Saving Anna

by Sharon Struth

  Josef touched her cheek. “Yes. That is true about his time in hiding. I still believe Isaak would be grateful for your visit.”

  She blinked away the wetness. “I hope so.” She drew in a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

  They walked through a gate leading to a compound of rustic, white brick buildings. A cobblestone path took them between two fields, where grazing sheep welcomed them with their soft bleats on one side, and cows quietly ate on the other.

  Anna reached for Josef’s hand, latching on comfortably, as if they’d been doing it for ages. Not two days. Yet it felt right to him, also.

  The closest building was the main house. Dull peach shutters and blue trim popped out against the white brick facade.

  A loud bark sounded and seconds later a Bernese mountain dog barreled toward them. The furry dog swarmed around their legs as the house front door opened.

  A slender woman with short gray hair stepped out and approached them. “Welcome. You must be Anna and Josef. I am Eloïse.” She spoke English with a strong Dutch accent.

  She shook their hands and smiled warmly. “I am so happy to meet you.”

  Anna seemed to relax, the tense lines fading from her face. “Me, too. Thank you for having us over.”

  The dog barked and Eloïse laughed. “Forgive me. This is Samson.”

  Anna ran her hand along his thick fur. “He’s gorgeous.”

  “And he is very spoiled. Well, I should start by thanking you for bringing us the news about Isaak. How is Gunther?”

  “His daughter says his age is catching up with him.”

  Eloïse frowned. “I am sorry to hear that. It was my parents who brought Isaak into our home. I was a young girl of five when he arrived but have many memories of his time here. My brothers, who used to play with him, are here and so is an uncle, who remembers the time Isaak spent with us. We are all very eager to hear about his life.”

  “He would be so happy to know I’m here. Your farm is lovely.”

  “Oh, thank you. My husband and I have run it for many years, since my parents got too old to do the work. We are getting ready to turn it over to another generation. Let me show you around.”

  They followed her from building to building. She introduced them to one of her brothers, who’d come out of the main house carrying a basket to get some fresh eggs. Josef liked it here. Everything was earthy, back to basics. Why was he always looking for excitement in his life, when sometimes the simplest pleasures could bring him so much more?

  As they entered the horse stables, he glanced at Anna and winked. Her smile made his heart leap, and that’s when reality hit him… Maybe the adventure he’d been missing his whole life was being with a woman who caused that kind of reaction.

  * * * *

  The eighteenth-century farmhouse was as warm and welcoming as the family who owned the property. Anna lowered her fork to her plate, unable to eat another bite of the delicious meal, though others around the long table still dug into theirs.

  A large, brick fireplace sparked with life and three candelabras on the table brightened the dining room’s brick interior. Overhead, rustic dark beams spanned the ceiling, and detailed oil paintings hung off the cracked walls.

  Her gaze trailed to the people joining them. Eloïse’s brothers, Tristan and Laurent. Their spouses and children were all here, and even a few close cousins. All of them had been interested in learning about Isaak’s life in America, and also hers living in New York City.

  She leaned back to listen while Tristan talked about the farm operation to Josef. He slipped his arm around the back of Anna’s chair and she settled into it.

  Last night, swept up in the romance of the old canal town and their horse carriage ride, she’d invited him into her room. Gentle kisses spun into passion. She’d never wanted a man more. Yet the voice that had cornered her while they sat in the town square returned. Stirring up all the doubt again. She wanted to conquer this feeling, so she didn’t return home with regrets about what she wished she’d done with Josef.

  Eloïse returned carrying a pie. Her niece walked behind her with another. She lowered them to the table and got seated across from Anna. “May I see Isaak’s note?”

  Anna took the copy of Isaak’s letter from her purse and passed it across the table. “This is a copy for you to keep. I’m sure Isaak would’ve written you a letter of his own if he ever dreamed I’d make it this far.”

  “This means so much to us.” Eloïse’s voice softened and her eyes glistened in the candlelight. “I only wish my parents could have been here for this visit.” She forced a cheery smile. “Now everyone, eat up. That pie is straight out of the oven.”

  Anna nibbled away at the sweet dessert and listened to the conversations around her while Eloïse silently read the note. Before sitting down to dinner, several family members had shared their stories of the war. They discussed some French family members who had suffered greatly during the Nazi occupation of that country. Jewish neighbors taken from their homes, sent off on trains. Anybody thought to be doing anything against the Nazis, even minor infractions, could have lost their lives. More sorrow. The heaviness accumulating in Anna’s heart since the start of this journey swelled with a new layer.

  She’d also learned the family had documents forged for Isaak by the resistance, explaining how he got out of Belgium after the invasion and reached London, ultimately leaving for America.

  Josef finished his pie and returned his arm to the back of her chair. She turned and found him watching her, a soft smile set on his lips that spoke volumes without words.

  Eloïse stood and clinked her glass with a spoon. “I would like to read aloud the letter Anna has delivered to us. Josef has been kind enough to translate the German into English for me.”

  The room went silent. Eloïse’s reading carried strong emotion, at times her voice quivering, causing many eyes around the table to tear up. Even the youngsters listened with an attentive ear. They had heard the stories about the war, handed down from generation to generation.

