Day 18
The church organ was playing familiar Christmas songs when Dietrich and Esther strolled in, along with the rest of Hammelburg's residents. Dietrich looked around at the brilliantly decorated house of worship, distant memories poking at the back of his mind of attending a late-night Christmas Eve church service in Munich with his aunt when he was younger. Fortunately, he and Esther were attending a much earlier service, at four in the afternoon, with dinner reservations at a restaurant just a couple of blocks away set for five, when the service ended. As much as Dietrich enjoyed the company of the Rats, he was glad to have just the company of his wife that night.
He let Esther into their pew of choice first, then sat next to her. "Have I mentioned that you look lovely this evening, my dear?"
"Not yet," Esther said. "Thank you. I… did not put that much effort into my appearance. Well, I almost never do."
"And you do not have to, for you are quite pretty on your own."
Esther took her gloves off. "Are you cold, Hans?"
"I am comfortable." Dietrich looked down at his gloves, and decided not to take them off.
Esther gently took his hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is there something else bothering you?"
"I would not say 'bothering,' but it is on my mind. I was thinking about how Christmas Eve of a few years ago was the first time I ever told you that I love you, and how… I felt complete. I had the love of family, and when you entered my life, I had the love of a woman, one who I swore undying loyalty to, and who swore undying loyalty to me."
"That was a very special Christmas," Esther said. "You looked like you were going to cry when I said that I loved you back."
"I nearly did." Dietrich glanced over at the altar when it looked like the service was about to start. He stayed quiet, deep in thought. Christmas had always been special to him, but there were a number of years where it was a bittersweet occasion. For a few years after the war ended, when his depression was at its worst, he barely acknowledged Christmas, letting it come and go like any other day.
"Are you sure you're alright, Hans?" Esther asked when the rest of the congregation was singing. "You look… sad."
"Just thinking about previous Christmases. That is all." Dietrich glanced at his wife, then intertwined his fingers with hers. "Including some of my less happy ones. Those days are long gone, though, because I have you, Gunther, Troy, Moffitt, Hitch, Tully, Anah, and their families."
Esther smiled up at him. "That is good to hear. I was thinking about how I used to come here by myself every Christmas Eve. This was my place of peace and safety." Her smile faded a little. "Back when we first started getting to know each other, I came here on a Sunday afternoon, after the service was over. Goodness, I remember that day so clearly. It was in the middle of summer, when the garden out in the front of the church was all green and flowering. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The pastor was trimming the candlewicks when I came in, and I told him about you. I wanted his advice, since… I had not had much success in previous relationships. I told him something about you seemed different."
"Did he believe you?"
"He questioned me, asking what it was about you that made me think you were different."
"And did I meet his approval?"
"You did. Granted, he told me to be careful, but he had hope that I finally found the right person." Esther squeezed Dietrich's hand. "And I have."
They became quiet for the rest of the service. Toward the end, though, Dietrich felt Esther resting her head on his shoulder, and rested his head against hers, gazing at the lights and candles adorning the inside of the church. The standard lights had dimmed a little as the congregation stood to leave, giving the Christmas lights a chance to shine brightly. Eventually, Dietrich and Esther were the only ones left, admiring the lights.
Dietrich glanced at his watch. "I think we had best get going soon, if we are going to make it to the restaurant on time," he whispered.
"I know," Esther said. "I wish we could stay here all night."
"So do I." Dietrich looked at his watch again. "I suppose five more minutes would not hurt." He kissed and nuzzled the side of Esther's head. "Merry Christmas, my angel."
