“Nora,” Mrs. Vallentine begins, “I realize we haven’t known each other as long as I have Arina, but your spirit and determination has been inspiring to all. I’m grateful the two of you have each other, and I believe you will make something wonderful out of your lives.”
“V-v-very kind of y-y-you,” I reply.
“Miss Blum has offered to take you to the bus station down the street,” Mrs. Vallentine says, peering down at the forms. “She should be done with her work in just a few moments.”
“Thank you. We will wait for her out front,” Arina says. “Good luck, Mrs. Vallentine.”
“And to you both. Happy Birthday.”
Arina lifts our two suitcases and leads the way out of the office. When the late afternoon sunlight hits our faces as we leave the building, it feels like a warm message from above.
“The future looks bright, sister,” Arina says.
We travel down the ramp and make our way over to the tree casting a shadow over the curb. “Right on time,” we hear from behind.
I spin my chair toward the voice, finding Dale. He clasps his hands behind his back. It’s been over two months since Arina has seen him and the shock written in her wide eyes and open mouth explains how much of a surprise it is to see him here.
“Why—what are you doing—?”
“It’s a long story, but we can say I made a deal with the—”
“Devil,” Arina completes his sentence.
Dale cracks a small smile and drops his gaze as if somewhat embarrassed to admit what he’s done. “If I worked daytime shifts during the week and kept my distance from you until they released you, I would keep my job and you wouldn’t face any further wrath from Vallentine. I was less concerned about my job than the turmoil you would face under that woman’s scrutiny. My father worked out the details with her and I had to accept the terms of agreement. I apologize for disappearing, but anything different would have caused us too much trouble. Of course, I understand if you don’t want to forgive me, but I wanted you to know why I left. I was planning to explain everything to you after school the last day I saw you, but—”
“I ’old him i-if he wa’ planning ’o br-br-break your hear’, he ’hould l-l-leave you alone.”
“You knew?” Arina asks me, her face crumpling with confusion.
“She didn’t know I made a deal that would end when you turned eighteen. She only knew you wouldn’t be seeing me, and I asked her not to tell you we talked because I was afraid of making everything worse for you.”
“I wa’ w-w-worried abou’ you. W-w-we found ou’ abou’ Mama and P-P-Papa ’he ’ame day.”
“When there’s stormy weather, it’s not supposed to last that long,” Arina says. “Now what?”
Dale takes another step closer to Arina. “Well, Miss Blum has explained everything to me and invited me over for dinner to join you three tonight if that’s okay with you?”
Arina is blushing several hues of red. Bashful isn’t a common trait in her, but it’s sincere when it happens. “I’d like that,” she says.
Dale seems relieved, judging by the way his shoulders drop and his hands unclench from behind his back. “We have lots to celebrate tonight. Happy Birthday to you both. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
He leans forward, placing a brief kiss on Arina’s cheek, and turns to dip his head toward me before walking off toward the building.
Arina makes her way over to me, fanning her hand in front of her blushing face. “I should have asked you first. Is it okay if he joins us tonight? I know—”
“Don-don’ f-feel b-bad for m-me.”
Arina nods. She doesn’t need to feel bad. I squeeze my hand around my bracelet and hold my fists to my heart. I still have hope for myself.
THIRTY-ONE
ARINA
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES, APRIL 1947
The apartment is more beautiful than I could have pictured, with a window overlooking the cobblestone street. We’re on the ground floor, thankfully, and there is plenty of space for Nora to move around. Helena has made the small space warm with white wallpaper adorned with pale yellow roses and long emerald-green stems. The sofa and round dining table are both green and the accent chairs are the complementary yellow. With white hourglass curtains covering each window and a white trug beneath the chestnut coffee table, the setting looks as if it fell out of a housewife magazine.
The kitchen space flows into the dining and living area, separated by a wall-mounted bookshelf lined with dozens of books. The washroom hides in the far corner beside two bedroom doors.
“I hope you’ll be happy here,” Miss Blum tells us.
“How could we not be?” I ask.
“I bought you both a few outfits and left them in the drawers. I also got some extra bathroom necessities and filled the pantry and refrigerator. If there is anything else you need, please ask.”
She must have spent multiple paychecks on everything she’s done for us, and I hope we can repay her someday. “This must have cost you a fortune,” I say. “I’m scheduled to sing at the jazz club next week and I will give you everything I earn.”
“M-m-me ’oo. My fir’ drawing’ are d-d-due nex’ week.”
“Girls, save your money. If I run into trouble, I will let you know. Besides, consider it all a birthday present. You deserve more, but I wanted you to have some new things for a fresh start.”
I place the luggage down and step toward Miss Blum. “You must let us help. We’ll pay for the food we eat and give you money toward the rent.”
“We’ll figure it all out once you’re settled and have everything you need to start over again here.” I wrap my arms around her and squeeze tightly. Nora reaches out her hand for Miss Blum’s. It’s hard to believe this is real.
Miss Blum unbuttons her thin overcoat and slips it off her shoulders to hang on the empty coat rack by the door. “I’m going to start dinner. Why don’t the two of you go unpack, change, and freshen up. Your bedroom is the one closest to the bathroom.”
The bedroom is tidy, with two beds and a nightstand between them. A bureau to the left and a mirror-covered closet are to the right. The bed linens are peach and white, each with a decorative pillow centered against each headboard. A small stuffed teddy bear rests against each pillow, too. I wonder how long she has had the room made up like this for two girls. It must have been lonely living alone after once being part of a family of four.
I place Nora’s suitcase down and prop mine up on the bed farthest from the door. The buckles clack open and I lift the top, finding the yellow star resting on top of my pile of clothes.
I take it into my hand and run the side of my thumb over the fabric before resting it against my cheek. Mama. I drop it into the top drawer of the nightstand like I do whenever I end up somewhere new.
“Wh-wh-wha’ did you pu’ in ’he drawer?” Nora asks, leaning over and reopening the drawer. “Y-y-you have a y-y-yellow badge?”
“Mama sewed it to my sweater. I tore it off after liberation and kept it as a reminder of her and where this all started. It can be ours.” I know Nora didn’t recover her few belongings at the camp since she was in hiding. She left with the clothes she had on her back, which were nothing more than a baggy pair of pajamas. Nora reaches in for it and runs her thumb over the fabric. She traces her other finger along the loose stitching still partially threaded around the edges. “I’m g-g-glad you have i’.” Nora places it back down in the drawer.