I hold my finger up to my lips, warning her to keep it down. She’s louder than she realizes, especially when she’s excited, which is always lately. Dale steps behind her. “Wh-wh-wha’?” I ask.
She peers over her shoulder toward Dale, waiting for him to catch up. He’s holding a newspaper, but with two hands like it’s made of gold. “It’s the Chicago Tribune,” she squeals.
“I ’ee,” I reply with a smile, confused about what she’s trying to show me.
“Look at it, silly goose,” she says as Dale hands the page to me.
There’s a photo of me next to a box with a big bold question mark. Below, typed in an extra-large font, is a plea that would normally be recognized as a criminal-like “wanted” notice.
Young love lost, and not yet found.
Help these two soulmates reunite.
If you know Elek Ozscar, age eighteen, most recently living in Bougival, France, please tell him Nora Tabor is looking for him and to call the number below. Help these young war refugees find what they, and so many others like them, deserve—happiness.
“Have y-y-you l-l-lo’ your mind’?” I ask, glaring back up at them with disbelief and shock.
Arina sits down beside me and places her hands on my shoulders. “I know this might be a little excessive, but we paid to have it printed in the seven largest newspapers in the United States and six others in Europe. We’re bound to find him this way.”
“I want to see you happy too,” Dale says.
“Also, while you’re already angry with me, I made you an appointment with a well-known neurologist in the city. I left a lengthy message with his secretary, and she told me to hold for a moment and the doctor came right to the phone. That never happens. He wants to meet with you, and he said he can do so tomorrow after school.”
Before I can shake my head and tell her I’m not ready, she nods her head with a mischievous smile. “You’re going. Mama would want you to go and Helena already agreed with me.”
“A-a-af’er you made me an appoin’men’?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“D-d-did you ’ell her abou’ ’he new’pa-paper?”
“Not yet, but I will tonight. I know she’ll be happy.”
I doubt that. Helena is nervous about our names going too far. She worries about who might want to question us for the press. With Dr. Mengele still somewhere, unfound, and free, it steals from our sense of freedom. He’s like a monster we are all afraid of under the bed.
“She looks pale, or maybe green,” Dale tells Arina.
“Nora will be okay. I’m going to be sure of it,” she says, squeezing me into her chest.
“I told you we should have asked her first,” Dale mutters.
“Shh,” she hushes as she places her hand over my left ear. “I know my sister better than you do and unless she’s forced, she won’t do what is for her own good. Trust me.”
“Has she always been this way?” Dale asks me.
“A-a-alway’.”
“My dad said the doctor is the best of the best in the Greater Lakes region,” says Dale.
“How w-w-will I pay for i’ all?” I ask Arina. I’m bringing in money each week now, but not nearly enough.
Dale scratches the back of his neck. “I’m going to take care of the charges. You don’t need to worry.”
Arina has mentioned that Dale is more well off than he portrays, but I don’t like to pry. “I-I-I can’ accep’ ’o much.”
Dale squats in front of me and takes a hold of the black iron railing I’m leaning against. “My family owns several titles and deeds of industrial buildings in and around the city, including the Amazing Grace orphanage. My dad and I are the only ones still standing in our family business that has been running almost a hundred years. For as long as I’ve been alive, the business motto has been: If we can’t do good with what we have, there’s no purpose in having it all.”
“Y-y-you’re a ground’keeper,” I state.
“Only at the orphanage. The state runs the building and doesn’t make a profit, so we do what we can to donate our free time and chip in where needed,” he says. “The children deserve a clean building to live in and it’s our way of giving back.”
Mrs. Vallentine threatened to fire free help when the children were benefiting from it all. She must have thought we’d never find out. I wonder if Arina has come to this realization.
Arina has found her charming prince—the looks, the good heart and soul, and a man who is wise beyond his years. A beam of light inviting Arina into a world full of hope and happiness. I pray a beacon will someday guide me there too.
THIRTY-THREE
ARINA
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES, MAY 1947
Please let this doctor help Nora. Mama, Papa, if you are watching over us, please help. The ride to the office building in the middle of the city is unusually quiet since I have said little. If this doesn’t go well, it too will be my fault for potentially getting her spirits up.
Peering over my shoulder, I see Nora staring out the window from the back seat, and I wish I knew what was going through her mind. We will never have answers unless we try to find them, and she hasn’t wanted to see a doctor since arriving in the United States. I was surprised to hear she hadn’t seen anyone in the time we were apart, but I can feel her fear. The doctor may tell her there’s nothing that can be done, which will steal the little hope she has left.
One thing I know, regardless of what happens today, I will take care of her for the rest of our lives.
I stare down at the mustard yellow envelope containing an application I will drop into the mailbox following Nora’s appointment. As uncommon as it is to be a woman seeking higher education, I can’t assume I won’t be one of the few that make it to the top. I want to be like Helena, but first I want to go to a university, get a degree in psychology. Then, I will help people. Maybe this is what Mama meant about me doing great things to help others in this world. I’ve lived through the pain and while healing is a continuous process I might never reach the end of, I can support others along the way.
Dale pulls into a parking spot along the curb. “The building is only a block from here,” he says, pointing at one of the newer high-rise buildings.
He turns to look over his shoulder at Nora and twists his lips to the side with a look of empathy. “We will not leave your side,” he says to her.
“I kn-know,” she replies quietly.
Watching the way Dale cares for Nora makes my feelings for him grow more and more each day. He’s selfless and gives without question. He truly wants to see her well and has been eager to locate Elek. This side of him isn’t one I came to know well at Amazing Grace. Our encounters were never long enough. His personality and good looks entranced me, but there’s so much more to him than I could have hoped to find in another person.
Dale hops out of the car first and makes his way around to the back to retrieve Nora’s wheelchair, unfolds it and brings it to her door. He helps her out and into the chair. She allows him to help. He’s the only one she hasn’t fought off when offering to lend a hand. Maybe she sees his pure intentions and maybe she holds a grudge against me every time I offer to help. I could understand if that were the case. I’m just happy she’s allowing someone to assist her occasionally, even if it’s not me.