Under the Spanish Stars (35 page)

Holding his face in her hands, she whispered, ‘I can't tell you how happy I am right now.'

Leaning in close, his warm breath on her skin, he whispered, ‘Then show me.'

1944—Katarina

Claudia shivered and Katarina drew her closer as the sun dipped behind the horizon and shrouded the mountainside in darkness. The small group huddled in the shadows of the trees, the scent of pine tingling her nostrils as the atmosphere grew thick with mounting tension. Katarina's legs ached from traipsing the high mountain trails, her nerves frayed from listening for any unfamiliar sounds. They'd followed the detailed maps the network had given them, and been reassured these routes were well tested as the Maquis used them to smuggle people in and out of France. Although the journey had been physically and emotionally exhausting, Katarina found it difficult to contain her excitement at finally putting Spain behind her. Sadness swelled in her belly at leaving her beloved Granada behind, but she still had her adopted family, Raul and flamenco—none of which she could survive without.

No one had spoken for at least an hour, so it sounded strange when Raul finally whispered, ‘We should make our move now.'

‘I'm worried about the moon.' She studied the bright orb. ‘I know it will help guide us, but it also makes us vulnerable.'

‘We can't wait forever.'

‘I still don't think splitting up is a good idea,' she said, even though they'd had long discussions with Javier the day before. He'd assured them this was the best way to travel in case they came across Spanish soldiers patrolling the border. An expert in jumping this border crossing, Javier had gone ahead to make preparations for their arrival.

Raul adjusted the guitar case in his hand.

‘Maybe leave it,' she said. ‘I can get you another one. It's too big, it will
slow you down.'

‘There is no way I would leave the second most precious gift of my life behind.'

She looked up and took in his beautiful, dark eyes, those long lashes … ‘What's the first?'

‘You are.' Raul gently ran his hand down the side of her face as he locked eyes with her. ‘Word is out they're looking for four adults and a child so it's better if you and Claudia and the baby go ahead. Salvador and I will follow. That way we have your back. People are used to seeing women travel together while their husbands are away.'

‘I know but …'

Raul stood and reached for her hand. When she stood, her legs shook. He said, ‘You're scared.'

‘More than I've ever been in my life.' She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

‘I love you,
fuego de mi alma
.'

Katarina smiled—
fire of my soul
.

‘See you on the other side.' Raul's forced smile did nothing to allay her anxiety about what they were about to step into. Unwillingly breaking their embrace, Katarina picked up the painting wrapped in an old shirt and moved over to where Claudia stood clutching Salvador.

‘We need to go,' Katarina said gently. Turning to Salvador, she said, ‘Salvador, I—'

He held up his hand, his smile as strained as Raul's. ‘Save it for when we see each other in France.'

Nodding, she adjusted her headscarf, picked up Claudia's bag and together they walked to the edge of the forest, scouring the valley for any signs of life. It remained quiet and Katarina, Claudia and the sleeping baby stepped onto the grass, their eyes focussed on the lights in the tiny village in France.

‘Ready?' She wrapped her arm protectively around Claudia who couldn't stop shivering, despite the unusually warm night. They took one step, then two, and shortly after their hesitant footsteps grew to quick strides as they focussed on the French village ahead. All they had to do was get across the bridge then they would be in France and, hopefully, free of any threat from the Franco regime. Once established in their new country, she could set to work with the remaining Maquis to ensure their fight against Franco would
succeed.

Katarina put her hand under Claudia's elbow as they rushed through the dark, their feet finding unseen stones and dips. Her throat burned as her feet battled to stay balanced on the rocky ground.

‘Argh!' Claudia stumbled forward and Katarina grabbed her friend's hand, stopping Claudia from falling face first and injuring her son. Claudia crashed to her knees and a shout echoed in the distance.

Shocked by the rude awakening, Paulito howled, his terrified cries bouncing off the valley walls. Katarina hurriedly lifted her friend, who tried to calm the screaming child.

