Paris Blues

Him

I was woken up from my slumber by a sudden cool breeze, I fluttered my eyes open looking around my apartment and realized that I had not lit the fire in my fireplace. I must have passed out from my glass of wine from the previous night. I got off my bed still in the previous night and took a matchbox and finally lit the wood in the fireplace. I watched as the flames became alive and warmth took over my body. The sudden ringing of my telephone broke me out of my daze and I got up to my feet to answer it. I picked up the receiver and pressed it against my ear.

"Hello". I said

"Gracie, it's me, love. it's Henry". A muffled voice came out and I gasped my hand flying to my chest.

"Henry, oh my God". I gasped feeling tears running down my face.

"I can't talk now but I have a gift for you it's coming later". He said as his voice became more muffled. Long-distance phone calls were quite difficult back then and the fact that he was in the middle of a war zone didn't help.

"I love you". I said playing with the necklace he had gotten me the night he left which was over a year ago.

"I love you too Gracie". He said before our call was cut. I sighed in relief as I put the receiver down. My Henry was alive, I was over the moon. I looked at the time on the clock and realized that I had to bath before getting ready to go work. One simple phone call lifted my entire mood

There was unusual silence in the classroom as the students focused on writing their essays. Marie looked at me in concern before turning back to look at the class. I knew what she was thinking, the class numbers were shrinking by the day. More and more men were getting deployed which meant their families were left without a breadwinner so many children were dropping out of school. I looked at my wristwatch and realized it was time for dismissal.

"Okay class, we are done for the day". I said as they shuffled to get their things together.

"Remember to finish your essay at home". I continued watching them leave one by one.

"Little Ray had to drop out, his father has been deployed and his mother is struggling with finances". Marie said and I sighed in disappointment. Ray had been my best student and it was a shame that he had to leave since he had so much potential.

"Its getting worse. I heard they might be looking into training boys as young as twelve". She continued and I gasped.

"No, they wouldn't". I said and she shook her head.

"Hitler has partnered with Mussolini and the Italians. The Nazis are getting stronger". She said sadly.

"Henry called me this morning". I declared and she rose a brow.

"Really?". She said and I nodded smiling.

"That's good, he's okay. He will be okay". She said softly before hugging me. I don't know how I was making it but I had to be strong for Henry.

I was laying in bed listening to some Bach whilst reading a book. I was already dressed in my nightdress since it was already late. My eyes kept on drifting to the clock, Henry had said that my gift was coming later and I was beginning to wonder when. I took a sip of my tea that had helped me relax. A knock came from the front door and I assumed that it was the mailman that came to deliver my gift. I got out of bed and put on my slip before making my way to the front door. I opened the door and I was shocked by the sight before me.

"Good evening Miss". The man said and I gasped.

"I brought your gift". He said gesturing to the box in his hands.

"Sir, you may come in". I said and he complied.

"The Fuhrër has demanded that we check all mail sent by French soldiers". He said explaining himself and I nodded.

"Would you like some tea?". I said trying to be a good hostess, however, I was not even sure if he was my guest.

"Yes, please". He said.

"You may take a seat". I said gesturing to the couch as I walked into the kitchen. I went to the stove picking up the kettle and poured the tea. I picked up the tray and put the sugar basin, cup and teaspoon on it before walking back into the living room. He was sitting on the couch his eyes dancing around the room and his army hat sitting on his knee. I sat the tray on my coffee table and he nodded.

"Thank you". He said. His manners around me always surprised me. I thought he was supposed to hate my kind. I sat on the couch opposite him.

"I'm going to need you to open the box so I can see if there isn't anything against the Third Reich". He said.

"Okay". I said as I took the box from the table.

I opened the box and a flowery smell overtook my senses. I smiled as I took out the perfume and put it on the table. I took out the box of chocolates and the letter. He took my gifts and observed them intently. He then took my letter and began reading it, I felt violated, my privacy was being violated. He finished reading the letter with a nod. He took the cup from the table and began sipping.

"Your accent is not from here". He said suddenly and I cleared my throat.

"Yes, I am actually from the United States. I moved here six years ago". I said and he nodded.

"So your name is Grace?". He asked and I wondered why he was making conversation.

"Yes, it is". I said.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl". He said and I gasped feeling my heart beat faster. Nazis were not supposed to compliment n***o women and I was starting to become suspicious of his intentions. He could have easily looked at my gifts at the post office but he chose to come to my apartment.

"Thank you, sir". I said.

"Hans". He said and furrowed my brows.

"Excuse me". I said.

"My name is Hans, you don't need to be formal. This is our third meeting and I feel as if we are well acquainted". He said and I nodded not knowing what to say. He took another sip of his tea and I noticed something I had not before, he had a ring on his finger.

"Are you married?". I asked. I surprised myself with it. He nodded.

"Yes, I am. Twelve years. We have two children". He said and I saw the twinkle in his eye.

"How old are your children". I asked.

"My son Klaus is eleven and my daughter Margaret is eight". He said with small smile and I smiled at him.

"Difficult ages, I'm a teacher so I know". I said and he nodded.

"I can't wait to have my own". I said.

"Be careful what you wish for". He said and I giggled.

"How many do you want?" He said.

"I want two but my fiancee Henry wants six". I said giving smiling remembering the conversation we had about starting a family.

"I miss him so much". I said as my smile fell. He looked at me intently and I cleared my throat.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to vent about my problems". I said and he shook his head.

"It's fine, I need to leave. They probably need me at the border". He said getting up. I followed suit.

"Of course". I said following behind him. When we reached the door he turned around to look at me his large frame towering over mine. He looked at me as if he was trying to read my soul, his handsome features a little relaxed than before.

"Thank you for the tea". He said, his voice a little low and deeper.

"My pleasure". I replied as my eyes danced around his strong handsome face.

"Good night Grace". He whispered. He was close to me that I could feel his hot breath on my neck.

"Good night Hans". I whispered before he turned around and walked out of the door. I closed the door behind him and leaned on it before sliding down. I felt like I had betrayed Henry by being attracted to another man, but not any man. A man who represented everything he was fighting against.