The Medallion Read online

  Praise for The Medallion and other novels by Cathy Gohlke

  The Medallion

  “Cathy Gohlke skillfully weaves true stories of heroism and sacrifice into her novel to create a realistic portrayal of Poland during WWII. The Medallion is a stunning story of impossible choices and the enduring power of faith and love.”

  LYNN AUSTIN, AUTHOR OF Legacy of Mercy

  “The Medallion is a rich story about the deepest of loves, the most impossible of choices, the determination to live and love others in the midst of paralyzing grief. Some stories stick with me for a season, but these characters—and the strength of this beautifully written novel—will cling to my heart for a lifetime.”

  MELANIE DOBSON, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF Hidden Among the Stars

  “Set against a backdrop of our world’s darkest time, Cathy Gohlke’s The Medallion seamlessly weaves heartache with healing. I read the story of these two women valiantly fighting for life in the midst of so much death, and felt myself humbled in the shadow of their strength. With every page, Gohlke reminds us that where there is life, there is hope.”

  ALLISON PITTMAN, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF The Seamstress

  “A master storyteller, Cathy Gohlke has created unforgettable characters in unthinkable circumstances. This story completely undid me, then stitched me back together with hope. A novel that has grabbed my heart—and won’t let go—for what I’m sure will be a very long time.”

  HEIDI CHIAVAROLI, CAROL AWARD–WINNING AUTHOR OF The Hidden Side

  “Cathy Gohlke has done it again! The Medallion is a beautifully written story with a riveting plot, realistic characters, and moving themes of sacrificial love, redemption, and forgiveness. Highly recommended for readers who are willing to stay up late, because they won’t be able to put this book down!”

  CARRIE TURANSKY, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF No Ocean Too Wide and Across the Blue

  “Cathy Gohlke has done it again—woven history with stories of two families that must face the unthinkable. The Medallion is timeless and gripping, taking readers on a journey of bravery and hope.”

  TERRI GILLESPIE, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF Cut It Out and cohost of Proverbs LIVE

  “What a wonderful book, filled with characters I loved and cared about. The Medallion will grip your heart with its message of the sustaining power of faith in the direst of circumstances. Do not miss this book.”

  GAYLE ROPER, AUTHOR OF A Widow’s Journey

  Until We Find Home

  “Gohlke’s powerful historical novel features a suspenseful and heart-wrenching plot and unforgettable characters.”

  LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED REVIEW

  “Gohlke’s latest takes place in England’s lush Lake District during the early days of World War II. Readers will likely smile at appearances from various literary icons, such as Beatrix Potter and C. S. Lewis, among others. The story is well researched and well written.”

  ROMANTIC TIMES

  “Splendid at every turn! Until We Find Home is a lushly penned novel about a courageous young woman whose definition of love—and trust—is challenged in every way. A must for fans of WWII and British front history. Not to be missed!”

  TAMERA ALEXANDER, USA Today bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and A Note Yet Unsung

  “Until We Find Home is a deeply moving war story. . . . Gohlke’s well-developed characters, vivid descriptions, and lush setting details immerse readers into the story. All the way to the very last page, readers will be rooting for the unlikely family forged through the hardships of war.”

  JODY HEDLUND, CHRISTY AWARD–WINNING AUTHOR OF Luther and Katharina

  Secrets She Kept

  “Cathy Gohlke’s Secrets She Kept is a page-turner with great pacing and style. She’s a terrific writer.”

  FRANCINE RIVERS, New York Times bestselling author

  “This well-researched epic depicts life under the Nazi regime with passionate attention. While the Sterling family story serves as a warning about digging into the past, it is also a touching example of the healing power of forgiveness and the rejuvenating power of faith.”

  PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

  “Gohlke takes the reader on a compelling journey, complete with mystery and drama. She weaves in real stories from Ravensbrück, making this drama one that will be difficult to forget. It is well researched, and the multilayered characters demonstrate the power of love and sacrifice.”

  ROMANTIC TIMES, TOP PICK REVIEW

  “Gripping . . . emotional . . . masterfully told, this is an unforgettable tale of finding family, faith, and love.”

  RADIANT LIT

  Saving Amelie

  “Moving . . . At times both emotional and suspenseful, this is a fantastic novel for those who love both historical fiction and human interest stories.”

  ROMANTIC TIMES

  “In this compelling and tense novel, Gohlke tells a haunting story of the courageous few who worked tirelessly and at great risk to themselves to save people they did not know. . . . Reminiscent of Tatiana de Rosnay’s stirring stories of human compassion and hope, this should appeal to fans of both authors as well as to historical fiction readers.”

