Page 7 of Library of Forbidden Books

Chapter 5

The Last Christmas

Berlin

December 24, 1932

The Christmas spirit in Berlin was palpable through the uncustomary pause of passersby, who slowed to greet others and smiled as if spring had come to the streets caked with muddy snow. The square-grid blocks with gray facades hid within their walls the secret gardens coveted by Berliners, where the northern cold stopped and life seemed kinder.

The families of Helene and Derek had arranged to meet each other for the first time on Christmas Eve. The von Sholtzes lived in Königsberg in East Prussia but would be in Berlin for the holidays. After dinner, Derek’s family would attend midnight Mass at a nearby cathedral and Helene’s, completely unreligious, would spend the rest of the night smoking and dancing to the radio.

As if they were about to sign an armistice, the families had chosen the neutral ground of a restaurant for their first gathering. The von Sholtzes were dressed in tailor-made clothing, though Blaz, the patriarch, wore civilian clothes as a sign of peace. Helene had chosen to use her mother’s name, Nathan, but the rest of the family went by her father’s last name. The Webers came from a line of diplomats and high-ranking civil servants. Their background was Lutheran, but the most recent two generations leaned toward Kantian ideas and Hegel’s philosophy.

The von Sholtzes were the first to arrive at Horcher, an upscale restaurant. Blaz was governed by Germanic punctuality, which many joked was stricter than Kantian ethics. He appeared to be an older version of his firstborn son, though with deeper features and a hardened, disapproving expression. Beside him his wife, Gisela, had a kinder face and softer features, yet these did not mask her noble background. She allowed herself zero pleasure and together with Blaz had raised their three children with utmost strictness. Their identical twins Dieter and Ebert looked so much alike that even their parents had trouble telling them apart.

Derek walked in a few minutes later, which elicited a frown from his father. The two men shook hands, and Derek kissed his mother’s forehead. She responded with only the slightest smile despite the fact that she had always favored him. He hugged his younger brothers. They adored him not only for being the oldest, but also for standing up to their father and not backing down.

Helene entered, her arm linked with her father’s. Her face was resplendent with such joy that other diners paused to gaze at the young woman. Her sister Amalia and mother Maria followed, smiling as if they had just shared a good joke.

The von Sholtzes stood, almost at attention. The only one who moved to greet the Webers was Derek, who had already met them on several occasions.

“Mr. Weber.” Blaz nodded to his son’s future father-in-law.

Despite his more relaxed style of dress, Gustav Weber moved in the upper echelon of government and had traveled the world. He was not intimidated by military titles or Prussian austerity. “Mr. von Sholtz, a pleasure to meet you,” he said casually and then introduced his two daughters and his wife.

Gisela remained seated, observing the women. They seemed pleasant enough, though their style of dress was too modern for her taste. She held out a cold hand and then nodded to introduce her younger sons.

To Helene’s dismay, the males sat at one end of the table and the females at the other. She detested the separation of the sexes.

Maria knew her daughter too well but also knew how important this dinner was. “Easy does it, love,” her mother whispered.

Blaz looked at Gustav and said, “So it seems that our children have decided to get married. Derek is a hardworking, sensible, highly intelligent, and prudent young man with a bright military career ahead of him . . .”

Derek looked up in surprise. He had never heard such words of affirmation from his father.

From the other end of the table, Helene was unconcerned with making a good impression on her future mother-in-law as she strained to hear what the men were saying.

“The little I’ve seen of him compels me to congratulate you, sir,” Gustav said, attempting formality. Then he shrugged, raised his glass, and proposed a toast to the couple.

At first Blaz tensed up but eventually raised his glass as well, and everyone relaxed a bit. That simple gesture sanctioned the union.

Derek breathed a sigh of relief. Helene was on his right, and he squeezed her hand under the table. He was determined to marry her with or without his father’s approval, but he preferred to do things the proper way.

“Your father doesn’t seem too fierce,” Helene whispered into Derek’s ear.

Gisela’s forehead muscles tensed in disapproval but relaxed again when Maria caught her eye.

“The world certainly has changed, hasn’t it?” Maria asked. “Things aren’t like they used to be, not since Goethe published The Sorrows of Young Werther and showed the world the power of love.”

Gisela kept her face blank. She detested romantic notions about life. “I think the more important values over which to construct a marriage are commitment, dedication, sacrifice, and duty. Love is a rather fleeting feeling, wouldn’t you agree?”

Maria smiled. She knew well what love was and the high price it demanded. “My husband turned his back on his career to marry me. We’ve been together thirty years, and in my case, love has survived many things. Love is also a decision. And the other values you mentioned are the fruits of love, not of effort and abnegation.”

Gisela’s eyes widened in surprise at this woman who was so alien to her.

The twins talked with Amalia, who was much prettier than Helene with the early, almost-divine beauty of a girl just becoming a woman. Amalia was amused to find the twins competing for her attention.

“What are you studying?” asked Ebert, the braver of the two.