"I have an announcement to make," said Teddy. He, Sybil, Fritz, and Jo sat around a table in Pizza Hut, waiting for their hot, fresh pizza to be served. "Sybil and I are getting married."

"That's great!" said Jo, a bit taken about by the suddenness of the news. "When's the date?"

"Next Saturday at my house," said Sybil. "My Dad's performing the ceremony."

Jo frowned. "Why so soon?"

"I'm pregnant," Sybil explained. "I started having the symptoms while I was still in Germany, and as soon as I got home, I took a test. It was positive, so I made an appointment with the doctor."

"Congratulations to the both of you," said Fritz.

"Thanks," said Teddy. "Have the two of you set a date yet?"

"We're thinking when the weather's warmer," Jo told him. "So, how did your parents react? To the news about the pregnancy, I mean."

"They weren't exactly thrilled, of course, but they've come to accept it."

The waiter brought their pizza, and the four of them served themselves.

"So what are you gonna do about your education?" Jo asked as they dug in.

"I'll take some time off, and maybe take some classes online, eventually."

"So, have you decided yet what you're going to do about Plumfield?" asked Teddy.

"We want to use it as a home for troubled youth," Jo told him.

"Don't you have to have a license and qualifications and all that? Plus a lot of government regulations, I'm sure."

"We have plenty of time," said Jo, who'd already started to research the requirements for such a home.

"And what about your education?" asked Sybil.

"I'm planning to do it mostly online."

"And what about those kids?" asked Teddy.

"Are you referring to my nephews?" asked Fritz. "They will live with us at Plumfield, of course, and I will enroll them in the appropriate school."

"But won't it be dangerous to have them living around troubled youth?" asked Sybil.

"We will take proper precautions."

As you and Teddy obviously didn't, Jo wanted to say, but resisted the urge.

Saturday was a cold, blustery, freezing day, but it was sunny. The wedding was scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon. Jo was wearing her heaviest coat, a brown corduroy, when Fritz picked her up.

They arrived at the Bohmkes to find that all four of Sybil's brothers were already there with their families. Sybil made the introductions, and the ceremony began.

As she watched Teddy and Sybil exchange vows, Jo thought about the close relationship between Sybil's grandfather and Fritz's grandfather. It's such a shame Fritz was sick and couldn't make it to the barbecue back in the fall, she thought to herself. If only he could have been there, I might have found out the truth about him that much sooner.

The ceremony ended rather quickly, and it was time for the reception. Jo decided she couldn't stand it any longer.

"Excuse me," she said to Sybil's father. "I wanted to tell you Fritz is Dieter Baumgartner's grandson."

His eyebrows went up. "Oh, is that right?"

Fritz smiled. "Indeed it is."

"Well!" The reverend laughed. "Small world, isn't it?"

"My grandfather used to talk about your father quite a lot," said Fritz. "My Uncle Paul still has some of his correspondence."

"I was so young the last time I saw Paul that I barely remember it," said Reverend Bohmke. "How's he doing these days?"

"He's doing very well, as is Uncle Freddy."

"And wasn't there a third child?"

"My mother, Elisabeth," Fritz told him. "She and my father still live in Berlin."

"And are you their only child?"

Fritz's voice quivered a little. "I had a younger sister, Minna. She was killed in a car crash several years ago."

"Oh! I'm so sorry to hear that."

"She left behind two sons, Adam and Daniel. They are in my care, and Josephine and I will marry soon."

The reverend smiled. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you," said Fritz and Jo, together.

"That's the first wedding inside a house I've ever been to," Jo remarked as Fritz drove her home.

He chuckled. "From what I understand, they did not have time to plan for anything spectacular."

"I knew him when he was a little boy, you know, but I could never tell him that. He'd think I was crazy."

Fritz gave her hand a tight squeeze.

"Even after all the years, I still recognize some of his mannerisms."

Fritz turned a corner. "I can imagine how it would be that way."

Jo became lost in her memories of Paul and Freddy as infants and then toddlers. And what about Elisabeth? What was she like as a baby? Was she quiet? Active? Cheerful? Fussy? Fritz had shared all the photos he had with her, but that hadn't even come close to answering all her questions.

"Well, here we are."

Startled, Jo realized he'd parked in front of her house.

She grinned. "Goodbye, lover."

Fritz laughed. "Goodbye, schatz." He kissed her lips. "I look forward to the day we do not have to say goodbye."