You Are My Sunshine: A Novel Of The Holocaust (All My Love Detrick Companion Novel) (5 page)

“I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with this neighborhood. Do you have a favorite place to dine?”

“It just so happens I do.” She winked at him

When he walked her home that night, they stood under the light over her front door. Manfred had never been out with a girl before. He didn’t know what to do. He just stood with his hands in his pockets staring at the ground, feeling foolish.

“Well g
oodnight and thank you for a wonderful evening” He said.

“Wait.” She took his hand in hers and looked up into his eyes. “Would you like to kiss me goodnight?” she asked.

Would he? Would he? Of course, he would, but he’d never kissed a woman before and he didn’t know what to do. Just do what you’ve seen in movies. He told himself. Taking her into his arms, he pressed his lips on hers. Every nerve in his body and all of his senses came alive in a divine dance of heightened awareness. He took in the sweet fragrance of her perfume, the taste of her lips. The softness of her cheek as it brushed against his. I must be the luckiest man in the world, he decided.

Every Saturday night
, from that day on, he took her to dinner, followed by long walks. They discussed everything, their favorite foods, how much they both enjoyed swimming on a hot summer day, and their love for children and animals.

“Someday, when I marry I want to have lots
of children.” Christa said.

“Yes, it would we be wonderful to sit at the table on Sunday night and have a big dinner, like a real family.”

“Yes, that would be wonderful. When I was little, I used to plead with my parents for a brother or sister. But I was born sick, and my father being a doctor and all didn’t want to risk having it happen again.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine now.”

“I’m glad. I wouldn’t want to think you were not well.’

She squeezed his upper arm. “I’m just fine. I still wish I had a brother or sister, though.”

“I felt the same
growing up. It was lonely growing up an only child.” Manfred said. It was hard to admit how vulnerable he’d been in his youth. But he found himself opening up in ways he never thought possible.

“It’s very strange that we are both only children.”

“Yes, it is. It is another thing that we share in common. And there are so many.” He said.

She smiled at him. “Yes there are
…”

They walked through
the zoo in the park, holding hands. It was enough just to be together.

Of
ten when we fall in love with someone from a far we find that when we meet them and spend time with them they do not live up to the fantasy we have created of them. This was not the case with Christa. She was everything and more that Manfred had spent his many hours dreaming about.

What began as
a regular Saturday night date grew to include a twice a week luncheon. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Christa took the streetcar into town to meet Manfred for lunch. Often they dined at outside cafes, on bratwurst and beer. They sat under an umbrella laughing, talking, and smiling at the locals who walked by with their dogs on leashes. Whenever the flower girls came by selling flowers on the street Manfred always bought a bouquet for Christa.

It was early December
a light dusting of snow covered the trees, when Christa invited Manfred to Sunday dinner with her parents.

“I would like my parents to meet you. They have begun to wonder where I am
going all the time, and just what I’ve been up to. It’s time they knew.” She gazed at him her eyes as warm as honey butter. “But Manfred…” she hesitated. “I have to ask you to please not be offended, but you mustn’t wear that uniform when you come. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I have to tell you again, my father is a little skeptical about the party.”

H
er eyes told him that she was unsure of how he might respond. She needn’t have worried. No matter what he would not turn on anyone from her family. He would never alert the Gestapo. If need be he would cover for her father himself, if it meant that her father would give his blessing to the relationship.

“I will wear street clothes.” He said. “Does your father know what I
do for a living?”

“No, I’ve just told him that I am keeping company with someone. He was rather angry that I have not yet invited you to the house.”

“Yes, I am glad to be invited to meet your family.”

“You know I would have invited you sooner, but I was afraid
of what you might say when you found out how strongly my father disapproved of the Party.”

He was quiet for a moment. Then he gingerly took her hand in his. The skin was s
ofter than anything he’d ever felt. She turned to face him.

“I believe in the party, Christa. I believe we are doing the right thing for Germany and the German people.  But, well,” He sighed and took a deep breath. Her eyes were locked on his. “I love you.
” There he’d said it his voice cracked but he said it. Manfred cleared his throat “And so I will respect your father and his beliefs. I will keep the secret of how he feels to ensure his safety…and most of all yours.”

On
the Friday night, before Manfred met Christa’s family, Christa agreed to meet Manfred in the city. She was to arrive at his office just as they were closing.

“When
you come into town on Friday night, I would like to take you to a fancy dinner and then out dancing. Would you like that?” He’d asked.

“Yes, very much
, I would.” She said.

During the week as they sat having lunch in the
lunchroom Manfred asked all of his coworkers for a recommendation as to where to take Christa. Everyone piped up with a suggestion.  This was an important night. Manfred wanted to be sure that everything was perfect.

“Oh
the café at the corner is nice.”

“No
, that’s not fancy enough.” Manfred said.

“How about the night club with the big statues in front?”

“No, that’s not elegant at all.” Manfred shook his head

Finally, one of the women suggested and Manfred agreed upon an expensive restaurant with a dance floor and complete band right in the center.

“Can
you waltz, Manfred?”  A secretary in the office asked. Manfred had become friendly with Lydia she was an older woman, kind, and understanding, and always willing to lend an ear when Manfred wanted to talk, especially about Christa.

“Actually I can, my mother taught me.” He said.  “I am a little nervous, however, because I am going to ask Christa to be my wife tonight.”

“Oh, how very special! Well, she should love the restaurant.”

