Over the next few months the war had reached its peak with Britain well on its way to defeating Germany. Hitler was on the run and it was only a matter of time before he was captured or killed. This was music to everyone's ears at the close possibility of freedom.
Liesel and Max spent their days as normal as they could for two people still in hiding but trying to live their lives. On some days they would laze in bed 'til little after nine then have their breakfast on the patio whilst listening to the news on the radio. Then they would head to the gardens for a long stroll under the summer sun where they would spend the remainder of the day before returning at dusk.
The library was a favourite place for them as it was a wonderland of adventures and they would thoroughly discuss the different worlds they were taken to. One night they both fell asleep in the arm chair after Max read a fairy tale to her only to wake when the maid walked in to clean the following morning. They giggled sleepily as they raced to the kitchen and stole fresh buns and milk before running through the long halls to end up outside by the fountain.
Liesel walked along the concrete structure balancing herself whilst eating a bun. Max held her hand to make sure she didn't fall in the cold water, smirking at her concentration. But when she pulled him up to join her she decided to wickedly push him in.
He fell in with a loud splash completely soaking Liesel's dress, coming up for air in shock. She almost buckled over laughing but it didn't last long as Max grabbed her leg and pulled her in after him.
She yelped out as the cold water shocked her body and now it was Max's turn to burst with laughter.
"It's freezing!" She shook with shivers and hoisted herself up and out of the fountain, soaking the concrete floor beneath her.
"That'll teach you." They stood there shivering in the fresh morning, the sun wasn't high enough to dry them yet.
"You um, you…" Liesel looked down to where Max's eyes had travelled to see her dress clinging to her body and was practically see-through.
"Oh!" She pulled and rung the water out of it but it was useless.
"Come on, I think we better get cleaned up."
A hobby that Max had taken to quickly was that he would attend to the garden. He would maintain the already beautiful flowers and hedges and then proceeded to create a vegetable patch from seed packets found in the kitchen.
Liesel would lie on a blanket on the grass with a book that wouldn't get read as she distractingly watched him work, watch him lift small statues and arrange them neatly around the fresh flower beds he just planted. When she asked him why he was doing it he said that he wanted to repay Frau Hermann for her kindness and generosity to them. And seeing as there was no one else to attend to it he was doing a great favour for her and the garden.
Sometimes when Max was digging Liesel would join Isla for tea where they would sit with the radio playing and make small talk. Ilsa was quite talkative since her husband had left, Liesel noticed how happy she was and passionate to talk about books and the weather and recipes to her favourite cakes.
One day they were strolling through the garden and Liesel was trying (and failing) to keep herself from staring at Max as he pulled weeds out of the ground, his muscles flexing with each tug. She almost missed what Isla was saying so leaned her head to her to carefully listen.
"I have a friend in England, she moved from Germany just before the war started. She looks after orphans and evacuated children." Liesel had no idea Frau Hermann had any friends at all. But there were many things she would never know about her.
"Sarah and I write to each other a lot. She says there are too many children for her to care for now."
Both their hearts sank, too many people had suffered but it was always the children who had to suffer more.
Liesel assumed that most of the children would have to move around to find new foster parents like she once did, or maybe Frau Hermann wanted to adopt some herself. The house was big enough for as many children she would like, she wouldn't mind having little ones to look after.
"So I've made a decision. I will go to England to live near her and help with the children. It is time I done something for someone else."
Liesel stopped walking. She felt happy, sad and rejected all at the same time. Ilsa saw the pain in her face but tried to reassure her right away taking her arm to loop through hers.
"Liesel my darling, do not feel that I am leaving you." But you are, she thought. "I need to leave this country, I need to see my friend, to do something that makes me happy. You know I lost a child… I would love to have that feeling of belonging again, to know that I can bring happiness in to a child's life that has lost so much."
"I'm not going to pretend I don't want you to go." Liesel began. "You have given Max and me safety and shelter, new lives. You have brought happiness to us and a sense of belonging, but you should do what makes you happy." She took her delicate hand in her own. "Frau Hermann what if that means we'll never see each other again?"
Tears threatened at her eyes, she didn't want to lose Frau Hermann who Max and she owed their lives to. Plus where would they go? Liesel began to panic at the thought of being tossed out on the street looking for somewhere dark and cold to hide.
The weak smile on Isla's face convinced Liesel that this was the beginning of her goodbye.
"I can't lie and say that we will. But the offer for you to come visit will always stand."
