With Mrs. Klein's recovery complete, Jo took the train back home. Mrs. Weber and Renate met her at the station. An exuberant Renate showed her the gold wedding band on her ring finger.

"Congratulations!" said Jo. "Who is he?"

"Thanks. His name is Konrad Weiss," said Renate. "You've met him before; his family used to attend church with us. How's Granny?"

"Fine. She can see a whole lot better now. The only thing she still needs glasses for is reading."

Preparations for the holiday season were soon underway. For Jo, Christmas at the Kirkes last year seemed like a million years ago. This year, there would be no television, no computers, no cell phones. Jo was dying to know how her family was getting on without her. And what about Fritz? Did he think she'd just deserted him? Had he already met someone else?

Was it even fair of her to hope he hadn't, in light of her growing feelings for Dieter? She'd never thought of herself as fickle, and yet, she'd had no way of knowing her twenty-first century life in Concord would suddenly and without warning be exchanged for this one.

As Christmas day grew nearer, Renate's recent marriage was the only bright spot for the family. War rations meant severe restrictions on food and other necessities, the death of Mr. Weber was still a raw, painful wound, and Horst's new life as a POW in the Soviet Union was uncertain. Christmas Day was bleak, cold, and dreary. The three women hovered about the house like restless ghosts, eating their meager portions, exchanging small handmade gifts and forced smiles.

The evening was cheered by an unexpected telephone call.

"Dieter!" Jo was so excited she almost dropped the receiver.

"I couldn't let the day pass without hearing your voice," said Dieter. "I hope you and your loved ones are all well."

"We're all right. Renate married Konrad Weiss before he had to go off to war."

"Give her my congratulations and best wishes. My family and I have enjoyed a delicious meal and a day of heartwarming fellowship. Oskar has written that he is well and that the troops have adequate rations." His voice grew tender. "I know Christmas for you isn't the same without the presence of your dear father. I hope you are comforted by the fact that he is looking down on you from above, and that Christmas for him this year is even more real, as he is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

"I hadn't looked at it quite that way." Jo couldn't remember her father in Concord ever expressing a similar sentiment. He'd always been more focused on life on earth than in the hereafter.

The factory had run out of material and had to close, so Renate and Jo now worked in a hospital, caring for the wounded soldiers. The screams and moans of the injured and dying, and the sight and smell of blood and other bodily fluids, became sickeningly familiar.

One Friday night, Jo had to stay at the hospital many hours after she should have gone home, cleaning blood, vomit, and excrement from a long day of amputations and other gruesome procedures. When she got home, she scrubbed and scrubbed in the bath, feeling like she'd never be clean again. When she at last collapsed into bed, exhausted, it was well past midnight.

The next day, she felt herself being shaken awake. It took her several minutes to remember who, and where, she was.

"Wake up, Martina! You have a visitor!" cried Renate.

"Who is it?" Jo asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Pastor Baumgartner - he just came in by train!"

"Dieter?" All of a sudden, Jo was wide awake. Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer than necessary, she dashed to the bathroom for a quick freshen up, then back to the bedroom to put on her nicest dress before going downstairs to meet him.

He stood in the entryway, dressed in a gray wool suit. When he saw her, he smiled and held out his hand, and she went to him.

"I hope I didn't disturb you," he said.

"Not at all! I guess I just needed a little extra rest. I had a long, hard day at work yesterday."

"So your mother told me. I should give you a chance to eat breakfast."

"Won't you join me? I'd feel funny eating alone."

While she gulped porridge and slurped black coffee, he sipped a glass of ice water and watched her.

"If I'd known you were coming today, I would have given the house a thorough cleaning," Mrs. Weber told him.

He smiled. "It's quite all right. The house looks fine. I wouldn't want you to go to any extra work on my account."

Jo was famished and finished her breakfast in record time. Dieter chatted with her mother and Renate while she ate. He asked Renate all about her new husband, and she told him how they'd met and how long they'd known each other. Jo listened attentively, curious herself.

When she finished eating, Dieter took her hand and led her into the parlor, where they sat together on a sofa.

"I've discussed this with your mother, and she has given me her blessing," he said. "I realize the timing isn't optimal, but where matters of the heart are concerned, some things just have to be discussed. I have loved you for some time now, Martina, and my feelings grow stronger every day.

What I want so badly to ask you may be selfish. Before you give me your answer, it's only right you should know there is a plan, and I am a part of it. I can't tell you any of the details at this time. To do so would endanger your safety, so you'll just have to trust me. I know what I'm doing is right; more than that, it's what I must do. I have no other choice."

"Sybille mentioned at the party that there's a plan."

"Sybille." He smiled. "Don't believe anything she says."

"So is it not true, then?" In her heart, she knew it was.

"As I said, I cannot share anything about that with you. Only know that I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you." He slipped to one knee beside the sofa. "Martina Weber, will you marry me?"

Fritz's face swam before her mind's eye. Would she ever see him again? And yet, Dieter was here now, his clear blue eyes looking at her with such sincerity. There was only one answer she could give.

"Yes."