After several weeks in the hospital, Mrs. Klein was sent home to finish recuperating there, and Jo accompanied her. She cleaned house, cooked, cleaned, did laundry, and spent hours in Bible study with Mrs. Klein and Dieter, who still visited almost every day. In her previous life in Concord, she'd never given the Bible much thought, and now, she was pleasantly surprised to find herself deeply immersed in engaging conversations about different passages and their application to life in the 1940's.

One Sunday afternoon, Dieter invited them both to his sister's home.

"My nephew Oskar is about to go off to war, and we are giving him a farewell party," he explained.

The drive to Pankow took about half an hour. Dieter's sister's home was about the same size as Mrs. Klein's. A large chestnut tree was in the front yard, which was dotted with blueberry shrubs. A winding path leading to the front door was lined with beautiful yellow and white Narcissus flowers.

Dieter rang the doorbell, and several seconds later, an attractive middle-aged woman with gray eyes and long, wavy, salt-and-pepper hair appeared.

"Greetings, Ulricka." Dieter hugged her and kissed her cheek. "You know my dear friend, Rita Klein, and this is her granddaughter, Martina Weber."

"I'm pleased to meet you." Ulricka smiled and shook Jo's hand. "Please come inside. The party's just getting started."

Inside the house was a large table with a white tablecloth. It was laden with all kinds of delicious pastries. In the living room, Willi Stanke was playing on the Victrola. About twenty people stood in small groups, chatting. Dieter led Jo to a man of about his age.

"I would like you to meet my best friend, Werner Bohmke," he told her. "Werner, this is Martina Weber."

"How do you do." Werner shook Jo's hand. "I'm so glad to finally meet you. Dieter has told me so much about you."

"Good things, I hope," said Jo.

"Nothing but!" Both men laughed.

Next Dieter led Jo to an elderly couple. "My parents, Paul and Julia Baumgartner. The young woman I told you about, Martina Weber."

"Ah, yes. Of course." Paul smiled as he gave Jo a firm handshake.

"Hello, dear." Julia enfolded her in a maternal hug. They seem such nice people, thought Jo. No wonder Dieter turned out like he did.

The introductions proceeded. "Ulricka's husband, Rudi, her son, Oskar, and her daughter, Sybille." Sybille was pretty, with dark hair and brown eyes. She looked to be about Jo's age.

"When do you have to leave?" Jo asked Oskar.

"Tomorrow morning."

"Are they sending you to Stalingrad?"

He nodded.

"My brother's already there," said Jo.

"Uncle Dieter told us of the loss of your father," said Sybille. "We're very sorry."

"Thank you," said Jo. She chose a pastry from the assortment on the table and began to nibble on it.

A waltz began to play. "Can I have this dance?" Dieter asked Jo.

Jo smiled. "Of course!"

As he took her hand and led her onto the floor, she was charmed but, at the same time, she felt a distinct sense of guilt. What about Fritz? What would he think if he knew she was dancing with this - stranger - from another time?

And yet, Dieter wasn't a stranger at all, she realized. In the time she'd spent with him, she'd gotten to know him at least as well as she knew Fritz. In the turmoil which was her new life, she'd come to see him as her main source of stability and comfort, and the bond she shared with him seemed to grow stronger with time.

As they danced, a peace settled over Jo, and she suddenly knew that, although she couldn't understand it, right here with Dieter was exactly where she was meant to be.

She glanced over his shoulder to see Sybille waltzing with Werner. Must be a thing with this family, she surmised. She wondered if Paul was significantly older than Julia. To her, they'd looked close in age.

Sybille winked at her, and she gave a self-conscious smile as she felt her face burn.

When the dance was over, Rudi made an announcement. "Today, we are gathered together to bid my son farewell as he marches off to an unknown fate in a distant land. We pray the Lord's blessing and protection over him and his fellow soldiers. As we all know, sometimes we must fight for a cause we don't believe in. Duty to the Fatherland must always come first."

Later, Sybille grabbed Jo by the arm and pulled her into an empty room.

"You like him, don't you?"

"Dieter?"

Sybille rolled her eyes and giggled. "Of course, Uncle Dieter! Who else would I mean? Well, I can tell you he likes you at least as much as you like him, if not more. You're all he can talk about these days."

"And you like Werner."

Sybille blushed and looked down. A slow smile spread across her face. Then she leaned close to Jo and whispered in her ear.

"You mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone, but there's a plan to remove the Fuhrer from power and make a peace agreement with the Allies. Werner told me about it. He, Uncle Dieter, and Papa are all a part of it. Others are involved as well. I'm not sure who all of them are, or any of the details, but I thought you should know."

With all her heart, Jo wished she'd paid better attention in history class. She did know Hitler had survived until nearly the end of the war and then taken his own life. Was this what she'd been sent back in time for, then? Would she become part of the pot to overthrow Hitler? If so, would it be successful? How much would that, in turn, change the whole course of history?

She couldn't wait to find out!

"You look like you're a million miles away," Dieter remarked as he drove her back to her grandmother's house later.

She looked at him closely. Could she dare to share her secret with him?

Of course not; he'd think she was crazy!

"I was just thinking." She gazed out the window at the houses, trees, and people whizzing past.

"Yes?"

"I know it's a sin to wish harm on anyone, but - it would certainly be - convenient - if the Fuhrer were to get into an accident, or have a heart attack, or something."

"Sh!" Dieter looked at her in alarm. "You must never let anyone hear you talk like that - it's considered treason and is a capital crime!" He sighed, then continued in a calmer voice. "I understand how you feel, however. A lot of people share the same sentiments." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Myself, for one."