All My Love, Detrick (32 page)

It seemed to Detrick that the sun taunted him, keeping him on edge, and waiting. Slowly, so very slowly, it made its descent from the sky, leaving a crescent moon to rule the night.

Now that the time had come, Detrick hesitated. What would he find on the other side of the trap door?

His knees buckled as he climbed the hidden stairs; then, he rapped softly and waited. When he heard movement, he announced himself.

“Jacob, it’s me…Detrick”

The door opened, and before a word could be spoken, Jacob took Detrick into his arms in a hug.

“I’ve missed you! How I’ve missed you. How are you?” Without giving Detrick a moment to answer, Jacob looked him over and continued, “You look terrible. Dark circles under your eyes…
You’ve lost weight… Do you feel well?”

“I’ve missed you, Jacob. I’ve missed Leah.
God, how I’ve missed Leah.”

“She believes that you are seeing someone else.”

“There is no one else for me… There never has been, and there never will be. It’s a misunderstanding.”

Jacob nodded. “Talk to her… Go to her and explain.”

Detrick knocked on Leah’s door.

“Papa?”

“No, Leah… It’s me.”

The familiar voice made her dizzy, both of their hearts pounded in unison, although a wooden door stood between them.

“Detrick?” It was all she could bring herself to say.

“Yes.” He hesitated. “Please, can I come in?”

Somehow, whatever he’d done no longer mattered; she had to look into his eyes, had to see his golden hair falling softly over his forehead.

“Come in.”

Across the room, he found her sitting on the bed; a candle illuminated the room, and he thought her more beautiful than he remembered.

Slowly, his legs buckling, he approached her. Then, falling to his knees, he laid his head on her lap.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you. I never meant to. The girl you heard about was an arranged date. I was forced to take her to the picnic. Leah, I am living a double life. I cannot always say no to Konrad… I am afraid he will suspect something, and somehow find you. That was the only reason I went. But never, not for a second, since the first day I saw you, have I stopped loving you. You are everything to me. The reason I get up in the morning. The reason I breathe. Leah, I love you. I always have, and I will forever. For the rest of my life, and even after I am dead.”

After he’d finished speaking, she tenderly ran her fingers through his hair.

“Do you still love me?” His voice hoarse and deep.

“I love you.”

Reaching up, he embraced her. Then, taking her in his arms, he kissed her lips tenderly. Both lovers were consumed with the taste of the other's skin, with the feel of the other's hair. With each kiss the passion grew more intense, until they were lost in each other. Neither remembered the two old men who sat just a few feet away. It had been such a long time since they lay together. Caught in the frenzy of desire, shot with the fear of how close they had come to losing this precious love, this blessing, they cherished each other’s body, nourished each other’s soul, and comforted each other's mind until the wee hours of the morning.

As the sun began to rise, Leah turned to
Detrick “You’d better go.”

“I know. I will be back tonight.”

“You’d better be.” She ran her fingers across his naked shoulder.

“Leah?”

“Yes, love.”

“Marry me. Be my wife.”

“We’re already married in our hearts.”

“I know, but I want to really marry you. Will you marry me?”

“Of course, but how?”

“The rabbi…
He will marry us.”

“He won’t, you aren’t Jewish.”

“I’ll become a Jew. I might as well. I’ve always been a Jew in my heart, at least since I met your father. Why not convert?”

“Seriously, Detrick?”

“Yes, love, seriously. We’ll talk to him tonight.”

The remainder of that night, and all through the following day, the smell of peppermint lingered softly on Leah’s pillow. She held the pillow tightly to her, inhaling deeply.

114

Had it been anyone other than Detrick making such a request to the rabbi, he would have been reluctant. But, Detrick proved himself a worthy convert time and again, and the rabbi agreed to the plan. A short, intense course in Judaism required that Detrick spend an hour each day with the Rabbi when he arrived. Although over the years Detrick had learned a great deal from his relationship with Jacob, the study period introduced him to the depth of the religion.

With little effort, Detrick proved to be a quick study, impress
ing the rabbi with his ability to grasp concepts, ask questions, and remember. Although the rabbi wished he had the Torah, he realized that, under the circumstances, he must make do with the available resources.

Once Rabbi Stern declared Detrick a Jew, plans for the wedding began.

They asked the Muellers to help Jacob by holding a tablecloth as high as possible, in order to create a canopy. Mrs. Mueller agreed to bake a cake, which Detrick insisted upon paying extra for. Then, Detrick brought a bottle of wine, and although they would use the Mueller’s glasses for drinking, he acquired a special glass that he would stomp on and break into as many pieces as he could, each piece representing a year of marriage that the couple would share. The price of gold made wedding bands an unattainable luxury. Instead, Detrick purchased silver rings from the pawnshop. He presented the ring to Leah.

