Page 7 of The Last Safe Place

“Whew.” Knut leaned back in his chair as a cold shiver swept his body from head to toe. A huge sense of relief flooded over him at realizing that Edith and Julius had managed to escape at literally the last second.

Bernd kept quiet for a minute, gazing at Knut’s right hand, before he asked in a soft voice, “What about you? You aren’t married?”

“I’m not.” Wehrmacht officers were strongly encouraged to marry and have children, even to the point that single men were passed over for promotion. Knut too, had checked Bernd’s ring finger for a wedding band. “What about you?”

“Me neither, though not for lack of trying on my mother’s part.” Bernd cast him another lopsided grin, making Knut’s stomach flip.

“She must be a friend of my mother, who’s constantly inviting suitable women to family events and dropping not-so-subtle hints that she would like more grandchildren, as if close to a dozen weren’t enough.” Knut ran a hand through his hair. That was another reason he’d begun making himself scarce in his parents’ home. At over forty years old, he was running low in believable excuses as to why he hadn’t found a woman to marry yet.

“Have any of the ladies attracted your interest?” Bernd’s eyes bore deep into Knut’s soul, as if searching for hidden clues.

Could it be true? Could this wonderful man actually be interested in him? Knut’s imagination ran wild. It took him all his willpower to compose himself. He tilted his head just a tiny bit. “No woman has ever aroused my interest.”

The next instant, panic surged in his cells, constricting his throat. He’d been much too direct. If he’d misjudged the situation, he might soon find himself in a concentration camp, wearing a pink triangle.

A few seconds passed, during which Knut imagined Gestapo agents swarming the restaurant, dragging him off into an unmarked van. Then, Bernd’s hand edged closer across the table, though not quite near enough to be inappropriate.

“Nor mine.” Bernd’s soft, soulful gaze sent a delicious shudder running through Knut from head to toe.

They spent hours in spirited conversation, long after they had finished dinner. Knut couldn’t remember when he’d last enjoyed himself so much. As long as he was gazing into Bernd’s warm eyes, nothing else seemed to matter anymore: not the war ravaging the country, not his deep sorrow about Edith, not even his shame at Joseph’s deplorable actions.

Warmth seeped deep into his heart, giving him the most intense feeling of joy. They talked, discussed, bantered, even flirted, completely absorbed by one another, oblivious toeverything around them, until the waitress approached their table.

“Gentlemen, I’m very sorry, but we’re about to close.”

Instantly, Bernd was all business again. “Of course, Fräulein, where are our manners? Would you please bring us the bill?”

Then they got up reluctantly to put on their coats.

On the street, Bernd asked, “Are you taking the S-Bahn?”

“No, I live just a few minutes’ walk away, in that direction.” Knut pointed toward the outlines of buildings, barely visible in the blackout.

“Too bad. I have to go the other way to Grunewald. I live in a self-contained apartment in my parents’ villa.”

“I’ll accompany you to the station.” Knut wasn’t ready to say goodbye quite yet.

“Are you afraid I’ll be mugged on the way?” The amusement in Bernd’s voice was clearly audible.

Still, Knut bit his lip, hoping he hadn’t upset him. “Of course not.”

But his concern was unfounded. “I would appreciate your company,” replied Bernd.

They had almost reached the stop when Knut stopped under the shelter of a tree and looked around, making sure no one was nearby. Only then did he dare to squeeze Bernd’s hand tightly. “It was a wonderful evening. Thank you.”

Instead of replying, Bernd pulled him into his arms and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. An intoxicating feeling of utter happiness shot through Knut’s veins. He felt as if he was floating on clouds, as he eagerly returned the kiss. After what felt like an eternity, they separated. At a loss for words, he watched Bernd walk toward the train station.

Elation brought a spring to his step as he walked home. Had he finally found his soulmate?

5

Michaela Kronberg leaned over her husband and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The poor man was in torment. The cancer was back, and it looked like it was only a matter of time before Dieter lost the fight.

He looked at her with the sad certainty of his fate and wheezed, “You must leave the country.”

She shook her head. “Let’s not talk about it.”

“No, we must,” Dieter panted, fighting for every rattling breath before he could continue. “As soon as I’m dead, you’re no longer protected, and they’ll come for you.”