By the next day, Saturday morning, Anna had put the incident at the back of her mind. While the family was eating breakfast, her father made an announcement.

"Since today is Valentine's Day, your mother and I are going with Mr. and Mrs. Brimmer to The Oak for dinner, and a new babysitter, Miss Finch, will be coming to stay with you. I know you will both be on your best behavior."

The Oak was a new restaurant which had just opened up in town. Anna had never been inside it but had heard about how nice it reportedly was.

"Why can't we go with you?" she wanted to know.

"Well, Valentine's Day is a special time when Daddies and Mommies like to spend time together by themselves. I promise, we'll take you and Simon along next time we go."

Disappointed, Anna finished her breakfast and went outside to play with Simon and Marshmallow. She pushed Simon on the swing for awhile, and then they played on the slide. They were still doing that when Patty called them inside to eat their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then it was time for Simon's nap, and Anna took a nap too, just to keep him company.

It was almost dusk when Anton and Patty got dressed up in their nicest clothes. Anna saw that her mother was wearing the red dress she'd received for Christmas.

First to arrive was a slightly plump woman with dark hair. She looked only a little older than Patty, but there were tiny wrinkles around her eyes. She wore glasses and had on a navy blue dress.

"Miss Finch! It was so good of you to offer to watch the children for us," said Patty as she let the other woman in.

Miss Finch smiled but didn't say anything.

"This is our daughter Anna and our son Simon," Patty continued.

"It's so nice to meet you both," Miss Finch said to the children.

Five minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Brimmer arrived, and Anna's parents kissed her and Simon goodbye and then departed with their friends.

Later, Miss Finch was sitting in an easy chair doing needlepoint and Anna and Simon were watching television when a commercial came on.

"Where did Mommy find you?" Anna asked Miss Finch. "Usually either Mrs. Brimmer or Aunt Sarah babysits us."

"The babysitting agency," Miss Finch replied. "Most people who have someone to love them are out celebrating tonight." She sighed, and her face seemed to collapse. "I had someone to love me, once."

"But you don't anymore?" Marshmallow lumbered over to the sofa, and Anna patted his head. "What happened?"

Miss Finch set her needlework down, and her eyes got a dreamy, far-away look.

"His name was Harold. Harold Gates. He was my high school sweetheart. We were going to get married, but then he got his draft notice. He had to go away to fight. They sent him to Normandy."

"What's Normandy?" asked Anna.

"A beach in France," said Miss Finch. Her eyes grew moist, and she had to dab them with a handkerchief. Anna saw that even Simon had stopped his play and was listening intently.

"A few weeks later, I received a telegram edged in black. He'd been killed in Germany."

Anna felt her stomach clench. She knew her father had fought in the same war - and on the wrong side. How would Miss Finch feel if she knew that?

"I'm real sorry Harold got killed," she said.

"Thank you, sweetheart," said Miss Finch. "Even though it's been more than ten years, I still miss him very much." She picked her needlepoint back up and started working on it again.

"Maybe you'll find another man to love you someday," Anna suggested.

"Perhaps." Miss Finch sighed. "But the chances get slimmer and slimmer every year."

Anna felt very sad. She wished she could do something to make Miss Finch feel better. She thought of the music box Opa and Oma had sent her for Christmas.

"Would you like to hear some pretty music?" she asked.

Miss Finch smiled.

Anna fetched the music box and wound it up.

"It plays a song called 'Edelweiss'," she told Miss Finch. "I don't know what that means."

The tinkly tune began to play. Miss Finch's smile disappeared, and she grew very quiet.

Simon's bedtime arrived, and an hour later, Anna's. Miss Finch helped the children with their baths and their pajamas and then read them bedtime stories.

Anna was a little disappointed that her parents hadn't been there to kiss her goodnight. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered how their dinner at The Oak had gone.

When she woke up Sunday morning, Anton and Patty were there. Patty had prepared a huge breakfast of sausages and pancakes.

"How did things go with Miss Finch last night?" she asked Anna.

"They went fine," Anna replied. "She told me something very sad. She was in love with a man named Harold, and they were supposed to get married, but then he got killed in the war."

Her parents exchanged glances.

"That is very sad," Patty agreed.

Anna thought of something.

"Daddy, what does 'Edelweiss' mean?"

"It is a little white flower which grows in Austria," Anton told her.

"Austria is close to Germany, right?"

"Yes, it is right beside Germany."

"I played my music box for Miss Finch to make her feel better last night, but I don't know if it worked," said Anna.

Anton kissed her on the forehead.

"You are a darling little girl, Anna. You are always trying to help people. That is what matters."