That evening, the first evening they were all back in Copenhagen, they went to Peter’s apartment. As they climbed out of the carriage, Celeste saw Anna look up at the windows and knew she was hoping that Stephan was there. She gave Anna’s hand a squeeze.
‘I’m sure he’s waiting for you,’ she whispered.
Peter lived in the same apartment as he had in the city of C—, yet to Celeste it seemed bigger than she remembered and definitely tidier.
‘Who would have thought that your two girls would have grown so fast,’ said Peter to their mother when he saw them. ‘But I’m not surprised that they are so pretty. They’re like you, Ellen. You must be very proud. Now which of you is Maria?’ Maria stepped forward. ‘That leaves you – Celeste.’
Celeste knew what Maria was thinking. Where is Viggo?
‘Is your nephew here?’ asked Celeste.
‘Yes – but I don’t think you’ve ever met. Viggo!’ he called.
Viggo came out of the room that Celeste had once stayed in. He looked exactly the same as he had in the city of C—.
Straight away, he said to Maria, ‘I think I know you.’
This was greeted with laughter by the adults and delight by Maria.
‘Perhaps, in a different life,’ said Peter.
‘I can see that you two are going to be firm friends,’ said Father.
Drinks were served while Ellen explained the girls’ production to Massini and Peter.
‘Massini, don’t look like that,’ said Father. ‘We might be proud parents but there is something here.’
‘Girls,’ said Mother, ‘set up your toy theatre.’
Viggo helped them while the adults chatted.
‘I know I’ve done this before,’ he said to Celeste.
‘Done what?’ said Maria.
‘Helped set up this toy theatre. Wait, I have something.’ He went into his room.
‘It’s all right,’ said Celeste to Maria.
‘But what if he doesn’t have it, what will that mean?’
They hardly dared to breathe.
‘Here,’ said Viggo. He held out the cardboard figure of a little dancer. ‘I never knew where this came from. But she looks just like Maria.’
Mr Gautier arrived late. Celeste thought he had changed; he seemed less anxious, his face less crumpled. He was sombrely dressed, but full of plans. He wanted to stage a pantomime next Christmas and thought the clown who played in the Tivoli Gardens would be perfect for the lead role of the Harlequin.
That evening soon felt normal to Celeste and Maria, and it was hard to imagine life had ever been any other way. Massini, who was famous for his operas, was delighted with the idea of the little play they watched. At dinner the talk was about the libretto that Hans would write and how it might be adapted for opera.
It took Celeste longer than Maria to believe they were safe and that the man in the emerald green suit wouldn’t call her back. For Maria, her experience took on a dream-like quality and by degrees lost its power. Not so for Celeste. Sometimes, before falling asleep she saw the man in the emerald green suit and she would wake the following morning full of joy to realise she was home where she was meant to be. She thought that it helped Maria that she and Viggo had found each other. But for Anna there was no Stephan. And for all of them, there was no Hildegard.
Anna claimed she couldn’t remember very much about the city of C—. But Celeste knew she was fibbing. She had caught her often enough lost in her thoughts. Celeste had heard Mother say to Father that she was worried about Anna.
‘If I didn’t know her so well,’ said Mother, ‘I would say she was lovesick. But when can she have met someone to fall in love with?’
The snow melted, spring arrived and to Maria and Celeste the past felt a distant place, and in a week’s time it was to be their birthday. Celeste and Anna were out shopping when they found themselves at Mr Holme’s hat shop. The bell jangled as they entered. Old Mr Holme was behind the counter. He greeted Anna warmly.
‘Do you still have the little black hat that was in your window?’ asked Anna.
‘No,’ said Mr Holme. ‘I’m afraid I’ve just sold it to a fine-looking young gentleman.’
‘Oh dear, I’ve left it too long,’ said Anna and started to try on other hats.
Celeste walked away from her and stared out through the window.
She turned to Anna and said, ‘I’m just going to have a look at the shop opposite.’
Anna barely noticed she’d gone.
On the corner was a well-dressed young man, a pair of handsome boots on his feet. Why the boots caught Celeste’s attention, she couldn’t say, but perhaps it was because she feared that if she looked at the face of the owner of the boots, he wouldn’t be who she thought he was. She was still staring at the boots when they started to walk with purpose towards her.
‘Celeste,’ said the owner of the boots. ‘Do you remember me?’ and she looked up into a face that was Stephan’s.
He was holding a hat box.
‘Stephan,’ said Celeste, ‘where have you been?’
‘On New Year’s Eve, when Anna said she could make everything disappear, I found myself on board the Mary Bell, bound for the Americas. I stayed on there to do some business and it turned out better than even I could have imagined. Does Anna remember me?’
Celeste looked round. On the next corner was a café.
‘Wait in there,’ she said, ‘and I’ll bring her.’
She went quickly back to the hat shop. Anna came out, pulling on her gloves.
‘I’d like a cup of hot chocolate,’ said Celeste.
‘We really should be getting back,’ said Anna, but before she could say another word Celeste had taken her hand and walked her into the café. To her great disappointment Celeste couldn’t see Stephan anywhere.
They had sat down at a table and were about to order when the waiter brought a glass of champagne and a hat box.
‘For you, Madame,’ said the waiter, placing them before Anna. ‘With the compliments of the gentleman standing at the counter.’
There is only one piece of the jigsaw left, thought Celeste, as Stephan took Anna in his arms.