Maria was thrilled, but nervous, as she stood beside Philip, waiting for the ceremony to begin. The wedding was being held in Audubon Park, and was being performed by a notary named Tamzin Wolsey. They stood beneath the limbs of a huge oak tree beside a lake. Philip was handsome in his black suit, and Maria was beautiful in her white dress.

"This was the dress I married your father in," Catalina had said as she'd helped her daughter get dressed. "I hope you have a long, happy marriage."

"Thanks, Mom," Maria had replied.

Now she took slow, deep breaths as she gazed at the beauty surrounding her. A butterfly landed on her shoulder for just a second, then flitted away. A gentle breeze lifted Tamzin's flaxen hair as she began to speak, her gray eyes gazing seriously ahead.

"We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," she said.

Philip and Maria had written their own vows.

"When I first met you, I knew right away you were special," Philip said to Maria. "As I got to know you better, I found myself falling more and more deeply in love with you, until I finally realized I can't live without you. I love you so much, Maria, and I can't wait to start our new life together."

"Before I met you, I didn't know what love was," said Maria. "You've always been so kind and patient with me, shown me so many new things, and let me into your world. I love you, Philip Neuburg, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," said Tamzin. "You may kiss the bride."

Philip raised Maria's veil and kissed her lips. Afterwards, there was a reception with cake and punch. Catalina cried as she clung to her daughter.

"It's so hard to see you go!" she cried. "Germany's so far away!"

"There's email and Skype." Suddenly, Maria felt a lump in her throat, one she couldn't quite swallow. "And we'll visit one day."

Standing with Kathy Parr, who held Edward, Henry looked on with approval. He now had a noticeable limp and had to walk with a cane, but other than that, he was pretty much back to his normal self. Edward was almost two and kept struggling to get down.

"Yes, my daughter has done well," Henry said. "I researched the Neuburg family and found they're one of the wealthiest families in Bavaria. Maria will always have the best of everything." He smiled. "I could give you the best of everything as well, dear Kathy, if only you'd let me."

Kathy giggled. "That does sound hard to resist!"

After the reception came the ride to the airport. Philip turned the rental car in, and he and Maria boarded the airplane.

After they were seated, Philip clasped Maria's cold hand in his own warm one.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I guess so." Maria's voice sounded small. "I hope your parents like me."

"Oh, I'm sure they'll love you," Philip assured her. "After you talked on Skype, my mother emailed me and said that not only are you beautiful, but you sound so mature she couldn't believe you're only twenty."

Maria sighed with relief. "I feel so much better now!"

Anne stared at the double lines on the home pregnancy test, unsure whether to feel happy or scared. She'd missed a period several weeks ago, and when the symptoms had began to appear, she'd summoned her courage and bought the test.

Louis was in the living room, moping. Reese had flown back to her mother several days before, and he was depressed, just like he always was right after she left. Anne hadn't told him about the test yet, and she wasn't really sure how to do so.

She remembered Henry's joy at the announcement of her first pregnancy. He'd painted the nursery baby blue right away and started buying infant-sized baseball uniforms, everything in blue and red.

"But what if it's a girl?" Anne had asked.

"Impossible!" he'd laughed.

Several weeks later, the bleeding and cramping had started, and she'd known her dreams had been shattered.

Now she asked herself when she should tell Louis. Should I wait until I'm further along? she wondered. No, she decided at last. We're in this together, him and me.

She walked into the living room to find him watching a documentary about the American Revolution on Netflix. He glanced up as she entered, and she sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and her hand on his inner thigh.

"Honey?" she said.

"Hm?" he asked, not taking his eyes from the screen.

"I'm pregnant."

"What?" He turned to face her with wide eyes. "Really? Are you sure?"

Anne nodded. "I bought the test yesterday and just now took it. I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you to be disappointed, in case it turned out I wasn't."

"Hon, that's great!" He grinned as he hugged her close. "I'm so happy! See, I told you it would happen!"

"I'm scared, Lou." She rested her head on his shoulder, nuzzling her face into his chest. "What if I lose this one, too?"

"You're not going to lose it, sweetheart." He patted her back reassuringly. "Just take good care of yourself and see the doctor as soon as you can."

"I'm calling for an appointment tomorrow."

He kissed her forehead. "Good girl."

Maria's heart began to hammer in excitement as the airplane landed at the airport in Augsburg. Philip gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. His older brother, Otto, was there to meet them.

"This is your new sister-in-law, Maria," Philip told him.

"It's very nice to meet you." Otto smiled as he shook Maria's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, too," she told him.

"How was your flight?" he asked.

"Fine, thanks." She and Philip went to gather their luggage, then followed Otto outside to his car.