The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Sixteen

Anna had been so glad when Ernst had said he'd take the children to town so that she could rest. She desperately needed the time to herself. He'd even made poor Brigitte sit with Ilse in her room so she wouldn't come down and disturb her. As they were getting their coats on to leave, Anna came to say goodbye.

"Are you sure you won't come?" whined Oskar, Anna cupping his cheek with a smile.

"I'm sure," she said. "You'll have to have a word with your sibling when they arrive. They're wearing me out." He huffed but accepted it. She helped him on with his coat, making sure both he and Freda were wrapped up well enough, before she attended to Eric. Handing him to Freda, she then pulled Ernst in for his goodbye. "Thank you for this... truly!"

"You need rest," he said softly. "We need our baby to grow big and strong!" He put his hand on her stomach, as he so often did now a days. Anna tried very hard not to grimace. He was already so in love with this child. She knew it would break him when she finally succeeded in her plan to abort it. That made her heart hurt. It was all so confusing. She wasn't sure that she wanted to see him upset... but she definitely didn't want him in her life forever. She kissed him again, then smiled as Freda let Freddie in.

"The car is all warmed up for you, Herr Commandant," he announced.

"Wonderful!" said Ernst, putting his cap on. "Come along children." He kissed Anna a final time, then walked past Freddie and out. Freddie looked at Anna, his eyes very serious.

"Listen out for the telephone," he said quickly, then turned and left before she could ask him what that meant. She kept thinking about it as she wandered back to the kitchen to tell Maria.

"I think you know exactly what it means," commented Maria, sitting beside her as they drank their coffee.

"He's told Karl," she mumbled glumly. Maria nodded. "Bastard."

"He'll just be trying to help," sighed Maria. "But he's a man. He has no idea how this feels... what it means."

"I'm not even sure that I know that," huffed Anna.

"Not to agree with him..." began Maria, "but are you sure this is the best course of action?" Anna looked exasperated.

"You're the one that suggested it!"

"Yes, but you only listened to that part of what I had to say! I also told you, that before I even realised that I wasn't pregnant, that I had changed my mind." Their eyes locked. "If I had gone through with it, and it had gone wrong, I would have left Charles alone."

"Elli wouldn't be alone though," insisted Anna.

"Anna, I'm just saying..."

"Well don't!" she snapped. Then the telephone beckoned her from Ernst's office. Anna sighed deeply, getting to her feet. "Sorry for biting your head off."

"I understand," said Maria. "I just want you to be sure that it's what you want." Anna just nodded and hurried down the hallway. She geared herself up for the inevitable onslaught that was coming her way.

She shut the office door, readying herself fully as she sat down at Ernst's desk.

"Commandant Werner's office," she said as clearly as she could.

"Is that you Frauline Lehman?" said a familiar voice.

"Standartenführer!" Anna said, her voice full of surprise. "Yes, it's me."

"I hear congratulations are in order," he said, his tone clipped.

"Yes," she managed. "Thank you."