Word Count: 78,009
Summary of Events:
Keeleigh and Olivia got together at Keeleigh's place to go through their shared antique collection after receiving word that all the Village staff were invited to help clean things up so that they could reopen the majority of the Village for the remaining week of the season. Olga and most of the family were hiding in the cellar when they heard people walking around upstairs, so Olga and Igor went to investigate and discovered several soldiers, whose side she couldn't identify . . .
Excerpt of the Day:
"They turned to face Olga and Igor and stopped in surprise.
"Who are you?" the older one, who had to be close to Papa's age, asked, causing the other four soldiers to turn and look.
"We live here," Olga replied.
"Oh," he said. "I'm sorry."
"Is it just the two of you?" one of the men seated by the gun asked.
"No," Olga replied. "There's twelve of us, as well as Mama and Papa."
"What's your family name?" the younger of the two holding the rifles asked.
"Niemcyk," Olga replied.
"You seem to pop up everywhere," he said. "Is this the household of Zbigniew?"
"Yes," Olga replied. "That's Papa."
"We met your brother only yesterday," the young man said. "My uncle and your father have been good friends for years."
"And who is your uncle?" Olga asked.
"Ladislav Kamiński*," the young man replied.
"Oh," Olga said. She recalled the name, but she didn't know that she'd seen much of the man. "And you are?"
"Henryk Kamiński," the young man replied. "And these are my comrades. We didn't realise this house was occupied. We hope you don't mind."
"I think Mama might be a little upset," Olga said. "She doesn't typically let people smoke in the parlour. Either they go with Papa into his office or they go outside."
"Oh," Henryk said. "Um, we're terribly sorry."
"All an innocent mistake," one of the other soldiers seated on the floor said. "We hope your mother will understand."
"She hasn't been understanding of much lately," Olga said. "The war is scaring her."
"Understandably so," the other man with a rifle said. "It's scaring all of us."
"Is your whole family here?" Henryk asked.
"No," Olga replied. "Papa, Emil, Zygfryd, and Jarek are out somewhere helping."
"No surprise," Henryk said. "Uncle Ladislav told me your Papa served in the Army last war."
"Mama and the rest of us are in the cellar," Olga said.
"You should go back and hide down there," the older man with a rifle said. "Germans are approaching, and we wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Olga nodded and started back toward the kitchen. She turned when she realised Igor wasn't with her and nearly ran right into Henryk.
He gave her a friendly smile. "A pleasure to meet you Miss Niemcyk."
Mutely, Olga nodded, finding her voice had suddenly abandoned her.
Henryk then took up her hand softly and kissed her fingers just where they emerged from her hand before softly sliding his hand out from under her own and heading up the stairs.
Olga stood rooted to the floor for a long time. She felt bewildered, as if she had no idea where she was or what had just happened. All she could see was the smiling, friendly face of Henryk Kamiński, with handsome blue eyes and golden blonde hair.
Shaking her head, she brought herself back to the present and strode into the parlour to seize Igor and haul him back downstairs with her."
* the acute on the n in Kamiński has no effect on the pronunciation to my knowledge
Pronunciation:
Henryk: hehnreek
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