The Hidden Heart

Chapter 2 - Mrs. Müller

I hear rapid knocking at the door. I go down as fast as I can and see Sophie standing there panting. I am confused as to why she looks like she has just run a marathon. "What the-?" I start to ask before Sophie rushes past me and slams the door. 

"Please. The Germans started to chase me. What do I do? Please help me. My parents went missing a week ago. I don't know what to do." She was panting heavily as she said this so I couldn't completely understand her. I knew that she wanted to see her parents soon though and that the police were chasing her so I ushered her into the house. I had taken her parents into the hiding spot because they were stopping by and there were police outside and I knew they couldn't risk it. I felt horrible about taking Sophie's parents away from her, but I had to. Also, I couldn't take the child so soon after I had taken the parents. If people were watching the house, that would be super suspicious.

I took her upstairs to the safe room. She seemed confused when I told her to pull out the bed, but she did it anyway. I grabbed a step stool from my bathroom and set it up. I grabbed the knob and pulled. The door opened and when Sophie's parents stepped out of the safe room, both Sophie and her parents started crying. I started to give them time alone, but Sophie asked "Have they been here all week?"

"Yes," I replied. Sophie looked shocked so I said "We would have gotten you sooner, but it was too close to when I had moved your parents."

Sophie asks "Does Kira know about this?"

"No," I reply. "I trust her with all my heart, but my safety is not concerned. The less people who know about it, the better. Right now, the only people who know about it are my husband and me. I am waiting to see if Kira is ready to know."

I get them back in the safe room. The safe room is behind my bed. I need a step stool to get in, but there are stairs on the other side. The only entrance and exit is the door above my bed. It is annoying to constantly be moving my bed, but it is for their safety.

I close the door and go downstairs. Someone is knocking at the door. I opened the door and I see Kira standing there. She looks upset. She asks "Can we go in your room to talk?"

I say "How about we go to your room instead?"

"Why can't we go into your room? You always let me." Kira says.

I replied "Kira, no. We have to go to your room."

She must sense the strangeness in my voice so she lets the matter drop. Kira responds, "Fine." But there is anger in her voice.

We go up to her room and I ask, "What's wrong?"

She replies "I went to Sophie's house today and she wasn't there. What if the Germans took her?" She immediately starts crying. It breaks my heart that I can't tell her that Sophie is inside the house. But telling Kira is their decision to make, not mine. After all, it is their safety. 

"I'm so sorry sweetheart. I don't want to add to your pain and it breaks my heart to say this, but I'm afraid you can't go back to Sophie's house."

Kira immediately looks up. "What? Why?" she asks through her sobs.

I look into my lap and say, "If you continue to go there, the Germans will know we're great friends with them. Then we will get in trouble if we don't tell the Germans where they are."

Kira says "But we don't know where they are."

I can't lie to her so I respond, "Do you think the Germans will believe that?"

Kira sighs "No. But I don't understand why we have to put our own safety before theirs."

I sigh and leave the room. I understand that Kira probably wants time alone. I have so much to do. I have to deal with my upset daughter, find enough food for all 6 of us (Me, my husband, Kira, Sophie, Tilda, and Tilda's husband - Jonathan) AND I need to figure out how I can get fresh clothes for Sophie. Wait! I know what I can do for the last problem, I can give her some of my clothes. They won't fit very well, but it will have to do. Now for those other problems. . .

A little while later, I was folding laundry and preparing dinner. I heard Kira storming down the stairs. "Mother!" she yells. "We need to talk."

I follow Kira up to her room. She sits down on her bed and says, "Strange things have been happening ever since Sophie went missing. You wouldn't let me into your room, we've gotten less food, half of your clothes are missing, and you've seemed really overwhelmed." All the color drained from my face. Where was Kira going with this? She continues, "I'm just going to say it. Are Sophie and her family hiding in this house?"

I'm silent. I open her mouth a few times, then close it again because I don't know how to respond. Finally I nod. Kira yells, "I can't believe you wouldn't tell me. Don't you know you can trust me?"

"Of course I know I can trust you! I wanted to make sure they were safe, and you too. It's their decision whether or not to tell you. I know Sophie has been working hard to convince them to tell you but they just haven't agreed to anything yet. I am so sorry."

Kira looks up at me and says "Now that I know, can I at least see them?"

I'm fine with that, I want her to see them, so I say, "I'm fine with you seeing them, but I'm just going to double check that they are okay with that. Can you wait in here for a little while while I go let them know that you know that they're here and ask them if you can see Sophie?"

Kira starts beaming. She says, "Of course I can wait." I chuckle as I expected no less.

I head into my bedroom and go over to the Schmidts. I tell them, "Tilda, Jonathon, I have to tell you something. Kira noticed everything, and she figured out that you were hiding here. She really looks up to Sophie, and wants to see her. I know you haven't made up your mind yet about whether Kira can see you, but can Kira please see her?"

Tilda and Jonathon look at each other, and Tilda says, "Let me talk to Sophie." Tilda and Jonathon confer with Sophie, and then turn back to me with a nod and "Yes". I leave the room, and bring Kira back. I talk a little more with Tilda and Jonathon, and Kira talks with Sophie. After a while, I leave to prepare dinner. . .and check the mail. It's been a week since we heard from Max. I know it's probably just that the mail is slow, but when I see a telegram boy, I panic. However, I see him head to another house, so I breathe with a sigh of relief.