Jo was too busy to dwell on her situation for very long. There was still much work to be done in helping to rebuild the war-torn city. Daily, she and Dieter roamed the neighborhoods, searching for more people in need. They never had to look for long, and eventually, the Baumgartner home began to resemble a combination hospital/orphanage/soup kitchen.
Elsa recovered from her broken leg and joined them in their efforts. She soon met another war widow, Helga, and moved into her home with her, freeing up space at the Baumgartners, and room at their table.
The weather grew cooler, and one day in November, Dieter suggested a trip to Switzerland to visit his sister Sophie and her husband Gunter.
"Do you know how to ski?" he asked Jo.
"I never have before in my life!"
He smiled. "You'll know how by the time we get back. Gunter and Sophie are both expert skiers."
"How good a skier are you?" she asked him.
He laughed. "I'm passable, but nowhere near as good as Sophie and Gunter!"
One crisp, cool morning, they set out for the ten-hour train ride to Grindelwald. It would be the longest train ride Jo had ever taken, and she chatted excitedly as they waited for their tickets to be collected. Dieter had gallantly let her sit by the window, even though she hadn't asked.
"I know you'd like to see the passing scenery," he chuckled.
They left the city behind and rode through miles of country, mountains and valleys, trees, cottages, and farm equipment all covered with a white blanket of snow. Jo was so entranced she was startled when Dieter gently nudged her.
"It's time for lunch," he told her.
They walked through the gangway connection into the dining car with the other passengers. Both sides of it were lined with square tables with white tablecloths and four chairs each. A uniformed waiter walked up and down the aisle serving the food.
Dieter gave a quick blessing, and they dug in. This is the best I've eaten since I was back in Concord! Jo thought to herself as she tasted the roast beef with gravy and potatoes. There was even blueberry pie for dessert.
After lunch, Jo felt drowsy and dozed with her head on Dieter's shoulder.
It was almost dark by the time they reached their destination. From the train station, Dieter called a taxi to take them to his sister's house. Gunter and Sophie lived in a quaint little neighborhood with a winding road traveling between the irregularly spaced cottages. Covered by a blanket of snow, the scene was idyllic, with the impossibly high mountain peaks rising in the background.
At last the taxi came to a stop in front of one of the little half-timbered houses.
"We're here," Dieter told Jo. He paid the cab driver, and they walked up to the front door and knocked. A moment later, the door was pulled open by a middle-aged brunette who strongly resembled Dieter.
"Dieter!" she cried, reaching for him.
"Sophie!" he replied, embracing her. "This is my wife, Martina."
"Welcome to the family, dearest," said Sophie as she hugged Jo. "I'm so glad to see you both! Won't you come on in?"
Dieter and Jo stepped into the living room. It looked cozy and well lived-in. Flowered drapes hung against one wall, and in one corner was a tall bookcase filled with books. A brown sofa was against one wall. In front of it was a small coffee table, and in a matching chair across from the sofa sat a partially bald, middle-aged man smoking a pipe.
"This is my husband, Gunter," Sophie told Jo. "Gunter, this is Dieter's new wife, Martina."
"I'm very pleased to meet you." Gunter stood and shook Jo's hand.
Two dark-haired teenage boys appeared in the doorway.
"These are our sons, Matthias and Markus," Sophie told Jo. The two boys reminded Jo so strongly of the Hummel boys that it was as if a knife had pierced her heart.
"We've already eaten, but there's plenty of leftovers," Sophie told Dieter and Jo.
"I could do with a bite," Dieter replied.
Sophie invited them into the kitchen, where she hurriedly threw together some sandwiches and heated up some vegetables. Jo's eyes widened when she saw the quantify of food available.
"Here, it seems just as if the war never happened at all!" she remarked.
"No, luckily, we were mostly spared, although several Swiss airplanes were shot down by the Nazis," Sophie replied. "Did Dieter tell you he and Werner helped us to get here? We left by car early in the morning. We told the boys we were going on vacation. Dieter and Werner followed us in their car, in case we broke down or needed help along the way. We made it over the Swiss border right before they closed it."
"That must have been so scary!" said Jo.
Sophie nodded. "You'll never know how hard we prayed the whole time!"
"Why didn't you stay in Switzerland with them?" Jo asked Dieter.
"A shepherd doesn't abandon his flock at the first sign of danger," he replied. "Of course it would have been more convenient for me to hide in safety, but there was important work for me to do where I was."
Jo looked at Sophie, wondering whether she felt offended by her brother's remark.
"Gunter's Jewish," Sophie explained.
"Oh." Jo understood.
After they'd finished eating, Sophie showed Dieter and Jo to their guest quarters. They put their luggage into the closet, took baths in the guest bathroom, and then settled together in the comfortable queen-sized bed.
"I feel like I'm in heaven!" Jo yawned and stretched luxuriously in the downy soft sheets and quilts.
Dieter gave her an impish grin. "You'd better get a good night's sleep. You'll need it on the slopes tomorrow."