"I have been offered a full-time position at the university," Fritz told Jo. "I will be teaching philosophy on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; German on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"That's great!" said Jo. "What about the boys?"
"Adam will enter the second grade this year, and Daniel starts kindergarten. I will be home on time to meet their bus on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they will take the bus to the on-campus child care center."
"That's nice that they have a child care right there on campus." Secretly, Jo had thought that caring for the two boys would have given Beth something constructive to do with her time. "I will register and sign up for my classes in just a few days."
"And what classes are you taking, Josephine?"
"Literature, business math, earth science, psychology, and media."
"Ach, a full load! But you can do it, Josephine. I have faith in you."
"Thanks." Jo had no doubts herself that she could handle the course load. What concerned her was the possibility that she might once again slip back and forth between realities and, therefore, miss important course information.
And yet, contrary to her expectations, she'd returned to her life as a twenty-first century young woman named Josephine March. At one time, she'd thought that life lost to her forever, and yet, she'd returned to it again. Although she missed Dieter, Paul, and Freddy dearly, the loss was balanced out by her joy at being reunited with her parents and sisters, and yes, Fritz as well.
"So do you start work on the first day of class?" Jo asked now.
"A week before that," Fritz told her. "I have to make my preparations."
"Oh, of course," said Jo. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you have never worked as a professor." She felt, rather than saw, his smile. "There is much work to be done before the first pupil enters the classroom, but do not worry, I will still have plenty of time for my Josephine on the weekends - provided, of course, she isn't too busy with her studies."
He called me 'his' Jo! Jo exulted. Memories of her early courtship with Dieter returned in startling clarity. Could things ever be like that between herself and Fritz?
Of course not, she reflected; they were living in a different time period, under completely different circumstances. And yet - in her heart, she knew there was somehow a connection between Dieter and Fritz, if she could only find it.
"Was that Fritz?" Beth asked when she got off the phone.
"Yes! He just got on at the university as a full-time professor."
Beth looked up from her knitting and beamed.
"That's great! Now he can take better care of himself and the boys."
"I also have an idea for you, Bethy, if you'd like a way of filling up some spare time."
Beth set her knitting aside.
"What's that?"
"I think you should apply for a job at the on-campus child care center. "You've always enjoyed babysitting, and that way, you could earn a regular paycheck doing something you enjoy."
"Oh, I couldn't!" Beth gasped.
"Why not?"
"All those people!"
"Oh, Beth." Jo sighed, frustrated. "Look, I'll go with you, if you want."
Beth smiled.
"Really?"
"Of course I will, but you'll have to talk to the manager yourself."
Although she loved her sister dearly, Beth's excessive shyness often frustrated Jo.
The next morning, the two young women rode out to the child care center on the university campus. It was a charming little white building, surrounded by a chain link fence. There was a shade tree in the front, opposite a garden which was clearly marked by signs depicting the various vegetables and flowers planted there.
"It reminds you a little of John and Meg's place, doesn't it?" Beth remarked.
"It does," Jo agreed. She parked in the parking lot to the side of the fence and waited.
"Well?"
"Aren't you going in with me?"
Jo rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Beth, but this is something you'll have to do on your own."
Beth hesitated for just a moment, then sighed and got out of the car.
While waiting for her sister to return, Jo reflected on the recent developments in the life she'd thought would never be hers again. Since returning, she'd re-connected with Fritz, bought a used car, and planned her return to the university.
What else might be in store for her?
Beth was smiling as she returned to the car a half-hour or so later.
"Well, how did it go?" Jo asked as she got in.
"Not bad! She said she'd call me in a day or two."
"See! I told you it would be all right!"
Jo was nervous about returning to school. She knew math would be her most difficult subject. As Martina, it had been her strength, but as Jo, it was her weakness.
She was glad it met at eight in the morning so she could get it over with. After math came earth science, then literature, and then it was lunchtime.
Jo felt as if her head was spinning as she made her way to the student cafeteria. So much to remember!
She saw Fritz and instantly felt much better. He was sitting with a slightly older, distinguished-looking older gentleman with short salt-and-pepper hair and spectacles. Unsure of what to do, she hesitated, until Fritz smiled and waved her over. She hurried to join him and his friend.
"Josephine, this is my colleague, Dean Horton," said Fritz. "Dean, this is my good friend, Josephine March."
"Nice to meet you," said Jo.
"It's lovely to meet you as well," said Dean.
"So are you the dean of the language department or the philosophy department?" asked Jo.
Dean laughed.
"Oh no, I'm just a regular philosophy professor like Fritz here. You see, Dean just happens to be my first name."
Very funny, Jo thought to herself.
"Actually, Josephine, if you're interested, I'm giving a seminar on Friday evening about the possibility of a connection between philosophy and astrophysics. Its entitled 'Time Travel: Is It Possible?'"
Jo's heart began to pound so hard she wondered how it was that she couldn't hear it. Praying her emotions didn't show on her face, she managed a shaky smile.
"That sounds really interesting. I'd love to go. Are you going, Fritz?"
"Of course. We can go together, if you like."
It was settled. They'd go to the seminar together.