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Date Posted: 18:40:07 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Lakota
Subject: Waiting for You - Chapter 20

Here's a new chapter for the few of you who have stayed with me in what has become a little more of a complex
story than I originally intended!

Waiting for You - Chapter 20 - - people learned to live with the war in their own fashion but even on the happiest of
occasions, it remained ever lurking in the shadows of everyone’s personal fears.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Saturday, January 1st, 1944 - - New Year’s Day


With the written directions on a small slip of paper in his hand, Kurt reread them as he climbed the interior stairs of
Carrie’s apartment building with Victoria following directly behind him.

“According to Sami’s instructions we turn left at the top of the steps and the apartment should be the third one on the
left at the end of the hall.”

As he spoke he pointed in the direction they should be heading once they reached the landing. Victoria nodded and
continued to follow Kurt up the last six stairs. Heading down the hall she walked beside him looking at the
letter/number combinations on the apartment doors until they reached 2C. As Kurt raised his hand to knock on the
door, a gale of laughter could be heard on the other side of it. He recognized the raised voice of Lucas as he made
some remark creating a second wave of laughter. Even without directions he would have known by the boisterous
laughter which apartment was Carrie’s. He was finding himself more and more drawn to Carrie, her friends and
family. When they had left everyone at Battery Park to catch the ferry in the wee hours of New Year’s Day morning,
he and Victoria had talked all the way back up Manhattan how wonderful the evening had gone. They weren’t
referring to the proceeds from the ball but to the enjoyment they’d had bringing in the New Year with their friends.
Both of them were used to being assessed for who they were and where they were in the hierarchy of European
society. Kurt had to represent his family as the inheritor of the family estates, the position he held on the International
Red Cross and always carefully choose every word spoken.

Victoria, too, was the subject of constant scrutiny by a family who saw her as a liability. A girl, no less, who was not
eligible to inherit a title because she was female but who could to be used as bait to attract a suitable nobleman to
further increase the Von Amberg coffers and take the poor girl off their hands in one convenient marriage. Together
they had left Switzerland eager to help in the war effort but also hoping to have a chance of escaping centuries of
imposed courtly, stifling behavior and outmoded viewpoints of what constituted “desirable” life partners. Neither
longed to cast aside all their family history but only attempt to bring it into the twentieth century. They realized that in
Carrie, Mike, Lucas and Sami they had found an acceptance of who they were as people sans titles, expectations and
inheritances. They were simply Kurt and Victoria Von Amberg – friends.

Kurt knocked on the door and within seconds heard Sami’s voice.

“I’ll get it. It’s probably Kurt and Victoria.”

The door opened and Sami stood smiling instantly when she saw who it was.

“Hello, you two. I just said that I thought it would be you. Come on in. The guys are already here.”

“Kurt!! Don’t come in - - it’s a trap - - run for your life before it’s too late.”

“Oh, stop it, Lucas, “ Sami said to him over her shoulder with a smile as she pulled the door wider for Kurt and
Victoria to enter. “Don’t pay any attention to him. Let me help you with your coats.”

“Noooooo, it’s too late. Well, I tried to warn him, didn’t I, Mike? Now he’s doomed to the same fate as we are. It’s
too tragic. Look how she lured him into the apartment with a warm greeting, the smell of homemade bread and the
promise of listening to the Rose Bowl game. He never had a chance.”

As Sami hung up Victoria’s coat and was helping Kurt remove his, the guests’ eyes kept watching Lucas as he stood
on a stepstool by the Christmas tree. On the opposite side of the tree stood Mike grinning widely and shaking his
head as he looked at his younger brother.

“Victoria, have you got a clue what’s going on here?”

“No, I was hoping you did, Kurt.”

“I suppose I should have that primal instinct of wanting to flee but it isn’t kicking in.”

“Lucas Roberts, I am going to do something drastic if you don’t stop this nonsense. Honestly, Kurt, there is nothing to
be worried about. It’s just….”