  LIBRARY JOURNAL

  “Definitely worth the read. Cathy Gohlke is a very talented author, and . . . I recommend Saving Amelie for everyone who likes World War II . . . fiction with inspirational tones.”

  FRESH FICTION

  Also by Cathy Gohlke

  William Henry Is a Fine Name

  I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires

  Promise Me This

  Band of Sisters

  Saving Amelie

  Secrets She Kept

  Until We Find Home

  Visit Tyndale online at www.tyndale.com.

  Visit Cathy Gohlke’s website at www.cathygohlke.com.

  TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

  The Medallion

  Copyright © 2019 by Cathy Gohlke. All rights reserved.

  Cover photograph of girl copyright © Rebecca Nelson/Arcangel Images. All rights reserved.

  Cover photograph of medallion by Thom King. Copyright © Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

  Cover illustration of star of David by corpis delicti from the Noun Project. All rights reserved.

  Interior photograph of necklace copyright © Karen Culp/Adobe Stock. All rights reserved.

  Designed by Eva M. Winters

  Edited by Sarah Mason Rische

  Published in association with the literary agency of Natasha Kern Literary Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 1069, White Salmon, WA 98672.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

  The Medallion is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

  For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Tyndale House Publishers at [email protected], or call 1-800-323-9400.

  ISBN 978-1-4964-2966-7 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-1-4964-2967-4 (softcover)

  ISBN 978-1-4964-2969-8 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-2968-1 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-2970-4 (Apple)

  Build: 2019-05-16 18:07:39 EPUB 3.0

  FOR SOPHIA CHARLOTTE

  Whose name aptly means Wisdom, Feminine, and Free

  You are all these, and Absolute Sunshine to me,

  Precious Granddaughter

  All my love, forever

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Part I Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Fiv
e

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Part II Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Note to Readers

  Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  WITH DEEP GRATITUDE and debt to those whose courageous lives inspired this work:

  Irena Sendler, and all those who worked to save 2,500 Jewish children from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Your determination, great heart, and fortitude amid the most difficult and frightening of circumstances continue to inspire and convict me.

  Itzhak Dugin (Isaac Dogim), for not giving up, even when your heart was broken. Because of you and the men who worked with you to escape the horrors in the Ponary Forest, we know what happened and are better equipped to challenge the world in the hope that history does not repeat itself.

  Dr. Janusz Korczak, for loving children more than your own life, for your determination and sacrifice as you comforted and sustained others, and for showing us that we can all be stronger than we imagine.

  Jan and Antonina Żabiński, for risking all to save the lives of many by hiding them in your zoo. Generations live because you dared to do what you could.

  John Evans (Jan Iwaniczko), for living a life of faith and resilience when the world offered you little hope through WWII and Communism in Poland, and even a family sentence to Siberia. Thank you for sharing your inspiring memoir through your grandson, Matthew Lemanski.

  Thank you to all who have encouraged me to write this story:

  Sandra Lavelle, dear friend, for alerting me to the discovery of the escape tunnel in the Ponary Forest of Lithuania.

  Gloria Delk, dear sister, and all those who sent me links to Irena Sendler’s story. I so appreciate that you share with me real-life accounts that move your hearts.

  Terri Gillespie and Carrie Turansky, dear friends, authors, and writing retreat partners. You are joys in my life. Thank you, Terri, for answering my questions of Jewish life and culture, for providing new insights, and for reading this manuscript. Thank you both for cheering me on from the moment I first shared this story idea with you.

  Natasha Kern, agent extraordinaire, who enthusiastically cheers and blesses me in this writing and life journey. Your insights, love for our Lord, and friendship mean so much.

  Stephanie Broene, Sarah Rische, and Elizabeth Jackson, my amazing and insightful editors at Tyndale, who make all the difference in each and every manuscript; Andrea Garcia, marketing manager and Katie Dodillet, PR manager—both extraordinary in bringing news of my books to the world; Eva Winters, who creates stunning book covers, including this one; and all the proofreaders and Tyndale team who tirelessly and creatively work to bring my books to life and readers.

