31

Since last week’s dinnerat Mama’s, Rina had made a valiant effort to restrain herself, mentioning her grandmother’s case only a couple of times. Peter had played coy, refusing to take the bait. Since subtlety wasn’t working, it was time for the direct approach. After the dinner table had been cleared, she sashayed into the kitchen and slid her arms around his waist as he washed dishes. He had rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt but had still managed to get his cuffs wet.

“I’ll do that,” she said.

“I’m almost done,” Decker told her. “But you can keep hugging. It feels good.”

“I love a man who knows how to scour a roasting pan.”

He smiled. “What’s Hannah doing?”

“Her homework. So what’s going on?”

“Not much.”

Rina broke away. Nervously, she smoothed out her denim skirt and hiked up the sleeves of her pink sweater to her elbows. She picked up a towel and began to dry the dishes. “Just answer me one question. Did you find Marta Lubke?”

“Yes.”

Rina was flabbergasted. “Youdid?”

“Yes.”

“Is she alive?”

“That’s two questions.”

She punched his shoulder.

“Yes, she’s alive,” Decker answered. “Even better, so is her older sister. I was going to tell you after Hannah went to bed. But since we started, what else would you like to know?”

“For starters, how’d you find her?”

“That would be giving away my trade secrets.” Decker winked at her. “I logged onto Google and got hits for around a hundred Lubkes… probably not the smartest thing to do since the Lubke I was looking for was from Germany. But I thought I’d test the waters here, maybe find a relative. From what I pulled up, I began a process of elimination mostly by age. I found about ten Lubkes who were old enough and sent out e-mails to all of them. I got unbelievably lucky. I received an e-mail response from an Anika Lubke. That, in itself, is pretty good-a woman in her eighties savvy in computers. You wouldn’t believe where she lives.”

“Los Angeles?”

“No, but almost as good. She lives up in Solvang.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Right north of Santa Barbara. I told you it was good.”

“You’re the best. So what did Anika Lubke write back?”

“That she was from Munich. And this is where it getsreallyunbelievably lucky. She has a sister named Marta, whose married name is Wallek. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, which I understand has a large population of people of German descent.”

“The home of Anheuser-Busch. As in Busch Stadium.”

“As in Budweiser beer,” Decker said.

“There was an expression my friend Ellie in Munich used to use-‘Bierbauch Bayer.’It means beer-bellied Bavarian. Beer is a cultural icon in Germany, especially Bavaria.”

“Well, beer doesn’t do too bad in the good old US of A, either. The upshot of this entire thing is that last night I got an e-mail from Marta. Did I do well or what?”

“I can’t believe you found out all this information in so short a time.”

“Thank the Internet. Both women are widows, by the way.” Decker held up a wet roasting pan. “Can you dry a little faster so I have some room for this in the dish rack?”

Rina picked up the dinner plates and stacked them on the counter. “Happy now?”

“I just didn’t want to nick the stoneware.”

She smiled. “You’re wonderful. I love you.”

Decker started washing the utensils. “I love you, too. You want to hear the interesting part?”

“There’s more?”

“Lots. Guess what Anika’s married name is?”

Rina finished with the dinner dishes, then picked up the pan and began to dry it. “Being as there must be about a million German surnames, I give up.”

“Even if you went through them all, you wouldn’t be close. It’s Emerson.”

“She married an American.”

“She married a Brit.”

“That must be a story.”

“It must be one hell of a story. But I don’t know it because it’s not the kind of thing you e-mail to a stranger.”

“Are you sure you’ve got the right Marta Lubke?”

“Yes, I’m positive because she remembers your mother for the same reason your mother remembered her. They were both Marta. And she remembered some of the other girls when I mentioned their names. And both of them remembered your grandmother’s murder. How much detail they recall… that I don’t know.”

Rina put her hand over her mouth and froze. Slowly, she let it drop to her side.

Decker said, “Marta Lubke and Anika are well into their eighties. I think your mother has been playing a little loose with the years.”

“I’m stunned.” Rina swallowed. “Not by Mama cheating on her age, but that you really found someone she knew as a child.”

“Marta Lubke Wallek was very excited that Marta Gottlieb Elias is still alive. She would like to contact your mother, Rina,ifthat’s okay with your mother. She said she has quite a story as well. We need to tell Mama what’s going on.”

Rina sighed. “Of course. It won’t be easy to tell her about it. Mama will wonder why we were searching for Marta Lubke.”

“Just tell her that after she spoke about her childhood, you wanted to find someone from her past.”

“All right.” Rina was uncertain but was resolved to do the right thing. “We’ll forget about my grandmother’s murder. I’ll tell Mama what’s going on. Actually, I’m much more excited about a possible reunion between the two of them. Better than digging up old bones.”

“Very noble of you.” Decker laid the clean utensils on top of the rack. “However, I think I have a better idea.”

Rina waited.

“I don’t think we should bring the two of them together until we know more about Marta and Anika Lubke. Remember, your mother is a camp survivor, and we don’t want to cause her any more pain. I think we should talk to the women first.”

“You want to go to Saint Louis?”

“No need because the fates are with us. Marta Lubke Wallek is coming in to visit her sister. How about we take advantage and make a little vacation out of it? We’ll leave Saturday night, right afterShabbat,stay overnight in Santa Barbara, then continue on to Solvang on Sunday and come back Sunday night. Surely the boys can watch Hannah for twenty-four hours. They’re both over eighteen.”

“Sammy works on Sunday.”

“Jacob doesn’t.”

Rina made a face. “I don’t know, Peter. What about Cindy?”

“Saturday is her day with Jan. Sometimes they go out at night. That’s inviolate. But she can certainly pick up some of the slack on Sunday. I’m sure she won’t mind a morning or afternoon shift.” Now Decker made a face. “By the way, she’s bringing Koby over forShabbatthis weekend.”

Rina’s eyes brightened. “So they’re back together?”

“For the time being, yes.”

“I like him.”

“You like his circumcision,” Decker remarked.

“Yes, I like that he’s Jewish. I’ve never hidden my partisan feelings. So when are we going to visit Solvang?”

“Marta is visiting her sister in three weeks. How does that work?”

“Perfect. No major holidays in the way. And it will give me plenty of time to prepare… cook Sunday dinner for the boys and Hannah.”

“Rina, they’re capable boys. They can cook for themselves.”

“I know, but it’s not hard for me to cook a little extra.”

“Can I give you a cross to nail your hands on, Saint R?”

“I like cooking for my family. So sue me.”

“I don’t want to sue you.” Decker took her in his arms and slapped her to his chest. “I’d rather screw you.”

She punched his shoulder. “What got into you?”

“I wish something would get into you.” He raised his eyebrows. “If you would examine my motivations, you’d see I have other reasons for wanting you alone for a night away.” He kissed her hard on the lips.

“Eeeuuuu!”

They both looked toward the door. Hannah scowled at them, turned on her heels, and stomped out. They broke into laughter.