Chapter 2
Liesabet's heart skipped wildly in her chest as the initial silence between them seemed to last longer than it should. But then the tall young man beside her spoke. His voice was deeper than she expected and the words seemed to pass through his lips like warm caramel.
He spoke in German, ''You were wonderful tonight.''
''Thank you....and my name is Liesabet.'', she replied turning up her face to catch a quick glimpse of his own.
''Rory, he said with a smile indicating surprise and then added, that's my cousin's name. I've always liked it.'' Liesabet felt herself go flush in the cheeks and she quickly turned her gaze away, still feeling his eyes on her.
''Do you play?'', she said in a rush of nervousness. She felt him chuckle faintly beside her and reply with a no.
''I play the piano, since I was eight. How long have you been playing?'', he asked.
''Almost four years.'' ''You have a beautiful instrument.'', he said nudging in the direction of her case. ''It was a gift. From my grandfather before he died.''
''I'm so sorry'', he said quietly before the silence once again drew between them. By that time they had reached the crowd of people waiting and she was swallowed by her family and friends before she even knew what was happening. She turned to look for him but he was no where to be seen.
''Lisabet, Du warst wunderbar!'', she heard someone exclaim and turned her attention to her parents who enfolded her in a hug. Her mother was wearing one of her best dresses for the occasion as well as a beaming smile that burst with pride for her only child. Her father smelled of spicy aftershave when it was his turn to embrace her and he whispered congratulations into her ear, always the quieter one. ''Liesabet!!'', she heard someone else call over all the commotion. Her parents nodded to her and said that they would see her back at home before she felt someone grab her by the arm and pull her further into the crowd.
Her mind spinning she found it to be Corrie who guided her to a relatively quieter space where she found her fellow musicians waiting in a group before a short skinny man in a checkered suit coat whom she recognized as Celle's lone local newspaperman. He held a camera in his hand and smiled when he saw the two of them, motioning them to join the rest. Taking her place next to Roland who jabbed her in the arm and congratulated her good-naturedly she cast a glance out over the throng of people. It was mainly made up of townspeople though she couldn't help but notice however the soldiers who had formed a group of their own just outside and were smoking and laughing amongst themselves, many of them drunk and sporting bottles or flasks.
''Everybody look here for me please,'' the photogragher called out and three seconds later the flash came. After that and a few more hugs and praises the gathering was broken up by the soldiers who ordered everyone back to their homes. Reluctantly they complied and Liesabet found herself searching over the heads of others for the young man she knew only as Rory. By then mostly everyone had gone and she sighed, turning for home herself through the darkening streets.
But before she had even gone two blocks a form appeared from an alleyway startling her. She turned, her pulse racing but found it only to be the young man. ''Komm mit mer, he said, come with me.'' On impulse she took his hand and the two snuck down the street dodging shadows to a corner cafe.
''Are you crazy? It's after curfew, we will be caught!'', she exclaimed.
He shook his head with a grin and knocked lightly twice and then three more times. The door opened and and he gestured for her to enter. They were greeted by an elderly gentleman who chuckled when he saw Rory.
I shouldn't keep doing this for you Rory'', he said teasingly in a gravely voice.
''Entspannen, relax'', he replied and sank onto a nearby chair.
''What will you have?''
''Give us a minute Mr. Berchen, bitte?''
''Ja ja,'' the man replied and headed to the bar to finish polishing glasses.
Rory motioned for Liesabet to take a seat beside him. She grinned at him and shook her head.
''I wondered where you'd gone. I felt terrible, I hope you don't think I was angry with you for bringing up my grandfather.''
''I'll admit the thought did cross my mind.''
''I apologize.''
''No need. I'm just glad you came with me, I didn't think you would.''
''And why wouldn't I?''
''Because I'm a complete stranger to you.''
''You are not, I know who you are. Your name is Rory and you play the piano.''
At this both of them burst into a laugh and Liesabet pulled out a chair next to him, immediately feeling more at ease with the strikingly handsome boy.
''What do you want, order anything it'll be on me'', he told her.
Her eyebrow rose slightly and she looked at him.
''Don't worry I know Mr. Berchen. I come here late like this all the time to study.''
''Coffee then, and a small blueberry croissant please.''
He nodded and motioned for the man who took their orders.
