It was too much for her, Ava realized belatedly, kicking herself. She had meant to bring them as a kindness, but she had overwhelmed Sarah. Being outside where Sarah felt most vulnerable, the amount of food, access to anything they could want to eat. It was a blessing and a curse this first day in a foreign country after whatever harrowing journey they had endured.
Beneath the table, Ava reached for Sarah’s hand and gently held it, offering a quiet but supportive show of understanding and patience.
Sarah gave her a grateful smile and, within a moment, wiped her eyes and enjoyed her first solid meal in Lisbon, and likely in years.
After they finished their food, Alfie took James back to the British Embassy. It had been all Ava could do to keep from staring at James as he was led away. When she did finally look up, she found him watching her with a longing that made something in her chest squeeze.
Ava brought Sarah and Noah to the apartment she’d secured for them, one also installed with a heavy bolt like she now had in her home.
“It has only one bedroom with a large bed, but it’s big enough for the two of you,” Ava said as she showed them around. “I bought what groceries I thought you might need.”
Sarah stood in the center of the home, as if she was frightened to touch any of it, and held Noah. Her gaze settled on something in the neatly arranged groceries on the counter.
“Is that soap?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Yes,” Ava replied.
When the other woman continued to stare at it, Ava regarded the small box. “Is it the wrong type? I can get—”
“No.” Sarah sniffed. “It’s perfect. Whatever it is, it’s perfect. Thank you.”
“Down, Maman.” Noah wriggled in her grasp, but she kept him locked in her arms.
Ava nodded. “It is safe here, Sarah.”
Slowly and silently, Sarah set him down. He tore off like a toy whose spring had been wound up and released. Sarah stepped toward him.
“It’s fine, really,” Ava offered by way of reassurance and held a small bin toward Noah that she’d filled with toys and French children’s books. “There is nothing he can hurt himself on here. I made sure it would be safe for a child.”
Sarah nodded, more to herself than to Ava before looking up. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “For everything.”
Ava smiled and fought the welling of emotion once again. “I’m happy to have been able to help. I’ll leave you to get settled, but will be by to check on you later, if that is all right.”
Once they had all they needed, Ava returned to her own rented home. The bolt was firmly in place upon her arrival, the small traps she’d laid about the apartment undisturbed. There was the paper near the sink that could easily tumble to the ground, one side marked with an imperceptible dot. The bedspread was pulled so crisply, it would reveal the slightest crinkle of an imprint. Then there was the strand of Ava’s hair settled delicately over her books, so fine it would easily be overlooked by anyone but her.
All was as it should be.
It was in that moment when she allowed herself to relax in the comfort of knowing her space had remained her own, that she saw her apartment with fresh eyes, the way Sarah had seen her own temporary home.
Ava had never gone without, even with the ration in America. She had always had the luxury of seeing her home as one of freedom to come and go as she pleased rather than having it be the only location where she was safe, one she could not leave. Never had she minded how heavy her tread was over the smooth flooring, or how loud a cough or sneeze might be.
Getting Sarah and Noah to Lisbon had not been easy. The difficulty of their trek had been written all over James’s face. But now that they were here, now that she had witnessed with her own eyes the level of their awe at such basic things no human should have to endure life without, she was grateful beyond measure for their safety.