When the Heart Sings

by Liz Tolsma

  Pawel closed the shed door and turned the key in the lock. He breathed in and released the air a little at a time. He had to be crazy to be involved in another scheme. This one to break a man out of the camp. One had tried to escape by jumping out of the third-floor window. Pawel treated his two broken legs, but according to Teodor, the man never returned to the factory.

  He strolled along the side of the road as if on a little jaunt, even though the winter winds bit through his coat. He blew on his fingers to keep warm. All that he could spare, he’d given to the women so they wouldn’t freeze until he returned.

  Within a few minutes of arriving home, he packed his doctor’s bag and turned to leave. Would he ever return? When would it be his turn to be arrested? Right now, he counted on the Germans having too many other things on their minds, namely the crumbling of their empire. Within days, Poland could well be on its way to complete liberation.

  He touched the photo of his beautiful wife. Almost two years had gone by since he’d seen her. He ached to touch her, hold her, imbibe her scent. “Pray for me, my darling. I don’t know how much longer I can escape their clutches.” He touched his lips, then her lips in the photograph. “I’ll see you later.”

  Whether the cold or his nerves got to him, he didn’t know, but he came to the factory faster than usual. He entered through a side door and went straight to Pan Fromm’s office.

  “Can I help you?” The perky red-haired secretary drew a handful of files from her desk drawer and placed them in a box, one of many littering the room.

  “I’m searching for Untersturmführer Fromm.”

  “He’s not here. He went home for lunch but hasn’t returned. I expected him some time ago. Would you like to wait?”

  “Nein.” In one way, it was better that Fromm was still out. That gave Pawel a little more leeway in the factory. On the other hand, it was a problem because that meant he continued to hunt for his wife. “I need to see Teodor Palinski.”

  “Let me call the floor and have him brought down.”

  “Can I wait in the infirmary?”

  “Do as you please.”

  He jerked forward. Had she just said that? They must be ready to evacuate.

  He made the rounds of his patients as he waited for Teodor, stopping by Jerzy’s bed. “How are you doing?”

  “Twice in one day, Doctor? I must really be sick.” Jerzy coughed, and blood trickled from the side of his mouth.

  The lung disease was taking its toll. “How are you feeling?”

  “Very weak. Like I’m losing my grip on this world.”

  Pawel sat beside him. “You are.”

  “How long?”

  “A day or two at the most.”

  Jerzy nodded and coughed again, clinging to the edge of the sheet. Some time passed before he caught his breath. “I hardly have the energy.”

  “I understand.”

  “Will you pray with me?”

  “I’m not a priest.”

  “I just need someone to pray. There are things . . .”

  Pawel bowed his head. “Dear Lord, please be near to your servant, Jerzy, as you usher him into your presence. Forgive all his sins through your Son, and cleanse him from all unrighteousness. Ease his pain and his suffering until the time he is with you. We ask this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”

  “Amen. Dziękuję Ci.”

  Pawel almost answered that it was his pleasure. But it wasn’t really. “You’re welcome. I’ll continue to pray for you. Just think. Your liberation is at hand.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “You summoned me?” Teodor stood at the end of Jerzy’s bed. He grasped the top of the iron footboard, his knuckles white.

  “I’ll give you a few minutes alone with your friend. Then if you could meet me in the next room, I have something for you.”

  Teodor raised his eyebrows and bit his lip but nodded.

  With his heart thudding and his hands shaking, Pawel slipped into the next room to await Teodor. His stomach bunched into knots even tighter than it had traveling to Warsaw during the uprising.

  They were so close to freedom.

  And even closer to death.

  Teodor sat in the chair beside Jerzy’s bed that Pawel had vacated. His friend’s face matched the color of the snowy-white sheets his mother hung on the line every Monday. “You’re going to get out of here, aren’t you?”

  “You know me.” Jerzy coughed. “I’ll do anything to leave. But you’re going to make it.”

  “I think the Soviets are concentrating on the major cities. It might be a while before they get here.”

