Page 36 of Who We Think We Are

“ T ante Bertrun!” says Ingrid. “You didn’t! We all promised that we wouldn’t tell anyone about who we were meeting and why.”

“I know that,” says Bertrun. “But I trust you now, Kate, so I don’t feel like we need to have that restriction any longer.”

“But Tante Bertrun,” says Ingrid. “That agreement went both ways. We also made that commitment to Kate and Mikelia!”

“Why are you making such a fuss, Ingrid? Martin was happy for me. In fact, he wants to meet you, Kate. He’s picking me up and driving me home so he can meet you, which will save you hours of driving, Ingrid.”

Kate stands up and says, “I’m sorry, but Mikelia and I need to leave.”

“But why, dear?” asks Bertrun. “Martin will be disappointed. You won’t have to wait much longer; he should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Tante Bertrun, you don’t know what you’ve done,” says Ingrid. “You’ve put Kate and Mikelia in danger. Ever since Kate made an inquiry with your birth name at the archives, she’s been followed, harassed, and threatened.”

“Ingrid! How can you even think that Martin would do anything like that? We’ve been having such a nice visit, and now you’ve ruined it by accusing my son of horrible things.

He’s a good son and a good man. He’s a federal court judge, for heaven’s sake!

I’m disappointed in you, Ingrid. You’ve always been jealous of his success, but I never thought you’d stoop to this.

And now you’ve got Kate and Mikelia so scared they are leaving. ”

“We really need to go now, Kate,” says Mikelia, also standing.

“I’m sorry, Bertrun,” says Kate, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I really did enjoy meeting you. I wish we didn’t have to end our visit like this, but we need to go. I’d love to stay in contact, though.”

“Well, I must say I’m disappointed, Kate.

” Bertrun’s shoulders are slumped. “I thought we could be friends. But you can see that this is already causing problems in my family, and you seem to believe Ingrid’s nonsense about my son.

” Bertrun pulls her shoulders back and takes a deep breath.

“I don’t think being friends will be possible under these circumstances.

” She pauses. “So, unfortunately, this will have to be goodbye.”

“I’m disappointed too, Bertrun,” says Kate. “I can’t tell you how much. I wanted us to be friends, too. I still do, if that’s possible. But we really have to go now.”

Kate and Mikelia rush back to their room and start to throw things into their bags. “What the fuck, Kate? What are we going to do? We don’t have time to get out of here before Martin gets here.”

There is a knock at the door, and they hear Ingrid say, “It’s me. I’m by myself.”

Kate lets Ingrid in.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry! I can’t believe Tante Bertrun did that. You don’t have time to get out of here before Martin arrives. How about this? I’ll tell Martin I drove you to the train station a few hours ago. Where should I tell him you went?”

“Tell him we went to Amsterdam to fly home. That will be believable,” says Mikelia. “Kate, you and I can rent a car, drive to Eindhoven, and fly from there to Copenhagen. Then you can decide what you want to do after that.”

“How do we know Bertrun won’t say we’re still here?” asks Kate.

“I told her I was driving you to the train station. She thinks that’s where I am right now. I’ll tell her you caught a train to Amsterdam, too. She won’t know you’re still here.

“When Martin arrives, I’ll call you and leave my phone on speaker in my pocket so you can hear our conversation. I’ll follow them home to Lüneburg to make sure they don’t return here or go to the train station.”

“So, we just stay in our room until the coast is clear?” asks Kate. Mikelia and Ingrid look at her with their heads tilted. “I mean until you’ve left and it’s safe for us to leave?”

“Yes,” says Mikelia.

“I’m not going to stay put. We’ll be sitting ducks. Remember, we said we don’t back down from bullies? I’ve been running from these assholes since we were in Berlin. I’m not going to let them have power over me. I need to do something!”

“We will,” says Mikelia. “It’s not about backing down, Kate. It’s about being strategic. It serves no purpose to get into a confrontation with Martin and Holger.”

“Mikelia is right, Kate. I see that look in your eyes. You’re getting ready to fight. Listen to reason. What will fighting do? Bring you closer to Bertrun? Get you home safely? Get them arrested?”

“No, but …”

“No, nothing.” Ingrid puts her hands on Kate’s shoulders. “When we’re all home safe, we can talk about the best way to tackle this. They won’t get away with what they did. We won’t let them, right? We just have to be smart about it.”

Kate sighs deeply. “OK. You’re right. Act; don’t react. But I would sure like to give them a piece of my mind.”

“You’ll get your chance to have your say when the time is right. Well, I’d better get back to Tante Bertrun. I’m sorry it turned out this way, Kate.”

