In her new home, Jo felt snug and warm. As Sybille had warned her, rain was frequent, and she spent many a cold, rainy afternoon curled up on the sofa with a good book while Dieter studied or prepared teaching materials.
Several weeks after their arrival, Jo got a surprise when a large object was delivered to their home.
"Why, it's the piano!" Dieter cried with delight as the package's contents were revealed. "My mother has sent it to me. I so loved to play on it when I was younger, and now I can once again!"
Jo lightly touched the keys. Beth. How well she remembered!
"Do you play?" asked Dieter.
Jo shook her head. No, but my younger sister did.
"I shall teach you, then. It'll be something we can do together, in addition to the English lessons."
The various activities in which they were engaged made time pass more swiftly, and when spring arrived, they and the Bohmkes spent more time outside. They went for long walks along the Thames, had picnics in the park, and went on boat rides. On rainy days, they visited the museum or gallery, or went to theaters or cinemas. Jo found that she enjoyed black-and-white movies so much she didn't even miss the colorized ones.
"How far are we from Buckingham Palace, where the Queen lives?" she asked Dieter one day, as they were bicycling along the Thames Twopath.
"It would take about forty-five minutes by car." Dieter laughed. "The King lives there as well."
Oops!
"Of course!" Jo gave a shaky laugh. "I knew that!"
Elizabeth's coronation - that was some time in the 1950's, wasn't it? I'll have to be more careful from now on.
"Martina would like to see Buckingham Palace," Dieter mentioned later to Werner and Sybille, as the four of them and little Dieter were sharing a meal.
"It's lovely," said Sybille. "Werner and I went a few days after we got here."
Wednesday morning, they set out in Werner's car. It was a clear, balmy spring morning with chirping birds and blooming flowers. Hope sprung anew in Jo's heart; new beginnings, new dreams, a new life.
At last they arrived at the palace. A large white statue was in front, and to the side was an immaculately groomed lawn with a blanket of red geraniums.
"Who is it?" asked Jo, indicating the statue.
"Queen Victoria, I believe," Werner told her.
They watched the changing of the guard. It began with a marching band accompanied by men on horseback. Jo watched as they disappeared into the distance, growing smaller and smaller. Then the new group of marching men appeared, the music they played growing louder and louder as they came closer and closer.
Next, they walked to Piccadilly Circus. The electronic lights reminded Jo of Times Square. The group walked down Regent Street, looking at the store fronts of the expensive department stores. Sybille and Jo exchanged glances, knowing they dared not step inside any of them.
They walked down Orange Street to Covent Garden, where they enjoyed a ballet. By the time it was over, everyone was starving, so they had fish and chips at a local restaurant. Before heading back home, they visited Hyde Park, touring Kensington Gardens and Apsley House.
On the way home, it started to rain, hard. Although they hurried into the house as quickly as they could, all five of them got soaking wet and had to change clothes.
Spring became summer, and Jo spent her days picking berries, going for long, romantic walks with Dieter, and enjoying the freedom, peace, and safety of her new life.
Once in a while, she wondered what it would have been like to be strolling through the streets of Concord with Fritz instead. It was a bittersweet recollection as she pondered how things might have gone if her life had taken a different turn. She felt wet tears upon her cheeks and was startled to realize she was crying.
Dieter stopped walking, turned and cupped her face in his hands.
"What's wrong, Martina?"
"I don't know. Suddenly I just feel all weepy, for some reason."
"That seems to happen a lot with you lately," Dieter remarked. "You look so pale and weak, my love, and you hardly touched your dinner last night."
Jo wrinkled her nose. "I just wasn't very hungry."
"But it's been that way for several evenings in a row now. I think you should see the doctor, just to make sure everything's all right."
And so Jo found herself lying on her back in Dr. Neuberg's office with her feet up in stirrups. Dr. Neuberg was young, maybe thirty or so, and Jo liked his gentle manner.
"How's your monthly cycle?" he asked now. "Has it been regular?"
"Why, I suppose I've missed one, or maybe even two. It's been several months, at least."
Dr. Neuberg smiled. "If you could remember the first day of your last cycle, it would help to determine your due date."
"You mean - I'm pregnant?"
"It certainly looks that way. I'd say you're about two or three months along, which puts your expected delivery date in early January of next year. I'll need to see you again next month, and then once a month after that, just to make sure everything is going well. Do you have any questions for me?"
"I - I can't think of any right now."
"Well, if you do think of any later, just let me know."
Jo wandered home in a daze. Oh, Mom, what would you say if you knew? What would Beth think, or Meg,for that matter?
No. I have to stop thinking about that life. It isn't mine anymore.
She forced her mind to turn to Dieter, to Mrs. Weber, to Renate. How would each of them react?
She told Dieter as soon as she saw him. He beamed as he picked her up and held her tight, then gingerly set her back down, showering her face with kisses.
"I shall tell my parents right away!" He went to the telephone and did just that. Jo listened as he talked to his mother at length, After while, he told Jo she wanted to talk to her.
Jo didn't realize how much she'd missed Julia until she heard the older woman's voice.
"Do you feel all right, dear? Are you very ill?"
"Oh, no ma'am, I'm fine," Jo replied. "I get tired more than usual sometimes, but I'm sure that will pass."
"I'll have a grandchild younger than my great grandson - how strange, yet lovely! Well, you take care, dear, and God willing, we'll see you again soon."
Jo didn't realize it, but another happy event was to happen in her life very soon.