After their food had arrived the conversation flowed freely and easily. They discussed everything from music to the war. At one point in the conversation he paused and seemed to be searching for the right words to ask her something. After a moment he asked her a very pointed question.
''Liesabet, are you Jewish? I'm sorry, I don't mean that the way it sounds but it's just that, you don't look very German at all.'' Her heart sank and she nodded slowly watching his face for any change.
''My father met my mother on a business trip to Israel before the war. They fell in love and were married within two months.'' After that sentence there was a moment of silence between them and assuming what he must be thinking she stood hastily to excuse herself.
''I'm sorry, I don't want to get you in any trouble for seeing me'', she started to say and reached for her cello case, winding its familiar handle between her fingers.
''No Liesabet, he exclaimed quickly rising to his feet, that's not what I meant at all please don't leave.''
''What did you mean then?'', she asked.
''It was just a question, I shouldn't have asked you, please sit down. Bitte?'', he pleaded with her, regret shining in his sapphire eyes.
''I'd rather just walk home'', she replied with a sigh.
''May I walk you home? I insist, I won't let you go alone.''
''If you must then.''
He offered to take her cello case and nodded goodbye to Mr. Berchen before holding the door open for her to leave. They walked side by side through the side streets to avoid being seen in an awkward silence. Twice he attempted to apologize. She didn't know how to respond to him. When they reached the front of her home he walked her up to the door and she turned to retrieve her cello. That was when he did something that shocked her. He kissed her. When she was reaching for her instrument he leaned it against the stair railing and took her face in his hands bringing his lips to hers. She felt her body melt against his and her hands slid from their defensive position on his chest to his waist, enjoying the feeling of his own strong yet slender hands which dropped from their place on her face and slid down her back. The kiss seemed to last forever and she was throughly sorry when it was over. Her face was flushed as was his and their breathing came quickly. He brushed his lips against her cheek and leaned back slightly to look her in the eyes.
''I didn't mean that the way it came out back there, please believe me Liesabet, he said earnestly in that low soothing voice, I don't give a damn if you're Jewish or not.''
''I-I believe you'', she said shakily offering him a small smile, now I have to go.''
Reluctantly he dropped his hands to his sides and handed her the cello.
''When can I see you again?'', he asked.
''I don't know....we don't play again for another two weeks.''
''I didn't mean to watch you play'', he said quietly.
She became flustered again and stuttered to find words.
''Well-I-I...have practice tomorrow and then I have to study for exams.''
''Can I come to your practice?''
''Alright, tomorrow at four thirty.....same theater as tonight?'', she suggested.
He ran his hand gently down her arm and met her eyes one last time giving her an affirming nod. His eyes were so mesmerizing, she couldn't tear away. After a moment the corners of his mouth turned up in a shy sort of smile and he looked away.
''I'll see you tomorrow then Liesabet'', he said softly and turned to leave. She stood there until she could no longer make out his form in the darkness before she turned and entered her home.
Both of her parents had been asleep or so she had thought, her mother had stayed up for her and was waiting in the kitchen. Staring at the cracked tiles on the floor she found herself giving some excuse about how she had forgotten something at the theater before she excused herself, heading straight to her room leaving her mother with a doubting look on her face and more than likely a raised eyebrow.
Once her door had closed she clasped her hands over her mouth and squealed like a little girl. Blood pumped through her face and she found herself still blushing from her encounter with Rory. A complete stranger and she had allowed him to kiss her like that. What was she thinking? But it didn't feel wrong with him, in fact it felt so right, so normal. She sat down at the chair before her desk and stared at her reflection in the small mirror. Her lipstick was slightly smeared and her dark hair was a little mussed. She chuckled softly to herself at how she must have looked to her mother. She could hardly sleep that night as she imagined the next day and seeing him again.
And that was how they first met. The day after that she had met him at the theater as promised and had introduced him to her friends. Not surprisedly she endured some good-natured ribbing when Rory wasn't looking especially from Corrie who Liesabet suspected was more than a little jealous of her friend. What did surprise her was how quickly he seemed to fit in with the group and when they discovered he played piano he was quickly offered a place with them. A piano was found for him and they were all taken aback by the incredible talent that he possessed for the instrument. It was as if he had always been there with them. And all the while, his and Liesabet's relationship grew ever closer.
Their lives however were about to change dramatically in a way neither would expect.
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