When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary

by Alice Hoffman

“I’ve been thinking over your offer,” Anne said. Edith turned from the sink to look at Anne, puzzled. “What offer?” Anne looked straight ahead. She didn’t want to give her emotions away. “Our secret. The necklace.” Edith let the dishes be and stood with her back against the sink. Her younger girl was always a puzzle. “Have you?” “I think it’s more suited for Margot. And I don’t think you should wait until she’s eighteen.” Edith thought of all the times she had been annoyed with Anne for not being serious enough. She now understood that all those times had meant nothing, and this moment meant everything. Oma had always told Edith to look inside her daughter, but Edith had been too busy with daily life and with the threats all around them. Now she looked and she saw who her daughter was. “Are you sure?” she asked Anne. Anne nodded. “Extremely sure. I think you should give it to her now.” Eighteen was a year that might never come. “Why wait,” Edith agreed. That night Anne pretended to be asleep when their mother came into their room. The moon was still bright and the light outside seemed made of silver. Margot sat up in bed when she realized that Edith was there. “Is everything all right?” she whispered to their mother. Edith reached for her older daughter and placed her necklace in the palm of her hand. “A special gift,” she said. “It belonged to Oma, and then to me. Now it’s yours.” Margot threw her arms around her mother. Her face was beaming. “It’s so beautiful.” She had ...