Through Blood

Chapter 8: Threat

"You just came back from Norway, and now you're leaving again?" Simone protested.
"Simone, please, try to understand," Peter replied.
"Yes I understand. I understand that work has become the most important thing in your life."
"How can you say that? After all that I've done for us, for our family?" He was raising his voice in the way that guaranteed a fight between them.
"I'm not going down this road with you again. You know that I've also sacrificed a lot for us. Do you think that I don't miss Kiel? I was raised here but I moved to Kiel for you, and I miss living by the sea."

"What's there to miss? Here you have three maids, and a servant, and a personal driver, you don't have to lift a finger to do anything! You had none of this in Kiel, do you miss the hard work, working in that shitty newspaper office for scraps? And slaving away in the kitchen? Do you miss the lack of money we had? Don't talk to me about sacrifice!" Peter stated.

"But we had each other. We had each other! You are unbelievable," she said, turning away from him.

There was a knock on the front door. "I have to go now. Remember that when I return from Munich we're having dinner with Commander Himmler and his family. I'll telephone when I get there," he picked up his suitcase and leather briefcase and left.

She stood in place, her arms crossed. Simone still didn't see their new and glamorous life the same way Peter, Kristian, and Ivy saw it. She had nothing against Peter's job or the government, but she did miss the days when Peter and her got along peacefully.

                                                                                     -

Ivy was finishing tidying up her desk. It was Friday and the end of the day. That day Peter had left earlier than usual and she hadn't done much other than gossip with a fellow secretary, Elsa.
Elsa had the look of an innocent little deer, dark auburn hair and a freckled face. She was 19, a year younger than Ivy. She was giggly and charismatic. Elsa was Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess' secretary.

All in all, Ivy enjoyed working at the Reichstag, outside her father's office as his secretary. Most days were dull but sometimes she and Elsa caught glimpses of important men such as Herr Himmler, Herr Goebbels, Herr Göring, and of course, the Führer himself. That was always so exciting, it gave them lots to talk about for the rest of the day. On one occasion the Führer stopped and briefly conversed with Ivy, as though they were good friends. Once he was gone, Elsa gawked at Ivy in shock. Ivy smiled in an I-told-you-so kind of way.

As Ivy put away the last yellow folder and pushed her chair forward, Peter came back.
"Vater-I mean, Herr Köhler, is everything okay? You've returned," she stated the obvious, curiously.
"Yes, I forgot an important document on my desk," he was in a mood.
"I could have brought it home, I was just leaving," Ivy followed him into his office.
"I'm not going back home for now. Going to Munich."
"Munich, right," she nodded.

The massive government building was starting to empty out, the staff had mostly left and many offices were already dark. It was so silent the hallways echoed.

"Vati, what's wrong?" Ivy whispered as she went in his office after him. She could tell he seemed slightly distressed.
"I... I can't tell you anything Ivy. As you know, we swear vows of secrecy, just like you did when you started working here," he replied.
"It's just me here. I wouldn't tell anyone," Ivy said.
He found the document he'd been searching for and placed it inside his black leather briefcase. "We're at war, Ivy, I'm just worried. I'll be back on Monday. I love you, sweetheart," Peter kissed her forehead and made his way to the door. But then he halted and turned around.

"Ivy, you should contact Gerda. She needs to come back to Germany as soon as possible."
"But... why?" Ivy almost knew, she needn't ask.
"Very soon it won't be safe. France won't be safe. Your uncle too, he should come with her. Soon," and with that he left.