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dreams. Josette, Marc’s twin, and his other sister, Marie-Thérèse, had done so, though both were now back in Paris, happily married and enjoying their children. Why couldn’t she find her own dream in America? She might never have to face Marc again.
    She rose resolutely to her feet, slipped off her shoes, and opened the bathroom door slowly. When she was assured her mother wasn’t waiting outside, she crept soundlessly down the hall to her own room. Making sure the door was locked, she went to the phone by the bed and dialed the number in Anchorage, Alaska, where Brionney was temporarily living with her husband and five children.
    “Hello?” Brionney’s voice sounded groggy, and Rebekka belatedly remembered the time difference. With a twinge of guilt, she realized that for Brionney it was the middle of the night.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, Brionney,” Rebekka said in French. “It’s me, Rebekka. I forgot about the time difference. It’s morning here.”
    “It’s okay,” Brionney answered in the same language. “I was up with Forest anyway. In fact, I was singing him a French lullaby. Or actually, all the French songs I know. They seem to calm him. Or maybe they’re calming me. Anyway, as soon as I get him back to sleep, it’ll be Gabriel’s turn to wake up and eat, though he’ll go back to bed a lot more quickly.”
    “It must be difficult having twins.” Rebekka tried to keep the envy from her voice.
    “Yeah, but Jesse helps a lot. I’m still nursing, but they’ve been taking bottles for the past four months. I can’t keep up with their demand. Some mothers of twins can, but not me.” There was a cry in the background, and Brionney sighed. “Especially Forest’s demands. Good thing he’s so cute.” She paused before asking, “So what’s up?”
    “I’ve been thinking . . .” Now that she was talking to Brionney, Rebekka was having second thoughts. Leaving France was a big step, and she would miss many things. What about her family and her job? Maybe leaving wasn’t the answer. Then she remembered the way Marc had watched her mother. Why couldn’t he look at her like that? New pain surged through her body. “I—I’m feeling a little trapped here. I was wondering if there was any way I could . . . I mean, it’s just until I sort things out.”
    “You want to come and stay with me?” In her excitement, Brionney forgot to speak in French. “That would be wonderful! I would absolutely love to have you come. It’d give me someone to practice French with—you can tell mine’s getting rusty. Right now, I can’t remember a word! That happens when I get excited.”
    “Just lack of practice,” Rebekka said in English. “I speak English a lot at work, and your brother and I always practice at church.”
    “Zack.” Brionney sounded sad. Her brother had married Marc’s sister Josette and moved to France. Rebekka had seen him more times in the past year than Brionney would for the rest of her life. Yet despite the distance, Rebekka knew Zack had stayed close to his favorite sister.
    “You miss him.”
    “Yes, but he’s with Josette and their children where he’s supposed to be. He comes home at least once a year, but I missed his visit last year because I was here.”
    “When are you leaving Alaska?”
    “Soon. Jesse and our friend Damon have decided to go into business together. They’re going to customize Jesse’s hospital program and market it all over America. Damon seems to think it’ll go big. He’s already a multimillionaire—everything he touches turns to gold. Jesse’s really excited, and I am too, because it means we can go back to Utah now. I miss my family.”
    As she said it, Rebekka suddenly missed her own family. But her parents and Raoul would be able to get along without her for a while. At least she wouldn’t have to face Marc. He loves my mother! Her chest tightened until she wanted to scream, and she had to fight to listen to Brionney’s words.
    “So when