The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Twenty-Two

Anna and Elli waited for Abe in the garden, lounging languidly in the sun. Morning briefing seemed to be taking an age today.

Elli was so excited to swim again but didn't want to go alone. Anna would have helped her, but she had been feeling exceedingly tired of late and even the thought of it exhausted her. Instead, she had tried her hand at baking for the event. She thought it would be nice to make him something and show how appreciated he was.

The problem was, she was absolutely awful at it.

And so were Gabby and Heidi.

The housekeeper had tried her very best to help Anna, but the bread hadn't risen, and she'd left it in the oven for too long. She'd just have to keep practicing, she supposed. She certainly couldn't live on the farm without knowing how to cook. Abe never stopped reminiscing about his mother's cooking; she had a lot to live up to, and it truly terrified her.

In all her life, no matter where she had been, Anna had never had to be domestically inclined. They'd always had a housekeeper growing up. In the ghetto, she had helped her father as his assistant and her mother had taken charge of the house. And in the camp, she had cleaned, but never had to cook. She wanted to take care of Abe went they got to America. She wanted him to be proud of her.

Gabby came and joined them both in the garden, Elli chatting incessantly about how she was going to be the best swimmer in the entire world. Anna loved it, unable to hide her grin from her sister. Elli was flourishing now; her ability to bounce back from before was incredible.

When they saw Abe trudge through the house, Elli ran towards them in excitement, throwing herself at Abe as she always did. He caught her but seemed quiet.

"Are you ready to go swimming?" she asked excitedly.

Anna got to her feet, just as eager to throw her arms around him. He looked downcast and worried. "Abe?" ventured Anna, going to him. "What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath. "We're leaving for Austria on August 1st."

Anna's heart plunged. She couldn't get any words out before Elli began to protest.

"No!" Elli cried, hugging him closely. "Abe, you can't go."

"I'm sorry, darlin'. I don't have a choice," he murmured, rubbing her back soothingly as she began crying into his shoulder. He glanced at Anna, who was despondent. "It's not forever, El. I'll come back the moment I'm allowed."

This couldn't be happening. Anna breathed in deeply, overcome by a sudden queasiness.

"I don't want you to go," Elli sobbed. Her little sisters cried made it so much worse. It wasn't just Anna that needed Abe so desperately.

Abe's own eyes grew teary. "Elli darlin', please don't cry," he begged, trying his best to calm her. "Everything is gonna be all right."

"What if you never come back?" asked Elli.

Anna felt as though a knife had been twisted into her gut.

"That ain't gonna happen," Abe promised her.

"What if you get sent to the Pacific?" piped Anna.

Abe looked straight at her, unable to answer.

They both knew he couldn't guarantee his return. Anna trusted implicitly that if the choice was his, he would return to her quickly. But they had all seen so much horror in this war. They all knew that life could be stolen by forces completely beyond your control. He went to say something, but Anna's stomach began to swirl violently and she could no longer supress it. She took a deep breath, but it did nothing to quell the nausea.