  “Don’t worry. They will. Listen.”

  “Tak?”

  “Tell my wife I love her.”

  “I will. I promise. As soon as I get back.”

  “Tell her only the good. That’s how I want her to remember me.”

  Teodor nodded. “I will.”

  “Have you forgiven me?”

  “I have. And I heard the doctor pray for you. I hope you have peace with the Lord.”

  “I do.” Jerzy clasped Teodor’s hand. “Dzięki.”

  Teodor tried to smile but failed. “You’re welcome.” He got up and left without glancing backward. If he had, he would have lost all composure.

  Pawel waited for him in the next room, an empty office. So some of the Germans had already been sent home. A sign of things to come, perhaps. “What did you want to see me about?”

  “It’s a long story, and one I don’t have time to explain. Your wife, Fromm’s wife, and the child are waiting for you outside of town. It’s become necessary for them to flee. No matter what, Fromm can’t find them. He’ll kill them.”

  “Wait a minute. What did you say? Fleeing? Killing?” Teodor’s pulse throbbed in his neck.

  “Natia won’t leave without you.” He opened his black bag and drew out a set of his clothes, a coat, and a hat. “Put these on, pull the hat over your eyes, keep your head down, and walk out of here to the east, following the road behind the factory.”

  “And what about you?”

  “Fromm is searching for the women. His secretary is too busy packing files to notice. I’ll follow you a short while later. Walk slowly, so I can catch up with you. Hurry. There’s no time to waste.”

  While Pawel turned his back, Teodor changed from his blue coveralls, the prison uniform, to Pawel’s. They hung on him. Without the benefit of a belt, he would have to hold up the pants. For a moment, he stared at the P in a triangle on his discarded shirt. With the doctor’s clothes on, a lightness enveloped him. That mark had weighed him down. Oh, to be free of it.

  “Are you ready?”

  Teodor pulled the brim of the fedora lower. “I am.” His hands shook. Sweat trickled down his back despite the winter temperatures.

  He made his way down the hall, struggling to keep a confident stride like Pawel’s. If he hesitated, acted like he had something to hide, the Germans might stop him. He came to the office door where the secretary stood with her back to Teodor, pulling files out of the cabinet. She turned.

  He screeched to a halt.

  She waved at him and continued with her job.

  He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and turned the knob. Glanced around. Good, nobody about. He stepped out of the building and through the yard.

  The guard. He had to open the gate. Pawel had a booming, commanding voice. Teodor did not. He slouched more and turned his face away.

  Without demanding identification, the guard unlocked the gate. Teodor sauntered through.

  And tasted the sweetness of freedom in almost two years. How absolutely, utterly glorious. Words couldn’t describe the euphoria. No one to tell him what to do or when to do it. No one to peer over his shoulder.

  No one to make him afraid.

  He gazed at the town, the people living normal lives just outside the walls of suffering. And then, oomph. He ran into something big and warm. Without lifting his head, he glanced up.

/>   At a scowling, red-faced Untersturmführer Fromm gripping his gun. “Papers.”

  He gazed at the road, not daring to breathe, praying Fromm didn’t recognize him. Having no identification to produce, he was headed right back to where he came from. Nie, somewhere worse. He lowered his voice. “I’m looking for the doctor. My wife is in labor. Ran out the door so fast, I didn’t grab my papers.”

  “You’ll need to come with me.” Fromm grabbed Teodor by the upper arm. His knees softened, and he struggled to remain upright. To be so close to freedom and to Natia, only to have it end like this. He’d almost made it.

  He peered over his shoulder. God bless him, here came Bosco. Teodor waved at him. “Pawel, there you are. I’ve been searching for you. My wife is in labor. We must hurry. I’m afraid there is something wrong with the baby.” The trembling in Teodor’s voice was real. He hadn’t forgotten that day Andrzej died.

  Dr. Bosco nodded. “You understand, Pan Fromm. There isn’t a moment to lose.”

  By some miracle, Fromm lessened his grip on Teodor. Off in the distance, the blast of artillery broke the day’s stillness. The Nazi unleashed Teodor and sprinted away.

