I place the small pile of my clothes into one of the bureau’s drawers. “I was thinking…maybe Miss Blum might know how we can locate Elek. Have you thought about asking her?”
“Helena ha’ d-d-done ’o much already. I-I-I couldn’.”
“She could point us in the right direction, maybe. We don’t have to ask her to do it for us.”
“M-may-be.”
“Also, I think we should research top-notch doctors in the area so we can find one for you.”
“A-A-Arina, you can’ f-f-fix my life in a d-d-day,” she says, lifting her suitcase up onto the bed.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve felt this beautiful. I slip the last pin into my hair and pull my hairbrush through the strands once more. Miss Blum bought us each a few dresses, a couple for the daytime and a couple for the nights. I’ve chosen the green stripes with the white ribbon hem and ruffled shoulders, fitted on the top and bowed out like a bell on the bottom. Nora chose a similar style but with red and white checkers.
The knock on the front door sparks my nerves. It must be Dale.
“Come in,” I hear Miss Blum says. “Well, aren’t you so sweet?”
I head into the main area of the apartment, Nora following closely behind. Dale and another man are here as well. I slow my pace, wondering why the man looks familiar, but I can’t place where I know him from.
“Wow,” Dale says, watching me walk toward him. “You look beautiful. Both of you do, of course. Happy Birthday, again,” he says with a grin as he approaches with me a bouquet of red roses. He then hands Nora a bouquet of yellow ones, which is the sweetest gesture.
“You’re so kind. Thank you,” I say. They’re both dressed in dark brown slacks, Dale with a white collared shirt and the other gentleman with a light blue collared shirt.
“’hank you v-v-very much,” Nora follows.
“This is Mitchell, my dad. You might have seen him around, but he likes to remain hidden in the shadows most of the time.” Dale chuckles, nudging his dad in the arm. His dad, of course. They share similar features, the same bright smile, dark hair, and defined cheekbones. His dad has a full mustache.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, girls. You’re as lovely as Dale mentioned.”
I watch as Mitchell glances over to Miss Blum, the warmth that grows along her cheeks, and the smile that grows across his lips. “I’m glad you could join us tonight,” she says.
“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Blum.”
“Call me Helena, please.”
“Helena, something smells incredible. I don’t know how you’ve found time to prepare a meal after working all day. What’s your secret?”
“It’s a secret,” she says with a quick wink. Men always want to know our secrets. They should know we enjoy bringing a little mystery to the table.
Helena takes the bouquets from our hands and moves into the sectioned off kitchen area. “I’ll put these beautiful flowers in water for you, girls.”
“May I help you dish out the food, Helena?” Her name doesn’t slip off my tongue too easily after I’ve been referring to her as Miss Blum for so long.
“No, please, have a seat. It’s your birthday. You should relax.”
“It’s not my birthday,” Dale says. “I’ll be helping you with the food.”
“No, really,” Helena argues.
“Yes, really,” he jests, following her over to the countertop where the casserole dish is steaming.
“I’m sure you girls must be happy to leave Mrs. Vallentine behind. What a woman she is…” Mitchell sweeps the invisible sweat off his head. “If I had a penny for every time she’s made my blood boil, I’d be a—”
“Dad,” Dale interrupts him. “Come on.”
“Anyway, you must be happy to be here with Helena. There isn’t anyone sweeter you could ask to live with.”
“We are,” I reply. “We’re very grateful for everything Helena has done for us both. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have found each other.”
“I m-m-may no’ be alive,” Nora adds.
“I’ve heard some of what you’ve been through. It’s hard to imagine,” he says, placing his hand on his chest.
Helena and Dale bring in handfuls of plates, setting them all down. Helena returns to the counter to retrieve the last dish and joins us at the table. She lifts her glass of water up and smiles. “To Nora and Arina, may this birthday be the start of fresh adventures for you both.”
“Here, here!” Dale and Mitchell follow.
“You two look so lovely in those dresses,” says Helena, “and I love that you both have your matching bracelets on, too.”
“The bracelet was from you?” I say, wrapping my hand around my wrist.
“No, sorry…” Helena says.
Nora clears her throat and lifts her fork. “L-looks v-very g-good.”
“Who are the bracelets from?” I ask her.
“No o-one,” she replies before placing a forkful of chicken casserole in her mouth. I watch her bracelet dangle, wondering what the little charm on hers is for. It’s an odd shape and I can’t make out what it’s supposed to be.
“Obviously the person isn’t a no one. Why won’t you tell me who gave them to you?”
Nora stares at her bracelet for quiet moment, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “A p-p-perfect being—one I-I-I wonder if I m-m-made up in my mind.”
THIRTY-TWO
NORA
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES, MAY 1947
It’s been a while since I’ve sat on a front stoop with a pad of paper and a pencil. A smile touches my face as I stare into the street at a puddle with the reflection of a robin’s-egg-blue bicycle. There’s a mild wind today and a green leaf floats along the puddle. I stare at the subtle swirls circling around, imagining the puddle was a looking glass into Monet’s bridge covered lake. If only it could take me back to Elek. I’ve called operators in France to search for a phone number where he might be. I’ve even tried the operators in the United States, but to no avail. It doesn’t mean I’m giving up hope, but it’s hard to imagine finding each other after all this time.
With only the shadows of the puddle sketched across my paper, I hear Arina’s giggle bouncing down the street just like I do most days just before dinner time. Dale meets up with us after summer school with the car neither of us knew he had. He kindly gives me a ride home, and then the two of them buzz away like lovebirds who can’t bear to be away from each other. I’m happy Arina has someone like Dale. She sings again, every day in the shower, sometimes before bed, and most annoyingly, before I wake up in the morning. She claims it’s necessary to practice as often as possible for her job at the jazz club. Helena, Dale, and I go to watch her the couple of nights a week she sings. Sometimes, Mitchell joins us too, but I think that’s for Helena’s benefit.
Dale pulls up into a parking spot toward the end of the block and Arina hops out and runs toward me. “Nora!” she shouts.