“….just that Mike and I came over here under the same delusion you did that you’d have a carefree, relaxing day,
eating food and listening to the game. We walked through that door the same as you did not less than an hour ago and
…look….do we look like we’re relaxing?”

“Well, just observing the scene I’d have to say ‘no’ – not unless you relax standing around on a stepstool, that is.”

“Very observant, Kurt, nor does my brother here usually stand around holding tinsel when he feels the need to
unwind.”

“I think I’m glad to know that, Lucas.”

“Well, now, I have to be honest, Lucas, it does sort of feel good in my hand – soft and pliable…kinda shimmery,”
Mike replied in mock seriousness.

“You are kidding me, right?”

Lucas quizzically stared at Mike for nearly twenty seconds before turning back to Kurt and Victoria who along with
Sami hadn’t come into the apartment any farther than the foyer.

“We no sooner were safely locked in behind that front door than we were hugged and kissed right over here
and……ZAP……put to work taking down the tree!”

“Oh, is that what this is all about? You’re having to work for your meal a little?”

“Thank you, Victoria. Now, see, Lucas, even Victoria thinks you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill.”

“More like pine needle compost out of a tree.”

“Yeah, this thing is fairly close to being petrified,.” said Mike as he pulled out some of the pine needles that had stuck
in the sleeve of his shirt while he had removed more tinsel.

“You two seem to have it fairly under control. There doesn’t seem to be much more I could do than you already are.”

“Well, actually…..”

“Uh, oh, Kurt……here it comes.”

Sami looked across the room at Lucas with a look that would have made the tree drop its pine needles if it weren’t
already doing so in profusion. When Lucas smiled, blew a kiss at her and continued taking off ornaments hung toward
the top of the tree, she realized he had gotten to her just the way he had been able to do when they were teenagers.
She looked back at Kurt and Victoria wanting to be sure that they knew all of the conversation was in jest in case
they weren’t used to the style of teasing Lucas carried on with.

“I could use some help taking down the bells in the archway and with Lucas using the stepstool it would be great if
you’d use your long arms to take them down.”

“Mike, I think I’ve just been insulted about my height in a round about way, don’t you?”

“Gosh, will you look at all the tinsel I’ve missed here around the bottom of the tree?” Mike joked as he pretended to
care far more for tinsel than he ever had in his life.

Victoria, unable to contain her amusement a moment longer laughed as she headed in the direction of the coffee table
to place the gigantic box of chocolates she’d promised to bring the night before.

“Somehow, I had a feeling this was what we were in for today when we accepted Carrie’s invitation last night. I think
it’s the reason I so looked forward to getting here on less than five hours’ sleep.”

“Why so little sleep, Victoria? Carrie and I were home by two thirty and I didn’t get up until nine thirty. I slept like a
baby. Between the fresh air, the excitement of the evening and a few other things, I was completely exhausted.”

Sami glanced across the room to see Lucas lovingly grin back at her at the mention of a “few other things”. That
special connection that had existed between them years before had been re established. With a look each knew what
the other felt and thought without saying a word.

“Speaking of Carrie, where is she?”

“Oh, she’s in the kitchen making sure Guinevere keeps from getting under foot until the guys have the tree out of here.
She’s almost tripped Mike and Lucas a time or two. Her natural instinct seems to be to supervise everything that’s
going on from the ground level.”

“Guinevere….another friend of Carrie’s?”

“In a matter of speaking, Kurt. Actually, she’s more like a family member. It’s a cat Carrie and I rescued from the
Cloisters one afternoon. She pretty much runs the place and everyone in it. I’m afraid I stepped on her toes once
today when she was up under the tree. I don’t think she’s talking to me at the moment”

“Oh, a cat? I love cats. I think I’ll go find Carrie and have her make the introductions.”

“While you’re in the kitchen, Victoria, would you maybe ask Carrie to get a platter down for the cheese and crackers
Kurt brought? I thought I’d put them out to serve as an incentive for the guys to finish.”

“Sure thing, Sami. Kurt, if you help the guys everything will be done sooner, so find something to do.”

“Victoria! You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“Says who? I think Sami and Carrie have the right idea putting you to work.”

