“Is it—?” she asked, and then instantly stopped. She had been about to ask about Rémy, but she didn’t know whether Erich knew about him yet, and she certainly didn’t want to give Rémy away to a German, even if Erich had proven himself an ally. Besides, the question had been foolish. Would she even be notified if anything happened to him? Perhaps it was ridiculous that nearly a year after she’d seen him last, he still occupied such a large portion of her thoughts, her heart. But she thought of him constantly, worried about him, wondered on the darkest nights whether she would even know if he’d died. She knew instantly, as she looked back at Père Clément, that he’d understood exactly what she’d been about to say.

“No, Eva, our old friend is fine, as far as I know,” Père Clément said quickly, gesturing to the chair beside Erich. “Please, join us.” She sat, her unease growing, as the priest took a seat behind his desk.

“Eva, we’re worried,” the German said immediately. As was the case the last time she’d seen him, he was out of uniform, and but for his accent, he could easily have been one of them, a friend, a neighbor. “I believe my superiors are very close to infiltrating your network.”

“What? Why do you think that?”

“They have some names—not yours, not Père Clément’s, as far as I know—but I believe arrests are imminent.” Erich and Père Clément exchanged looks. “I don’t know who’s talking, Eva, but the children are in danger.”

“The children? Which ones?”

“All of them.” The words sat between the three of them, stark and frightening, before Erich continued. “They now have the addresses of all sixteen homes in town where children are being held, and the seven farms in the countryside. Raids could begin as early as the day after tomorrow. They have names, Eva. Names of the children, names of the people helping them. That’s why we have to move them, as soon as possible. I think it’s over, Eva.”

Eva’s head spun as she stared at him. “Over?”

“All of it. Somehow, your cell has been compromised.”

She turned to look at Père Clément in disbelief—surely Erich was wrong. But the priest was nodding gravely. “What will we do?” she asked.

“I need you to start on documents for the children and their keepers immediately.”

“Of course.” Eva paused, dazed. “Geneviève and I have been working only on the maquisards for the past two weeks. We haven’t completed papers for any of the children.” Then she put a hand over her mouth. “My God, Geneviève. Someone must warn her. If we’ve been compromised…”

“I’ll go,” Père Clément said.

“What about my mother?”

“There’s no reason to think anyone knows about her. As soon as I can locate Faucon, I’ll ask him to send someone to look out for her. We need you here, though, Eva. There’s no time to waste.”

Eva nodded, her heart racing. “And then what? What do we do after we get the documents done?”

“I think it’s time for us to disperse. So work on any supporting papers you and your mother might need, too. She’ll finally get her wish to head for Switzerland.”

“And you?”

Père Clément’s eyes were sad, his smile grim. “I’ll stay here and do what I can. It’s in God’s hands now.”

* * *

Geneviève never showed up at the church, and Père Clément returned briefly to tell Eva that he couldn’t find her; she wasn’t in her apartment, though it was past curfew. When Père Clément mentioned that he hadn’t located Faucon, either, Eva breathed a bit easier; certainly the two were together. Yes, Geneviève’s absence would leave Eva to do all the work that night, but if they were all to flee Aurignon tomorrow, it was good that Geneviève was getting one last night of sleep.

In the morning, though, Geneviève still hadn’t arrived at the secret library, and Eva began to worry. She’d been up all night and was nearly finished with the documents, but she could have used help with the finishing touches and to ensure that there were no errors.

Surely Geneviève had been told by now of the impending storm; Joseph would have been notified as soon as possible. Perhaps they had already fled together, but Eva couldn’t imagine Geneviève leaving without a word, without at least a visit to the library to ensure that Eva didn’t need her. Still, perhaps Joseph had insisted. Perhaps he had promised to check on Eva later in the day once he had Geneviève settled safely.

But Joseph never came, either, and by the time the ink was dry and she had given each of the identity cards a final once-over, Eva’s stomach was in knots. She hurried through the empty church to Père Clément’s office and found him pacing, looking just as worried as she felt. He looked up when she entered and attempted a smile, but it didn’t erase the sadness in his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Eva,” he said before she had a chance to say a word. “I got you involved in all of this in the first place.”

