The Glassblower(138)

Steven sat up in bed and shifted around until he was kneeling. He took her hand.

“Ruth! You are the only woman for me. I want always to be here for you. I want to see your smile every morning. And at night, I want to fetch you the stars from the sky.”

Ruth tried to concentrate on just one thing and to ignore everything else he was saying.

“And would you accept another man’s child?”

“Did he ever show any interest in the child? Wanda is your daughter. Your angel. That’s all that matters, as far as I’m concerned. I want to offer you both a home where you will have all the love you deserve, and everything else too.”

“It’s a beautiful dream.” Ruth swallowed hard.

“No, it’s not a dream.” Steven’s eyes were shining. “If you want it, it can all come true—and so much more as well! Love can move mountains, didn’t you know that? Of course something like this needs careful thought and planning. Most importantly, I would have to get papers for you and Wanda.”

“Papers?” she asked, as though everything else had long been settled.

“For the crossing, and for entry to America. I’ve already been asking around. The fact that you’re married complicates matters somewhat. If my information on the laws here is right, you would actually need your husband’s permission to emigrate.”

Ruth sat up so fast that her head bumped the wooden headboard.

“He’ll never do that! If he ever knew that I love another man . . .” Her eyes were wide with fear. “He must never find out. Never, do you understand?” she cried out. The thought that Thomas might do something to hurt Steven was too horrifying to contemplate.

“Calm down, my darling. Nobody need ever know anything if you don’t want them to.” Steven picked up his shirt from the floor and put it around Ruth’s trembling shoulders. “There is another way,” he said slowly and deliberately.

Ruth was becoming more and more confused with every sentence he spoke.

“What are you talking about?” she asked against her own will. These were just daydreams, she mustn’t start to believe in them.

“I know somebody in New York who could create papers for you and Wanda under another name. Meaning that during the journey you would be somebody else, do you understand? Nobody would ask you about your husband—you’d be free! Free to be at my side. Free to live in New York, where we . . .”

“And my sisters?” Ruth interrupted softly.

The gleam in Steven’s eyes died away.

“It will be difficult for you, I know, but you mustn’t tell them anything. The danger that one of them might give you away is too great. Especially if Marie says something in the workshop.”

“Marie wouldn’t say anything. She can’t stand Thomas.”

“She might not intend to, but even a word out of place could put our plan in danger. Which is why it would be best to leave them behind and then let them discover the truth.”

There were tears burning in Ruth’s eyes as she freed herself from his embrace.

“Leave them behind? These are my sisters we’re talking about! And Peter. My family, do you understand? Steven, I love you so much that it hurts. But what you’re asking me to do . . . I’m not sure that I can.” She put a hand to her brow. “You want me to vanish like a thief in the night. To leave my family forever—I can’t bear the thought. But I also can’t bear the prospect of having to live even one more day without you!” Her misery grew with every word she spoke. “Tell me, what should I do?”

Steven took her in his arms again and rocked her back and forth.

“I know that it’s a lot to ask of you. You don’t need to decide today. But it would mean a great deal to me if I knew that you were considering my suggestion while we’re apart.”

“When will we see one another again?” she choked out, her voice thick with tears as she clung to him. “Do you really have to go?” she asked, against her better judgment.

Steven gently prized open her fingers where they were clamped around his arm. He took her hand in his and kissed the palm.

“I’ll be returning to Thuringia in mid-May. Until then, we can write to each other every week, every day! I promise you that as soon as I have the letter telling me your decision, I will do all that has to be done. When I come back to Europe in the spring, I could have all the papers for you and for Wanda with me. You’ll see, the winter will just fly by. Before we know it, spring will be here. And we can begin our future together.”

“I haven’t said yes yet,” Ruth told him, frowning.