You Are My Sunshine: A Novel Of The Holocaust (All My Love Detrick Companion Novel) (44 page)

Isaac found Shlomie gathering wood for a fire. He walked over to him.

“I’m sorry.” Isaac said, “I’m sorry for what happened earlier.”

Shlomie nodded not meeting Isaac’s eyes.

“We could use some meat. I went hunting today, but I didn’t do well, didn’t catch a thing in fact. Would you like to go fishing?’

“I suppose” Shlomie said. “We could
use the fish. Zofia needs meat. And milk too.”

“We will have to go to one
of the farms and steal the milk from the cows for her.” Isaac said. “I mean I will have to go. You don’t have to; it’s not your responsibility.”

“I want to go, we’ll go together.”
Shlomie had never stopped loving Zofia, even though he knew she had given her heart to Isaac.

“Thank you, Shlomie. I
appreciate everything.”

“I know you do. And I know how much you love her.”

“I do love her, Shlomie. I do.”

“Yes, I know.’

And so do you, Isaac thought.

Chapter
69

Seff healed quickly and turned out to be an asset to the group. He was a fast learner. When Isaac showed him how to hunt with the bow and arrow, within a week he was able to reach his target. He was not a complainer and for that, Isaac was grateful. The more Isaac knew him the more that he found that he enjoyed Seff’s company. This made him feel guilty for wanting to turn the man away. But he still felt that Zofia was his most important concern and the thought of putting her at risk still made him anxious. Zofia mattered more to Isaac than anything else. Everything he did, he did with Zofia’s welfare first and foremost in his mind. When he went, hunting or fishing Isaac’s thoughts were always to bring back enough for Zofia.  So far, she maintained her slender figure. The only time he could see any evidence of her pregnancy was when she was naked. And then he was so struck by her beauty and by this wonderful gift, that God had given him, he found it hard to catch his breath. “Zofia,” even the thought of her brought a smile to his face. He let his mind drift for a moment to her long hair floating across her back, her skin the color of white roses. “Thank you, God.” He whispered to the earth and sky as he walked through the forest alone carrying his bow and arrow. This was his time for deep thought. This was his time for planning. Someday, as soon as this ended, he would find a way to build a wonderful life for his wife and child. If he had to work twenty-four hours a day, he would to make sure they were comfortable. Isaac saw a large hare move in the grass. Quietly he adjusted his bow and arrow. Then he shot. Zofia would have meat tonight.

Isaac returned carrying the rabbit. When Z
ofia saw him, her eyes lit up like the evening stars as a smile broke across her face.

“You brought meat?”

“Yes. I had a good shot.”

“That’s wonderful. Why don’t we take a walk and see if we can’t find some carrots and onions to make a stew, then there will be plenty for everyone.”

“You mean the farm down the road?”

“Yes, we could walk there and gather some vegetables.”

“It’s risky during the day. I’d rather wait until night.” Isaac said.

“But then
we can’t make a stew tonight.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea
to steal vegetables out in the open, Zofia.”

“Well, I’m going. You can come with me or not. It’s your choice.”

He looked at her; she was so pretty, and so stubborn.  He shook his head. “I won’t let you go without me. It’s just too dangerous.”

“Then you’d better get moving
, because I’m going.” She smiled at him and he felt as if a light from heaven had come to light up this small cabin in the woods.

“You win, alright. Let’s go.”
He said and laughed at how easily she could sway him.

Z
ofia took the basket down from the shelf that Ben had built in the cabin just as Shlomie came in carrying two small fish.

“Where are you going?” Shlomie asked
.

“Isaac and I are going to the farm down the road to gather some vegetables for a stew tonight. Isaac caught a rabbit.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Shlomie said.

Isaac leaned back and stretched. When Zofia and Shlomie had walked outside, he took one of the guns from the small pile and put it into his pants pocket. He strapped his bow and arrow across his back. “I’ve become such a mountain man. Then he thought again of his life before, of his parents. Oh Mama, I miss you and Papa. I wish you could have known my Zofia. She is such a special girl. You would have loved her” He found himself talking aloud to no one. He smiled, and it was a sad smile. He missed them both. If only things had been different. Right now, his mother would be helping to plan the wedding for him to marry Zofia. And, Zofia would not be pregnant, that’s for sure. He laughed a little aloud. He probably would not have touched her until their wedding night, when she would have worn a modest white gown and he would have gingerly removed it. Of course, there would have been naysayers because of her previous pregnancy. In fact, if he were honest with himself, his mother would not have approved. Ah, well, things have a way of working themselves out. It’s God’s will that we be together, and I am thankful for that. It is my greatest blessing in life, but I cannot help but miss my parents even though I know that if you were both here Zofia and I would have a more difficult time being together. There is good in bad and bad in good. Nothing is ever all black or white. He though, shaking his head. Then he went to join his friends.

Z
ofia kissed him full on the lips when Isaac approached her. The warmth of the sun shining on his face and the sweetness of her kiss made him smile.

“Come on you two love birds, let’s get going.” Shlomie said.

“Are you sure you want to do this? This could be dangerous. I don’t like to leave the forest until night.” Isaac repeated, hoping Zofia would see reason.
“We will be quick.” Zofia said.

Isaac nodded.

There was no sign of any one when they approached the farm. Isaac stood guard, looking in all directions his hand under his shirt gripping his pistol, while the other two began to gather vegetables. A truck went by and the three friends looked at each other with fright in their eyes, but the vehicle did not stop.