Victoria smiled and headed for the kitchen, leaving Kurt at the mercy of Sami’s edicts.

“Nothing like being sold into slavery by your own kin.”

Victoria turned her head just before pushing the swinging door that led to the kitchen and stuck her tongue out at
Kurt. It was something Kurt had never seen her do, even when they were children.

“Oh, very mature, Victoria.”

She smiled and saw Kurt unable to hide his amusement before she disappeared into the kitchen.

Soon the tree was removed from the apartment. The pine needles were swept up and the boxes of ornaments were
safely packed in newspaper for safe storage in the hall closet. Carrie had let Guinevere rejoin the gathering of friends
in the living room after she’d conquered Victoria in the kitchen with all her charms. Carrie brought the platter from the
kitchen and soon the guys were regularly munching the cheese and crackers from it.

“Carrie, you nearly forgot to pack this in the box,” Mike said as he handed her the Renaissance angel that had
perched atop the tree through the holidays.

“Oh, I’m glad you saw it, Mike. I want to be sure it’s carefully placed in that box over there. It has to be packed just
right so the feathers aren’t damaged.”

She took the tissue-wrapped angel from Mike’s hand and gave him a quick kiss before packing it inside the box. Kurt
and Mike packed the boxes on the high shelf in the hall closet and joined Lucas on the living room sofa. They put their
feet up on the coffee table and continued nibbling away on the cheese.

“Thank you, guys, for getting it all done so quickly. It would have taken us so much longer. I knew Sami and I invited
you over here for a reason.”

Simultaneously, the men looked at Carrie with puppy dog looks.

“Oh, you guys, I’m just kidding. We really were glad all of us could have the chance to celebrate the first day of the
brand new year together.”

“Carrie’s right. I couldn’t think of a better to spend January 1st, 1944. I hope we have the chance to spend many
more occasions together.”

“I agree with Victoria’s sentiments. I’m almost sad to be going back to Salem day after tomorrow. I’ve made two
wonderful new friends in both of you. If it weren’t for Lucas going with me, I’d be tempted to find a job in New York
and stay here, but Lucas and I have a date with our families in Salem. It’s been almost ten months since he was home.
They can’t wait to see him. I know that feeling. I know it sounds silly, but I have it every time he’s gone for even a
few hours.”

Lucas watched her as she animatedly talked and found himself falling in love all over again only deeper.

“The only thing that would make this day more complete would be if Jack and Jennifer were here. You’d like them,
Victoria. Jenn’s such fun and Jack has a wicked sense of humor. Something tells me when we see them on Monday,
they’ll have big news for us.”

“Oh, what, Carrie?”

“Well, one of the reasons Jennifer took Jack with her to Salem for the holidays was to introduce him to the Horton,
Brady and Black clans.”

“A lamb to the slaughter…”

“Lucas! Stop that. Your grandmother should hear you talk about the Hortons like that. She’d wash your mouth out
with Ivory.”

“Sami, you know I love my family….really, I do, but anytime someone new comes into the family, the interrogation
methods applied to them would put the Gestapo to shame.”

“A bit protective are they?”

“Yes, Victoria, that’s one way of saying it.”

Carrie looked at Mike as she addressed her remark to Victoria and saw him blush as they both remembered his
behavior the night at the USO when Jack’s intentions toward Jennifer had become known.

“But, it’s always done out of love,” Sami said as she walked toward Lucas and took his hand.

“It sounds as though you all come from loving, tight knit families.”

“We do, Kurt, although there are internal spats on occasion, for the most part we love each other and want only the
best for one another.”

“It must be wonderful. Other than my grandparents in Chicago, Victoria and my mother, I have so little family…..and
now…….even my mother…..”

“I’ve been wanting to ask you since last night if you’d heard anything from her but the timing just never seemed right.
What’s the latest?”

Kurt looked at the concerned faces surrounding him though he hesitated answering Carrie’s question.

“It’s all right, Kurt, Lucas and Sami know about the situation. In fact, Lucas said he’s seen buildings that might be
housing people….like prisoners.”

