Seeing her parents again was truly wonderful. Mutti was still a bit pale from the scarlet fever, but they both looked happy. There were not enough smiles and hugs to pass around. Vati took her in his arms smiling broadly.
“My little Schatzi! How was your voyage?”
“Oh Vati, I was sick the whole way, it was really bad.” Mutti looked surprised.
“But you are so brown and healthy looking,” she protested. “You don’t look like you’ve had a terrible time. Well, it doesn’t matter now. Come along and we will take you home. Fredi, take your daughter’s bagsÖ”

Almost a year later, in September, Ilse was back in New York. A short time ago they had received word from Heinz, telling them that he and Peter were on their way! Finally, Ilse thought, we can get married and live together. It had been nice spending time with her parents, but she just did not feel complete without Heinz.
Her parents worked so hard now. Her father had a job as a door-to-door Fuller Brush salesman. The Fuller Brush Company employed refugees. It was nothing compared to the position he had held in Vienna, but it was a job. He worked long, hard hours and was not very happy, but at least he could put a little bit of money away.
Suddenly Ilse heard the blast of a ship. She jumped up excitedly and stood on her toes, straining to catch a glimpse of her Heinz. It seemed forever until she saw him stepping out. She pushed through the crowds quickly, not caring who she knocked over, seeing only Heinz. Peter spotted her first, and then she and Heinz were in each others’ arms once again, the rest of the world disappearing around them.

Ilse and Henry, as he now called himself, were married on November second, 1941. Their whole family was in attendance, except for George (as he now called himself), who was still in Australia studying. They were wed in a temple in Manhattan. It was a simple and short, but every one was as happy as one family could possibly be. Following the ceremony, they all came to the apartment where Ilse lived with Henry, Peter, Eugenie, and Robert for coffee and cake. Afterwards, Ilse's parents took a train back to Philadelphia. Ilse waved until she couldn’t see them anymore. She sighed happily and held tighter onto Henry’s arm.
“Don’t be sad, Ilselein”, he told her. “Don’t forget, we still have our honeymoon tonight!”
“Oh I wasn’t sad,” Ilse told him. “I’m looking forward to it every second!” And for their honeymoon, Henry took Ilse to the movies to see "The Little Rascals". When they came back, everything was ready in the little three-bedroom apartment. Ilse had been sleeping by herself, the other two bedrooms shared by Peter and Henry, and Alice and Robert. She now was all moved into Henry's room, and Peter had Ilse's old room. She and Henry entered the room together as husband and wife for the first time. The next morning they got up early and set off to work in the tailor shop with the rest of the family. They were as happy as they believed they could be.

And then came Pearl Harbor on December seventh, 1941. Henry was drafted into the army almost one year after he and Ilse had started their life together. He went to basic military training in South Carolina, and Ilse, who flatly refused to let the war separate them again, came along.
One evening, Henry and Ilse were sitting together. Henry turned to Ilse with a gentle smile on his face.
"You do know," he told her, "that I can't let you stay here while you are pregnant". Ilse felt her face go all hot and then all cold. She had suspected she might be pregnant, but had not dared to hope.
"You mean," she gasped, "that we are going to have a baby?" Henry kissed her gently.
"Of course, Ilselein!" he said. Anyone could tell just by looking at you". Ilse though that it must be the happiest day of her entire life, and sat next to Henry simply glowing.