Hearts in Hiding

by Patty Smith Hall

  “Why do you think that?”

  She opened her eyes. “Everyone in my old neighborhood was German, Beau, yet we were the only ones thrown out of our house. Why would the government take possession of our home and leave everyone else alone? Particularly since I warned them about my father’s activities.”

  It made sense, all of it. “And you think the Bund put your mom out so that she could lead them to you?”

  She gave him a quick nod. “After I left, Dad wasn’t allowed to take his position in Hamburg as he’d planned. Mom and Dad have been here in the states the whole time I’ve been with Bell.”

  “Where’s your dad now?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. According to Mom, he left three months ago and she hasn’t seen him since.”

  Beau grimaced. So the man could be anywhere. Why hadn’t the government brought these people to justice yet? True, the country’s resources were being stretched by the war, but this group lived right on our doorstep, threatening this nation from the inside out. Threatening Edie. “And you think your father’s still after you after all this time?”

  “If he wants to cement his position in the Gau Midwest, then yes, it’s a strong possibility.”

  A certainty, more like it. Anger burst through his veins, making him grit his teeth before he said something he’d regret. If Edie’s father ever came snooping around here, he’d plant a fist in the older man’s face for what he’d put his daughter through. And Mrs. Michaels? Silly woman, didn’t she think to use the good sense God had given her, instead of putting her daughter, a woman who had already faced so much, in harm’s way? Or was that her plan? To expose Edie, have her kidnapped, then turn her daughter in to her superiors for whatever prize they dangled like a toy in front of Mrs. Michaels’s face?

  “I don’t need you to get angry, Beau.”

  He’d never been able to hide his temper, not with his auburn hair and fair skin, but he had a feeling Edie would be able to read him anyway. “I’m sorry. But it just burns me up thinking about what she’s done.”

  “I know. I’m upset, too, but I also think she didn’t do this on purpose.”

  Beau leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why do you say that?”

  “Look, Mom’s always been more of a homebody, always taking care of us or helping out around our neighborhood. She’s never been much on politics. She’s always let Daddy be the one to tell her who to vote for.” Her eyes grew wide and her mouth turned up into an incredulous smile. “But when she learned the full scope of what Daddy was into, she stood up to him.”

  Beau wasn’t so easily won over. “Are you sure she’s just not telling you what she knows you want to hear?”

  Lantern light shimmered along the golden highlights of her dark hair when she shook her head. “I might have thought that if we were still at home, but she didn’t sugarcoat the problem like she would have in the past. She’s being honest, not just with me but with herself.”

  Beau nodded. The jury was still out on Mrs. Michaels for now. He blinked as the realization hit him. “You’re not safe here.”

  Dropping her chin down, she stared at the wooden surface of the table, as if looking for an answer there. “No, and neither is anyone else living here while I’m still here. I have to leave, the sooner the better for everyone involved.”

  Not everyone. The thought of looking across the dinner table and not seeing Edie, or sharing the night sky with her on the porch swing, tore a hole through him. But that was beside the point. Edie needed him and he intended to do whatever he could to help her. “Knowing you like I do, I bet you’ve got a plan.”

  Her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink, as if the fact he knew her so well pleased her. “I always figured if worse came to worst, I could bunk down at the plant. Major Evans even gave me the okay when I told him what was going on.” Edie leaned her head back, a cascade of silky brown curls falling around her shoulders, her eyes staring up at the ceiling. “But I can’t do that now, not with my mother here.”

  “Why not let her stay with Merrilee? No one would even know she’s still here, and after a while, those men looking for you would realize they’ve run into a dead end.”

  And Edie would be safe. Everyone in town knew you couldn’t get inside the plant without an identification card complete with a photograph, so the possibility the thugs after Edie could breach security was slim to none. Once inside the gates of the bomber plant, Major Evans would protect her. That was all that mattered to Beau.

  “I don’t think these guys are the give in and give up types.”