“You have, Lucas?”

“Well, I can’t be sure, Kurt. I mean, we were flying fairly high above the countryside to avoid being used for target
practice by the Germans but, yeah, there were these long, identical buildings stretched out over the countryside in
different places that weren’t identified on our re-con maps as warehouses, POW camps or anything like that. At first,
we thought they were secret barracks billeting storm troopers because of the enclosing fences we could faintly see
around the perimeter….like they were trying to keep people out.”

“From the rumors I’m hearing, Lucas, more like they’re trying to keep people in. This is the first time I’m hearing from
someone who’s actually seen the camps. People have apparently tried to smuggle photos and film out but not
successfully. I can’t go before the press until I have evidence to back up the stories we’ve heard from people who’ve
witnessed citizens being removed from their houses at all times of the day and night for ‘questioning’ and don’t come
home again.”

“Is that what you think happened to your mother, Kurt?”

“I’m fairly convinced of it, Mike. My mother would never abandon the estate voluntarily. She is extremely dedicated
to preserving the jobs of the staff and continuing my father’s work in Switzerland until the war is over as I am here in
the States. I don’t believe for one minute she would disappear without a word.”

“Nor do I, Kurt. My aunt is a fighter to the end. The Nazis would have their hands full with her…..”

“….which might be why she’s nowhere to be found. The Nazis would never get her to give in….so, they’d remove
her.”

“My God, Kurt….isn’t there anything anyone can do? You’re a part of the diplomatic circle, why aren’t they
helping?”

“They’re powerless, Carrie, until they can return to their homelands after the Nazis are driven back to Germany
……or straight to hell, for all I care……..I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry, Kurt, I feel the same way…even more so since they killed my crewmates. If you want we can talk
about this more later on this afternoon. I’ll describe as much as I can what I saw.”

“I’d appreciate that, Lucas. Thank you. Any and all information we can gather about what those camps are being
used for is important to learning just what all the Nazis are doing throughout the occupied countries. People are
disappearing at alarming rates and they’re not turning up anywhere. Something is going on…….something
ominous…at least, that’s my belief. Even if I initially was prompted to do this because of my mother vanishing, I
believe I would still be crusading to find the answers now for the other people who have disappeared from my own
country as well as all the others.”

Suddenly, the oven timer rang and startled everyone.

“I think that’s the oven letting us know we’re about ready to eat. I apologize for the poor timing.”

“No, it’s all right, Sami. I didn’t mean to go on about this subject.”

“Kurt, you’re worried about your mother. Of course, you need to talk about it and who better than with caring
friends.”

Kurt looked around at the concerned faces of his friends and felt he wasn’t alone in his anxiety. Once again, the
feeling of belonging with Carrie, Mike, Lucas, Sami and Victoria overwhelmed him. He hadn’t talked about his
mother to anyone feeling it best, as a diplomat to keep a tight lip about what he suspected. The emotional strain had
taken its toll in his inability to sleep at night. In this apartment surrounded by ordinary (meaning they had no political ax
to grind or promotion to achieve by hanging on his every word) Kurt felt relaxed for the first time in months. He
planned to remain in the moment as long as possible….at least the length of the afternoon.

“I think it’s time to feed the troops. Rather than mess around with the table leaves, it’s buffet style today. We’ll put all
the dishes out on the dining room table and everyone just fix a plate with what tantalizes your taste buds. Come on,
Sami, let’s get things set up. It’s only an hour until game time.”

With a station tuned to a broadcast of Benny Goodman music, everyone sat around on the various chairs, sofa and
piano bench in the living room consuming the meatloaf and side dishes. Kurt ate three slices of meatloaf much to the
delight of Sami who wasn’t sure she could match Alice Horton’s recipe. When the meal was finished and the dishes
done, Lucas turned on the Rose Bowl game.

Three hours later - -

“Come on, come on….pay up, little brother. I told you USC was gonna win.”

“Yeah, yeah….hey! I’ve got an idea. How about a game of poker to see if I can win back some of the five dollars I
paid you and Kurt?”

