“One day, you’ll regret the fact some Jewish cow gave birth to you,” the man snarled, as he threw the remains of the bear out the window. Tomas broke free of Rachel’s arms. He gathered the leg and arm left behind and tried to put them back together.
“Why?” Tomas sobbed. “Brown-Bear didn’t do anything.”
Rachel cuddled him, tears running down her own face, as they sat down. Heinz couldn’t move; his voice wouldn’t work. Liesl held her hands out to Tomas, trying to touch his face. Heinz moved closer to his brother and watched as the baby put her arms around Tomas’ neck.
“Liebe Dich.”
Tomas sat and took Liesl in his arms and cuddled her close. He didn’t speak another word, not even when some lovely Dutch ladies got onto the train and gave them baskets of food. They smiled and tried their best to help the traumatized children. But nothing worked with Tomas.
12
Abbeydale, Surrey, August 1939
“Sally! Mrs. Matthews.”
Sally turned at the sound of the local Rector calling her. He was new to their parish, a much younger man than they were used to. Reverend Hilton had passed away a few months previously and it had taken time for the parish to find a replacement.
“Yes, Reverend Collins.”
“Would you have time to have a cup of tea with me at the rectory. I have something I would like to discuss with you and some of the other ladies in the village.” He pulled at his collar, making her think he was nervous.
“Now?”
“Well, if you had the time, that would be wonderful. Time is against us you see and I must find some families. Would you mind?”
Sally thought of all the chores she had planned for today but nothing was too urgent it couldn’t wait. Intrigued by the Reverend’s nervous energy, she said yes.
“I just hope you don’t want us to knit more socks. I was not blessed when that skill was doled out.”
He laughed. She relaxed, as he seemed much easier to get on with than old Hilton had been. That man had been cranky, even before his arthritis had crippled him. God forgive her for thinking that way of a man of the cloth.
“I think Mrs. Ardle may have made some of her buns today. Let me just see. Why don’t you hang up your coat and make your way into the study? You know where it is, I assume?”
He saved her from answering, by pointing to a door on the right-hand side of the house, while he headed straight on. She opened the door and gasped, as it was such a mess. There was paperwork everywhere, not just covering the desk but the chairs around it as well. There were pieces on the small sofa and on the coffee table. She wasn’t sure where he meant her to sit.
He followed behind her. “Mrs. Ardle will bring in the tea. Oh my, what a mess. It looks worse than I remembered. Forgive me, Mrs. Matthews, let me take those.” He removed some papers from the couch and indicated for her to take a seat. Sally grinned at him calling Maggie, Mrs. Ardle. She couldn’t remember anyone doing that before, not even Reverend Hilton.
Maggie waddled in, carrying a tray with some china cups, saucers, and a plate of her famous buns.
“Morning Sally. Don’t you look lovely in that gay-looking dress? Don’t tell anyone about the mess in here will you, love? I’m ashamed to be associated with it. Wasn’t like this in Reverend Hilton’s day, may he rest in peace. But Reverend Collins, he spends more time with the people and less at his desk. I wish he’d let me in to tidy up but he says it's confidential. As if I would tell anyone…”
The woman was gone almost as fast as she came in. Sally and Reverend Collins exchanged a smile. Maggie had a heart of gold but she never stopped talking. Always asking questions but never stopping to wait for an answer. She’d been a widow since the first war and had worked for Reverend Hilton for longer than anyone could remember.
“She treats me like a wayward son.”
“You are the closest thing she has to a son. If ever there was a woman born to be a mother, that was Maggie Ardle. She must like you. Maggie has a heart of gold, she looked after me when my mum couldn’t.”
Sally hesitated, not knowing what the Reverend knew about her background.
“So, you think I should let her tidy up in here.”
Sally paused, not wishing to speak out of turn.
“Please, Mrs. Matthews, Sally if I may. I need all the help I can get. This is my first parish you see and I have rather big shoes to fill.”
Any reservations Sally felt, fell away. “You are doing a great job already Reverend Collins. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you. I would say, take every bit of help you can. With the war coming and please let’s not pretend it isn’t, I think people will lean on their Vicars and priests even more than they do already. Anyone can deal with paperwork. It takes a special person to ease another’s burden.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to speak to you about, Mrs—I mean Sally. You’re just the kind of person I was looking for.”
“I am?” Sally hoped she hadn’t landed herself in a whole load of voluntary work. She did her bit and more but she didn’t have time to deal with some of the ladies who lived up on