  My beloved family—husband, daughter, son-in-law, son, granddaughters, mom, sister and brothers, nieces and nephews, and the generations fast on your heels—you are all so supportive and encouraging. I cannot imagine doing life or writing without each of you. Thank you, Dan, my husband, for our trip to France, Germany, and Poland with our daughter, Elisabeth, and son, Daniel. Exploring those lands together has proven inspirational in every way. Thank you, Dan Lounsbury and Randi Eaton, wonderful brother and sister-in-love, for allowing me to take up residence on your porch to write. It’s the perfect spot to “steal away” and create.

  Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn, Virginia, for not minding when I visit my favorite chair for hours to write. Your coffee and cardamom honey cappuccinos keep me going!

  Wilbur Goforth, my uncle, whose words of wisdom changed my life when I was uncertain which career path to take in the second half of my life’s journey. You reminded me that a sure way to know if I’m working in the will of God is to ask, “Do I have joy? Is this yoke easy? Is this burden light?” So—is writing joy to me? Yes! A thousand times, yes!

  Most of all, I thank my heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ for the unmerited gifts of salvation, of relationship and unbounded joy in You, for precious gifts of family and story, and for pressing on my heart things that grieve Your heart and things that bring Your heart joy. My heart breaks and sings in response. I pray my pen brings You glory and that this story brings kinship and encouragement to readers. All praise and honor to You, Father, now, and joy for eternity!

  I know that my Redeemer lives. In Thy presence is fullness of joy!

  Prologue

  THE VIOLIN CRIES SOFTLY from the summer garden, weaving its notes among the gathered guests—a lament of the bride’s passing youth and the leaving of her father’s house.

  Itzhak, his breath groom-tight, watches from the kitchen stoop, waiting for his Rosa. The door opens behind him, and he turns. A gasp escapes. Overcome by her beauty, he whispers, “Do you hear, my Rosa, the singing of the violin for us?”

  Rosa nestles close, and though her veil obscures her features, he can hear her smile. “Itzhak, my love, I hear only the beating of my heart.”

  He lifts her veil in this one private moment, revealing her beautiful face. He wants only to run his finger down her silken cheek, to touch her lips with his own, but steps back and quickly winks before lowering the lace once more.

  “I saw that! Itzhak, don’t make me laugh.”

  “I cannot help it. It’s really you, my beautiful Rosa! Even your papa, who knows I’m not good enough for you—” he makes sure to whisper this—“has not played the trickster like that old Laban.”

  “Hush, now. Don’t say such a thing. Pay attention, Itzhak. Your mama nears.”

  Itzhak presses her hands in hope and promise, then walks ahead to link arms with his father and mother. Heads high, they approach the chuppah. Ducking beneath the fringes of the grandfathers’ prayer shawls, Itzhak’s parents step to his right.

  The violin still sings, but Itzhak cannot focus on its notes. Instead, he turns and watches his Rosa as she links arms with her parents, though he’s not meant to. He cannot breathe as she walks toward him, a white cloud in summer.

  They enter the chuppah, and her parents step to her left, now one family beneath the families’ prayer shawls. Rosa lifts the edge of her skirt from the ground and begins her ritual. For Itzhak’s ears only she whispers, “I circle you seven times, my tall and handsome Jericho. Smile as I do this, but do not dare to laugh. Listen for the cantor.”

  Forcibly, Itzhak swallows his smile. If I laugh, I laugh for joy. You broke down every
defense, each wall and barrier to my heart, long before today, my Rosa. I am a city captive, surrendered to your love. As she finishes her final circle, he reaches for her fingers.

  Together, they face the rabbi, who prompts them in Hebrew, “Ani l’dodi v’dod li.”

  Itzhak repeats the words to his Rosa. “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”

  She responds, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”

  The rabbi encourages, “Itzhak, speak to your bride the words that you’ve chosen.”

  “In the words of King Solomon, ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.’”

  “Now, Rosa,” the rabbi intones, “speak to Itzhak the words of our mother Ruth.”

  Clear and steady, like the deeper, surer strains of the violin, comes Rosa’s vow. “‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.’”

  Itzhak holds her gaze for a moment, his throat too full to speak, then remembers what he is to do next. He takes the ring from his father and slips it on her finger. “I give you this ring, my wife, with no adornment, its symbol eternal. And I give you this medallion, for you and for our children’s children—the best and greatest hope my heart and hands possess.”

  He places his hand on the small of her back and turns his new wife, gently, firmly, as he would in dance. He clasps the slender golden chain around her neck.

  She turns to face him once more, taking the medallion in her hand to examine its intricate and delicate filigree. “The Tree of Life, Itzhak! I vow, my husband, to wear it always.”