“Poker? Lucas…don’t you ever get tired of losing.”

“Very funny, Mike…..I’m serious. I haven’t played poker since I left the States. How about it, Kurt, do you play?”

“Yes, my grandfather taught me and I played nearly all the time while I was in the dorm at Harvard.”

“Well, all right, then. I know Carrie plays because I taught her. Are you game, Carrie?”

“Well, ….okay. I’ve got the chips in the closet. Let me go get them while you set up the dining table. I taught Sami so
that just leaves Victoria. Want to join?”

“I’d love to but I only know Bridge, Canasta and Pinochle…you know….what my family considered card games it
was all right for a girl to know how to play. I’d be willing to learn if you’re all patient with me.”

“Sure….not a problem, Victoria. I love fresh money.”

“Watch out, Victoria, Lucas is determined to win back his ten dollars no matter who he has to take it from.”

”Thanks for the warning, Mike. I’ll keep that in mind. You do play for money, then?”

“Pennies….strictly pennies. It makes it fun without getting vicious! Come on, I’ll sit next to you and help you learn to
play.”

“Thanks, Carrie.”

After a few practice hands the game began in earnest. Victoria caught on quickly though she still kept losing pennies
to Lucas who suddenly was on a hot streak. They played for nearly an hour until Lucas had almost won all his money
back from Kurt and Mike. Victoria played well enough to have nearly as many pennies as Lucas by having won more
than a few hands though she had trouble remembering what was the better hand – two of a kind, three of a kind, full
house, etc.

“Okay, this is the last hand. It’s Mike’s deal. Ahhhhhhh……..I can’t lose.”

“Famous last words, Lucas.”

“It’s just Victoria and me, Sami. Everybody else is out of pennies. Actually, you’re playing very well, Victoria, for
your first time. Must be a case of proverbial beginner’s luck.”

“And a lot of help from Sami and Carrie thrown in.”

Victoria kept staring at her cards in such a way Lucas knew she didn’t have a good hand or didn’t remember how the
hierarchy of the hands went. He had her. She took three cards in the second and began to furrow her brow. No one
helped her this hand at her request. Lucas would raise the bid only to have Victoria call and raise him. He couldn’t
believe she was so gullible as to keep upping the ante when she didn’t know what she was doing. It was a good thing
they were only playing for pennies and bragging rights. Finally, it was time to call. Lucas smiled as he lay his cards on
the table.

“Four eights. Read ‘em and weep.”

“What? That’s incredible. You’ve had four of a kind at least five times this afternoon. I’ve never seen anything like it,
Lucas.”

“Thank you, Kurt, thank you. Just shows you what talent and luck can accomplish.”

“That is very good, Lucas. I’m afraid I really didn’t get a good hand. I thought I’d get something in the draw. Not a
single pair ….just a bunch of hearts. You won fair and square.”

Victoria laid her cards down on the table then looked as everyone’s eyes grew big…except for Lucas who groaned
and turned away.

“Victoria! ‘Just a bunch of hearts’? Oh, my God! That’s a royal flush – ace high!!!”

“Is that good, Kurt?”

“It’s the best hand you can have. You won, Victoria.”

“Ohhhh, well, that’s nice.”

“Nice? I had four eights. No one was supposed to beat that.”

“Ohhhhh, honey, come here. Let me make it all better.”

Sami turned Lucas’ face to her and gave him two long kisses.

“Feel better?”

“Well…….a little. One more kiss and I think the trauma will pass.”

“As you wish.”

Sami gave him one last, long kiss as Victoria pulled in her pennies and the chips were put away.

“I hate to say this, but Victoria and I have to head back to Manhattan. I have an early appointment at the embassy
tomorrow and I’ve got some background to do before it. I had a wonderful time even though you put me to work,
overfed me and took all my pennies.”

“What are friends for, Kurt?”

“Are you staying longer, Mike?”

“No, actually, I have to be on duty this evening. Lucas has to go back, too….they want to set up his rehab schedule
at the base hospital so he can take it with him to Salem while he’s home and work on it there.”