  Teodor sighed. “That was close.”

  “Too close.” The unflappable Pawel had paled so the pallor of his face matched the grayness of his hair. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Where is Natia?”

  “In a shed.”

  “How far?”

  “Only about a kilometer. It won’t be long until you’re reunited.”

  “Reunited.” Could it be true? For so many long nights, he’d dreamed of the day he could be with his Natia again. And here it was.

  Before the war, a walk of a kilometer was easy. But now, always glancing over his shoulder to see if they were followed, he stumbled several times. Pawel caught him by the arm and held him upright. “I gave the women some bread and a little schmaltz. There’s plenty there for you. Just hang on.”

  And then, up ahead, he spied the tiny building, probably just big enough to hold a few tools and a wheelbarrow.

  And his wife.

  Dried leaves from last fall crunched under his feet as he left the road and made his way to the outbuilding. He broke into a run.

  Shivers coursed through Natia as she huddled in the dark, dank shed awaiting Teodor’s arrival. She held Dominik close and sang to him in a low, soft voice to keep him quiet.

  A kitten sits on the fence,

  And he blinks.

  It’s a very pretty song, and it’s not long.

  Not long and not short, but just right,

  But just right.

  Come on, little kitten, sing again.

  Elfriede stirred beside her. “I’m cold. My toes and fingers.”

  They snuggled closer together. “They’ll be here soon.”

  “Why you not tell me about Dominik?”

  The question had been bound to come. “Are you angry? You won’t turn us in, will you?” Would she? Maybe to regain her husband’s favor. To save herself from her countrymen.

  “Nie, you are safe. I not tell anyone. Jew or not Jew doesn’t matter. I love the boy. Like my own little baby.”

  The cold penetrated to Natia’s bones. While it was good that Elfriede loved Dominik enough to keep his secret, perhaps she loved him too much. Enough to rip him from Natia’s arms. And that, she couldn’t allow.

  She would die first.

  Elfriede tugged the bright yellow-and-green quilt tighter around herself and sniffed. “You will take care of me and Dominik?”

  “Teodor and I will look after you.” And Dominik, of course. But he would stay with them forever.

  Outside, leaves crunched under approaching boots. Was it them? Was her husband on the other side of the door? She handed Dominik to Elfriede and threw off the blanket, now warm all over. Her heart throbbed in her ears, the only thing she could hear.

  A slit of light slipped into the building, growing wider and wider until the door stood open.

  And with it, Teodor.

  She squealed and rushed into his arms. He was thin and bony, but all hers. “Moje serce. Oh, Teodor. Teodor, moje serce.” She could find no other words to express this bursting of her heart.

  He squeezed her to himself, his ribs like piano keys underneath her fingers. “Oh, Natia, how I’ve dreamed of you and longed for you. You are everything to me. I can’t believe we’re together.”

  Dr. Bosco shut the door behind him as he entered, extinguishing the light. “Keep the reunion quiet. We don’t want Fromm to find us.”

  So Natia nestled into Teodor’s shoulder and whispered, “For a long time, I thought I would never see you again.”

  “Every day, I fought to live so I could be with you. You kept me going.”

  “When you stopped answering me—”

  “I was in prison.”

  “Dr. Bosco told me. But I thought I would die without you. You bring the song to my heart.”

  “I’m never going to leave you again, moje slońce.” He bent down and gave her the longest, sweetest kiss she’d ever experienced, their hearts now pounding in unison.

  Hard as it was, she broke away from her husband and peered over his shoulder at the doctor. “We will forever be in your debt. I can’t believe he’s here.” She returned her attention to Teodor. “Are you real?”

  In answer, he kissed her again. The caress of his lips against hers spoke of months of loneliness and longing. How well she understood. The seconds melded into minutes.

  Dr. Bosco cleared his throat. “While I hate to break up the reunion, we can’t stay. It’s only a matter of time before Fromm figures out where to search.”

