The Glassblower(79)

Once she sat down again, she cleared her throat. She took Marie’s hand and Peter’s, and she nodded to Ruth to join and asked that they all hold hands. They looked surprised and she felt embarrassed. “This Christmas Eve is . . . a very special day for us,” she said, stumbling over her words. When she looked up, Ruth was smiling at her in encouragement. “A great deal has happened in the last twelve months. Some wishes have come true that even a few months ago we would hardly have dared to speak aloud. And some wishes will wait and keep us company for a while longer. But all in all, it’s been a good year for us.” She swallowed. “You may think it a bit silly . . . But I’d like it if we could hold this moment in our hearts forever.”





38

Peter insisted on being allowed to go part of the way back with Johanna to Sonneberg after Christmas, even if it was only as far as the spot where the slate-maker would pick her up with his cart. He appeared at the door of her house, wrapped up warm in a jacket and scarf. It was still dark as they set out through the quiet streets together. The snow was frozen over so hard that shards of ice crackled beneath their feet at every step.

Johanna wrapped her scarf more snugly about her head.

“Do you know what one of Strobel’s clients said to me recently? ‘I get the feeling there are only two seasons here in Thuringia: winter and harsh winter.’ Ha! He certainly has a point.” Little white clouds puffed out into the air as she spoke.

A short while later Johanna stopped and looked back at her village. Even at this early hour, the glassblowers’ flames were burning in the windows of the houses, warming the chill of the night. Little flickering lights, brighter than a torch, shining with strength and purpose.

“Is there another village anywhere in the world where almost everyone makes a living from glassblowing?” Her eyes were shining.

“Not that I know of. I think Lauscha is unique in that respect.”

“Every time I see it I’m spellbound,” she admitted. “When I think that there’s a whole family working around every lamp! It’s a fine thought that they’re all working together on one commission, isn’t it?”

Peter’s heart leapt. Did he hear a note of yearning in her voice? Maybe she would have liked to turn around right here, and was just too proud to admit it? He made an attempt.

“Are you sure you still want to work for Strobel in the new year?” He felt her look of surprise more than he saw it.

“Of course! Who else is going to stand in for him while he’s away? What kind of question is that?”

He paused.

“Don’t pretend my question is such a surprise. Damn it all, I don’t like it that you work for that . . . creep. He’s not quite right in the head. Doesn’t his present prove that, if nothing else did?” The very thought of it put him in a rage.

Johanna had suspected nothing when she opened Strobel’s present with Marie and Ruth peering curiously over her shoulder, but they had all been deeply shocked by those horrible pictures. Strobel’s disgusting book had shattered the festive mood, and they had spent the rest of Christmas Eve trying hard to regain their good cheer.

Johanna linked arms and made him walk on. “Don’t get so worked up. I know quite well that he’s an odd fellow. The only explanation I can think of for that book is that maybe he didn’t look at it himself beforehand. Maybe someone gave it to him as a present and he simply passed it on to me? That would be just like him. It wouldn’t be the first time that he’s given me a sample he had no use for.”

Peter didn’t think much of Johanna’s explanation. “A sample!” he snorted. “The whole book is nothing but a parade of perversions! You don’t just happen to have a book like that!”

Johanna sighed and quickened her pace as though she wanted to get away from him.

He hurried to keep up.

“Johanna, come to me! My glass animals are bringing in a tidy little sum these days; I’m not the poor beggar I used to be. It would be easy enough for me to look after you and your family. Your sisters would like it too if you were back in Lauscha . . .”

She turned around so suddenly that he almost bumped into her.

“So you want me to give up my job at the drop of a hat just because my employer gave me an odd Christmas present?”

“It’s not that and you know it!” Peter protested. “I’ve wanted you to come and join me for a long time now.”

“And that means you’ll use whatever excuse you can find to haul me back to Lauscha!” Johanna shot back. “Do you know what your problem is? You just don’t want to look beyond the borders of your cozy little world. Lauscha! If you could see a little further you might realize that people can still be friends even when they’re not treading on one another’s toes the whole time.” Giving him no chance to reply, she stomped off through the hard-packed snow.