The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Forty

Anna hadn't seen Hans before he and Daniel had gone to give their evidence. She and Maria were due in court the day after, so she decided to simply spend the day with her friend. Neither of them was interested in going to watch the trial otherwise.

Hollywood went, far too curious not to. Abe and Charles stayed with their wives; they were only there for them. Sam had work to do, but often came and sat with Charles and Abe, aiding them with the language barrier. Charles and Abe seemed happy just to drink together. It gave Anna and Maria the much needed time to catch up. They happened to be staying in the same hotel, so they spent most of their time in Anna's room whilst their men stayed in the bar.

"So..." sighed Maria, sitting back with her coffee. "Have you thought of names for the baby?"

"Well, for a girl Abe likes Bonnie or Lois. I like Heidi. We can't really agree on one."

"And for a boy?"

"Joey, as a nickname. My father was a Josef, his was Josiah. So, Joey would be a way to honour both of them."

"That's so sweet! What do you think you're having?"

"I've honestly no idea," laughed Anna. "This feels so different to Reina, perhaps that means it's a boy-"

"You are rather large too... seems likely they're a big strapping lad like their father."

"Well, Ma says both him and his sister were big babies, so I'm not sure that follows." A warm smile spread across Anna's face, her expression dreamy.

"You're much happier with Abe than you were with Hans," commented Maria, bringing Anna's focus back. "You're more relaxed."

"Be fair to Hans, we were stuck in the camp."

"Yes, but you were still always on edge around him," continued Maria. "I watched the two of you together, and it was infatuation. You were both obsessed with one another. I'm not saying there wasn't love between you two, because clearly there was. It's just that Abe champions you rather than covets you."

There was a pause.

"That's a fair assessment," sighed Anna.

"How are things between you and Hans?"

"Difficult," grumbled Anna. "I still care for him, an inordinate amount, but I'm not in love with him anymore."

"He is with you."

"Yes, that's the problem. He is trying to win me back... and if anything, that drives me further away." There was a pause, Anna sighing and rubbing her belly as her baby squirmed. "I don't want to lose him again, I don't think. But it puts a strain on Abe, and I can't stand that. Perhaps if Hans would just stop trying to regain what we had, Abe might be more open to me seeing him-"

"That doesn't seem likely," cut in Maria. "Charles said that both of them have done nothing but make snide comments about the other."

"I know," sighed Anna. "Perhaps I'm hoping for too much?"

"Well, you're not going to leave Abe!" laughed Maria. "Why would you? You're happily married with a child on the way... and you only have to look at him to understand the appeal!"

"I've never heard you speak so openly about finding someone attractive," giggled Anna, Maria joining in.

"He's just so tall!" said Maria. "And the way he looks at you-"

"It's the same way Charles looks at you."

"I know," sighed Maria dreamily, blushing at the thought of her own husband.