"I'll never be able to afford that. Frau Hermann, forgive me but where are Max and I to go? There's still a risk for him."
"Go? Oh, how silly of me. Liesel, I am giving the house to you and Max. Who else would I rather leave it to? You have both been so kind to me and have been through so much, you deserve a home of your own."
Liesel's eyes bulged in bewilderment. She looked up to the house and back to Ilsa, her mouth opened and shut again as she was lost for words.
"And there's no need to worry about my husband. He has no claim on it and he'll never come back here, not now that he's a wanted man."
"You're giving us this entire house? But what about money aren't you going to sell it?"
"Of course not. I have enough money to live on and Sarah has a house ready for me. It's a quaint cottage in the country it is perfect for me and the children."
Liesel nodded as she took in the reality of the new situation. This glorious house would be all for Max and her. It's more than anything they had and anything they could have ever dreamt of.
"Are you sure about this?"
Isla nodded with a forced smile, holding back her own tears.
"I need a fresh start and so do the two of you. This house and land is for you to start your new lives together. I'll be signing it over to you in the week."
Relieved for their continued safety but struck with a feeling of loss Liesel wrapped her arms around the woman who she owed so much to.
Isla stiffened. She hadn't been hugged in years, her husband especially never showed her any affection, but in response she returned the hug and rested her head on Liesel's shoulder feeling a weight lift off of her.
"Go and tell Max the good news."
She done as she were told and all but skipped over to Max, his vest sweaty and dirt smeared across his forehead. Unconsciously, Liesel bit her lip. This was yet another sight of him she had never seen and she all too enjoyed it.
"You look happy." He pointed out.
"I have amazing news." Max pushed the shovel in the ground and stepped out of the dirt whilst removing his gloves. She took hold of his hand and they proceeded to walk along the grass, Max stole chaste kisses that sent butterflies in her stomach, like always.
"Frau Hermann is to leave for England and she's giving the house to us." Max stopped to look at her baffled. She giggled and brushed some of the dirt from his face, waiting for him to say something.
"She's leaving for good? Why?"
"Yes. She has a friend who needs help with orphaned children, she feels it's the right time for a fresh start." He shook his head searching for the right words to say. "And Max, this place will be just for us. No one else, no one to interfere or to hide from. Our home."
He was silent for a while before a smile broke out on his face and he lunged forward so their lips crashed together. He kissed her all over her face until she was laughing loud and eventually had dirt on her too.
"I'm guessing you're happy?" He held her tight, her hands were placed on his chest feeling his heart beating under her palm.
"I'll be sad to see her leave of course, she saved us. But having this house as our own? We finally have a future secured. I quite enjoy the thought of spending our lives here."
Her stomach flipped as he talked about their future. They both wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of their lives together without having to look over their shoulder.
"I love you." His whisper grazed over her lips.
"And I love you. Covered in dirt and all." Childishly he leant his head on hers and smeared the remaining dirt on to her, holding her tighter as she tried to wriggle herself free.
The next two weeks went by quickly. Max had finished a beautiful bed of flowers that bordered the vast gardens and Isla thanked him for his hard work. She had him take her picture before them and one with the three of them so she could take them with her, never wanting to forget them.
Her only belongings that she packed was her clothes and a selected number of items. Everything else was to be left behind as simply memories of her old life.
Liesel cooked dinner for them and even asked the maid to join for she was also leaving. She baked a basket of muffins for them to take on their journeys and packed them ready for the morning, leaving a small thank you note inside. Before bed they all said goodbye as Isla didn't want any fuss in the morning. It was emotional, especially for Liesel. She had lost three parents in her life and had never thought to be privileged enough to have someone like Isla.
"Will you write and tell me all about England? And the children?"
"Absolutely, I'll send some chocolate too. Goodbye sweet Liesel." She wrote her new address down and left for bed. It was to be the last time there would be a parental figure in Liesel's life and she couldn't help but shed a tear that night, thankful that Max was there to hold her and rock her to sleep.
In the morning the house was quiet. Isla and the maid left at first light for the first train of the day. Liesel and Max waved to them from a window in a front bedroom, watching them drive down the road leaving a faint dust cloud behind them.
The rest of the day they lay in the grass as they had done a few weeks ago, soaking up the seclusion they finally had. It was a peculiar feeling of there being no one around for miles when not too long ago they were desperately dodging the slightest sounds of footsteps outside the basement.
That night Liesel sat on the bed in her nightgown looking around the room. The curtains were pulled tightly and the lamps were dimmed, they were still so scared of there being bombs even way out here in the country.
