The Woman with the Blue Star, Pam Jenoff [highly recommended books txt] 📗

the question. We could not go back to my house, but it wasn’t safe to stay on the street. “We need to find somewhere out of sight.”

“Where?” she asked.

I did not answer, but studied the row of houses that ran along the river, searching desperately for some sort of hiding place. My gaze stopped at a house that looked abandoned, with a set of steps leading up to the front door. “There,” I said, pointing to the space beneath the stairs, which was empty but for a handful of crates.

Sadie followed me to the house with the stairs. As we pulled the crates out of the way, a stale odor billowed out from the crawl space. I took shallow breaths and tried not to gag, but Sadie climbed into the tiny space without hesitation, seeming not to notice the smell. I didn’t know if people lived in the adjacent houses, whether they would notice us under the stairs or mind. But it was all we had and it would have to do.

I crawled in carefully and Sadie blocked the entrance with the crates to protect us, though they would not stop anyone who tried to get in. We huddled together in silence. “It’s my birthday today,” I realized suddenly aloud. With all that had happened, the way the days blended together, I had nearly forgotten.

Sadie sat up straighter. “Oh, Ella, happy birthday!”

It was hard to believe I had forgotten my own birthday. I was the youngest child in my family and my parents had always made a great fuss, with parties and presents and balloons, and a trip to the zoo if the weather was nice. Now there was simply no one to remember. “When is your birthday?” I asked Sadie.

“September 8. Maybe this will all be over by then and we can celebrate together.”

“We shall,” I said, wanting to cling to the improbable vision of the future she offered. Seemingly exhausted, Sadie leaned her head on my shoulder. She began to shiver, and I wasn’t sure if it was from cold or fear or something else. I moved closer for warmth, then took off my sweater and placed it around her, pulling her close. Then warmth enveloped me, and in this most improbable of places, we slept.

Sometime later, I awakened. Sadie had turned away from me and was curled into a tiny ball.

“Sadie, wake up!” I berated myself for being so foolish as to let myself doze off. In the distance a bell chimed five. “We’re late! We have to go!”

Hurriedly we climbed from the crawl space beneath the stairs and raced back toward the river. Daylight was beginning to dawn in the eastern sky as we crossed the bridge, the fine cracks of light that split the dark clouds widening and shining through. I scanned the far bank, searching for Krys at our meeting place. He was not there. I wondered if he had already come and we had missed him. It was nearly morning. Soon workers would appear along the riverbank and the chance to return Sadie beneath ground unseen would be gone. I braced myself to tell her that she would have to go back without the food. I could bring it to her later, but that would not be the same. She needed it now.

At last, I saw Krys, speeding toward us from the other direction, crossing the riverbank with great strides. “Hurry,” I said to Sadie, then raced to meet him. He carried a sack in his arms, much larger than I expected.

“Just potatoes,” he said, breathless from running. “That’s all I could get.” There was a note of apology in his voice.

“That’s wonderful.” Potatoes, Sadie had told me, were like gold because of how long they kept.

“This is all I can get for now. I will try to find more.”

“Thank you,” I said. Krys and I stood looking at one another for several seconds, feeling anew the connection we had once shared.

I turned toward Sadie, who hung back, several meters away. “It’s okay,” I said. “This is my friend.”

“I’m Krys,” he said, walking toward her and extending his hand. She did not take it. “Nice to meet you,” he added. I could tell from his eyes that he was taken aback by her appearance, how thin and pale she was. I had gotten used to it, but seeing her for the first time must have been something of a shock.

“Sadie,” she said, and I could see how much it took for her to trust him enough to share her name. “Thank you for the food.”

“I have to go,” Krys said, and I didn’t know whether that was true or he was just giving us a last minute alone. He passed me the sack of potatoes and our fingers brushed. His eyes met mine.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Ella, I wanted to tell you...” He faltered.

Just then, there was a clattering from beneath the bridge. I pivoted in that direction, fearful it was the police once more. But it was just a dockworker, unloading goods from his truck. “I have to help Sadie get back,” I said apologetically.

“Of course.” Disappointment flickered across his face. “Will you meet me later?” he said. “There is a room above the café on Barska where I’m staying, on the top floor.”

I should say no, I thought. It wasn’t proper, meeting Krys at his apartment. I didn’t know whether he meant to talk or something more. Things were too far gone between us for all of that now.

But something stopped me from refusing. “I’ll try,” I said, unwilling to promise more.

Seemingly satisfied, he started away.

“Krys!” I called, and he turned back. “Everything you did...for me...for Sadie... I really appreciate it.” There was so much more I wanted to say to him, but now wasn’t the time. He tipped his hat and was gone.

I handed the sack of potatoes to Sadie. “He doesn’t like you at all,” Sadie said. Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I decided to ignore her teasing. “You have