The Distance: Between Worlds, #2

By Lori Wolf-Heffner

How can family rifts be healed when problems from the past keeps pulling them apart?

Moving to Kitchener hasn't been an easy transition for Juliana. So, when Juliana's first dance practice at her new studio goes horribly wrong and her dad dismisses her feelings, Juliana snaps, unleashing years of resentment over his job as a truck driver. With no one to talk to, Juliana turns to the only thing that has given her comfort in Kitchener: her great-grandmother's sketchbook.

Elisabeth needs her father now more than ever: a wedding on his side of the family means she must spend time with his hateful family members without him there to protect her. But his cousin Georg is different. Not haughty like the others, he suffers from frightening nightmares from the war. Everyone fears Georg, but the more Elisabeth gets to know him, the more she believes Georg's fits are not what others claim them to be.

As Juliana and Elisabeth struggle with the conflicts in their families, they come closer to understanding the long-held pain that caused them. With a little empathy and understanding, could both girls find a way to close the distance between them and their family members before their pain becomes a permanent scar on their relationships?

The Distance is the second book in Lori Wolf-Heffner's contemporary/historical series, Between Worlds. If you love history, the arts, and family ties, pick up a copy of The Distance and enjoy a story that spans generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head in the Ground Publishing
• Release date: Nov 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9780995090651

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

R emember that time we put on fake tattoos and took fashion photos? Juliana asked.

Rachel’s face, spread out on the screen of Juliana’s laptop, lit up in a smile. It was a thing best friends would always remember. Even if they lived in different cities now. Our parents were not happy about that!

Juliana smiled, too, but then her cheeks turned red. I’m just glad the tattoos washed off. I honestly didn’t realize that one was a cross. I thought it was a ’t’ and I wanted something for ‘tap.’ I don’t know why they don’t make tap tattoos.

You and me both, Rachel agreed.

Juliana had forgotten about the whole mess until she began reorganizing her photos just before Rachel called from Calgary. She remembered the awkwardness of the lecture from both of their parents. The girls had thought tattoos would be cool and had wet them and put them on their wrists. The pictures they’d taken weren’t for any particular purpose; they had just wanted to have some fun. But their parents had panicked, thinking the tattoos were permanent.

I miss having you around, Rachel said.

I miss you, too, Juliana replied.

It had only been a week since Juliana and her parents had driven halfway across the country to move in with and look after Juliana’s grandfather, who was in the early stages of dementia. Only a week since she had had friends to laugh or be embarrassed with: all her dance and school friends were back in Calgary. Although she had no family there—Dad didn’t have any at all, and Mom’s was here in Kitchener—Calgary was still her home.

Show me your room, Rachel said.

Juliana rolled her eyes at the idea of carrying her laptop around her tiny bedroom.

No, really, Rachel insisted. I can’t be there in person, so give me the tour.

Juliana unplugged her laptop and lifted it up. This is my bed, Juliana said, pointing the camera toward her single bed, tucked against the wall, with her duvet smoothed out and pillow set properly on top.

Beautifully made, of course, Rachel said. Here’s mine.

Juliana saw a pile of blankets at the foot of Rachel’s bed threatening to teeter over at any moment. I wouldn’t expect any less! she said. And these are my bookshelves—

Let me guess: organized alphabetically by author?

Aha! Juliana said, playfully pointing a finger at her best friend as though she’d caught her in a trap. Nope! By title. I thought I’d try something different.

Well, Ms. Roth, I’m very impressed, Rachel replied. You may be thousands of kilometres away, but you’re still as organized as ever. I mean, the moving truck just came yesterday! Oh wait! Stop right there!

Juliana’s laptop faced an empty wall. What?

That wallpaper is to die for!

The girls broke out in a simultaneous giggle. Juliana knew exactly what Rachel meant: the wallpaper had an awful floral design on a cream background, and the pattern was separated by wide stripes of deep green velvet. Or so it felt, anyway: it was fuzzy.

Juliana set the laptop back down on her desk. Oh! she said. There’s one thing I haven’t shown you yet. She stepped away from her desk, opened up her nightstand drawer, and carefully pulled out her great-grandmother’s book of drawings. I’ve told you about it, but you haven’t seen it. Juliana opened the book to the first page—its old spine complaining at being disturbed—and held up the drawing of her great-grandmother’s kitchen.

Wow…that’s not your work is it?

Juliana feigned indignation. How long have we known each other? She lowered the book so Rachel could see her again and then smiled. No. This is that book of drawings I told you about. This is the kitchen my great-grandmother grew up in. The floor was made of dirt and chaff—that’s the stalk from wheat—and they had no phone. It really looks like they lived in a Third World country, but it was Europe.

Europe? I thought Europe was rich? Isn’t it super expensive to go there? That’s why all the famous people live there.

Juliana shrugged.

What else is in there? Rachel asked.

Tons. Take a look.

Juliana held up the book and slowly turned the next pages: a pair of mittens, a party of some sort, and a drawing of an envelope. Then she lowered the book again.

There are tons of these drawings in here.

And you found it in a box in the basement?

