leaving Kaiser on his own for very long.’
‘He’s clearly devoted to you,’ replied Clara, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around Frau Müller’s arm.
‘Hans thinks I show Kaiser far too much affection.’ The German woman gave a laugh. ‘Anyone would think he was jealous of a dog.’
‘Well, Kaiser is very adorable,’ said Clara, giving the dog a quick tickle under his chin before turning her attention back to the blood pressure.
‘Men are like children sometimes,’ said Frau Müller. Her laugh tinkled like a crystal glass being tapped with a teaspoon.
Clara recorded her patient’s blood pressure. ‘That’s much better than yesterday. Glad you’re following instructions and resting well.’
Frau Müller patted her tummy. ‘I have a very good incentive. Not to mention an excellent midwife.’ After a pause, she added more quietly, ‘It must be difficult for you .?.?. being British in Berlin these days.’
Clara’s hands stilled momentarily. ‘It has its challenges.’
‘I can imagine. People are very small minded at times. My neighbour—’ she gestured to the house next door ‘—Frau Graff, has barely spoken to me since she found out I was still using the Jewish seamstress in Kurfürstendamm,’ scoffed Frau Müller, referring to the major shopping street in the city. ‘Can you imagine? How she thought using a different seamstress, by that I mean not Jewish, would help Germany win the war, I don’t know.’ She rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Clara couldn’t help being a little surprised by this admission from Frau Müller. Most Jewish businesses in the city had been closed down. ‘Is the seamstress still there?’
‘Sadly, no. You know what it’s like.’ Frau Müller held Clara’s gaze for a moment, before continuing. ‘Do you know, you’re the first person I’ve spoken to all day since Hans left for work this morning. Tell me, what’s going on out there in the city?’
‘Just the usual. Just like any other day,’ said Clara. ‘People rushing about, trams full, more police about.’ She rubbed her hands together to warm them up before placing them on Ursula’s stomach. She began to feel for the baby, checking its position.
‘I feel very alone sometimes,’ said Frau Müller. ‘I don’t have many friends.’
‘It’s not about the number of friends but the quality of friendship,’ said Clara, reciting something their mother had often said to her and her sisters.
‘Those are very wise words.’
‘Wise words from my mother.’ Satisfied the baby was in the correct position, Clara made a note of it on the record card.
‘You must miss your mother,’ said Frau Müller. ‘Being so far away.’
An unexpected lump lodged itself in Clara’s throat as she thought of her family back home in England. She nodded. ‘Yes, I do. And my sisters.’
