Star Crossed Enemies

Chapter 9

Hazel snapped out of her daze as she looked at the front door. She felt a rush of relief to see her mother and Uncle Trevor as they walked in. Hazel sprinted across the room and grabbed her mother around the waist. She buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, smelling the floral scent she knew her for. The familiar, safe feeling swept over her as it always did. She felt like a child again, being held in her mother’s arms. Things were so much easier then. 

Mrs. Rosenzweig stroked Hazel’s hair softly before turning her chin to the side to see the red mark on her face. She frowned and rubbed it gently with her thumb. The room grew still as tensions soared. Hazel felt her mother tighten her grip on her with fear flashing behind her warm eyes. Hazel turned to see what she was staring at. Mark was standing in the corner quietly observing the crowded room.

"Mom, Mark didn't try to kill Aunt Karoline."

“We know. I saw the whole thing from a window. I couldn't go out because your Father was making a ruckus,” said Uncle Trevor.

Hazel noticed Uncle Trevor’s eyes trail off to the red mark on her cheek. He huffed angrily at the sight of it. He limped around Mrs. Rosenzweig and Hazel. He stopped and faced Mark with gratitude written all over his face.

"I want to thank you for doing what you did for my niece.”

Mark nodded in response. The room grew silent with the respectful exchange until Hazel spoke up. 

"Has Father changed his mind?” asked Hazel.

"I'm afraid not. He's outraged. He said when Mark leaves, he still won't forgive you," said Mrs. Rosenzweig.

"What am I going to do?"

"Your father wanted you out of this house," said Mrs. Rosenzweig quietly.

"What?!"

"He thought you were a danger to our family and wanted you out of the cottage, along with Mark. He said that Helen could stay, but you and Mark had to go."

"What am I going to do?! He can't do this to me. I'm his daughter."

"I know, but his anger is rising by the minute."

"Where will I go?"

"Baby, I don't know," said Mrs. Rosenzweig in tears.

"Mama?"

"I tried to reason with him, but he is too stubborn," said Mrs. Rosenzweig in tears.

Hazel felt the burning sensation in her eyes as they started to water. 

“You can’t do anything? There has to be something. I’m your daughter too.”

Mrs. Rosenzweig cried harder with Hazel’s words. Hazel knew her mother would do anything for her. She was a good wife and mother. That’s why she was so torn, as much as she wanted to do for her child. Hazel swallowed any more protests for her mother’s sake.

“Mama, I know you did the best you could. It was my decision. It’s no one’s fault but my own. Everything will come together with time.”

Her mother sniffed back her tears and struggled to put a weak smile on her face.

“Hazel, you have to leave for your own good. And, soon,” said Uncle Trevor gravely.

“What do you mean?” asked Hazel turning her attention to her uncle.  

His head was down as he fumbled with his cane, struggling with the right words.

“Your father has a temper. And, this is the worst I have seen it. You need to leave for your own good.”

Hazel opened her mouth to protest. Uncle Trevor waved the air stopping her in her tracks before continuing in a stern tone, “For your safety Child.”

Hazel felt the blood rush out of her face. What did he mean by that? What on Earth did they think he would do to his own daughter?

“Trevor is right dear,” said Mrs. Rosenzweig as she patted Hazel’s hand softly.

“I don’t understand,” said Hazel softly. 

“Because,” started Gertrude.

Uncle Trevor and Mrs. Rosenzweig shook their heads earnestly to keep Gertrude from continuing.

“Yes?” said Hazel moving closer to Gertrude.

“Because your Father was talking about burning this place to the ground to protect the rest of the family if you didn’t leave,” she sputtered quickly before being silenced again.

Hazel stood rooted to the spot. She shook her head and tried to gather her thoughts that were spinning faster by the minute.

“I’m sorry? Burn this place? With me in it?”

Her body started to shake as she felt her legs buckle, a firm arm intertwined with hers to keep her steady. She looked up to see Mark watching her with worry. Before she could say anything else, Helen shoved smelling salts under her nose. Hazel’s eyes widened with the strong smell. She immediately stood up, taking in a big breath of air to cleanse her nose. She had never almost fainted in her life, and that feeling was not something she particularly cared for.

“Father, has gone mad,” said Hazel weakly.

“War will strain people, Hazel. Your father was always a stern man in his ways, but he’s gone too far. We cannot convince him otherwise, and the only way he will calm down with time is if you leave. No one wants this, my dear. But we have no choice,” whispered Uncle Trevor.

Mrs. Rosenzweig’s eyes were watering as she nodded, agreeing to what was said. The room was silent. The emotions everyone was feeling was evident on their faces, including Mark’s to Hazel’s surprise. 

"You come back after the war, okay? We'll write to each other when it's over. We can't risk it now,” said Mrs. Rosenzweig trying to hold back the sobs.

Hazel hugged her mother tightly. She knew her mother couldn’t do any more for her as much as she wanted to. Mrs. Rosenzweig choked back the tears as she continued to stroke her hair. She pulled Hazel away and stared at her intently. 

"You take care of yourself and be strong. Okay, honey?"

“Are you saying goodbye to me now?”