Kate shakes her head. “I wanted to meet Bertrun, and we always knew we were taking a risk. Her mistake was an honest one. I did want to develop a relationship with her, but at least we’ve met, and I found the truth. We’ll talk soon about how to handle Martin. Thanks for everything, Ingrid.”

“Goodbye, cousin,” says Ingrid.

“Oh, right, I suppose we are cousins. Goodbye, Cuz.” Kate hugs Ingrid before she leaves, then closes and deadbolts the door. Then she turns to Mikelia.

“Bloody hell!”

Mikelia repeats, “Bloody hell is right. I’ll arrange a rental car and book our flights. Let’s do things under my name.”

“Good idea. I’ll finish packing our bags while you do that.” Kate pulls the lace curtains closed so they can see out, but no one can see in.

About ten minutes later, Ingrid calls. Kate mutes the phone and gives one headphone to Mikelia, who turns out the lights.

They pull up two of the wingback chairs, sit a bit back from the window, and watch the scene unfold.

A large black Mercedes sedan is in the driveway.

Two men, one tall and blond and the other shorter with brown hair, stand outside the car.

Kate whispers, “The short one is the man I saw on the train!”

Bertrun and Ingrid walk out to greet the men. They are speaking in German, and Mikelia translates. Bertrun approaches the tall man, Martin. They hug, and he kisses her on both cheeks.

Martin says, “Hello, Mutter. You are looking well. Have you been having a nice time with Ingrid?”

“Oh yes. We had a marvelous time until … Hello, Holger.”

Holger walks up to shake Bertrun’s hand. “Hello, Frau Wagner. Hello, Ingrid.”

“Hi, Martin. Hi, Holger,” says Ingrid.

“Where is your friend? Kate, I think you said her name was?” asks Martin. He and Holger are both looking around.

“I drove her and her friend to the train station a few hours ago,” says Ingrid. “They needed to get back to Amsterdam to catch their flights.”

Kate and Mikelia grasp hands. Bertrun looks at Ingrid but doesn’t say anything to contradict her about the timing. “Thank God,” whispers Mikelia, exhaling.

“I am sorry to miss her. I was looking forward to meeting the person you were so excited about last night,” says Martin.

“I’m sorry, too. But they couldn’t wait for you,” says Bertrun.

“You told her I was coming, Mama?” asks Martin. “I told you I wanted to surprise her.”

“I’m sorry, son.” Bertrun puts her hand on his arm. “I was so excited, so I told her. Oh dear, I forgot my shawl in the restaurant. I’m sorry. Please excuse me a moment; I need to get it.”

When Bertrun has gone inside, Ingrid says, “You brought Holger to go on a drive with your mother?”

“We had some things to discuss, if it is any of your business,” says Holger.

“Excuse me, Holger, I need to talk to my cousin alone.” Ingrid pulls Martin away from the driveway. “Look, Martin, I don’t know what you hope to accomplish, but I am watching you closely. Call off your goon. He’s been up to his old gangster tricks, and I won’t have it.

“Listen closely. No one is trying to hurt you or your precious reputation. Your mutter is trying to come to terms with her past. Her past. Not yours! I can make a lot more trouble for you than your goon can save you from, and I have proof. Don’t ever forget that, and don’t think I won’t.”

“I am tired of you holding that over my head, cousin.”

“Then don’t do stupid shit! Now go and spend some time with your mutter and pretend you actually want to see her. I’ll follow you home to make sure you get there safely. There she is. Put on your happy face.”

“Wow! Ingrid is badass!” says Kate.

“No kidding!” says Mikelia. “I wonder what she’s got on him.”

“Something big, that’s for sure. Maybe we should investigate that if we need further protection.”

Bertrun enters their line of vision. She hugs Ingrid. “Goodbye, liebste. I’ll talk to you soon. Thank you for everything.”

“Thank you, Tante Bertrun. I love you,” says Ingrid. And then, loudly, she adds, “I’ll follow you home. I’ve got some business in Lüneburg. I’ll pop by your house later.”

Holger makes a move to get into the front passenger seat, but Martin elbows him out of the way, helps Bertrun into the front seat of the car, tosses her bag in the back, and gets into the driver’s seat. Holger has no alternative but to sit in the back with Bertrun’s bag.

Ingrid gets into her own car and closes the door. “Did you hear all that?”

“Yes! You are one fierce woman!” says Kate.

“I told you I’m not scared of him. I’ll follow them home.

We should cross over into Germany within twenty minutes.

You’ll be safe to leave after that. I’ll let you know.

I’m mostly following them all the way to Lüneburg just to show Martin I mean business.

To be safe, though, don’t go to Amsterdam. I’m sorry for all this.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t!” says Kate.

“Thanks, Ingrid,” says Mikelia.

“You’re welcome! I’m having fun bullying my cousin.” Ingrid laughs. “He’s such a hypocritical pompous ass!”