Clara studied her husband’s face. He was absolutely determined about this. She realised with a feeling of dread that there would be no changing his mind. She stared at the forms in front of her, feeling the fight leave her body. ‘What if they ask specific questions?’
‘Keep your answers brief and authoritive.’ Friedrich stood, straightening his posture into an official bearing. ‘Like this. “The Ministry requires an assessment of the facilities. Any deviation from protocol must be documented and reported.”’ His voice carried the crisp, bureaucratic tone she’d heard from countless officials.
Clara tried to mimic his stance. ‘The Ministry requires—’
‘No.’ Friedrich gently adjusted her shoulders. ‘Don’t recite it. You’re not asking permission, you are stating a fact. Officials don’t explain themselves. They expect compliance.’
Clara tried again, this time with my authority. ‘Is that better?’
‘Much. But don’t fidget with your papers.’ He caught her hands which had been nervously shuffling the documents. ‘It’s all about confidence.’
She practised several more times until she finally got the seal of approval from Friedrich.
‘Perfect,’ he said quietly. ‘You sound exactly like every ministry official I’ve ever dealt with.’
Clara wasn’t sure she really wanted to sound like a German official. ‘What if they try to verify the papers?’
‘They won’t have time.’ Friedrich pointed to the bottom of the authorisation. ‘By the time anyone realises there is a discrepancy, if they realise, you’ll be in France.’
Clara felt light-headed again. ‘You’re putting your signature on these papers. It will lead straight back to you.’
‘I know what I’m doing,’ he replied quietly. His voice was steady, but she could see a slight tremor in his hands as he gathered the documents together. ‘I will meet you at the border to make sure everything goes smoothly.’
‘Are you coming with me then?’ In her heart she knew the answer, but she asked all the same.
Friedrich shook his head. ‘Not straightaway. Once you’re in Lille, you’ll make contact with your sister Rose. She will be able to facilitate you getting to England.’
‘What? How? I mean, you’ve spoken to her?’
‘Indirectly. I have contacts who have contacts.’
Clara looked in amazement at her husband. She really shouldn’t be surprised at any of this. Her heart expanded with love for this man. ‘I had no idea,’ she said.
‘Now, once you are in Lille, you will be contacted by a man called Oscar. He will take you to Rose. She will be expecting you and you will be taken to England from there. She has been working in the British field hospital there but since the invasion of France, she has been holding back. Waiting.’
‘Waiting for what?’
‘I don’t know. But now she is waiting for you. There is a big evacuation happening at Dunkirk. The British are retreating. That’s how you’re getting back to England. The beach is being held but any day now German forces will break through the defences. This is your only chance.’
The enormity of the plan and the lengths Friedrich had gone to weren’t wasted on Clara. ‘You’ve been planning this for months, haven’t you?’
He nodded. ‘As much as I can. Obviously, escaping via Dunkirk was not something I could anticipate. There was an alternative route through Spain, but this is the safest. Everything I’ve done at Bendlerblock, I’ve been learning, noting and working out how I can help you. Ever since you started going out to the women at night, I’ve been preparing for this moment so I can save you and now I have to save you and our child.’
‘What about you? How will you follow?’
Friedrich took her hands. ‘Liebling, I will find a way, but it may not be soon, it may be some time. You have to trust me.’
‘I won’t leave you,’ she said through tears.
‘You will. You have to. It’s not just about you anymore. It’s about saving our unborn child.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘Our child deserves to grow up free.’
Chapter 32
Clara barely slept that night. Thoughts of having to leave Friedrich played on her mind until the early hours of the morning. It went against every grain in her body to leave her husband but at the same time, it was no longer her own safety, it was that of their child. Much as she knew it would break her heart to leave Friedrich, and indeed already was, she also knew that she would do it for the life growing inside her. It wasn’t about her or them anymore, it was about their child.
‘What shall I do today?’ asked Clara as she sat down for breakfast with Friedrich.
‘You will do what you always do,’ he said. ‘You need to report to the police station as required.’ Although he said the words calmly, Clara knew only too well by the way his hand shook a fraction when he lifted his coffee cup that underneath the composed exterior, he too was frightened. It unnerved her even more.
