A Sparrow in Terezin Read online

  PRAISE FOR KRISTY CAMBRON

  “It's hard to even find words to describe the experience of reading A Sparrow in Terezin . . . and that's exactly what it was: an experience—moving, powerful, poignant. Kristy Cambron’s sophomore novel is gorgeous and heartrending, a World War II story packed with romance, bravery and sacrifice, interwoven with a modern-day thread. She has a permanent place on my must-read shelf.”

  —MELISSA TAGG, AUTHOR OF FROM THE START AND HERE TO STAY

  “Cambron is a marvelous new star in historical romance. A Sparrow in Terezin has it all: suspense, romance, World War II history, and a dual story line that doesn't let the reader catch her breath. Highly recommended!”

  —COLLEEN COBLE, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE HOPE BEACH SERIES

  “Once again author Kristy Cambron weaves an amazing tapestry of past and present in her sophomore novel, A Sparrow in Terezin. In this beautifully written journey of faith, Sera and Kája are two women separated by time and circumstance, yet each must find the courage to trust and recapture love through God’s healing grace. Cambron’s detail to history shines as readers are transported seamlessly from the warm, sandy beaches of San Francisco’s coast to the frightening ambience of World War II Europe. I found her depiction of conditions at the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin to be well-researched and hauntingly accurate. A Sparrow in Terezin is a captivating story not to be missed!”

  —KATE BRESLIN, AUTHOR OF FOR SUCH A TIME

  “In A Sparrow in Terezin Kristy Cambron’s poignant prose reminds us of the 15,000 children sent to Terezin Concentration Camp during World War II—fewer than 100 of those children survived. Cambron writes more than novels woven with both contemporary and historical story lines—although she does that with poignancy and realism. What Cambron has mastered is writing novels that are a testament to the past . . . to a time of both unfathomable loss and courageous sacrifice that we should honor in our hearts and minds.”

  —BETH K. VOGT, AUTHOR OF SOMEBODY LIKE YOU, SELECTED AS ONE OF PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY’S 2014 BEST BOOKS

  “A Sparrow in Terezin shines a light on a rare and precious beauty amidst the ashes of the Holocaust. Woven of equally compelling contemporary and historical threads, the story presents a fresh and haunting look at a part of World War II history I hadn’t been aware of—the children of Terezin. Main characters Sera and Kája captured my heart and made me care, keeping me up nights to see them through. A beautiful follow-up to Cambron’s debut!”

  —LORI BENTON, AUTHOR OF BURNING SKY, THE PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN, AND THE WOOD’S EDGE

  “Compelling, haunting, and impossible to put down, Kristy Cambron’s second novel in her Hidden Masterpiece Series is as intriguing and beautifully written as The Butterfly and the Violin. Two stories in two time periods, skillfully woven, began with the unexpected and kept me turning pages to the very end . . . Highly recommended.”

  —CATHY GOHLKE, CHRISTY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SAVING AMELIE AND BAND OF SISTERS, FOR A SPARROW IN TEREZIN

  “Kristy Cambron has created a beautiful story of parallel journeys: one during World War II, the other during modern day . . . This is a story that will embrace readers who love a mix of modern and historic, romance with emotion, beauty with an awareness that God sees every sparrow.”

  —CARA PUTMAN, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SHADOWED BY GRACE AND WHERE TREETOPS GLISTEN, FOR A SPARROW IN TEREZIN

  “Alternating points of view skillfully blend contemporary and historical fiction in this debut novel that is almost impossible to put down.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 1/2 STARS TOP PICK! FOR THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN

  “In her historical series debut, Cambron expertly weaves together multiple plotlines, time lines, and perspectives to produce a poignant tale of the power of love and faith in difficult circumstances. Those interested in stories of survival and the Holocaust, such as Eli Wiesel’s Night, will want to read.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED REVIEW FOR THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN

  “. . . debut novelist Cambron vividly recounts interwoven sagas of heartache and recovery through courage, love, art, and faith.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FOR THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN

  “. . . emotionally engaging and very hard to put down.”

  —CBA RETAILERS + RESOURCES FOR THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN

  “Cambron’s debut novel is rife with history, faith, and hope. It will entrance readers with its poignant characters, intriguing plot, and unpredictable love story.”

  —SUZANNE WOODS FISHER, BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY SECRETS, FOR THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN

  “Fresh. Fascinating. Unforgettable. The Butterfly and the Violin is a masterpiece of a debut. From stunning cover to satisfying conclusion, this poignant novel marks Kristy Cambron as an author to watch.”

