Page 79 of The Resistance Book Club

High above them, in the cloudless sky, planes soared across the face of the moon. They were coming from England and, on the sea, Margot could see a boat coming towards the shore. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but not the humble little fishing vessel that was scudding atop the waves; it didn’t look like a rescue mission, but someone putting out on a fishing trip.

The air was tense with expectation. But they’d done it – they really had. There was no sign of the SS, who must’ve gone to ground to wait out the air raid. Daniel and his daughter would soon be heading for safety.

As they stepped out onto the sand, Theo touched Margot’s arm gently and whispered, ‘Please don’t be sad.’

Margot and Theo approached the waiting group, with Isabelle in the basket between them. She knew it was goodbye, and she just hoped that, once the war had ended, she’d be able to find Isabelle and see her again.

The little band of refugees waited on the edge of the shore, huddled together as the boat drew closer. Among them she could see the old man and the little children, the desperate faces of those so close to safety, yet still with so much danger beforethey reached the sanctuary of the distant coast. Daniel was moving among them, patting a shoulder here, mussing the hair of a child there, but at the sight of Theo and Margot carrying his daughter with them he dashed across the beach towards them.

‘I was so worried—’ he began. Then he stooped to lift Isabelle from her basket and embrace her. ‘My girl,’ he whispered. ‘My angel.’

Isabelle cooed happily in her father’s arms, and Margot felt a pain as though her heart was breaking.

‘Take care, little Isabelle. You be a good girl for your daddy, won’t you?’ Margot whispered. As she did, Theo glanced towards the hulking machine gun bunker, then turned his attention to Daniel. For a moment, no more, a look passed between them, but nothing was said.

Margot suppressed a shiver. A man was lying dead inside that bunker now, but she felt no sympathy. He would’ve mown down Daniel and everyone on the beach, including the children, including even baby Isabelle, if he’d seen them.

‘I can’t leave,’ Daniel said suddenly, his eyes closed as he rested his cheek against Isabelle’s hair. When he settled his gaze on Margot again, she saw unspilled tears swimming in his eyes. ‘There are so many people— they’re rounding people up every day. Word came in today that there are three dozen people waiting for me to get them to the border in the north; I can’t abandon them.’

Margot shook her head. ‘It’s not safe for you here – you need to get away from France with Isabelle.’ But even as she spoke, Margot knew that Daniel had made up his mind. He couldn’t wait out the war in England, knowing what was happening to ordinary people back home in France.

As she suppressed a sigh, she spotted them; two rowing boats that had been lowered from the fishing vessel. Moment by moment, they were drawing closer to the shore. The oars were only brushing the surface of the water, to make as little noise aspossible. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood motionless in the bow of the first rowing boat, wearing the oilskin jacket of a French trawlerman. A light sea breeze tousled his dark hair and moonlight caught his square jaw.

‘But what about Isabelle?’ Margot asked urgently. ‘She can’t stay here.’

‘Will you—’ Daniel began, clinging to his daughter. ‘Esther loved you, Margot. Would you go to England and care for our daughter until I can?—’

‘Agent Corbeau!’ called the man in the rowing boat, introducing himself a little sharply. This was the man who had sent the message regarding the changed pick-up time, then. He jumped down into the surf and splashed up onto the beach. ‘This is not what we were expecting. What happened to seven souls?’ Then he let out a long sigh and told the refugees, ‘Sorry about the racket from upstairs, but we’re giving the Nazis what-for tonight.’ Then he gestured to the rowing boats, where the sailors were already steadying the little vessels on the edge of the shore. ‘We’ll have you all safe in England before they even know you’re gone.’

The group of desperate, frightened people began to make their way across the sand.

‘Daniel, what do you m—?’ Margot’s words were cut off by the roar of an engine. Her heart filled with horror as she turned to follow the sound and saw a German tank rolling towards them across the beach, its headlights picking out the figures who now froze on the beach. Sand was thrown up by its tracks as it made its merciless way towards them.

There was nowhere to hide.

FIFTY-SEVEN

LUCY

2025

Philip had heard the explosion and had come straight back to the village in his car, bringing Diana and Beatrice with him. Lucy knew she’d terrified her father, and she dreaded to think of what’d gone through his mind when he’d heard the bomb go off.

They all went up to what had once been Mémé’s flat and Lucy, trying to soothe everyone’s nerves, made coffee for them in Mémé’s favourite mugs.

‘Sorry, Dad,’ she said, affectionately rumpling his hair as she gave him his coffee.

‘Don’tevergive me a fright like that again,’ Philip warned. Then he turned to his wife and said, ‘Have you got our presents in your bag, Di? I feel like we ought to hand them over here in the shop.’

‘Yes, I do,’ Diana said with a smile, and opened her roomy Hermès bag. She produced a parcel wrapped in pretty, floral paper and passed it to Philip. ‘He’s been talking about these ever since we decided to come over and pay you a visit!’

‘Mémé left the shop to you,’ Philip said as he held out theparcel. ‘But she left you these too. Years ago, she asked me to give them to you after her death. They’ve seen the whole world and brought me a lot of luck, but it’s time they came home.’

Lucy took the parcel. She was puzzled. She tore open the wrapping paper, and gasped as she saw them.

A little knitted goose and a small teddy bear wearing a tartan bowtie: Isabelle’s toys.

She tenderly lifted them and held them to her face, picturing the helpless little girl who’d snuggled them as she lay in a Moses basket in this very room. Tears began to rise in Lucy’s eyes. Margot must’ve saved them for Mémé when she was small, and once again Lucy wondered what had happened to Isabelle.