“I have no other choice. Your Papa is expecting you out immediately, and he will be belligerent if I come back here after tonight. It’s only because he’s worried about my safety. I love you so much, Hazel. I just want to protect you from your father’s blinded anger.”

"Hazel, you keep safe, and we'll miss you,” said Uncle Trevor behind her. 

Uncle Trevor gave Hazel a warm hug. Mrs. Rosenzweig embraced Hazel again, shaking from the sobs she was trying to hold in. She kissed Hazel’s head repeatedly before following Uncle Trevor out of the house. Hazel kept herself from running to them as much as her heart ached. Instead, that familiar spinning came back full force as a cry erupted from her throat.

Gertrude clasped her arm around Hazel as she broke down in tears. Hazel had cried many times in her life, but this was the hardest she ever had. Losing her sister was devastating. Now she was losing her entire family because of one act of kindness. The same compassion that blinded every fear she possessed towards the enemy. And now it was destroying her family bond. 

"Are you really going to leave? Maybe you can stay with me, and your Father won’t have to know,” said Gertrude.

"I think it would be better if I did leave,” said Hazel in between sobs. 

"That no good father of yours, kicking you out as if you were a dog. Going mad because you stood by your morals,” said Helen angrily.

"I think I know someone that can help you," said Mark.

"Help me?" asked Hazel as she wiped her tears with the handkerchief Helen just handed her.  

"Help get you to a neutral country. You're going to have to patch up my uniform for me."

"Why?"

"I have to use my uniform as leverage to get you out of here," said Mark.

Hazel continued to stare at Mark with watery eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat before asking, "Why are you doing this?"

"I need to repay you for saving my life. It's my fault you are in this mess, and I plan on doing what I can to fix it."

Helen and Gertrude turned their gaze to Hazel, watching for her response.  Hazel nodded before walking briskly to her room. She took out his uniform from the closet and returned to the living room with it draped over her arm. Helen handed her the sewing kit as she plopped down on the couch, examining what needed to be done.

"I think I better go. Mark, Hazel, both of you be careful," said Gertrude.

Gertrude ran over to Hazel with open arms for a warm embrace. Hazel almost started to cry again before Gertrude shook her head.

“I’ll do what I can to see you off. But it will always be ‘see you later’. You know I don’t like goodbyes,” teased Gertrude trying to lighten her mood.

Hazel smiled in response. Gertrude stood up and turned around so quickly she almost ran into Mark.

“Oops. I’m sorry about that,” she said quickly, taking a step back.

“No reason to be sorry,” said Mark as he shrugged, giving her plenty of space to move to the front door.

Gertrude hesitated and flashed a small flirty smirk. Hazel couldn’t believe her eyes and choked back the laughter threatening to escape. Gertrude slowly made her way to the front door to leave. She glanced at Mark one more time before batting her eyelashes as she shut the door behind her.

"What on Earth is wrong with that girl?" said Helen out loud.

Hazel snickered quietly to herself. She was elated to have a distraction from the despair around her and see her friend’s old demeanor come back.

“She hasn’t seen a man in years and gets worked up with a Nazi,” snorted Helen.

Helen quickly looked at Mark, who was standing quietly not far from her.

“No offense, Mark.”

“None taken.”

Hazel shook her head with a smile. She walked into the kitchen and started to wash the uniform. Mark walked in the room and quietly watched as she began to work on the rust colored stains. 

“Aren’t you flattered?” asked Hazel with a small grin as she continued to work on the shirt.

"What do you mean?" asked Mark.

Hazel stopped scrubbing and looked up at him. He was giving her a bewildered look. 

“Gertrude?”

Mark looked at the ceiling and rubbed the back of his neck. Hazel giggled and started washing again.

"'She doesn't want to know me. I'm a bloodthirsty Nazi to her. She's Jewish too, isn’t she?” 

"Yes, she is. She was also an aspiring model until the war happened. I assume she noticed you were more than a Nazi.”

Hazel thought for a moment about what she just said. She hoped Mark didn’t take offense to that. She glanced his way as she squeezed the water out of the uniform to hang on the clothesline stretched out across the kitchen. Mark leaning against the counter with his eyes staring off into nothing, not seemingly bothered by anything.

"Mark?"

He looked up and answered, "Just thinking."

"It will take all night for these clothes to dry. Tomorrow morning, I'll patch them up."

"Where do you want to go? Canada, Spain, Sweden–“

Hazel felt her heart drop.

“Um, well, I haven’t thought about that,” responded Hazel in a shaky voice.

Her current state in the family had been long forgotten with Gertrude’s innocent flirting. She sighed, realizing she would have to make a decision as much as she didn’t want to face it. 

"I don't want to stay in Europe. I think it would be best if I went to Canada."

"Do you know any languages other than German?" asked Mark.

"Yes. My uncle taught me English.”

“Then that should work,” said Mark in a near whisper as he continued to stare deep in thought. 

Hazel felt her head throb from a mixture of exhaustion and the blow she suffered from her Aunt. She grasped her head and said quietly, “I'm feeling tired. I think I'll go to bed.”

Mark nodded, watching her slowly make her way out of the room and down the hall. Hazel walked to the other bedroom and slipped under the covers, not bothering to change. She felt so exhausted after everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. She couldn’t even form a thought at this moment. She shut her heavy eyelids and went to sleep.