Recap: Miri and Katie confide in Sabrina, and she has a hard time believing that they are from another time period, but she suggests they go see a wise rav in Toledo. She tells them to ask Mr. Sanchez how to get an appointment.

The next morning, Mrs. Dolar called us into the living room.

“There’s extra laundry now, and I can’t do it all because I have to go to the palace to do more gown fittings for the prince’s ball. Sabrina, can you show the girls where we wash clothing and collect the clothing from the children? Bring them their meals and play with them. We’re waiting to hear if the parents were rescued from prison.”

I followed Sabrina down to the hidden basement room to help Sabrina collect the laundry. Esther greeted us with a big smile.

“Thank you so much for bringing my siblings.” Ita ran over to us. “Where are Madre and Padre?”

Sabrina smoothed the little girl’s curls. “Mr. Sanchez is helping to bring them to you. Don’t worry. Keep davening and ask Hashem to bring you all to safety.”

Naftali was jumping on one of the beds.

“Thank you for all you’re doing for my family. Can I help you with the wash?” Esther asked.

“It’s okay,” Sabrina said. “You need to stay down here, hidden from view. Just keep the children occupied. Miri will bring you your breakfast.” She turned to Katie. “Can you think of some games the children could play that are quiet?”

“Do you have paper and pens?”

“I’ll bring down some paper, quill pens, and ink.”

“I’ll teach them tic-tac-toe and dots,” Katie said. “I wonder if they know how to play those.”

Ruthy came over and touched my hair, which was pulled back in a ponytail.

“I like your gold hair. You’re pretty,” she said shyly.

“Thank you,” I said. “So are you.”

We left Katie playing with the children, and we headed outside with the laundry. While we were washing the clothing in a large tub in the back courtyard, I gazed around, still amazed how we’d been here hundreds of years later, and now the trees were all missing, even that huge olive tree that had been – or more accurately, would be – in the center.

We washed the clothing and hung everything to dry on the sides of the stone wall that surrounded the courtyard.

Sabrina had to go do some sewing for her mother in the living room, and I went back downstairs. Katie was busy showing the kids how to play tic-tac-toe.

Ruthy ran over to me. “Can you play house with me?” she asked.

“Hey, how do they know English?” I asked.

Ita looked up from the tic-tac-toe game. “Our mother was originally from England. We speak English and Spanish.”

We played the game where I was the mother and Ruthy was the little girl. Then we switched roles. Ruthy climbed into my lap. She asked if she could make me a hairdo. I said okay.

Sabrina brought down lunch. It was cheese and grapes.

Just then, there was a knock, and Mr. Sanchez strode into the room.

“Please pack up the children’s things and some food for the journey. Their parents are already on the boat. We must wait until late tonight so we can take the children secretly to the boat.” He turned to Sabrina. “Your mother has to stay late to work on the gowns. So, Sabrina, you and the other girls will help me bring them.”

“Yes, sir,” Sabrina said.

She turned to me. “Are you okay coming with us? It will be easier to transport them with more help.”

I nodded. “Katie and I will come.”

…

Sabrina handed Katie and me long cloaks.

“It’s not that cold.” I tried to give it back to her.

“No, please wear it. It will help with transporting the children. You’ll see.”

I slipped on the long cloak.

Esther smiled at me. “Thank you for helping. I hope someday I can repay this kindness.”

We all followed Sabrina into the courtyard. She opened a hidden gate, and we slipped out into the night.

An owl hooted. Ruthy clung to me as we trekked toward the carriage. Katie and I were carrying bags of clothing, and Sabrina carried a basket of food.

“How much farther?” Ita asked.

“Shh!” Sabrina touched the little girl’s lips. She bent down and whispered in her ear. “We don’t want the bad people to hear us.”

Ruthy heard her say “bad people,” and she squeezed my hand tighter.

We finally reached the carriage, hidden in a grove of olive trees. Mr. Sanchez was seated in the driver’s seat. He motioned for us to hurry.

I helped Ruthy into the carriage. Esther helped Ita in. Katie helped Naftali.

Mr. Sanchez tapped the horse lightly, and we were off.

The crunch of the wheels echoed in the woods. What if someone heard us?

I felt my heart jump at every sound. The whir of insects and the soft cooing of night animals accompanied us. We reached the harbor.

Mr. Sanchez pulled the carriage up behind some trees.

He opened the carriage door. “No sounds. Give the children these cups of herbs. Now you bring them under your cloaks.”

I walked with Ruthy under the cloak. When we reached the boat, Mr. Sanchez told me to lift her onto it and take her into the hull. Katie brought Naftali under her cloak, and Sabrina had Ita. Mr. Sanchez lifted the basket of food and the bags of clothes onto the boat. Then he stood, speaking to the captain of the boat.

Katie, Esther, and I herded the children down into the hull.

Katie and Sabrina quickly left.

Ruthy clung to me. “Don’t go.”

A lady came over to us. “There, there. Your Madre and Padre are already on a boat heading to Amsterdam. Come, maidele. I’m Nannie. I’ll watch you children on the boat.”

Ruthy turned away and squeezed my leg tighter. “No!”

I tried to pry her off my leg. “Ruthy, I have to go back. Nannie is taking you to your Madre.”

Ruthy wouldn’t budge.

There was a whistle, and the boat started moving.

“I have to get off!”

The boat was pulling away from the harbor, and I was still on it!

 To be continued…

 Susie Garber is the author of 11 popular Jewish books, including her newly released historical fiction novel The Blizzard (Menucha 2026) and recently published novel Captured (Menucha 2025). She is also the current news editor of Binyan Magazine.