Evelyn sipped her coffee, looking around the comfortable kitchen.
“This is a lovely kitchen,” she said. “How long have you lived here?”
“Oh, over forty years now,” Mrs. Hansen replied with a smile. “We came here just after we married.”
“Do you have children?”
“Three daughters and a son. They are all grown now and married.” She went back to the long counter along the wall and picked up a plate with yellow cheese. “None of them live far.”
“You’re very kind to be so generous to us.”
Mrs. Hansen smiled and shook her head.
“I would not be able to sleep knowing that I had a chance to help someone and chose not to,” she said. “The coming days will be hard enough. My husband said you’re trying to reach the Norwegian army?”
“Erik is, yes. He’s trying to rejoin his unit. When the invasion began, they were scattered.”
“And you?”
Evelyn shrugged. “I am trying to reach the Swedish border,” she lied.
The older woman looked at her for a moment, then pushed the bread and cheese closer to her.
“Eat something,” she urged, sitting across from her. “You won’t get very far if you don’t eat.” She watched as Evelyn smiled and reached for the brown bread. “Are you on foot the whole way?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head and frowned. “You are not dressed for that. There is more snow coming. You will freeze in those clothes. Don’t you have anything warmer with you?”
Evelyn swallowed and shook her head. “No. I’m afraid when we left Oslo, we weren’t expecting to be going by foot. We were in a car, but it broke down.”
Mrs. Hansen was silent for a long moment, then she reached out and patted Evelyn’s hand.
“I’ll be right back. You eat, and drink your coffee,” she said, pushing herself up out of the chair and turning to leave the kitchen. “There is more cheese at the side there if you finish that.”
Evelyn watched her go and reached for another slice of bread. Her stomach was still rumbling, but the bread was thick and hearty, and the cheese rich and smooth. She bit into another piece, grateful for the coffee and the food. The basket of food that Else had packed for them had been finished last evening, leaving them at the mercy of whatever they could find in the mountains as they went. She thought suddenly of home and of the large breakfasts served in her parents dining room. Eggs, thick rashers of bacon and ham accompanied by toast smothered with rich, creamy butter were standard fare on most mornings, and Evelyn suddenly felt very far from home. Would she ever get back?
A wave of desperate melancholy rolled over her, robbing her of breath, and she set down her half-eaten bread and cheese. Raising trembling hands, she covered her face and took a deep, ragged breath. What if she didn’t make it to Namsos in time? What if she was stranded in Norway? She would be forced to remain with Anna, putting her in danger, until she could find a way across the Swedish border. Every hour that she spent with Anna was another hour that could lead the Gestapo to them both. If the Germans suspected Anna of helping a British agent, there would be nowhere she could hide that would be safe.
Evelyn dropped her hands, staring across the kitchen blindly. She couldn’t do that to Anna. Not after everything the woman had already done to help her. If she didn’t make it to Namsos in time, she would part company with Anna and find her own way. The prospect was a terrifying one, but she saw no other alternative. She would have to make her way to the border and try to find a way across it. She could change her appearance, and her Norwegian was apparently strong enough not to raise any questions in the local populace if Mr. and Mrs. Hansen were anything to go by. She could find a way. She would have to.
Reaching for her coffee, Evelyn took a long, steadying breath. Everything would be all right. She would figure it out.
She was just finishing her third piece of bread and cheese when Anna opened the door and came back into the kitchen dressed in clean clothes and looking refreshed.
“That was heavenly,” she announced, dropping into her seat and reaching for her coffee. “The water’s still hot, but you’d better hurry.”
Evelyn nodded and pushed her chair back to stand. She was just heading for the back room when Mrs. Hansen returned with a stack of clothing in one arm and a pair of sturdy brown boots hanging from her hand.
“One of my daughters is about your size,” she said, nodding to Evelyn. “Or at least, she used to be. These are some of her old clothes. There’s a pair of warm pants and a sweater, and a few shirts. Try them on. If they fit, take them. They will keep you warmer than that skirt will. I also found these boots. If they fit, please take them as well.”
She handed Evelyn the boots and a stack of clothing, keeping a few of the sweaters. Those she handed to Anna. “I thought these might fit you,” she said. “You’re more of a size with my oldest. This is all that is left here of hers.”
“Oh, we couldn’t!” Anna exclaimed. “Really, this isn’t necessary!”
“Please take them! If they fit, make use of them. They will do you more good now than they will sitting in a trunk upstairs indefinitely.”
Evelyn stared down at the pants and boots. “This is very kind of you,” she said. “You must let me give you something in return.”
Mrs. Hansen shooed her towards the back room.
“Don’t be silly. Go and try them on. I hope the boots fit you. Those shoes you’re wearing will do you no good on foot through the mountains. Go now!”
––––––––
Evelyn looked up when a knock fell on the door fifteen minutes later.
“Marlene? Can I come
