War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 66

Chapter 11

A

t home Ursula and Mutter were already waiting for her, with huge smiles on their faces that brushed away her own anxiety.

“Anna! Guess what happened!” Ursula said, bouncing up and down. Mutter waved a letter in her hand, answering her daughter’s question before Anna could say a word. “A letter from Richard!”

“Richard?” Anna put a hand across her heart. Her younger brother, who’d been missing somewhere in White Russia since last fall, had sent a letter. “Let me see!” she demanded and took the paper with trembling hands from her mother. “It’s dated Christmas 1943, that’s almost two months ago.” The words swam before her eyes and she couldn’t decipher more than the greeting

Liebe Mutter.

She flopped onto the couch in the sitting room and her mother and sister both talked at once.

“His battalion was defeated near Minsk and most of his comrades died, but he and another one managed to get onto a train to Warsaw…”

Warsaw

? Anna thought,

that’s where the SS leader was assassinated by partisans.

“…he’s not in a combat unit currently…can’t tell us where he is now…top secret…we can write letters to the German command in Warsaw…he’s confident the war will soon be over.” Anna tried to follow the conversation as Ursula and Mutter interrupted each other’s sentences. But one thing was clear: her brother Richard was still alive.

She hugged them both and all three women shed tears of happiness. Knowing Richard’s whereabouts took a huge burden from their shoulders.

When Mutter had taken to her room to write a letter to her only son, Anna found a frowning Ursula staring at her. “Where were you? You should have been home hours ago.”

For a split-second Anna considered lying, but Ursula would undoubtedly see through her. “On a date.”

“A date?” Ursula stumbled and had to grab onto the wall to steady herself. Being this clumsy was strange for Anna’s usually ultra-perfect sister.

“Yes, a date. And before you ask, his name is Peter and he works for Professor Scherer,” Anna added.

“Please be careful,” Ursula urged her.

“Don’t worry, he’s nothing like…” An icy chill ran down Anna’s spine, remembering the way Peter had almost crushed her hand earlier.

“I didn’t mean…” Ursula cast her eyes downward before saying, “but he’s a Nazi.”

“You’ve never met him! How do you know he’s a Nazi?” Anna glared at her sister, who wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated. In their adolescent years they used to yell at each other all the time.

“Only high-ranking Nazis have automobiles these days, much less a Mercedes limousine.”

“Just because Professor Scherer associates with the Nazis doesn’t mean he’s one himself. In fact, he does not support many of their ideas...” Anna shook her head. They’d already had this discussion several times. “And what does this have to do with Peter? He’s only the driver.”

“The driver for a Nazi. I see. That makes him automatically part of the resistance.” Every single word from Ursula’s mouth dripped with sarcasm.

“Please, Ursula, Peter is a good man,” Anna pleaded.

“The jury’s still out on that. What if he turns on you and you suffer the same fate as Lotte?”

Anna’s temper flared. “Don’t. Don’t speak to me about Lotte. I gave up

everything

to save her. Me! I gave up everything…” She stopped talking as tears threatened to overwhelm her. “Including my self-respect. Please, I don’t need you to tell me who I can and cannot see. I was hoping you might be happy for me.”

“Anna, you don’t know what you’re saying. You need to stop seeing him. Think of what’s at risk.”

“I know better than you what’s at risk. I lived it,” Anna said.

Ursula didn’t answer. She rushed into their room and when Anna followed her several minutes later, she could still hear her sobbing under the blanket. Ursula had been exceptionally grumpy and irritable lately, but Anna was too angry and tired right now to try and figure out the reason for her sister’s drastic mood swings and continuous fatigue. The war was taking a toll on everyone.

She put on her nightgown and disappeared under her own blanket, blocking out the sounds of Ursula’s miserable sobs.

One week

later Anna dashed home to tell Ursula exciting news. “Sister, guess what?”

“More good news?” Ursula lounged on the couch, her feet up and holding her back in pain as she turned around to Anna.

“I’ve been invited to attend the official celebration of freshly graduated military doctors at the Charité,” Anna said and smiled at the thought that Peter, with whom she’d been walking out almost every day, would be there too and might even dance with her.

“Military doctors?” Ursula bit her lip. “It’s an honor, but…you shouldn’t go.”

“Why on earth wouldn’t I want to go to one of the few social dance events that are still held in Berlin?” Anna stared at her sister in disbelief.

“There will be all sorts of high-ranking Nazi officials there.” Ursula sighed, making a face as if Anna couldn’t understand a simple concept.

“I know, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve socialized with them, and it probably won’t be the last. You know, we live in the same country.” Anna straightened her skirt and challenged her sister to object.

Ursula looked horrified, saying, “How can you say that? Since when do you like the Nazis?”

“I don’t like them, but that doesn’t mean I have to avoid them at all costs. Apart from being something fun to look forward to, this event is important for my career.”

“Your career? Is your career more important than your moral values?” Ursula rose to her full height, and planted her fists on her hips. In that position she looked different than normal, somehow bigger.

“Ursula, don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a celebration. Nothing to test my moral values.”

Except maybe if Peter makes a move and kisses me

. Anna’s cheeks stained themselves with heat and she hastily added, “I’m not becoming one of them, just because I attend a party.”

“You could have fooled me,” Ursula said sullenly, but the next moment she smiled. “Knowing how stubborn you are once you’ve set your mind on something, I guess I’d better save my breath.”

“Thanks,” Anna said, hugging her sister. “I hate fighting with you.”

“Come with me,” Ursula said, and gestured for Anna to follow her to their room. Once inside she opened her closet and took out her wedding dress, a dark blue woolen A-line skirt that ended mid-calf and a fitted jacket in the same color. “You’ll need something nice to wear,” she explained and handed it to Anna.

“That’s such a moving gesture, darling, but I already have a dress,” Anna said and reached into the bag she’d brought home with her to pull out a royal blue lace dress, holding it up in front of her. “What do you think?”

“Wow! It’s precious! Where did you get that?” Ursula squeaked.

“Professor Scherer. He probably guessed I wouldn’t have a formal gown to wear, and offered to lend me one that belonged to his late wife.” Anna didn’t mention that Peter had been sent to the lab with three different dresses and his eyes had almost popped out of his head when she’d modeled them for him.

Ursula stepped forward and fingered the elegant material of the dress. “Italian lace,” she whispered reverently as her fingertips slid across the intricate pattern. “This must have cost a fortune.”

“I know. I tried to refuse the offer, but as soon as I tried it on at work, my resolve disappeared. It looks as awesome as it feels.”

“So, you’re going, no matter what I say?”

Anna sighed and nodded. “Yes. I’m going.”

“Please be careful,” Ursula said and hugged her tight.