Christmas Gift for Rose (9780310336822) by Zondervan Publishing House Page B

His fingers paused from entering prices into the register before he went back to checking out the customer. But instead of talking to the older
Englisch
woman at the counter, he glanced again at Rose. “I’ve seen you in here before, with your mem. She seems like a nice lady.”
    He didn’t look familiar, but obviously he knew her, so she had to have met him before. He hadn’t lived long in Berlin, though; she was certain of that. “
Ja
, she is. I—I am blessed to have my family.”
    He nodded and went back to punching the keys as vigorously as before.
    She glanced around, trying to figure out how to spend her time. She didn’t have a shopping list and not a penny with her. She hadn’t planned on going anywhere but the school. Yet she walked down the canned goods aisle with purpose.
    It was nice to see the shelves full again. Rationing duringthe war had been hard for many. More than once they’d had neighbors stop by to ask her parents if they had any extra eggs or meat to sell. Her parents always seemed to find something to offer, even if it meant they ate vegetable soup for dinner.
    She moved to the far corner of the store where the meat counter was, pretending that the sign that read the prices of the meat was as interesting as her story from
Heidi.
    “Pot Roast of Beef, 29 cents a pound. Fresh ground hamburger, 28 cents a pound. Breakfast sausages, small link, 44 cents,” she said to no one in particular.
    The butcher approached from the back room wearing a red-and-white-striped shirt, a white apron that looked as if it had just been pulled off the clothes line, and a straw hat. He was an imposing man in girth and stature, but he wore a nice smile. “Can I help you, miss?”
    “Oh, no, Mr. Milligan,” she said. “I’m just looking today … and waiting for a friend.”
    “Ah, yes. Jonathan is unloading the wood for the new shelves in back. We’re blessed to have run out of room for stock. We have quite the construction project going on back there.”
    “I think everyone feels blessed.” Rose offered a smile. “It’s
gut
to have all our boys coming home.”
    “I imagine especially that one.” Mr. Milligan pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the back supply room. “Don’t think the people in the community don’t understand the sacrifice. And as someone who had a son come home in one piece, I thank Jonathan every time I see him.”
    Rose nodded but didn’t know how to respond. Just as she was figuring out what to say, she heard the shuffling of footsteps behind her. She turned to see the cashier approaching. He leaned on a cane and walked with a limp.
    Rose’s heart fell, and she understood now why she didn’t remember seeing him around before. He was a returning soldier who’d somehow landed in Berlin.
    The cashier used his cane to point to his left kneecap. “It was a bullet. And the Jap was either a great shot and just wanted to slow me down, or he missed by a long shot when aiming for my heart.”
    Rose offered a sympathetic smile. “Iwo Jima?”
    The man shook his head. “No, I missed that one, but Saipan was no tea party.” He limped over to the cold case next to the meat counter and pulled out two Coca-Colas. Gripping them both in his left hand, he reached into his pocket with his right hand and pulled out a bottle opener. He popped both lids, dropped the bottle opener back into his apron pocket, and offered her a drink.
    “Oh, no, I couldn’t.” She held up her palm, refusing his offer.
    “Have you ever had a cola before?” The light-haired man tilted his head to the side and studied her in a way that made her want to escape out into the cold.
    “
Ne.
I mean, no.” She shook her head vigorously. “But—” What excuse did she have? Any excuse. She lightly touched the top of her white head covering.
    “Of course!” The man set one of the colas on the meatcounter and extended his hand to her. “I should have introduced myself. I’m Curtis. Curtis Williams.” His