Jo's phone chirped and, to her surprise, she saw that her caller was Charlotte Kirke.
"I wanted to touch base with you, since it's been so long," Charlotte explained. "Your sister who had the heart transplant; how's she doing now?"
"She's doing well, considering," said Jo. "She still has to take anti-rejection drugs, but she works part-time for a seamstress now. How are Ella and Emma?"
"They're both fine, thanks. Their ballet group is doing a performance of 'Beauty and the Beast' on Saturday evening at six o'clock, and I wanted to invite you and, of course, Professor Bhaer as well. I believe he lives near you now, right?"
"Yes," said Jo. "He teaches at the university I attend."
"Wonderful! Well, I hope to see you both there."
"I'd love to come. It would be great to see you and the girls again. Thanks for the invitation."
Fritz arrived to pick her up after lunch on Saturday, wearing his usual corduroy pants with a turtleneck and a gray blazer. He was smiling.
"It will be nice to once again see the place where we first met," he remarked.
"Almost a year ago," Jo added.
"The time has passed swiftly, has it not?" said Fritz as he cranked up the car.
It feels like forever ago, Jo thought to herself, but knew she dare not say anything.
The weather was pleasant, and the traffic wasn't bad, and they arrived in plenty of time to have an early dinner at a cozy little deli. When they finished eating, it was still only four thirty.
"I believe we have enough time to look around in the used bookstore," said Fritz. The tone in his voice told her he fervently hoped she'd agree.
"Sure!" she replied, happy to see his grateful smile.
While strolling the aisles, she came upon a book entitled 'Somebody Say Amen.' Intrigued, she pulled it out of the stack to take a closer look at it. The author was Lemuel Jackson, and there was a photograph of him on the front jacket. He looked several decades older than he had the last time Jo had seen him. She opened the book to see what year it had been published. 1979.
"Hey, Fritz, look what I found!" she said, forgetting to keep the excitement out of her voice.
Fritz glanced at the front cover and frowned. "Lemuel Jackson. That name seems familiar to me, somehow. Never mind. It will come to me, eventually."
They arrived at the auditorium in plenty of time for the show. Jo craned her neck, trying to find the Kirkes, then figured they must be sitting in a special area designated for the families of the performers.
When the lights went down and the dance began, Jo found herself transported to another world. Fritz's hand slipped into hers, and an electrical thrill shot through her. It was just as if she was sitting with Dieter, watching Paul's school play.
The end of the dance jolted her back to reality.
With some difficulty, she and Fritz located the Kirkes. Ella and Emma, still in their dance costumes, stood with them. Jo noticed they'd both grown taller, and Ella had dyed her hair pink.
Charlotte hugged first Jo, then Fritz. "Thank you both for coming. I'm so glad you could make it."
"You are quite welcome," Fritz replied. "We enjoyed the dance very much."
"You girls did great!" Jo told Ella and Emma.
Ella smiled and blushed a little. "Thanks."
"I was so scared I was gonna mess up!" said Emma.
"You danced beautifully," her mother assured her. "You both did." She turned to Fritz and Jo. "Surely you're not driving back tonight, are you?"
Fritz chuckled. "Oh, no. We were planning to stay at a motel."
"Nonsense! You'll stay with us. Jo can stay in her old room, and you, Professor Bhaer, can stay in our guest bedroom."
"You are very kind," said Fritz. "Danke schon. Thank you."
As soon as Jo was alone in her old bedroom, she eagerly pulled 'Somebody Say Amen' from her tote bag and began to read. The book turned out to be Lemuel's memoirs, from the time he started his ministry. Wide awake, Jo read page after page, until at last she found what she was looking for.
I have been joined by my German friend Dieter Baumgartner, his lovely wife Martina, and their two young sons. Dieter related to me a most astounding account of how he was within minutes of being executed by the Nazis when an angel of God appeared to him and led him to safety. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but this is the most remarkable instance of that I've ever heard.
Jo awakened the following morning to find she'd fallen asleep half-sitting, half-lying on the bed, with the open book on her lap. She'd gotten about three-fourths of the way through when sleep had overcome her. She gave a giant yawn, then padded into the kitchen to find the others just finishing breakfast.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Charlotte called out to her.
"What time is it?" Jo mumbled, glancing at the clock. Nine thirty. She yawned again, poured herself cereal and lukewarm coffee, and joined the others at the table.
"It seems yesterday's adventures were a bit much for you, Josephine." Fritz's tone was light, teasing.
"I fell asleep reading," Jo explained.
"Must have been a good book!" Charlotte said with a smile.
"I couldn't put it down," Jo replied, truthfully.