“Later, when this is all over, I promise to buy you the finest ring you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams.”

“Detrick, this ring is lovely. I don’t need another one. I need you.”

“And you have me.
Forever. But I want you to have everything that any woman could ever want, and someday, Leah, I promise on my life that I will give you all of this and more.”

115

“Baruch… Utah… Adonai…. Eloheinu….” Rabbi Stern’s melodic voice resonated through the room with the heart wrenching tenderness of a violin. “Blessed are thou, Lord Our God, King of the Universe.”

Jacob’s eyes shone with tears as he stood watching his daughter and the boy he loved as a son take the sacred vows of marriage.

A makeshift canopy had been constructed; Detrick bent to fit beneath it. Standing beside Leah in his white undershirt, his uniform jacket abandoned on the floor, Detrick experienced joy beyond any he’d ever imagined. He was finally to make this dream a reality. Leah looked like the first rose of summer, wearing a blush-colored dress she’d borrowed from Adelheid, who stood at the back of the group, sulking. It had been a difficult choice, but somehow Adelheid had found it in her heart to loan Leah the frock, because even though Adelheid had been hurt and rejected by Detrick, Leah had been a friend to her. Candles had been acquired at a high price, and now illuminated the entire room in a golden hue.

Once the rabbi finished the seven blessings and spoke to the couple about love and devotion, the rings
were exchanged. Detrick would leave his with Leah, lest Konrad ask why he’d begun wearing a wedding band.

Then the
two-sipped wine from the special wineglass Detrick had provided. After handing the goblet back to Rabbi Stern, who wrapped it carefully in a cloth napkin, it was placed on the ground in front of the groom. With one hard stomp, Detrick smashed the glass into tiny pieces as the Rabbi and Jacob cried out, “
L’chaim
! To Life!”

Detrick turned, and with the tenderness one can only express f
or the most precious and sought-after of gifts, he touched Leah’s face. His fingers trembled as he caressed the delicate white skin. Then, for the first time as man and wife, his lips met those of the woman he loved more than anything, even more than his own life.

“Leah Haswell,” he whispered in her ear, enjoying the sound of her new name. “I love you.”

116

O
n January 20, 1942, in a small suburb called Wannsee, on the outskirts of Berlin, a conference was held. Reinhard Heydrich chaired it, with fifteen SS and government officials in attendance. A year earlier, Heydrich had been appointed to be in charge of planning a program for the “Final Solution” to the “Jewish problem."

For a few hours, the men debated on how this situation
might be handled. After all, the goal was to create a pure Aryan race, and something must be done in order to bring this about.

Forced sterilization
was considered, as was mass deportation. However, neither seemed plausible. So, on this very innocent-seeming day, in this lovely cottage tucked away in the quiet little town of Wannsee, a decision was made that would change the world.

The “Final Solution,
” - the extermination, the mass murder of an entire race of people. The end of all Jews: men, women, and children.

117

Warsaw

T
yphoid slithered through the Warsaw Ghetto, attacking and killing along its horrifying path. With overpopulation, lack of hygienic supplies, and almost no nutritious food, the illness ran rampant. Ada’s schoolchildren, young and weak, were vulnerable, and she watched, helpless, as the disease claimed them. First, the child would complain of a terrific headache, usually accompanied by a high fever. Then, a red rash on the chest and abdomen followed. Few survived.

Karl attempted to find medication on the black market, but was unsuccessful. Once he exhausted all avenues, he did the only thing he could; he held Ada, offering her a shoulder to cry on and a sympathetic ear.

The love that had grown between them had stifled their desire to fight in the resistance. Where once they’d both felt they had little to lose, they now embraced the joy and wonder of life. With love came fear of loss, and although they hated the Nazis, an uprising would bring quick loss of life. Now that the United States had joined Great Britain and the Soviet Union to form the Allies, they hoped it would be just a matter of time before Germany’s defeat. If they could just lay low until then, maybe they would survive.

With the extra money Karl earned from his black market sales, the couple found a small room offering them some privacy, which few in the Ghetto enjoyed. As bleak as things had become, the
two filled their days with hope, and their nights with endless lovemaking. Neither attended the meetings of the Zydowska Organizacja Bojowa (translated: The Jewish Fighting Organization) resistance group, much to Mordechi’s disappointment. Mordechi explained that he and his girlfriend are young and in love, had a great deal to lose, but they understood the importance of not hiding under the covers. This situation would not just simply disappear, Mordechi explained, it must be addressed with an uprising. For Karl and Ada, the words fell upon deaf ears.

Winter’s icy fingers clutched at the inhabitants of the Ghetto. Without heat, many froze to death as the months inched slowly toward spring. Snow fell, covering slippery roads, making the walk from Ada’s apartment to the orphanage a perilous one. Still, every morning, she insisted upon going, much to Karl’s dismay.