‘Come on.' Katarina placed her hands on her Claudia's shoulders and ushered her towards the bridge, but Claudia kept fussing over the baby, trying to get him to be quiet. ‘It's too late, they've heard. We have to get out of here!'

Her feet hit the slats on the bridge and she bolted across, the village so very, very close. Claudia ran beside her, the frightened baby's screams growing louder.

Stepping off the other side of the bridge they rushed up the embankment, officially in France and technically out of reach of Franco's men. They ran to the shed Javier had described and once inside they bent over trying to catch their breath.

‘We did it. My god, we did it.' Claudia breathed heavily as she held Paulito with one arm while loosening her top. She placed him on her breast, the baby finally soothed and quiet as he nestled into his mother.

‘You have done well,' Javier stepped out of the dark corner.

Katarina gasped, then relaxed. ‘You scared me.'

‘I am sorry, but I must remain hidden. For me to pass between the borders I cannot risk being seen by Franco's men. To them I am but a humble farmer.'

She shoved her shaking hands in her pockets, finding paper she hadn't expected. Her travel document was in her other pocket so what was this? Pulling out the paper she unfolded it to reveal the letter she'd written the day before. She'd finally found a way to thank him for all he'd done, to express her appreciation, to say what she's always wanted to. The letter was long overdue, but it would prove once and for all that she was now more than capable of saying how she felt and he surely deserved to know. She looked forward to seeing his look of surprise when she handed it over.

They waited nervously for the arrival of Raul and Salvador and when they didn't appear immediately she figured they were being cautious, given the noise Paulito had caused. Time dragged by and with it, Katarina's nerves frayed around the edges.

She didn't move from her station, peering between the gaps of the wood nailed against the window. A rustle of trees across the river caught her attention and her heart raced.

‘They're coming,' she whispered and Javier and Claudia quickly came to her side.

Raul and Salvador broke free of the foliage, bolting across the clearing, close to the bridge. The guitar case banged against Raul as he ran, slowing him down just as she'd suspected it would. Why didn't he leave that damn guitar behind? That could be replaced, but not her Raul.

‘Come on, come on!' Katarina said between gritted teeth.

A shot fired in the darkness.

The noise shook her to the core and she gripped the slats so hard splinters entered her skin. ‘Oh God!'

Salvador took the lead with Raul following closely. Not far behind ran two Spanish soldiers, guns at the ready.

Every nerve in her body urged her to run out and help, but she stayed under cover, scared of exposing their hiding place and putting Claudia and the baby at risk. Although the countries had agreements between borders, there were no guarantees Franco's men would adhere to the rules if they had a chance to capture Maquis supporters.

‘Hurry. Hurry!' An intense pain shot through her temples.

Javier crossed himself and mouthed a prayer.

‘Please, please,' muttered Claudia, holding Paulito to her chest.

‘They're close. So, so close.' Katarina kept her eyes trained on the men as they dashed through the field, leaping over potholes lit by the full moon.

‘Come on. Come on.' Her head ached from the tension but she paid it no heed. ‘Come on. Come—'

Two flashes of light in the distance and one of her men fell face forward, body limp.

‘Jesus, no!' Turning to Javier she yelled, ‘Get her out of here!'

Without questioning, he grabbed Claudia's arm and yanked her through the back door as she desperately held onto her baby.

‘No!' Claudia yelled.

‘Go!' Katarina screamed, then yanked open the door and bolted down the embankment, across the bridge and back into Spain, her legs burning with every step.

‘Go back! Go back!' yelled Salvador as he bent over to pick up Raul.

A shot whizzed past her ears and she ducked, turning to find half a dozen men standing on the French side of the river, their guns aimed directly at the Spanish soldiers. Bullets flew from both sides and she crawled on her knees to Raul, who lay unconscious, his leg bent strangely, his fingers wrapped around the guitar case handle. She tried to pry his fingers away but it was no use. Placing shaking hands under his armpits, she half crawled, half dragged his limp body towards the bridge.

