After checking her bank balance, Jo decided she'd saved up enough money to buy a good quality used car.

"You'd better take Teddy with you," her mother advised. "You know how they always try to rip women off because they think women don't know anything about cars."

"I'll call Fritz instead." After everything that had happened between them, Jo felt uncomfortable at the thought of being alone with Teddy.

Mrs. March watered her plants, talking as she did so.

"Wouldn't he be in class now?"

"I won't know until I ask, will I?"

Fritz answered her call right away.

"Oh, hello, Josephine." He sounded pleased to hear her voice. "How are you doing today?"

"Fine, thanks. How are you?"

"I am doing very well. Thank you for asking."

"Are you busy right now?"

"I am enjoying a cup of coffee while checking my email. I don't have any classes today. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go car shopping with me. I don't want to go by myself. I'm scared they'd rip me off."

"I would be happy to. Give me an hour to finish my coffee, get dressed, and drive to your home."

"Great! Thanks!"

"It is my pleasure."

She put on a new pair of blue shorts and her rainbow-colored shirt. She was standing at the window when he drove up, and she ran outside to meet him.

He got out of the car to open the door for her. She saw that he was wearing light tan slacks with a button-down-the-front cream-colored shirt. Every single button was buttoned.

"Ach, you are so colorful today!"

"I wanted to look nice for you." She went to him and unbuttoned his top button. He blushed.

"Where would you like to go first?" he asked when they were inside the car.

"How about Carrington Road," Jo suggested. "I've rode past there before and seen some used car lots."

She gave him directions, and soon they were cruising past lot after lot.

"Let's try this one," said Jo, indicating a lot with a sign outside which read 'Ken Braniff Motors.'

Fritz parked, and they got out. A man of about thirty approached them. He wore jean shorts and a white t-shirt advertising a local restaurant. He had brown hair, a goatee, and a friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm Jason," he said. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a good quality used car," Jo told him. "My Toyota Corolla died a couple of years ago."

"Well, you've come to the right place," said Jason. "We have a wide variety of makes and models to choose from. About what price range are you looking for?"

"I have about five thousand dollars to spend."

His smile disappeared. He frowned and scratched his chin for a few minutes.

"Hmm. I do have a Kia Rio I could show you. It's an older model with a few miles on it, but it runs good."

"I'd like to see it."

Jason led them down a row to a small red car with a couple of dings and scratches on the chassis.

"Would you like to try it out?"

"Sure!"

Jo got into the driver's seat, and Fritz sat beside her. She tested the lights and blinkers. Then she cranked it up and tested the windshield wipers, air conditioner, and radio.

"Everything seems to be working fine so far," she said. "Let's give it a test drive."

Once she'd pulled onto the road, it hit her. I never drove as Martina. What if I've forgotten how?

She glanced nervously over at Fritz to see his encouraging smile. He must never learn my secret. And yet, she felt as if she must tell somebody.

She drove the car for several miles, turning a couple of times. It was a smooth ride all the way. She returned to the used car lot and parked.

"What do you think?" she asked Fritz.

"It seems to be in perfect condition as far as I can tell, but of course, the decision is yours."

"Well - I want it!" she decided.

When she drove her new car home, Beth ran outside to see it right away.

"I like it!" she said. "I can't wait to tell Jonas about it tonight!"

"That's right - it is Friday, isn't it?" Jo said to Fritz, who'd followed her home in his own car to make sure she got home all right.

He laughed.

"I was wondering when you would remember! Shall we do something, then?"

"Don't worry, Beth," Jo said. "We won't tag along on your date, or anything."

Beth gasped.

"That hadn't even occurred to me."

Fritz smiled and reached for Jo's hand.

"My dear Josephine, since you have gotten your days mixed up, how about if I prove to you that it is, in fact, Friday, by taking you out for a nice dinner?"

Jo grinned.

"Sounds great to me!"

He took her to the new Italian restaurant across from the mall. She ordered shrimp scampi, and he ordered spaghetti and meatballs, and with their meal came a nice green salad with tomatoes and peppers.

While they were eating, Jo saw a bit of sauce on Fritz's chin and, as she'd so often done with Dieter, used a napkin to wipe it away.

Fritz lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Suddenly remembering, Jo dropped her eyes.

"Oh - sorry," she mumbled.

Fritz chuckled.

"It is simply that no one has ever done that for me since my mother when I was a child."

Suddenly, she wondered what his history with women was. He was certainly old enough to have been married, or at least seriously involved, once or twice. Not that it was any of her business, of course.

"My dearest Josephine." He lifted her chin to look into her eyes. His own were brown. Dieter's had been blue. "I have never before had feelings for a woman like the ones you have brought out in me."

Did he read my mind? Jo felt hot all over. Something inside her squirmed.

"You are worried, are you not? You are concerned for your sister. You are afraid her friend's intentions toward her may not be honorable."

Jo sighed, relieved.

"You understand!"

"I do not think you have anything to worry about. The young man has met your mother, and she has met his. He will not take advantage of your sister. There would be too many people to answer to if he did."

"You're right, of course." Gazing into his eyes, Jo knew there must be some connection between him and the Baumgartners - but what could it be?

Someone else was holding her now. They were outside, and a gentle breeze was blowing. The voice she knew and loved so well was speaking, only a short distance away. It rose and fell in gentle tones, calm, soothing, comforting.

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, for thou art with me."

She opened her eyes and gazed up at the clear blue sky.

She longed for his touch.