A/N: Why does the first bit of my author's note keep repeating above the proper one

A/N: Why does the first bit of my author's note keep repeating above the proper one? It's not doing on my Word document, only on the website. It's annoying me. Any ideas? Or is it only me that can see it? Oh dear, I'm going mad… Ah well, here's the next chapter. I'd rather like some reviews for it! :)

Chapter Seven.

When I opened my eyes the next morning I realised the sun must have been up for a while already. I was already hot and sweaty, the signs of a typical Arkansas summer. I yawned and stretched, before dragging myself to my feet and shimmying down from the hideout. I crossed the lawn and grinned, already able to hear Ruth's gospel singing from the kitchen. I suddenly remembered the day I'd come home from being on the run with Anton, all those years ago. Ruth had been cooking in the kitchen and screamed when she saw me. I had a feeling it would be the same today.

I stepped in through the back door and breathed in the familiar smells. "Mmm, griddlecakes!" I exclaimed happily and Ruth nearly dropped the frying pan.

"What…" she started, turning around to stare at me in shock. "Patty! Well, what a gift from the Lord! It's so good to see you, honey!"

She placed the frying pan down before sweeping me into her arms for a hug.

"It feels like it's been forever," I sighed, pulling away reluctantly. "How have you been?"

"Me? Oh, same as ever! And you! You're lookin' so well. Why are you home?"

"Long story," I said, tired of explaining. "I'm sure Sharon will fill you in at some point. But right now I'd really like some griddlecakes if that's okay."

"Anything for you, honey."

I poured myself a glass of milk and sat down at the table, contentedly awaiting the large plate of griddlecakes that Ruth was cooking up. We chattered easily for a few minutes before the food was ready and I tucked in hungrily. I hadn't tasted anything so good in ages. When I finished my breakfast I helped Ruth to wash up and then I excused myself, heading for the bathroom. Sharon passed me in the hall, her blonde hair tousled from sleep and she groaned out a greeting through a wide yawn.

It's funny how quickly your life can change. Something as simple as overhearing a few secret words. It makes you wish you could go back in time and forget what you'd heard. But unfortunately that isn't possible. I finished in the bathroom and was just about to walk back into the kitchen when I heard Sharon's agitated voice.

"You can't expect me to keep something like that from Patty! She's my sister."

"Sharon, honey, I'm only thinking of her best interests," Ruth protested and I pressed myself against the wall, listening intently.

"But something like that? How could you not tell her? She has a right to know! I can't believe you didn't tell me until now!"

"Well I wasn't gonna tell you, until you mentioned you wanted to help her find him!"

"But after all they went through together!"

"Sharon, you're too young to understand. It's just not right that she should see him. Just let her forget."

"She won't forget," I heard Sharon protest, and I knew they were talking about Anton. "And why isn't it right, anyway? What's wrong with them seeing each other?"

"He's a nice man, but he's not for Patty. I don't want her getting confused and thinking that she loves him."

"But she does love him!"

"She don't know what love is yet."

"Oh, and you're the expert on love? You know everything about it? How can you know how Patty feels? You don't know anything!"

"I am not saying I'm an expert! I just think Patty can do better than…"

"Than what, huh? Than a German?"

"He's an ex prisoner of war!"

"But you weren't so concerned when they ran off together all those years ago!"

"She was just a child, and I knew he was too smart to try anything back then. But she's a woman now! And besides, her daddy used to hurt her, and he doesn't anymore. She has no reason to run away with him now. Back then she was afraid and unloved, but she's got a future now. She doesn't need him."

"But I do need him!" I screamed, bursting into the kitchen, tears stinging my eyes. Ruth and Sharon stared at me in shock and guilt. "I love him. What's going on? What are you hiding from me, Ruth? I thought you were my friend!"

"Friends!" Ruth shouted in a shrill voice. "You've always been so concerned about having friends. Its love that counts, and Sharon and I love you."

"Yes, exactly, its love that counts," I said shakily. "I love Anton, he's my best friend and you know something."

I saw a strange expression cross Ruth's face and it suddenly hit me like a tonne of bricks crashing down.

"You've been in contact with him," I whispered. "You've heard from him."

"He wrote you," Ruth said without emotion.

"When?"

"About six months ago. I looked at the return address and saw who it was from, and so took the liberty of opening it for you."

"You had no right to do that."

"I had every right. Anyway, he wanted to know how you were doing and if he could come see you. I wrote back and told him you'd moved away and it was best he didn't try to contact you again."

"But why?" I asked brokenly, my legs weak and tears trickling steadily from my eyes.

"Patty, you can do better than him. Yes, he's a nice man, and sure he's clever, but he's an ex prisoner of war. If that ain't bad enough, he's German! You're Jewish; honey, it ain't right for you to see him. After everything people went through durin' the war, between the Germans and your kind."

"My kind? It wasn't just 'my kind' as you put it. And it wasn't every single damn German. They aren't all bad! You can't say every single one of them is a bad person. Anton wasn't a bad person!"

"Maybe not, but he still ain't right for you."

"You can't tell me that. I'm an adult now, and it's my decision. Where's my letter?"

"Gone. I didn't want you asking any questions so I thought it best to burn it."

"Shit! That was my letter! How dare you?! Where is he? What was the address?"

"Patty, leave it. Just stay away from him and forget about it."

"No!" I screamed. "How can you do this to me? You, of all people! After all the hell I've been through, now my friends are turning against me. And I'll tell you something. Friends are important! I'd never had any until Anton. He was my only real friend! When you haven't got something it becomes important; you want it more and more."

"Can I say something?" Sharon interjected quietly and we turned to look at her. "The way I see it is Ruth was only doing what she thought was best for Patty, but Patty has a right to make her own decisions now she's an adult."

"I ain't getting any more involved if she wants to go running after that fellow," Ruth said, turning to walk away.

"Ruth," Sharon said firmly. "If Patty makes the decision to find Anton then it is your responsibility to at least tell her where he is, after you went and burnt something that was her property."

"Please," I whispered.

Ruth sighed, suddenly looking incredibly old and worn out. I realised that she truly was trying to protect me, even though it had hurt me.

"Jackson, Tennessee," she said softly, hanging her head.

"Right," I said firmly, "that's about three and a half hours by train, maybe four."

"I can't believe it," Sharon whispered, a smile lighting up her features. "You're really going to do it, aren't you Patty?"

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, I am."

"I'm coming with you," Sharon said firmly.

"Now, I really don't think that's a good idea," Ruth said.

"You've done enough, thank you!" Sharon said haughtily, sounding an awful lot like our mother. "Besides, it's the summer holidays! Patty got her first adventure when she was twelve, and I've had to wait until I'm fifteen!"

"This is it then," I said. "Anton, I'm coming to find you!"