  A half hour later, they left. Hugs were shared and email addresses exchanged with promises to see each other again.

  On the drive back to the hotel, Josef remained quiet but rested his hand on her knee. Anna tipped her head against the headrest and closed her eyes, lost in thought about the wonderful gathering of new friends. Thinking about the rest of their night, too, and how it had ended last evening.

  After Josef parked, she climbed out of the car and took an unsteady step. Her head wandered in the haze of too much wine. Josef came up from behind and swooped his arm around her waist, keeping her upright.

  He chuckled. “Do not tell me you are drunk.”

  She liked him this close and kissed his cheek. “Okay. I won’t tell you.”

  He softly laughed. They walked along the canal toward the hotel while the water glistened from the moon’s touch. Once inside and through the lobby, Josef guided her to the elevator and hit the up button.

  “We will take the lift. In your condition, I am sure you cannot walk to the third floor.”

  “Yes I can.”

  The door opened. He guided her inside and tapped the button. The second the doors clamped shut, he wrapped a strong arm around her waist and drew her close. His voice thick and husky, he said, “Lucky for you I am not a man who takes advantage of drunk women.”

  “Even if she wants you to?” Anna slipped her hands through his hair and brought her lips to his.

  He kissed her deeply then pulled back, his eyes softening, skipping over her face. “Yes, even a beautiful temptress who has been teasing me all night with her ruby lips.”

  “So, this temptress teases you?” She undid top two button of his shirt then walked her fingers through the matted cinnamon hairs on his chest. “Good God, she sounds desperate.”

  He gave her a devilish smile as heat flared
in his eyes. He slipped his hands around her backside, drew her against him then kissed her again.

  The doors dinged, then opened. He pulled back, took her hand, and they stepped out.

  At her door, she searched her purse for the key while he stood behind her, his warm breath on her neck, his hands moving slowly along her hips. Making her body burn, quake for more. She wanted to rid herself of the past, and maybe this was the only way to do it.

  When she found the key, she turned into his waiting arms. “Don’t go. Stay with me.”

  His gaze skipped over her face and heat burned in his eyes. “Are you certain?”

  She placed her hands on his cheeks. “What I want, while we are still together, is to be with you.”

  He stared into her eyes, for one, two, three seconds and finally nodded. “It is all I needed to know.”

  * * * *

  A sliver of dawn light peeked through the crack in the curtains. Anna lay curled at Josef’s side, facing him. Her chest rose and fell with slumber. He wanted to touch her smooth porcelain skin, thread his fingers through her soft hair. Instead, his gaze moved to the remnants of the bruise on her exposed shoulder. How hard had she been hit for the bruise to remain all these weeks later?

  Rage sizzled inside his veins. How could anybody do this to her? To anyone, for that matter. Two years of such treatment could make the strongest of people cynical and angry. Not her. Anna still smiled and proved she was made of tough stuff.

  Anna’s eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. “What time is it?”

  “Just after six.”

  She groaned and pressed her warm hands to his chest. “We don’t have to get up, right?”

  “No. Go back to sleep.” Josef rested his arm on the curve of her waist and shut his eyes.

  He listened to her breathing, his arm rising and falling with each breath. Though he wanted to make love to her again, he let her rest. Soon his thoughts got fuzzy, one step from slumber. She shifted, moved close. Her soft lips grazed his chest, his shoulder, nipped the side of his neck, then she slid on top of him, pressing her flesh against his so they melted into one. He hungrily kissed her mouth, placing his palms on her back and following her sensuous curves while getting lost in the dim scent of her perfume. Her hands moved, touching him all over, making his skin burn and forcing utterances of pleasure to escape from his lips. All while he explored the places that made her whimper in satisfaction, a sound that sent his blood coursing through his veins.

  Later, she fell back to sleep in his arms, but all he could think about was the day she returned home. To a place where she would have to face a man who abused her, and he wouldn’t be there to keep her safe.

  Chapter 21

  Though the sun shined brightly, Anna still shivered from a breeze as the riverboat passed by a hillside with a rustic house next to several fields of grapes.

  Josef put his arm around her shoulders. “Cold? We can go down below.”

  “I’m happy right here, with this beautiful view.”

  He pressed his lips to her temple. “It is beautiful,” he said softly.

  “It was nice of Claudia to give you another day off after we got back from Belgium.”

  “She’s tough but fair.” He slowly rubbed her arm, making her warm. “My family looks forward to meeting you at the wedding.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them, too. What are they like?”

  Josef talked about his sister and her kids, his mother, and brother with ease. His laughter during several anecdotes revealed they were a family he loved and enjoyed spending time with. This past week, he’d been so relaxed, happy. She wanted to tell him Patrick had learned she’d gone to Germany, but no time ever felt right.

  He pointed out a building set on a long strip of land in the river. “Look. That white building is Pfalzgrafenstein Castle.” The boxy structure, sitting on the island, had a black roofline dotted with quite a few small towers including a large pentagonal-shaped one. “It was built as a toll-collecting station.”

  “Recently?”