“I can’t disappoint the children, Karl. This is all they have, and they look forward to it so much.”

“Ada, I know you love them, I understand, and I love the compassion that makes you who you are, but many of them are sick. They have lice, and lice carry disease. Besides, it’s so cold outside that you could catch your death just walking. Every day you put yourself at risk. I forbid you to continue.”

“You forbid me, Karl? Since when do you forbid me?”

“Ada, please… You are a strong, hardheaded woman, but in this situation I must insist that you do as I say.”

“I will not.”

“Ada…
Be reasonable.”

“I established this school. I mean to continue it until this horror ends and these children can live a normal life. If you love me, Karl, step aside and allow me to do what I must do.”

“Ada… Ada...” The conviction that shone from her eyes told him it was no use. “Please, be careful.”

“You know I will.” She kissed him and left.

Two children had died the previous night. When Ada arrived, she received the news. It had been sudden; neither had shown any trace of illness the previous day. Anger and frustration came over her as she looked at the tiny bodies. A boy and a girl, filthy, covered in ragged, torn garments, barefoot against the winter chill, lay silent for eternity, awaiting burial. She refused to cry; would not allow depression to stop her. Instead, she fought the flood she felt threatening the back of her eyes, and forced a smile as she entered the classroom.

As the winter edged on, the deaths continued, but came less often. Although the cold brought tremendous discomfort, it helped to kill the germs.
So, for the time being, typhoid seemed to be held at bay.

On an early spring evening, Ada returned home tired and flushed. Removing her clothing before lying down, she looked at her torso. There she saw the bright red spots indicative of the dreaded typhoid. Terror gripped her as she studied her body in disbelief. They had not seen an outbreak in weeks. She had thought herself immune. Now she knew better. Karl - she must inform Karl. If he stayed away, he might avoid the disease. Half an hour passed before the key turned in the lock and Karl appeared. When he saw Ada, he knew immediately something was wrong. He raced to her side, but she pushed him away.

“Stay away from me. I’m sick. Very sick. I don’t want you to catch this.”

“Do you think I care about that?” He forced her to allow him to take her in his arms.

Suddenly she covered her face and began to cry.

“It’s alright, Ada. I’m here. I’ll take care of you,” Karl whispered, but again she tried to push him away.

“Go. I want you to leave here… Do you hear me?”

“I hear you, but I refuse.”

“Karl… I have typhoid!”

His eyes could not focus; all around
him, the room turned dark. He’d heard her words, but could not accept them. Instead, he moved closer, taking her into his arms again.

“You’re just tired. Lie down. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry. Look at this…” She lifted her nightgown to reveal the spots.

“Oh my God!
Ada, my Ada!” Much stronger, he forced her to allow him to hold her. “It will be all right. I’m here, and I’m not leaving.”

The strength drained from Ada; she could not fight him. Instead, she lay shivering on the small bed. Karl covered her with all of the blankets and spare clothing he could find. It grew difficult to lift her hands or her head. She could no longer hold a glass to drink. Karl sat by her side, dipping a rag into water and squeezing the liquid into her mouth. At first, she responded by swallowing, but as the night went on, the water just ran from the side of her lips, spilling onto her chest. A blinding headache brought on bouts of nausea, and Karl held her as she heaved
violently. At first, she tried to make it to the toilet, but fell to the floor, covering herself with contents of her stomach. Once he realized she could not walk to the bathroom, Karl gently cleaned her up and held her hair as she vomited into a pot. Panic set in, driving Karl mad as Ada grew delirious with fever. Fading in and out of consciousness, she called for her mother, whimpering like a child.

Karl begged God; he pleaded….he bargained, offering his own life for hers. For months, Ada had given most of her food to the children, causing her to be painfully thin and weak, hardly able to fight for such a monstrous illness. As the early hours of the morning drew near, Ada became coherent. Although her eyes shone bright with fever, she spoke rationally, giving Karl hope. She sat up and asked for some soup, which he brought. While he held the spoon, she sipped slowly.

“You have been such a blessing to me.”

“I love you, Ada.”

“I know, and that makes me sad. Karl, I’m dying.”

“No, you can’t, Ada. Stop talking like that.”

“Listen to me. Please always remember that I love you. Now, you must be careful after I’m gone. Don’t take any crazy chances, because when this is all over you’ll be reunited with your family. And you’re young, Karl, you’ll love again. I ask only one favor of you. Please, Karl, take care of the children at the orphanage. Look in on them occasionally. Please…promise me?"

He took her hand in his and kissed it, holding it up to his face. “I promise…of course, but Ada…
Promise me that you are not going to think of death. You must live, Ada. We must go to Palestine together and build a Jewish state. Together, we will watch our children carve a homeland out of that barren desert, a place that will be safe for Jews forever.”