  He hated to ask this next question, but if it kept her safe, that was all that mattered. “Do you have any college friends who could take you in for a little while?”

  “No. They’re either in the service or working at one of the automotive plants that’s been converted for military usage. So I’m stuck.”

  “Don’t say that.” Beau knew Edie was just telling the truth. Of all the times not to have an escape plan. Now he desperately needed one to save this incredible woman. He needed time to analyze these feelings she’d brought out in him, tenderness and hope.

  And love.

  “Beau,” she whispered, her hand closing over his, her fingers grasping his, tightening into a snug knot. “Would you please pray for me?”

  He covered their hands with his free one. No way was he letting her go, not now, maybe not ever. He watched her bow her head, then followed suit. Father, You know the plans You have for Edie, good plans that will bring You glory and honor. Keep her safe. Beau started to lift his head, then lowered it again, remembered something Edie had once told him. And, Lord, help her parents. They’ve made some bad decisions, but who of us hasn’t? Lead them in the way You’d want them to go. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

  Edie’s tremulous smile greeted him as he lifted his head. “I know how hard that was, praying for my parents, but I appreciate it.”

  Beau nodded. Truth be told, it hadn’t been that difficult. In fact, in the moments since raising those words up to heaven, the exasperation he’d felt for the Michaelses had eased a bit. “Maybe I’ll have to give that a try with my dad.”

  Edie had barely registered a smile when a knock at the kitchen door put him on alert. One glance at the clock above the stove told him it was too late for visitors, and Merrilee would have called out, then bustled inside.

  Beau leaned close to Edie, keeping his voice low so that only she could hear. “Did your mother think she’d been followed?”

  She shook her head, her eyes wide and watchful, her teeth nibbling at her bottom lip, reminding him how soft and warm and sweet her kiss tasted. “No. In fact, she ended up on a couple of bus routes before she finally figured out how to get here.”

  “Good. Maybe whoever is out there will take the hint and go away.”

  A rap on the door came a second later. “Beau Daniels, your aunt told me you were out here, puffed up about some such nonsense. Now let me in.”

  “Gertie!” Before he could stop her, Edie had pushed back her chair and stood.

  He stopped her before she got any farther, grasping her elbow. “You can’t just go around opening doors anymore, understand?”

  The pink glow in her cheeks faded, her vivid blue-green eyes paling to a translucent aquamarine. “I understand.”

  “Okay.” Releasing her arm, Beau pushed back from the table, a tension coiling through his body, his muscles tightening, preparing for the fight. He’d seen the look Edie had given him before, in the faces of his fellow inmates at Moosberg, imprisoned in a world with no color, no life.

  The walk to the door only consisted of four or five steps, but it felt like forever. Whatever happened, Edie had to be safe. When he held the doorknob, he glanced back at her one more time. Her dainty shoulders squared, she lifted her chin just a tad, a familiar move she made when she wanted to prove her point. With a brief nod, she straightened, her spine a ribbon of steel.

  With a quick prayer, Beau turned the k
nob.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Edie’s lungs stung from the breath she’d been holding for what felt like forever. She gripped her hands together in a knot at the base of her spine to keep them from trembling. She would go with the Germans if they caught her. It was the only option that kept Beau and his family out of harm’s way.

  Beau cracked open the door a few inches. “Are you alone, Gert?”

  Something in his voice must have alerted her friend because she gave a nervous nod. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Come in.” He held the door open.

  Gert removed the black scarf from around her head and looked at Edie. “What in the blue blazes is going on here? Come here to talk to you two, and what do I get? Left sitting on the doorstep like a cat put out for the night?”

  Edie stared at Gert’s outraged expression, a hint of a chuckle rising up in her throat. Before she knew it, she doubled over at the waist, laughter bubbling up, erasing the tension of the past few hours, even if just for a moment.

