‘Did you use the potatoes in the soup?’
‘Clara.’ Friedrich’s voice was firmer.
She turned to look at him, her eyes silently begging him not to ask what she had been doing. He studied her for a long moment, before speaking. ‘Is there anything I need to know, to worry about?’
She shook her head slowly. ‘No more than usual.’ She let out a sigh. ‘I can’t stop thinking about Frau Levin and my other patients that might suddenly disappear.’ It was the truth in part.
Friedrich crossed the room to her. ‘Try not to take everything as your personal responsibility.’ He took the spoon from her hand. ‘Go and get changed. I’ll finish supper.’
She nodded and went to leave.
‘Clara, whatever is going on around us, in the world, we must always take great care. We are no use to anyone otherwise. You must take care always.’
She turned and looked at him, wondering if he suspected what she was doing or just that she was doing something. She gave a small smile. ‘Always.’
It was two days before she finally had contact from the anti-regime network. Two whole days of worry. Two whole days of hiding her nerves from Friedrich. He had gently probed if she was all right and she had avoided telling him outright. They had skirted around direct questions and direct answers. It seemed neither of them were quite ready for the truth. She hated the feeling of not being honest with Friedrich but the desire to protect him from knowing what she was doing was stronger.
That morning at work, Paul had turned up in reception asking to speak to her.
‘Frau Bergmann,’ he said, giving a polite nod. ‘I have a message from your sister-in-law. She wants you to call round to see her on your way home this evening.’
‘Thank you,’ said Clara. ‘Please tell her I’ll be there.’ Of course, she had no such relation, but knew this was the coded message that Max wanted to speak to her in person.
Paul left without another word.
‘Polite young man,’ commented the receptionist after Paul had left.
‘Yes. He lives next door to my sister-in-law. He often runs errands for her.’ Clara hoped her voice sounded casual.
The next six hours at work dragged and although she always looked forward to seeing Ursula, tonight was different. Clara didn’t have much time to get from Ursula’s to the church.
‘Would you like a coffee before you go home?’ asked Ursula. ‘Or we could go to the café for a change, especially as everything seems to be well with me and the baby.’ She smoothed her hand over her stomach.
‘Oh, I’d love to,’ said Clara. ‘But I promised Friedrich I’d be home early tonight. He’s away for a week as of tomorrow.’ It was true, Friedrich had told her he had received orders to carry out a supply inspection, apparently there were some irregularities that he needed to check.
‘Oh, that’s a shame, but I understand,’ said Ursula. ‘Perhaps we could go out one day when you’re not working?’
‘That would be lovely,’ said Clara and she again felt the genuine warmth of friendship which seemed to have come from an unlikely source. They were two women from opposite sides of the war who had found friendship in each other.
She set off for the church with a conflict of emotions, how could she be happy and yet so worried at the same time?
Max was already in the Lady Chapel when Clara arrived, kneeling as if in prayer. She slid into the pew behind him, keeping her voice low.
‘I didn’t think it would take two days before I saw you.’
‘I had a few days annual leave at the police headquarters.’ He turned to look back at her and even in the dim light of the church, she could see a purple and black bruise blooming around his eye.
‘What happened?’
‘They brought me in for questioning. Held me for a couple of days.’ He touched the bruise. ‘They didn’t have enough to keep me, but they are getting close. People are talking.’
‘The city is getting more dangerous by the day.’
‘Anyway, what did you want me for? What is so urgent?’
‘The list I gave you. It had names underlined in red and marked in the column which represents Neuruppin.’
‘A medical facility for pregnant women.’
