Chapter 56

56

Seven weeks after the liberation, Jana was putting the finishing touches to her window display. Her heart swelling, she laid out Mama's books that had been kept hidden all these years. They were not for sale of course, but a sign of freedom, of hope.

She eased herself out of the window, able to move more freely now, her wounds nearly healed. She stood back and looked around her. How much easier she could breathe since she had removed everything German from the shop: the flag, the banner, every book pumped with propaganda and hate. After six years, she could finally sell the books she chose to sell. It would take some time until copies of the banned books would come back into circulation, but her list of customer orders grew each day.

As she tidied the children's section, memories of Michal stirred: how he'd sat in the armchair engrossed in a book that February night when his mother had been taken. Jana was looking after him till the authorities decided where he should go. She couldn't bear the thought of him in a children's home and was fighting for adoption rights but the bureaucracy was incredibly frustrating.

The bell jangled above the door and Andrej entered, his black hair glossy, his face cleanshaven. Her heart lifted and she greeted him with a kiss.

‘Are you ready? We have to drink the wine before it gets warm,' he said, lifting a basket.

She locked the shop and they strolled into the balmy, summer evening.

‘Where shall we go for our picnic?'

He smiled. ‘Follow me.'

As they wandered along the shore away from the crowds, Jana recalled the times she'd walked this route before, both times driven with longing for Andrej. Now she laughed, light with happiness.

‘Our special place.'

They sat on the small beach next to the old steamboat that still nestled under the willow tree. Andrej had brought a bottle of white wine and two glasses which they drank with bread and cheese. The swans had returned and swam back and forth, making ripples on the green water.

‘I have something for you,' he said, reaching into the basket. ‘Close your eyes and put out your hand.'

She thrilled with childish delight as she did so.

His finger stroked the palm of her hand, tracing a circle.

‘Come on,' she giggled. ‘I can't bear the anticipation.'

His touch was warm. Then something cool and smooth lay in her palm. She frowned and opened her eyes.

The gold book locket from Mama. She looked at him in wonder.

His eyes glinted.

‘How? '

‘I tracked down our friend, Brandt: wounded, but alive. I found him chained up and cowering in a sports hall with hundreds of other Wehrmacht soldiers awaiting transport to prisons in Siberia.' He gave a wry smile. ‘Nice place. He'll soon wish he had died in battle. He didn't look very happy; his face was a mess. I think the guards are having fun with him. Anyway, he was surprisingly helpful when I asked about your locket, deluded I would put in a good word for him, save him from the hell of a Siberian prison. He told me the name of a pawn shop he'd sold it to on the other side of Prague. When I arrived at the shop, my heart sank. The place was stacked from floor to ceiling with valuables people had sold, desperate for money. But the old pawnbroker remembered the locket, saying he'd never seen one in the shape of a book before. After rummaging around for some time, he found it and I bought it back.'

‘Oh, Andrej, thank you.' She opened it and smiled to see the photograph of her parents still inside. Her hands shook as she lifted the locket to her neck.

‘Let me help,' he said.

She turned, lifting her hair as he closed the clasp. He brushed his lips on the back of her neck before whispering, ‘Let's go inside the boat.'

They stood up and paused on the shore to kiss.

‘There's one more thing.' He stroked her cheek and looked at her, his navy eyes intense.

‘Yes?' She smiled, curious at his serious expression.

‘A married couple would have a better chance of adopting Michal.'

She tipped her head to one side. What was he saying here?

‘Have you got a couple in mind?' Her heart raced, bubbles of hope rising in her chest.

‘Mr and Mrs Kovar would be very suitable. '

‘Are you asking me to marry you, Mr Kovar?'

‘I definitely am. I love you, Jana.'

She took his hand and led him towards the steamboat. ‘Come and persuade me.'

Her head spun with joy as they climbed aboard and before her dress slipped to the floor, she whispered her answer.