“How about we give you a lift to the train station?”

“How about I say ‘yes’.”

Everyone rose from the table and headed to the foyer to find coats and gloves. Carrie disappeared into the hallway to
put the poker chips away. Mike followed her to have a few minutes alone.

“I wish you didn’t have to go back so early.”

:”I know, but, they let me have New Year’s Eve off. The trade was I work tonight and tomorrow so I can go with
you, Sami and Lucas to the train station on Monday to see them off and meet Jack and Jenn when they get in later in
the day.”

“It’s just so hard to be away from you….even for a day.”

“Yeah, I feel that way, too. What’s it gonna be like when I go overs….”

Carrie put her fingers on Mike’s mouth to stop him from finishing his sentence and shook her head.

“I don’t want to think about it. Maybe, it won’t happen. Maybe the war will end in a couple of months and you won’t
have to go.”

Mike looked at her knowing she was trying to convince herself of something she didn’t believe.

“Haven’t we given enough to this war already? Austin’s lying in an unmarked grave in a jungle somewhere, never
coming home. Lucas nearly died less than two weeks ago and Eric’s going back on that floating target of a battleship
for another cruise in the South Pacific. That’s enough, isn’t it? You could stay here and take care of the wounded
when they come back to the States.”

“Carrie, you have to stop this. None of us knows where we’re going to be sent until the orders come. Not Lucas, or
Eric, or Jack…….or me. Speculating isn’t going to get any of us anywhere. All I know is that they’re going to need
doctors on the front lines. It’s what I’m being trained to do. I have to go where they send me.”

Carrie couldn’t contain her tears any longer as they overflowed her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

“Carrie…..come here.”

Mike wrapped his arms around her and cradled her as she cried.

“Hey, I haven’t even left you yet and you’re already like this?”

“I can’t help it. I can’t shake this feeling I’ve had for awhile.”

“What feeling is that….huh? Do you want to tell me?”

Carrie pulled back and looked into Mike’s loving eyes. She had told no one of her fear until now.

“I first felt it the night that we learned Lucas was alive. It was after you left and I was standing at the fireplace mantel
looking at the little toys I had representing each of you. I thought there’d be this sense of relief knowing that Lucas
was coming home. But…”

“What, Carrie?”

“This chill went up my spine while I was standing there looking at the toys. I’ve never felt anything like that in my
life………….I’m ……..afraid, Mike.”

“Afraid…..of?”

“I’m afraid …….one of you isn’t going to come home before this is all over. No matter what I do, I can’t shake it. I
don’t want to tell Sami for fear of making her worry about Lucas all the time…..although, I think she probably does in
her own way. I have nights when I can’t sleep. I know, Mike that I………………..can’t live……..without
……you.”

“Carrie,….Carrie….hey, ….come on……Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

“You don’t know that, Mike.”

“No….but”

“And, you can’t promise me that either, because you always keep your promises…..”

“You’re right, I can’t promise something when I don’t have any control over it.”

Mike pulled her back into his embrace holding her tightly against him until she could feel the reverberation of his voice
in his chest as he spoke.

“The only thing I can do is spend all the time I possibly can with you while I’m here. I CAN promise that I’ll love you
more with every second we have given to us.”

Carrie remained still until she heard Lucas call from the hallway to them as the time drew near for everyone’s
good-byes to be made. She drew back until she could see Mike’s face looking at her with love and concern. She
smiled slightly and leaned in to kiss him – trying to commit to memory each moment as she did so. When she looked
into Mike’s eyes afterward she felt an inner calm for the first time in weeks. She smiled and took his hand as they
walked back to join the others in the foyer.

“Sami, I will be here to pick you up at about eleven o’clock on Monday morning. Mike and Carrie are going with us
to the train station.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Lucas kissed Sami long and hard before releasing her.

“Sorry, I got a little carried away.”

“No need to explain, Lucas. It’s obvious you two have been in love for a long time.”

“Yes, I guess it is obvious isn’t it, Lucas?”

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