Taylor grinned. “D Company found and disabled five guns, E Company blew up the ammunition dump, F Company cleared Au Guay, the roadblock is set, and we’ve sent runners to Rudder at his headquarters on the point. All before 0900.”

“Great news, sir.” Now they just had to hold off any German counterattacks and wait a few hours for the force from Omaha Beach.

Taylor gathered the men. “All right, boys. We have about fifty men here at the highway. We’ll set up defensive positions down this north-south lane and at the east-west lane bordering the orchard.”

Clay’s squad received an assignment toward the middle of the orchard lane, and they headed east down the highway.

Ahead lay the village of Au Guay. Ancient stone houses and mossy stone walls stood silent and wary.

Clay turned right down a dirt lane. If it weren’t for the rifle in his hand and the sound of gunfire in the distance, it would make a pleasant stroll in the country.

But everything felt crooked. Down these lanes lay no craters to serve as his pit, no pillboxes to storm.

Had he misinterpreted his dream? Had his imagination played tricks on him?

Clay tripped on a root. He hadn’t felt so unbalanced in years.

CHICAGO

Leah burst through Juanita’s front door. “I found them! I found my sisters!”

“You did?” Mama Paxton rose from the chair by the radio. “Are they here in town?”

“I hope so. I have the name and address of the couple who adopted them. Well, at least their address fifteen years ago. I need a phone book.”

Juanita emerged from the nursery, bouncing Helen on her shoulder. “First, you need to take care of this sweet thing. She doesn’t like formula.”

“Of course she doesn’t.” Leah took her daughter, who fussed and squirmed. “Come on, sweetheart. Mama’s here.”

“While you’re nursing, I’ll look in the phone book,” Mama called from the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Leah settled in the rocking chair, unbuttoned her blouse, and called out Hobart Scholz’s address. “I hope they’re still in Chicago. I’m so thankful it’s an unusual name.”

Helen latched on and calmed.

Leah rocked, her foot tapping restlessly. “Anything yet?”

Mama came to the door with the phone book and a smile. “There’s a Hobart Scholz in Chicago. Not the same address, but he’s in this very neighborhood.”

“Oh!” Everything in her wanted to bolt out the door, but she settled back. “My sisters have lived without me for fifteen years. I suppose they can wait another thirty minutes.”

“Remember,” Mama said, “the girls will be in school.”

Yes, they would. “I should call first anyway, to make sure it’s the correct Hobart Scholz.”

Mama closed the phone book, one finger marking the page. “And give them time to prepare. This could be a shock.”

But what a pleasant shock to find a long-lost sister.