  —LAURA FRANTZ, CHRISTY AWARD FINALIST AND AUTHOR OF LOVE’S RECKONING

  “The Butterfly and the Violin held me captive from first note to final moment. Just like the beautiful violin Adele plays, Cambron lyrically weaves words and emotions, carries you through a simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting story, and leaves you yearning for more. Absolutely spellbinding!”

  —KATHERINE REAY, AUTHOR OF DEAR MR. KNIGHTLEY

  “The Butterfly and the Violin is a powerful debut novel that weaves together a touching contemporary story with dramatic events in World War II. A compelling plot and an intriguing cast of characters illustrate that even in the darkest times, when evil seems impossible to overcome, hope can be found through trusting God and using our gifts as an act of worship. Readers of historical fiction will be captivated by this inspiring novel!”

  —CARRIE TURANSKY, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE GOVERNESS OF HIGHLAND HALL AND THE DAUGHTER OF HIGHLAND HALL

  ALSO BY KRISTY CAMBRON

  The Butterfly and the Violin

  © 2015 by Kristy Cambron

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Published in association with Hartline Literary Agency, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.

  Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version and the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  ISBN 978-1-4016-9062-5 (eBook)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Cambron, Kristy.

  A sparrow in Terezin / Kristy Cambron.

  pages ; cm. -- (A hidden masterpiece novel ; 2)

  Summary: “Two women, one in the present day and one in 1942, each hope for a brighter future. But they’ll both have to battle through their darkest days to reach it. Today. With the grand opening of her new gallery and a fairytale wedding months away, Sera James appears to have a charmed life. But in an instant, the prospect of a devastating legal battle surrounding her fiance? threatens to tear her dreams apart. Sera and William rush to marr
y and are thrust into a world of doubt and fear as they defend charges that could separate them for life. June 1942. After surviving the Blitz bombings that left many Londoners with shattered lives, Kaja Makovsky prayed for the war to end so she could return home to Prague. But despite the horrors of war, the gifted journalist never expected to see a headline screaming the extermination of Jews in work camps. Half-Jewish with her family in danger, Kaja has no choice but to risk everything to get her family out of Prague. But with the clutches of evil all around, her escape plan crumbles into deportation, and Kaja finds herself in a new reality as the art teacher to the children of Terezin. Bound by a story of hope and the survival of one little girl, both Sera and Kaja will fight to protect all they hold dear”-- Provided by publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-4016-9061-8 (softcover)

  I. Title.

  PS3603.A4468S68 2015

  813’.6--dc23

  2014040983

  15 16 17 18 19 20 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

  For my mom.

  And for Becky Monds—my forever friend.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  ADDITIONAL READING

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

  —JOSHUA 1:9 NIV

  CHAPTER ONE

  July, Present Day

  Sausalito, California

  The last thing a bride needs to fret over on her wedding day is whether the ceremony will take place.

  It was an unproductive thought in the midst of trying to manage pre-wedding jitters. Nevertheless, the familiar doubt continued to plague her heart, and Sera James, still caught up in the shadow of an uncertain future, all but gave in to it.

  She ran her fingertips over the string of pearls at her nape and stared out the first-floor bedroom window of the Hanovers’ California seaside estate. She scanned the horizon, taking in the beauty of the setting sun as it created flashes of diamonds across the bay, wondering if William had the same doubts. Would he be out there waiting on their beach?

  A gentle knock drew her attention to the bedroom door.

  She turned and found the familiar face of her friend Penny, who offered a hushed greeting from the hall. She presented a serene, pink-glossed smile.

  “Sera? It’s time,” Penny said, her voice whisper soft, and stepped into the oversized bedroom. Her strawberry blond hair hung in soft waves and danced about her shoulders as if tossed by the playfulness of the sea breeze outside. “Everyone’s waiting.”

  Sera nodded. She dropped the pearls back down to graze her neck and rested her hands at her sides.

  So he is waiting . . . for me.

  She dotted the corners of her eyes to catch the birth of soft tears.

  God—William’s not backing out. Even though our future’s so uncertain.

  Sera took a deep breath, hoping it would infuse her with courage.

  With one last look in the antique floor mirror, she gave a final adjustment to the sweep train on her vintage column gown and asked, “Well, am I ready?”

  Her hair was loosely tucked in a French chignon, with elegant, retro-inspired waves that shined like liquid chocolate against the thin, diamond-studded headband donning her crown. The silhouette was accentuated by simple pearl drops that dangled from her ears and the nipping of an intricate lace overlay in a deep V along her collarbone. She wore a pop of classic red on her lips.