Gunfire and shouting exploded around them as Salvador grabbed Raul's legs and she bore as much of Raul's weight as she could, her gut clenching with terror as the man she loved left a trail of hot, thick blood. The wound to his head looked deep and she prayed it was only a graze but it was impossible to know in the mayhem.

‘Hold on, Raul, hold on.' Her raspy voice could barely be heard above the gunfire.

‘Katarina?'

‘I'm here, hold on.'

Katarina and Salvador wove a crooked path, trying to avoid the flying bullets, the air thick with shouting in French and Spanish.

‘We're nearly there, my love.' The exact moment her foot hit the bridge a sharp, burning pain pierced her lower abdomen and she lost her grip on Raul. Landing heavily on her side she rolled onto her back, excruciating pain radiating from her stomach and towards her shoulders. Clutching her belly, she lifted her blood-soaked hand.

Salvador dropped to his knees, letting go of Raul's legs. ‘Jesus.'

Katarina rolled on her side again, her eyes level with Raul's. The agonising pain of her wound registered, but it was her heart that hurt the most. Raul's glassy eyes studied hers and for a precious moment the world stopped and a rush of pure love filled her body while her head spun.

She couldn't make her voice louder than a whisper. ‘
Duende
of our hearts.'

‘Always.' His lips turned into a slow smile. A moment later Raul's eyes rolled backwards as he took one last, desperate gasp, then fell silent.

A guttural scream tried to escape, but caught in her constricted throat. Every muscle in her body let go as pinpricks of bright lights clouded her vision.

‘He's gone,' Salvador whispered and in that moment, a dark wave engulfed Katarina and she lost consciousness.

Charlotte stood in the front of the library and checked her phone for the tenth time in as many minutes. It wasn't unusual for Mateo to be late—she'd be surprised if he arrived on time—but this was by far his worst effort. She dialled his phone and it went to voicemail again.

‘Mateo, can you please call me the minute you get this message? If you've been delayed, I understand, but I just want to make sure you're all right. I still worry you have concussion. I know you said you were fine this morning, but I'm worried, okay? Call me as soon as you can. Or if you get to the library within the next hour I'll be here … there … here … I'll be at the library.'

She ended the call and rolled her eyes, wondering why she always felt the need to ramble every time she left someone a message. Even her texts ended up being the length of a novella.

Entering the building, Charlotte marvelled at the magnificent architecture that had survived the ravages of time and war. Not a day went by in Granada when she didn't stand in awe, surveying the beauty of this city, its classic Spanish buildings mixed with breathtaking Moorish designs. It was difficult to believe that these neighbourhoods were once in turmoil, that family members had turned against each other, and a once-loved neighbour could no longer be trusted.

Charlotte made her way over to the computer. Doing research on her phone had proved pointless because of the cruddy connection and the most logical place to find a decent computer was the library. Scanning the vast expanse of the main room, she found an empty seat at the long table of computers and pulled out a pencil and paper. Ready to start her mission, she kept glancing at the phone sitting beside her, waiting for it to vibrate with an incoming call.

Earlier she'd considered going to the
Ministerio de Justicia
to access death records, but if it was like any other bureaucratic place in the world, she'd have a long wait to speak to someone in her very average Spanish then a longer wait of days, or weeks, to receive the information she needed.

She wished Mateo would get back to her but given his behaviour this morning, she suspected this no-show and lack of communication had everything to do with the call he'd received. Whoever was on the other end had changed his mood dramatically and he'd spoken gruffly to the caller. After hanging up, he'd barely uttered a word while she grabbed her stuff and arranged to meet him at the library later. She'd left his apartment, her heart leaden and her inner voice chastising her for thinking she and Mateo might have a chance at … something. She'd been so excited about returning to Spain and seeing him, but their encounters had been awkward—like they were lovelorn teenagers too embarrassed to acknowledge their feelings with each other.

Then there was the Jax palaver and the whole DNA versus loyalty to the clan thing, then the mysterious phone call …