  A low chortle from the doorway made her lift her head. Beau had joined her, his eyes dancing with merriment, the troubled lines that had been plaguing his features suddenly softened. This was the Beau she’d carry with her in memory in the lonely months and years to come.

  The thought sobered her, and she caught her breath. “I’m sorry, Gert. It’s just been an interesting afternoon around here.”

  Her friend leaned into one hip, perching her fist at the dip at her waist. “Well, if I had known I was that funny, I would have put in for a radio job with Burns and Allen.”

  Edie bit back a new round of giggles, motioning to a chair. “What are you doing here anyway?”

  Walking to the cabinets, Beau opened the door and grabbed a clean cup. “It’s kind of late for you to be on this side of town.”

  Gertie gave them a smug look. “When the only good time for a woman like me to be on this side of town is to clean somebody’s house or cook their meals, I figured I’d take the chance.”

  Wonder what had her friend in high spirits tonight? “So tell us what brings you here.”

  “Well,” she started, her dark eyes gleaming with excitement, “the telephone company came out today and started digging out to plant the poles. It’s really happening.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Edie leaned over and pulled her friend into a hug. Only she wouldn’t be around to see Cantrell fulfill his promise, wouldn’t see the sunlight glisten against copper wires, wouldn’t be in the room to see the wide-eyed delight when Gert heard the operator on her own telephone for the first time.

  She glanced over her friend’s shoulder. Beau knew it, too, the lines plowed out around his mouth and eyes, though not as deep.

  Releasing Gert, Edie shifted back in her chair. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Me, too, Gertie,” Beau added.

  Gertie shifted her gaze between them, then reclined back in her chair, folding her arms over her waist. “What’s going on here? You two look like I just kicked your pet dog.”

  No sense lying to Gertie. She’d know soon enough about her mother arriving, that Edie had moved out of the boardinghouse in a hurry, taking off for parts unknown. Maybe the ugly truth about her father would remain hidden. She stole a look at Beau. His lips tightened into a sharp line, but he gave her a grudging nod.

  Edie turned to face her friend. “Truth is, I’m leaving town tonight and I won’t be coming back.”

  Gertie turned to Beau. “When did this happen?”

  “This evening,” Beau answered, his eyes wandering back to Edie’s face. “We’ve tried to figure out a way to keep her here, but nothing has panned out so far.”

  “Is Bell transferring you?”

  “In fact, I’m going to quit my job.” Edie shrugged at the quizzical look Gertie gave her. “It may upset Mr. Ellerbee for a while, but I’ve been working hard. I deserve to live the life of leisure for a bit.”

  One dark eyebrow shot up in surprise. Several seconds passed in awkward silence before Gertie spoke again. “You almost had me there. Until you started squalling about giving up your job. So why don’t you tell me the truth?”

  “Fine, but it can’t go beyond this room.”

  “Beau!”

  Gertie gave them a sharp nod. “Done.”

  Edie glared at him. “Why drag her into this mess?”

  “Because she might have an answer that we haven’t thought of yet.”

  Edie blinked. Maybe Beau had a point. Maybe having someone look at her situation from another angle might yield a solution to her problem. “Okay.”

  For the next several minutes, Beau explained the situation to Gertie, looking to Edie to fill in the gaps he might have missed. Her friend’s expression never changed, as if Beau was reading her the society column out of the newspaper instead of a devious plot to steal plans for the B-29 bomber by kidnapping Edie and forcing her to Germany.

  “I tried to talk her into camping out at the plant, but she won’t listen. She’s worried about her mother.”

  His scowl irked her until she realized that before a few hours ago, she’d thought, much like Beau did, that her mom had betrayed her like her dad had. She was stepping out on faith believing her mother, wasn’t she? “Mom wouldn’t be safe here. Neither would anyone else.”

  Beau tensed, as if what she’d said had in some way insulted him. Well, he’d have to get over it. She’d rather have him angry than dead.

  “I think you're wrong, Edie,” Gertie said. “If your mother is here and doesn’t know where you are, she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone because she wouldn’t know.”