  Natia’s mouth went dry. “How will we get home?”

  “There’s a farm down the road. They have a little cart and a donkey too stubborn for the Nazis to confiscate. We’ll borrow it.”

  Teodor turned to face the doctor but didn’t release his hold on her. “How will you explain?”

  “I’ll tell them I need it to make a call outside town. They might figure out the real reason, but they won’t stop me. They’re good people. Stay here, and I’ll return soon. The situation to the east is chaotic. The Germans are headed west, as fast as possible. And you’re headed behind the battle lines.” He locked the door and left.

  Teodor drew Natia to himself. She fit just right into his embrace. The Lord had created them to be like two puzzle pieces, put together to make one whole picture. “I’m sorry about your father and Helena.”

  For the first time since she learned of their deaths, she managed a small smile when thinking of them. “They are at peace.”

  Dominik toddled over and tugged on Natia’s sweater. “Mama.”

  Teodor peered down. “Who is this little one?”

  “This is the child I told you about. Dominik. He’s Jewish. Elfriede and I have been hiding him since he came. That’s why we must run. Pan Fromm figured out Dominik’s secret.”

  She picked up the boy and held him between them. “He’s a wonderful child. I love him, Teodor.” She whispered to him so Elfriede wouldn’t hear. “We have to take care of him and raise him as our own.”

  He leaned over and whispered, his breath tickling her neck, the hair on her arms standing up straight. “And we will.”

  Her insides glowed. “We’re a family, Teodor.”

  “What about her?”

  What about Elfriede? Would she try to keep the boy? Natia shook her head. Teodor would make sure Dominik stayed with them. For the first time in almost two long years, she relaxed. “That’s Pan Fromm’s wife. She’s in danger as well.”

  “You’re taking a German woman and a Jewish child with us?”

  “You don’t understand what we’ve been through together. Elfriede is a good woman who needs us.” What if he refused to take them? She couldn’t leave them behind. Wouldn’t do it. Even if Elfriede wanted Dominik. Leaving her here to die would be wrong. But Teodor wasn’t that kind of man. “You know this is what’s r
ight.”

  He nodded. “As long as I’m with you, everything will be fine.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “This is why I fell in love with you. Your love knows no limits. You care for the broken and downtrodden. I would expect no less.”

  The door swung open. Dr. Bosco motioned them from the shed. “We must hurry. The farmer’s wife just came from town. The place is in an uproar. Pan Fromm is . . .” He gazed at Elfriede. “Anyway, we have no time to lose. He’s ransacking my house as we speak. When he finds the deed for the farm, he’ll be here.”

  They weren’t completely free yet. Much lay between them and their home.

  Teodor hustled the women and the child out of the shed and to the wagon. They crowded into the small cart, shoulder to shoulder. The child fussed. Teodor took the reins and slapped the donkey’s backside.

  The animal hee-hawed but decided not to cooperate. On the next try, he flicked the reins over the donkey’s rump. “Let’s go. Come on, up with you.”

  But the animal had the audacity to turn around and stare at Teodor. They didn’t have time for this. Fromm might be just steps behind them. Teodor hopped from the cart and took the donkey by the reins, pulling her until she moved her feet. “Couldn’t your neighbor have had a fine young gelding?”

  Dr. Bosco stood on the side of the road and chuckled. “They did. The Germans confiscated it within days of the invasion.”

  Teodor motioned for the doctor to take his place in the cart. “Aren’t you coming? Your home is no longer safe.”

  “But it is my home. Where my wife will return to me, Lord willing, and soon, I hope. You understand. I cannot leave without her. Just as you would not be going anywhere unless your wife was by your side.”

  “What will you do?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ve lived here all my life. I can stay one step ahead of Fromm. But God go with you.” Dr. Bosco peered around Teodor at the women in the cart. “With all of you.”

  Natia leaned over and swiped a tear from her eye. “You have been so good to us. We can never repay you.”

  “There is no need. Knowing you are safe is good enough for me.”

  “But will you be?” Natia’s voice broke.