“Please, don’t apologize. This past year and a half has meant the world to me. I’m certain this is exactly where I was meant to be.”

“But the danger…”

“I knew from the start that there would be risks.”

He studied her for a long time before sighing. “Eva, there is one more thing I must ask of you.”

“Anything.” The way he was looking at her tied the knots in her belly even tighter.

“I’m afraid the network needs another person to escort children to the border. Your name has been suggested.”

She stared at him. “You want me to go? But I’ve never made the crossing before.”

“I know. They’ll pair you with someone experienced. They’re short one woman. Men traveling alone with groups of children look like passeurs, Eva. Couples traveling with children look like parents. I’d prefer to ask Geneviève, but she’s gone already. Gérard has promised me that he’ll come for your mother himself and make sure she gets to Switzerland safely.”

Eva’s mind spun. “You found Gérard? Geneviève is gone?”

“He assured me she was taken care of.”

Eva shook her head. It wounded her a bit that Geneviève had left without saying goodbye, but Eva was glad that the other woman was safe, at least. “And he will bring my mother?”

“Yes. She will meet you in Geneva in just a few days. The two of you will remain there.”

“But you need me here, Père Clément.”

He smiled sadly. “As Erich said, the cell is blown. It’s very likely that the Germans already know exactly who you are. They won’t rest until they find you. And you’d be tortured and executed, Eva.”

“Perhaps I could go elsewhere, start another forgery operation…”

“Please. Take this opportunity to get out. If we need another forger, we will send for you. You’ve already done so much, though. I would never forgive myself if the Nazis found you.”

“And you? You still plan to stay?”

He nodded. “My place is here, at the church.”

“But if they have your name…”

“Whatever happens is God’s will.”

They stared at each other for a long moment. “Will I see you again?”

He reached for her hands, and this time when he smiled, his eyes were bright and clear. “I feel certain we will meet again, Eva. After the war. And in the meantime, I will pray for you.”

“And I for you.” Before she could cry, she reached into the deep pocket of her faded wool dress and handed the stack of children’s documents to Père Clément.

He accepted them with a nod. “You’ll need to make a new set of papers for yourself; you’ll be Lucie Besson, wife of André Besson, a textile trader doing business in Switzerland. He has already been given his papers.”

“Made by another forgery bureau?”

Père Clément hesitated before nodding. “You should make another set for your mother, too, just in case her identity has been compromised.”

Eva closed her eyes. How would she live with herself if she had put her mother in danger? “You don’t think…”

“We’re just trying to be cautious, Eva. I feel certain that your mother will be fine.”

Eva relaxed a bit. “Père Clément, before I leave, I need to go see her.”

He sighed. “I know. Just be careful that you’re not followed. I’ll need you back here before one o’clock. You’ll be meeting your ‘husband’ tonight in Lyon.”

* * *

“So you’re leaving me.” Mamusia didn’t turn around when Eva entered the room they shared twenty minutes later, but even so, Eva could feel her mother’s scowl, the anger rolling from her. “Madame Barbier has already explained everything. You’re abandoning me here.”

“Mamusia, it’s what you’ve wanted! We’re finally leaving. We’re going to Switzerland.”

“You’re going to Switzerland.”

“Joseph will see to it that you’re brought there safely, too, once preparations have been made. But there are some children who need to go right now, before the Germans find them.”

“And they are more important than your mother?” Mamusia finally turned, her eyes blazing. Eva hardly recognized the woman before her, the woman trembling with anger, the woman whose decision to hold on to a past that would never return had made her into something cold and unfamiliar. “More important than your own blood? I suppose you’ll forget me as easily as you’ve forgotten your father.”

“Mamusia, I haven’t forgotten him!” Eva swiped at her tears. “This is bigger than us. This is about saving innocent lives. Doesn’t that matter to you?”

Mamusia set her jaw, but Eva could see the doubt in her eyes now, the sag of her shoulders. “What matters is that you’d rather be a part of this false family you’ve let yourself believe in. Your father would be so ashamed.”