  Both Gertie and Beau were beginning to make sense. “Then I could just stay at the plant.”

  “Why not come stay with us for a while?” Gertie gave her an encouraging smile. “We’ve got the extra room, and you wouldn’t have to worry about getting to work because Dad drives the bus route for the plant. It would be like you hiding in plain sight.”

  Edie shook her head. “It’s like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. I won’t put you and your family in danger just to hide from my father.”

  “Think about it, Edwina,” Beau said, covering her hands with his. “This might just be the answer we’ve been praying for.”

  How could that be, when instead of Merrilee and Claire, Gertie and her family would be in danger? The man she loved would never value one person’s life above another’s, but in this case, it sounded like that was exactly what Beau was suggesting. Edie swallowed against the lump forming in her throat. “It sounds like you’re trading Gertie’s family’s safety for your own.”

  “It’s not like that, Edie,” Gertie answered before Beau had the chance. “All Beau is saying is that no one in their right mind is going to come looking for a white woman in a Negro community.”

  But Edie wasn’t so sure. The only thing she knew was that she had to leave here, tonight if possible. If keeping his promise to John to watch out for Merrilee held so much importance that he’d put other lives at stake, she couldn’t stay.

  Because staying would break her heart that much more.

  * * *

  Walking into the parlor a few hours later, Beau headed for the sideboard and the coffeepot waiting there. Everyone in the house had retired upstairs hours ago, except Edie, who spent the majority of the evening packing. It had taken a promise from him to see that the rest of Edie’s possessions made it to the Stephenses later, after he knew she was safe. He turned over a clean mug and reached for the pot.

  “You want to pour me a cup, too?”

  Beau looked over his shoulder to see Merrilee walking toward him. “Sure. Cream and sugar?”

  “Yes, please.”

  The coffeepot clinking against the porcelain filled the silence around them. He doctored her coffee, then held it out for her.

  “Thank you.” She took the cup, blowing at the little swirls of steam rising from the liquid. “So did Edie get off okay?”

  “As far as I k
now. Her mother wasn’t too happy when Edie decided she should stay here for now, but we thought it was best if Mrs. Michaels didn’t know where Edie was going.”

  “So Mrs. Michaels is staying in Edie’s old room.”

  Beau hated the sound of that statement, as if Edie were never coming home. “Just until the danger has passed. But what about you? What’s got you up this late at night?”

  “Ever since Annabelle Smith came down with polio, Claire’s been having nightmares.” She lifted her cup to her lips and drew in a long sip. “You know, for all the fussing those two girls do, I think they really like each other.”

  Bowing his head, Beau chuckled. “Kids.”

  “I don’t know. Seems to me the adults around here are just as bad.” She reached for the bottle of milk in front of him and splashed a drop into her cup. “When she first started at the plant, Maggie and Wesley were constantly butting heads over one thing or another. But now, one doesn’t speak before the other one is finishing their thought.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  Merrilee wrapped her hands around her cup. “So how do you like Mrs. Michaels?”

  So that’s what Merrilee was up to, digging for clues as to why Edie had to leave. “I’m not a fan.”

  His aunt walked over to the sofa and sank into the cushions. “I can imagine you’re angry with her, leaving Edie with that pack of snakes her husband deals with. It must be devastating to know that you almost let your husband sacrifice your daughter to the enemy, all for the sake of prestige and power.”

  The coffee scalded a fiery trail down his throat. “You knew about that?”

  “There’s not much that goes on in the house that I don’t know about, Beau.” Merrilee reclined back against the sofa. “I figured she must have had a falling-out with her parents. She never got any mail from home. A couple of weeks after she moved in, I got a visit from Major Evans. He told me about Edie’s father and his political involvements in strictest confidence.”

  Merrilee knew? “Then why did you let her stay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? She’s a wonderful girl.” Merrilee took a sip from her cup. “Are you suggesting that I should have thrown her out?”