“I hope so.” Manfred’s fingers caressed the box in his jacket pocket. “Would you like to see the ring I bought?”

“Yes, of course.”

He took
the box out of his pocket and pulled the top back to reveal the ring. It was diamond, over a carat. So much more than a poor boy like Manfred would ever have been able to afford. Before, before, he became a part of the New Germany, before he claimed his rightful place in the world.

“
Oh my goodness! This is a beautiful ring. Magnificent really.” Lydia said.

“Thank you, she is more than deserving” Manfred said.

And so Christa came into the city to meet Manfred at his office after work. He saw the admiration shining in her eyes as he showed her his desk. But when he introduced her to Goebbels, she beamed.  It was then that he knew that she would accept his proposal. Christa Henkener would be his wife.

She linked her arm in his as they walked a few blocks to the restaurant.  They entered
to find a large room set with white tablecloth adorned tables and a dance floor in the center. The waiters wore white gloves and the centerpieces were made up of wild flowers surrounding a thick ivory colored candle.  Manfred had telephoned the restaurant earlier in the day and arranged for the band to play a song and dedicate it to Christa after dinner.

“I will pass a note through the waiter when I am ready. Then you will announce that the song you are about to play is from Manfred for Christa.” Manfred told the restaurant host.
Of course, the request was received without a question, once Manfred told the host that he was an SS officer working directly under Dr. Goebbels.

Christa looked l
ovely. She wore a dove grey skirt with a blouse that matched her eyes perfectly. In her ears, she wore small diamonds and her golden hair waved back away from her face just enough to show off their sparkle.

“You are
very beautiful.” Manfred said.

“Thank you.” She smiled her eyes catching t
he light from the candles glow.

Although the food was scrumptious, neither could eat. He because he knew and she because
she felt something. After the dinner plates had been cleared Manfred took Christa’s hand and led her to the dance floor. She moved like a butterfly delicate and agile in his arms. They danced through two songs before he escorted her back to the table.

He sat across from her for several moments he didn’t speak, couldn’t look at her. His face flushed and his fingers felt as if they were being pricked by tiny pins. In his
pocket, he grasped the small box.

“Christa
…” He stammered. “I…I…” Then he got down on the floor on one knee “Will you marry me?”

She took his hand in hers. With
her, other hand she lifted his face until their eyes were locked.

“Yes, Manfred,
I will marry you.” She said. A tear fell from her eye and lingered on her cheek.  Manfred stood he lifted her up and took her into his arms. Then he kissed her.

He brought
the ring from his pocket. “I hope you like it.”

“Oh my
! It’s lovely.” She said. He put it on her finger.

“Tomorrow, we must talk to you
r parents.”

“Yes, tomorrow.”

Manfred gave the signal and the bandleader introduced the song.

“This is for Christa, from Manfred,” He said over the microphone. “It’s called “I will love you forever…”

“Oh Manfred, I am so touched.” Christa said her eyes shining.

“I will love you forever, Christa…” He
said, “I will.”

That night Manfred hardly slept. He’d won the woman
of his dreams.  Christa would be his wife she would bear his children. And together with their offspring’s they would go through life in a state of incredible bliss. The party would help him to buy a home. He would become well known as a man of power to be respected. Life was good and it was in the process of getting better. What more could a poor boy from the wrong side of Berlin ever ask for?  He smiled in the darkness. Manfred had made this all happen.

Until the Sunday when Manfred arrived toting a bottle
of fine wine for Dr. Henkener, a box of chocolates for Mrs. Henkener and a large bouquet of red roses for Christa, he had never been beyond the sitting room right off of the front door in the Henkener home.

When he rang the bell, Mary opened the door and showed him into the living room where Christa waited with h
er parents. He’d been careful to wear a civilian suit as Christa had requested. It was a dark gray wool, well tailored, and had cost him nearly a week’s salary.  However, he didn’t care. Christa was worth every penny.  Manfred presented them with his gifts. Christa’s mother smiled and glanced over at Christa as he gave her the chocolates. But Dr. Henkener just glared at him. When Manfred handed the physician the wine, he didn’t even thank him. Instead, he just placed the bottle on the coffee table as if it were a mere after thought.

“
Mother, Father” Christa said, “This is Manfred Blau. We have been keeping company for several months.” She looked down at the floor. “He has asked for my hand in marriage. And I have accepted.  We would like your blessing.”

“Oh? You would, would you?” Her father said. “You know how I feel about the Nazi’s and how they have ruined Germany.”

“Father, please.”

“You think you can fool me by wearing that suit? I know
who you are, and more importantly, what you are. You are one of them, one of the murders. I don’t bless this marriage Christa. Not at all. He is not a man I want to have in my family. You work for Goebbels don’t you?”

Manfred knew he had
to fess up “Yes sir. I do.”

“Why? Why do you want to be part
of a hate squad, son?”

“How did you know I work for
Goebbels?”

“I’m a doctor in this town. I see and hear everything. My patients tell me everything. You and your cohorts are responsible for making many people miserable. Do you have any idea how the propaganda you spread affects people? Do you realize what happened on
Kristallnacht because of all the nonsense you spew? People were beaten, tortured, killed. Their businesses were taken away from them. Do you realize that the Jews can no longer make a living because the Nazi’s have decided that it is a crime to buy anything from a Jewish shop? I have seen doctors, friends of mine, Jewish doctors, learned men, healers who have spent their lives helping others, now put out of work. This is a sin. What you are, is little more than a part of is a sin.”