Page 99 of The Librarian Spy

As she carefully filled out the details, she glanced about, half expecting Lukas to show once more.

Sarah remained still as a soldier beside her with Noah’s back obediently locked against his mother’s leg. The little toy boat was held aloft in his hand, rolling through an invisible sea, his lips pursed as he mimicked the splash of waves in a barely audible whisper.

The clerk accepted the form and skimmed over Ava’s careful print. The woman’s mouth thinned. Seconds ticked by, scraping over Ava’s nerves.

The clerk slid her gaze to Sarah with little Noah standing at her side, still holding his toy ship. He paused in waving it through the air and smiled at her in the sweet, pure way only a child can.

She huffed out a sigh. “I have exactly two spots available for this Wednesday on the USS Siboney.”

That was in two days.

“We’ll take them,” Ava said, placing the money on the counter.

Minutes later, they left the travel office, precious tickets in place of the money secured in a pocket in Sarah’s purse. After a celebratory treat of ice cream at one of the cafés near their apartment, Ava walked them to their door.

“Will you come up?” Sarah asked as she often did when they enjoyed lunch together.

“I’d love to.” Ava followed her up a flight of stairs to the apartment that had become as familiar to Ava as her own.

“Let me settle this little one down for his nap,” Sarah said. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“But I’m not tired,” Noah whined even as he rubbed an eye with a tight fist.

Though Ava had never been around children, Noah’s habits were frequent enough that it was easy to discern what he needed despite his protests. Two months had been enough to know that Noah did indeed require a nap, or his sunny disposition would sour with shrieks of displeasure.

“No need to rush on my account.” Ava waved Sarah off and went to the kitchen to prepare a cup of coffee for each of them.

Sarah emerged several minutes later with a smile still touching her lips. “He was asleep before I could even sing ‘Fais Dodo.’”

Ava, who was aware just how much he loved the go-to-sleep song, chuckled and poured fresh coffee into two cups. In the time Sarah had gotten to know Ava, she had shared what Paris was like during the Nazi occupation. There had been days so cold that one would wake to frost on their blankets and food was so scarce that signs were posted to remind people not to eat rats. Then there were the times of hiding in crawl spaces meant for storage, not humans, and the joint-locking stillness required to remain unheard during the day. Not to mention the agony of keeping a small child quiet...

The stories were heartbreaking and gave Ava an appreciation for the comforts afforded to them in Lisbon. Sarah also spoke often of Elaine, the woman who created the coded message in Combat.

Sarah always smiled when she spoke of Elaine, who had put her role with the Resistance at risk to create the clever message and who sacrificed her own bed for Noah and Sarah. This was eventually followed by details of their escape and tears at the certainty that the shots fired had found their target in Manon, the woman who had opened her home and heart to them.

It was through these stories and ones Ava learned from Otto that she truly began to understand the haunted expressions on the refugees’ faces, the brutal existence of being under Nazi occupation. Though she worried after her brother constantly, she was grateful for his role in this war, to save the innocent from being so viciously oppressed and murdered.

While Ava was relieved to finally secure Sarah and Noah passage on a boat to New York, they would be sorely missed. The lunches together and trips to the beach at Estoril and even to the old medieval castle hidden behind Sintra’s misty veil wouldn’t be the same without them. The adventures started as a way to distract Noah, but had made them all fast friends.

“I’m anxious, Ava.” Sarah wrapped her hands around her mug despite the warm day.

“You needn’t worry about the U-boats,” Ava said, offering her the same reassurance she had repeated since they heard of the Serpa Pinto.

“It isn’t that.” Sarah’s lips pursed in thought. “I have not seen Lewis in three years. He has been in America this entire time while we have been in France.” She ran a hand through her dark hair. “I do not look the same as the woman who kissed him farewell. I am not the same woman inside that he fell in love with either. It is possible that after three years of being separated...we do not know each other anymore.”

“Then it gives you both a chance to fall in love all over again.” Ava reached across the small round table and took her friend’s hand. “You have been so brave and have sacrificed so much for Noah, and yet, you have still retained your kindness. How could he not love you?”

Sarah’s concern relaxed into a smile. She nodded. “All will be well.” Her gaze found the stack of letters from her husband, tied with a precious crimson velvet ribbon that had been her mother’s. “Now we only need the ship to arrive on time.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, the USS Siboney had still not pulled into port. James insisted on accompanying Ava to the Cais Do Sodré district that evening to check on the ship’s arrival.

He had lost his limp for the most part. The bullet wound healed completely, leaving only the slightest catch in his step.

“You’re quiet,” he noted gently.

“I’m worried,” Ava admitted.

The sun was sliding low into the horizon amid streaks of vivid purples and golds and pinks that set the clouds on fire with the dying light. A cool breeze swept off the Tagus and fanned over their warm skin, bringing with it a briny, familiar scent.