Mmm. And this really old set of encyclopedias. All on Christmas Eve. An otherwise totally embarrassing night for me.

Juliana heard the hallway floor outside her room creak as slow steps made their way along. Opa didn’t knock like her parents did, but the rhythm of his walk had the same effect. He entered her room.

Hi, Opa, Juliana said. I’m talking to my best friend, Rachel.

Opa paused for a moment, as though he was trying to think, and then his eyes opened wide. In Calgary?

Yeah! She leaned out of the way so Opa could see the screen.

"Na, so was!" he said in German. Juliana didn’t understand the words, but his body language showed his amazement.

Rachel, this is my grandfather.

Hello! Rachel smiled and waved.

Opa smiled in return. He brushed his hand over his bald head. I’m not as attractive as I once was, he said with a sheepish grin.

They laughed.

I’m showing Rachel your mom’s book of drawings.

The book was still open to the drawing of a party: a woman in a simple but formal dress was surrounded by other women in similar dresses, all reaching out to hold a bonnet.

I haven’t seen a wedding ceremony like that in many, many years! Opa said.

That’s a wedding? Juliana asked.

Opa nodded. "The bride is getting her haube."

Her what?

Opa opened his mouth wide and enunciated the word. "Hau-be."

Juliana followed his lips’ movements. How-ba?

Opa nodded.

Although now satisfied that she could say it, Juliana had no idea what the word meant.

Opa pointed to the bonnet. "That’s a haube. It’s what every girl wanted when she grew up. Once the wedding ceremony was over, others at the wedding sang a song and put it on her head. It meant she was married and now a woman. She’d then wear it in the home or under her headscarf outside the home."

On the other side of the screen, Rachel’s eyes got wide. She wasn’t a woman until she was married?

Opa nodded. That’s how it was back then.

What did boys do to show they were finally men? Rachel asked.

Opa paused and then shrugged. I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.

Juliana studied the drawing more closely. Her great-grandmother had drawn the scene in a way that she could show the back of the bonnet: it was white and looked like it fit close to the head. Juliana fingered her brown hair, having a hard time imagining tying it up under a bonnet. She loved styling it, sometimes braiding it, other times curling it. She especially loved the elegance straightening her hair gave her.

Opa turned the page back to the image of the mittens: the mittens were worn by one pair of hands with another pair of hands pulling at them.

Ah, that reminds me, he said. We had fresh snow this morning. I should check the basement. Maybe I need to switch the blankets.

At Rachel’s confused look, Juliana explained. There’s a crack in the foundation, and with the warmer winters here, water sometimes leaks in. So he’s got blankets on the floor there just in case.

I called Annie and told her not to come shovel today, he said.

That’s my aunt, Juliana explained. They live literally around the corner and she always comes here with one or two of my cousins to shovel Opa’s driveway and sidewalk.

That’s so cool, Rachel said. My family lives all over Calgary, so it’s hard to get together that much.

I’m very lucky like that, Opa said. He patted Juliana on the head. And now that Yulika has moved here, my life couldn’t be better. Without saying another word, he turned around and left the room.

‘Yulika’? Oh my god, Juliana! Your grandfather’s so cute! Especially with his accent! My family’s been here for so long, we don’t have anything cool like an accent.

Juliana nodded. I know. He’s the only grandparent I have, and I’m just getting to know him now. It’s sad but also good.

But your aunt couldn’t look after your grandfather? I mean, if they live just around the corner...

She’s also got six kids, and even though two are already in their twenties, she’s still too busy. I think with us moving in, Mom and her sister and brother don’t have to worry as much about Opa, because now there’s always someone to help him.

Rachel’s face became dead serious. I guess that makes sense. I still have all my grandparents. If I had only one, I’d probably take extra care of them, too.

Dad never talks about his family, and I’m only starting to get to know Mom’s. It’s a lot different when you meet them in person.

You start dance soon, right? Rachel asked, switching to a different topic.

Juliana’s face lit up. Tomorrow, actually! I can hardly wait.

Just remember who your best friend is.

Juliana’s heart almost broke. Rachel, how could you think that? You’ll always be my best friend, even when we’re half a country apart!

She looked at the screen. Even though they had talked this way forever, it was different when it was the only way they could see each other. In order to look each other in the eyes, they had to look at their screens, which meant they weren’t looking each other in the eyes. It felt odd and made Rachel feel farther away or like Juliana was watching Rachel talk to someone else.

Listen, Rachel, I should probably get going. Opa might need some help, especially if those blankets are wet.

Best friends forever?

Absolutely. Best friends forever.

I know your dance practice tomorrow will be stellar.

You think so?

I’ve got a really good feeling about it.

CHAPTER TWO

Elisabeth wiped her hands on her apron. It was Sunday, January 11, 1920, in Semlak, Romania, the second Sunday of the new decade. Sadly the new decade was not beginning in peace: Romania was still at war with Hungary. However, as Elisabeth knew, it would be the year that would complete Semlak’s transition from being part of Hungary to Romania, as had been officially announced by Romania’s king just after Christmas.

Elisabeth didn’t have time to think about the bigger world: in the weeks after her father’s move