Jim Bob entered the house accompanied by an attractive blue-eyed blonde who looked slightly familiar to John and Olivia.

"Mama, Daddy, this is my new wife, Hannah," he announced.

"Hello, and welcome to our home." John shook Hannah's hand.

Hannah smiled. "Thank you."

"You're Anton's sister, aren't you?" asked Olivia.

Hannah nodded. "I visited this town with my parents shortly after Anna was born."

"And she's a big girl now!" said Olivia. "Well, welcome to the family. How was your journey over?"

"It was all right," said Hannah.

"We went second class this time, so the accommodations were nicer," Jim Bob added. "The Reikers gave us the money to do that as a wedding present."

"When did you get married?" John wanted to know.

"Three weeks ago today," said Jim Bob. "We took a few days for Hannah to say goodbye to her family and friends before we sailed out."

"I understand," said Olivia. "Saying goodbye is important. Well, I was just about to get started on supper. You two are welcome to join us, if you like."

"I would be happy to help you prepare the meal," Hannah offered.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd roll the biscuits," said Olivia. Hannah quickly washed up and got started on the biscuits.

By the time dinner was over, it was too late to visit anyone else, so after breakfast the next morning, Jim Bob and Hannah paid a visit to Patty and Anna. Patty greeted her sister-in-law with a warm hug.

"You just missed Anton," she said. "He left for the hospital a few minutes ago. He'll be home this evening, around five thirty or six."

"I would still like to visit with you and Anna, if that is all right," said Hannah.

"Of course it is!" said Patty. Anna sat in her play pen, playing with one of her toys. Patty picked her up.

"Come see your Aunt Hannah and Uncle Jim Bob," she told her daughter.

Hannah reached for the little girl and took her into her arms.

"You are so precious! And so much bigger than the last time I saw you," she remarked.

Anna grinned, showing off her new front teeth.

Hannah and Jim Bob talked with Patty and played with Anna for a couple of hours, then went to visit Elizabeth. Max and Laura were playing in their plastic pool in the front yard when their visitors arrived.

Elizabeth went to her older brother and embraced him.

"This is my new wife, Hannah," he told her.

"Hi! Welcome to the family." Elizabeth embraced Hannah, too. "Children, come meet your new Aunt Hannah," she said to Max and Laura.

Max and Laura got out of the pool and walked over to where the adults stood.

"When did you get married, Uncle Jim Bob?" asked Max.

"Three weeks ago, in Germany," Jim Bob told him.

"I am from Gottingen," Hannah explained.

Max scrunched up his face. "Gottin - what?"

Hannah smiled. "Gottingen. It is in northwest Germany."

"Oh. My Daddy used to live in Germany. He told me so one time."

"Wanna see me swim?" asked Laura. She ran back to the plastic pool and climbed in. Then she lay on her belly and moved her arms and legs as if she were swimming.

"You are a very good swimmer, little girl," said Hannah.

"Her name's Laura," Max told his new aunt.

Jim Bob and Hannah visited with Elizabeth and her children for a couple of hours, and then Jim Bob took his wife to their new home for the very first time. It was a small two-bedroom frame house. It was painted white and had two porches, one in front and one on the side next to the driveway.

"I know it isn't much, but I worked hard for many months to get it just right," said Jim Bob.

"It is perfect!" Hannah gave him a big hug and kissed his lips.

Later, they returned to Anton and Patty's home. Anton had only been home from the hospital about five minutes when they arrived.

"Hannah! What a lovely surprise!" Brother and sister embraced while Patty set two extra places at the table.

"We came by earlier, but you were at work," Hannah told Anton.

"If I had known you were coming, I would have stayed home today," Anton replied.

"That is all right," said Hannah. "We are together now, and that is all that matters."

"It would have been nice to have had a whole day to spend together," Anton pointed out.

"We will have many days to spend together from now on," Hannah replied.

What about me?" asked Jim Bob. "I'm her husband!"

Hannah laughed and gave him a hug. "Of course you will be included!"