Page 15 of Love in the Shadows

The small verbal victory left Fabienne feeling oddly as though she’d lost more than she’d gained.

“True. So, I hope the cows will not strike.” Frau Neumann’s smile broadened, but the softness of a moment ago had gone. “There’s a leak under the sink in the kommandant’s bathroom that needs to be repaired immediately.”

Fabienne nodded. “We have no solder, but I will try to fix it with putty.”

The kitten meowed.

Frau Neumann raised her eyebrows.

“What is it?” Astrid asked. She stepped towards Fabienne and was held back by her mother.

“You found a cat,” Frau Neumann said.

Fabienne opened the top of her coat and the kitten’s beady eyes stared up at her. “It’s okay, little man,” she whispered. She undid another button. He was clinging to her with his tiny claws and refusing to be lifted. “He’s not a cat, yet.”

“Oh, he’s beautiful,” Astrid said. She looked up at her mother. “Can I stroke him, please, Mutter?”

Frau Neumann let go of her daughter’s shoulder.

Astrid moved closer, her eyes wide and her cheeks rosy. Fabienne crouched down, stroking the kitten to get him to release his grip, and presented him to Astrid. She took him gently into her arms and smiled back at her mother.

“What will you call him?” Fraulein Brun asked.

“Lakritze,” she said. “He looks like lakritze.”

“Réglisse,” Fabienne said, using the French term for liquorice.

Johanna tensed and glanced towards the dining room.

Fraulein Brun tickled the kitten under the chin and stroked his head. “It suits him very well.”

“Because he’s all black.” Astrid said. “I like Léglisse.”

“Réglisse,” Fabienne said, emphasising the ‘r’ sound. Astrid repeated her.

“Lakritze,” Johanna said, correcting them both.

Fabienne nodded. She didn’t want to get Astrid into trouble by teaching her French words.

“I was hoping for a ratter,” Frau Neumann said.

“Ah, well.” Fabienne took the trap from the sink and held it up. “I’ll clean this and put it in the cellar. It will be more effective than…” She looked towards the kitten and shrugged. “He is very cute, and I thought he might be good company for your daughter.” The kitten had put a smile on Frau Neumann’s face too, but Fabienne wasn’t about to point that out.

“Astrid will be thrilled, I’m sure.”

“He should probably stay in for a few days, so he thinks this is his home. I can sort out a crate and put some dirt in it.”

“Can I help?” Astrid asked.

Fabienne addressed Astrid’s mother. “If I find a crate, would Astrid be allowed to fill it from the garden?”

Frau Neumann glanced through to the living room again and stiffened. “I must think about it.”

Astrid looked at her mother, her expression a simple plea, though she didn’t question her.

“Go and find Nanny and somewhere to keep the kitten safe,” she said.

Fabienne waited for the length of time it would take Astrid to walk through to the foyer. “May I go and get the putty from the garage to fix the leak, Frau Neumann, or should I wait for an escort?”

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