“I think we shou
ld go.” Isaac said a little annoyed that he’d allowed Zofia to convince him to do this perilous thing.  He’d allowed her to put herself at risk. At any time, the truck could return or send others to come for them. This was just plain foolishness.
“All right, Shlomie and I have gathered enough for now,” Zofia said, her voice soft. She sensed that Isaac was on alert, his tone curt and caustic.

“Come on let’s move swiftly.” Isaac said.

The three friends walked quickly away heading back to the safety of the forest. Isaac thought that they looked like three children walking home from school, except for their age, their tattered and dirty clothes, and more importantly, their terrified expressions.

Z
ofia smiled at Isaac. It was a timid smile, but as it always did, it lit the fire in his heart. He couldn’t stay angry with her. He wrapped his arm through hers and kissed the top of her hair.  But he continued to be on edge and watching, until they were deep into the woods.

It was almost a mile walk back to the cabin. But under the protection
of the trees, Isaac’s tension lifted and he began to relax.

Chapter
70

Zofia was giddy. She felt almost child-like walking through the sun-filtered trees with Isaac, the man who’d brought purpose to her life and her best friend, Shlomie. True, it had been a scare when the truck chugged by. But it was only a farmer; the back of the truck was open and filled with hay. Of course, there was reason to be cautious, but she was so tired of caution. It was summer and she was in love. Zofia wanted to be careless, to be free, and to be young. Silly thoughts these were, especially with all the dangers that surrounded them. Isaac was right; they were so close to the end of this war. Any day this could all be over, why take any risks now. Play it safe. She shivered at the thought.  Why had she wanted so desperately to take the chance of being caught? What was it in her that wanted to take that step over the edge?   The joyous feelings of summer began to disappear, being replaced with self-reproach. Zofia shuddered at her own stupid actions. Maybe it was hormonal imbalance from the pregnancy, but she began to think of what could have happened. I am so lucky to be alive, to have Isaac, and all of our friends, to be safe.  Tears sprung to her eyes.  She would not take a risk like this again.

Isaac saw that Z
ofia was crying. He stopped and turned to take her in his arms.

“What is it, sweetheart?” He asked confused. Just a few moments
ago, she’d been laughing and squeezing his arm. He lifted her face so that her eyes could meet his. “You’re crying.” He wiped the tears from her cheek with his thumb. “Zofia?”

“I’m sorry. I put us all at risk. I am so sorry.” She was sobbing.

“Women get very strange when their pregnant.” Shlomie said, “one minute happy, the next sad.”

“Quite, Shlomie
,” Isaac said. “Now, darling, talk to me.” Isaac said sitting down on a rock and pulling Zofia gently to sit on his knee. “Don’t cry, please.”

“I am really sorry. When I think
of what could have happened. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before we left. I am so confused, Isaac.”

“Shhhh
…” He patted her back like a baby and cradled her in his arms. “It’s alright.”

Shlomie shook his head. “I’m going back to the cabin.
This is a little nauseating. I’ll see you two love birds in a little while.”

“Go.” Isaac said, Z
ofia still emotional in his arms. He rocked her gently until she calmed down.

“I don’t know what got into me.” She said.

“It’s alright, nothing happened. We are all fine.”

“Yes.” She nodded and swallowed hard. “But we won’t do that again.”
Why was she so irrational? She had never been this way when she was pregnant with Eidel. Yet, with Eidel, she’d been terribly sick, this time; at least, she’d not experienced that awful nausea.  Every pregnancy must be different. Still, from now on she must make a conscious effort to control her rash behavior.

“I agree.
Let’s not do that again.” Isaac said a small smile came across his face. He’d tried to tell her this in the first place. Now he was glad that she’d realized it on her own.

She started to cry.

“Shhhh, it’s alright.” He whispered into her ear.

“I love you so much Isaac, You came into my life and made me realize so many things I’d never know
n before. I mean, there were other boyfriends and all. Once I even thought I was in love, but I didn’t know what love really was. I do now.  You…you are my true Bashert.”

“And you are mine. Do you remember when you used to come to buy bread and I would be sitting in the back
of my mom’s bakery?”

“I do remember. You were s
o fat.”

“Yes, I was
,” He laughed. “I could never get enough of that warm bread with butter fresh from the oven.” He wiped the tear from the side of her cheek. “But you know what; I’m going to tell you a secret.”

“I love secrets.” She smiled through her tears.

“I loved you even then. I would look out through the back door and watch you. I thought you were the prettiest girl in the whole world, at least in Warsaw, which was our whole world at the time.”

She smiled
, her eyes lighting up with the memory.

“We did believe that Warsaw was the entire world, didn’t we? When I was a child I could never have imagined all that has happened.”

He nodded watching a butterfly light on a yellow flower. The he smoothed her hair with the palm of his hand.

“I knew you never noticed me
when were children, but I used to go to sleep at night wishing that somehow I would grow up to be handsome. And somehow, someway, God would bless me and you would marry me. Of course, I hardly expected it to turn out the way that it did. Still, this may sound crazy, but even with all that we have gone through I wouldn’t change it, because if things had been different you would probably never have been mine. And I would gladly suffer any pain in trade for the joy of having you as my wife”

She felt shivers run down her spine. Then she hugged him close to her.
She felt his heart beat against her chest, through his shirt and the tenderness of it brought fresh tears to her eyes.

“Oh Isaac, you say the dearest things.”

“Well, in a way, God granted my wish, even if he didn’t make me handsome.” Isaac said winking.

“Oh but you are, handsome.” Z
ofia said taking a blond curl out of his eyes.

For a
moment, their eyes locked. Then he gently put his hand on the back of her head and drew her towards him.

Just as they were about to kiss, Shlomie appeared
running through the trees. He was shaking. His face was flushed with angry red blotches and perspiration ran down his forehead.