  “I’m overwhelmed, my dear friend.” Penny grinned, eyes twinkling. The jade color of her tea-length chiffon gown shimmered when she angled past the antique four-poster bed that expanded out into the center of the room. “You are stunning. And I look at art masterpieces all day.”

  She winked on the last words.

  “And I see our Sophie’s loan made it here, safe and sound.”

  Sera reached up and placed a hand over the elegant pearls resting over her collarbone, thinking of their friend. “Yes. Sophie hated that she couldn’t be here, but sent these pearls as the ‘something borrowed.’ She said every girl needs to wear pearls on her wedding day.”

  Penny nodded. “There’s wisdom in that, I’d say.”

  “Yes, there is.” Sera instinctively smiled.

  Sophie Haurbech-Mason was the sweet old friend who had been a major factor in bringing both Sera and William to their wedding day. They’d tracked and found Sophie, the owner of a painting, who turned out to be a Holocaust victim who’d been saved as a little girl by the painting’s subject. In many ways, it was the connection Sophie had to that painting that began Sera’s own journey—to find love and to finally trust again.

  But here she was, poised to walk down the aisle, and all of a sudden she wished Sophie was there to coach her through the moment. The pearls, lovely as they were, felt more like a lifeline than just a piece of vintage finery.

  “I feel like I’m forgetting something,” Sera said as fluttering once again threatened to overtake her stomach. She dropped a hand to her waist, trying to calm the butterflies that had made a home there.

  “You haven’t forgotten anything,” Penny offered, and looked pointedly to the floor where Sera’s toes peeked out from beneath the gown. “Except you’re barefoot. Here. Let me help you through all this.”

  Sera knew the last thing they needed was a bride to fall flat on her face. She hooked her fingers through the straps of the heels on the bed and took Penny’s arm. She picked up the delicate lace train and took careful, tiptoed steps.

  Penny maneuvered them through the odds and ends that painted the bedroom in a sea of tissue paper, using the toe of her shoe to kick a white box out of the way in true Penny fashion.

  “How does he look?” Sera dared to ask.

  Penny scoffed. “I sure hope you’re referring to the groom. Because if you’re talking about his gorgeous younger brother, I’d say Paul Hanover is about as insufferable as ever. Spruced up for a wedding or not—there’s little to admire of him except for that smile.”

  “Yes. I did mean the groom.” Sera stopped by the door and allowed Penny to stabilize her as she stepped into her peep-toe heels.

  “William looks fine. Taking a few deep breaths here and there. I’d wager he’s not half as nervous as you. But then again, maybe your soon-to-be husband is just better at hiding his emotions.” Penny paused, then tipped her shoulders in a light shrug. “Most men are.”

  “And what did you say about Paul? Are you two at it again?”

  “Fighting like cats and dogs? Whatever. I can’t s
tand him, even if he is something of a looker. We just can’t seem to agree on anything.” She stood tall and held Sera’s arms wide, to take a grand look at her. “But enough of that. I can manage to put up with him for one night. Right now I want to marvel at you.”

  Sera took a calming breath and instinctively bit her lower lip over the slight fluttering feeling that continued twirling about in her midsection. She ran a hand down the vintage pin-tucked satin at her waist and brushed her palm along the side of the skirt.

  “You think he’ll like it?”

  Penny nodded. “Yes. But he’s not marrying a dress. He’s marrying you,” she said, and squeezed Sera’s palms before letting go. “And you”—Penny paused to hand her a nosegay of bright-red peonies from the hammered glass vase on the nightstand—“are beautiful. And you’re not losing me, you know. At least that’s what I tell myself, that we’re not really losing the friendship. We’ll still have it, despite the distance.”

  “I know.”

  “So, do I need to give the old speech? About how you’re not really losing an assistant”—Penny shook her head over the glaze of tears that showed in her eyes and smiled—“but gaining a husband?”

  “No jokes, please.” Sera laughed, emotion hitching in her throat. “Not now. I’m not sure I can take them from you.”

  Penny nodded and tilted her head in a light manner. “Good old Manhattan will just be an airplane ride away. You’ll find me there anytime you need me. After, that is, we get every last piece in your gallery shipped out here.” She smiled and wiped at a tear that was threatening to trail down her cheek. “But truly—I hope all of California knows what a gem they’re getting.”

  “And I know the one I’m losing. How am I going to walk into the gallery every day without you by my side? You’re my best friend,” Sera added, tearing up herself. “I feel like I’m being cut down the middle.”

  “Oh no—don’t you do that.” Penny began fanning her face with her hand. “Think of raccoon eyes in the photos you’ll have for the rest of your life unless you stop it this instant! We still have weeks of work ahead of us to get the gallery moved to the West Coast. We can cry all we want then, okay?”