"Are you alright?" Max leant over and placed a soft kiss on her bare shoulder. He pulled her to lie down and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close to him. He kissed her cheek, lingering for a few seconds.
"Yes. It's just really quiet and empty. It's just us in this big house now, I can't help but feel a little strange."
"I agree. But we'll get used to it. We can move in to the main bedroom if you like, it's bigger and has a better view."
"I would love that." She smiled lightly as she adored his big brown eyes that filled her heart and brushed back the feathery hair that draped over his brows. His lips parted when he felt her hand travel to the top of his belly as she stole a deep kiss.
His breathy sigh warmed her lips and she eagerly pressed for another, feeling his tongue sweep along her bottom lip before finding hers, his teeth tickling her lips. She grabbed his vest and pulled it up to his neck where he helped pull it off, exposing his bare chest to her. Their heart beats were racing but he didn't try to stop her now, they were both ready.
Her hand explored his chest sending rushes through his body as she clawed at his back to rid any space between them. He returned the touch by sweeping her leg with his fingertips and the shock of it made her bite his lip with eagerness. Max continued grazing his hand up her thigh until he met the cotton of her gown, pulling it up as his hand travelled along her body.
Her breathing hitched when his mouth moved to her neck then lifted her gown over her head until she was completely bare under him, skin to skin for the first time.
Their eyes locked, silently telling each other to go ahead with their next move. Their mouths met passionately again, skin burning against skin as he pushed her hands back to the pillow over her head and her legs pushed his pants down in one movement.
They were together at last and it was a greater feeling than either of them could have imagined, as if they had found each other after a life time of being apart.
Their plans to move bedrooms were out of the window the following morning as they stayed in bed for most of the day.
Tangled sheets and limbs with lazy giggles and sweet kisses took up their time as the sun rose and peaked in the blue sky. It was only when Liesel's stomach growled that they made an effort to get up and go eat.
She threw on Max's shirt and bolted out the door in to the hallway. Max just had time to hop in to his slacks as she chased after her. Her laughing echoed the halls and he eventually caught her when they reached the foyer, clutching her by the waist and carrying her bridal style to the kitchen.
"What would Madame like for breakfast?" He placed her down on the table and she swung her legs, biting her lip as she watched him pour two glasses of orange juice.
"It's a bit late for breakfast. But how about pancakes and strawberries?"
"Coming right up for the beautiful lady with the golden locks of sunshine." He sung to her flirtingly.
Immediately he got to work with mixing the ingredients and flipping the pancakes on to plate. All the while they ate, Liesel couldn't take her eyes off his torso. She wanted to hurry through their late breakfast and go back to bed, they had nothing else to do after all. Max of course saw her ogling and as soon as she finished her last pancake he swooped her off her feet and carried her back to their room where they remained like the young couple in love they were.
"I want to try champagne tomorrow." Liesel lay with her head on Max's chest as he drew soft patterns on her collarbone. It had been one week since they had the house to themselves and were finally moved in to the biggest bedroom.
Liesel decorated it with bright colours, taking furniture and curtains from different rooms in the house. She wanted it to be the happiest room seeing as lately it was where they spent all their time. She blushed with a slight grin on her face, nuzzling back in to Max's warm body as she remembered how he woke her up this morning with a shower of warm kisses on her body.
"Is there any here?" He asked her.
"Yes, there's two bottles in the pantry. Frau Hermann kept them for whenever the war would end."
Max sighed. His hope of the war ending was slowly fading. Each day he would listen to the evening news imagining that the reporter would declare the death of Adolf Hitler.
"It will be soon, Max. I know it will." He kissed her head in acknowledgement but not truly believing her.
"Tomorrow we will have champagne. Whatever the day brings us."
"Yes." She turned over to face him, her hair falling in front of her face but he swept it back to see her luscious blue eyes gaze back to him.
"And we'll have a picnic on the lawn where you'll read poetry to me. I've missed you reading to me."
"I haven't done it for a while, have I?" He tapped her nose with his finger and joked at her. "Maybe if someone wasn't keeping me up here all the time we could get back to our reading."
"Hey." She mockingly slapped his hand away. "That's it. We're up early tomorrow and doing chores. This house is too big to forget to clean." She thought there must have been a good layer of dust on all the furniture by now.
"Of course. But for now, how about we continue where we left things earlier?" His hand found the back of her head and pulled her smiling plump lips to land on his and they moved together in perfect harmony in to what would be the last night of World War II.