  He laughed and his eyes crinkled. “No. In the 1300s. Are you messing with me?”

  “Yes.” She warmed from his smile, but her prior thoughts broke the magic. If even a teeny chance existed for them to have a long-distance relationship, she couldn’t simply avoid topics because they bothered him.

  “Remember the day we went to Wiesbaden?” she said casually.

  “I will never forget it. Why?”

  “Before you picked me up to leave, Patrick left me a message that was upsetting.”

  “Yes. I could sense something was wrong. And…?”

  “He knows I’m in Germany.” Josef’s hand, still in hers, tensed, but she continued to explain about his conversation with the real estate agent, leading him to the lawyer’s office. “I doubt the lawyer’s assistant handed over specifics, like where I am staying.”

  “Did you call the lawyer’s office and ask them what happened?”

  “Yes. The assistant was away for a few days. The lawyer apologized and doubted she would give out specific details without asking him first.”

  Josef stared straight ahead as they passed the ruins of another castle, silent, his jaw taut as a stretched rubber band. Finally, he said, “Have you spoken to your husband since coming here?”

  “Just once, and he texted me quite a few times after he hung up on me.”

  “He hung up on you?”

  She nodded. “Sadly, he sees himself as the victim in my divorce filing.”

  The tops of his ears turned scarlet and he grunted a sound of irritation. “Germany is a big country. If he did not get an address, he should not be able to find you.”

  “Exactly what I figured. I just wanted you to know.”

  The tightness in his jaw softened as he studied her face. “I am glad you told me.”

  Josef stared at the rolling hills on the horizon, but she sensed deeper things churned inside his head.

  He finally said, “Where will you go when you return to New York?”

  “Not Brooklyn. I’ve booked a hotel in midtown Manhattan for several nights. I’ll contact my lawyer to make sure things are on track and if he can arrange for me to get into my place to move my personal things without Patrick being present.”

  He nodded, relief showing on his face. “That would be smart.”

  “Since Patrick knows I’ve left the country, I worry he’ll try to contact my parents. They don’t know about the divorce or that I’m here. Last night I tried to reach them. I should’ve called sooner. They weren’t home, and I left a message. With any luck, they’ll get back to me soon.”

  He only nodded, continued to look at the view. Silent. Serious. Her life was a lot for even her to absorb.

  After a few minutes, Josef tugged on the end of her scarf.

  She glanced up.

  “I am sorry if I seem tense when his name comes up. I worry, that is all.”

  “I know.”

  He smiled. “You okay?”

  “I am.”

  “Good. Just remember, I am always here for you.” He kissed her gently, reminding her that being honest worked in functional relationships.

  * * * *

  Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzz.

  Anna’s eyes flashed open and she sprang upright in the bed, her head clouded by the fog of sleep as she tried to locate the source of the insistent buzz. Her eyes fell on the dresser, where her phone glowed and vibrated. She must’ve left it on by mistake when she checked messages earlier. She flew from the bed, snatched it up. Her heart grated against her ribcage as she read the display and sighed with relief.

  She cleared her throat. “Hello?”

  “Anna, honey,” chirped her mother. “We just got back from an overnight at Aunt Linda’s house and got your message.”

  “Hey, Anna,” her father said
, talking loudly as he always did when they used the phone’s speaker. “We haven’t spoken in a while.”

  “We haven’t.” She rubbed her eyes to wake up. “I was just checking in.”

  “How’s the weather down south?” he said.

  “Down south? Right. Well, um…yeah. Listen, first, sorry I’ve been off the grid.”

  “Not a problem,” said her father. “So did you stop in Charleston, like we suggested?”

  “Not really. Well, you see…” How did she start something like this? “I hope you’re both sitting.”

  “What’s wrong?” her mother squeaked.

  “Nothing, Mom. I’m okay, but I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to blurt it out. I’m not traveling along the east coast. I’m in Germany.”

  Silence. She could picture her father’s dark brows raised and her mother’s understanding, sweet face turning into a frown.

  Finally her father said, “Germany? Is this a business trip of Patrick’s?”

  Before she could answer, her mother cut in. “You know, Anna, since you married, you keep to yourself more, but leaving the country is something we’d like to know about. What if something happened to you?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. But there was a reason I didn’t tell you.” She paused to sort out her words, came up with nothing, and opted against coddling the blow. “I’ve filed for divorce.”

  Her mother gasped. “Divorce?”

  She shared the details of her marriage, from the very first time Patrick’s anger surged until the last incident, all over the stupid necklace. She told them about his father, and the abuse Patrick suffered in the years after his mother left. Her parents were oddly silent, but she marched forward with her story. They might say she made the wrong choice, but she wanted them armed with the whole picture.

  “Patrick made me promise I’d never leave him. Once I agreed, I felt like I had no choice. He wasn’t going to make leaving easy for me. I suppose both fear and pity kept me there longer than I should’ve stayed. It took hearing other abuse victims talk about it for me to see my own life. And I tried to help him. More than he deserved.” Her throat swelled and vision blurred behind tears. “He’d be sorry, nicer for weeks, then hurt me again. No matter how much I begged him to get help, he didn’t. So I filed for divorce.”