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couldn’t help but smile. She’d always loved the snow.
    Leaning her forehead against the windowpane, she sighed. Her breath left an oval-shaped fog ring on the glass, and she dragged a finger through it as she tried to wrap her mind around what had happened.
    What am I going to do? Am I in a coma and this is an hallucination? Am I dead and in heaven? Maybe it’s hell and I am destined to be without Jamie forever.
    A quiet knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She grimaced. “Come in.”
    “Good morning, dear.”
    Squeezing her eyes shut for a last, brief second of solitude, Sophie pushed herself away from the window and turned. “Hi, Nona.”
    “How did you sleep, dear? I didn’t want to wake you too early, so I told the staff not to disturb you.”
    “Thank you.”
    Nona laid mounds of fabric on the bed. “Are you hungry? I can have Betty bring you a tray.”
    “No, thank you, Nona. I’m not really hungry right now.” Sophie turned to look out the window again.
    “Dear, you really should eat. You need to get your strength up. My sister, Elizabeth, brought a few dresses and personal things over this morning for you.”
    Sophie let Nona fuss over her, pleasantly surprised that Nona’s sister had provided several gowns that fit her. Uncertain how long it would take her to get used to wearing a corset for extended periods of time—she had a difficult time wearing them with her reenactment costumes—she tried to remember how to breathe without hyperventilating.
    The combination Nona chose for Sophie consisted of a deep blue skirt with a simple white bodice. The jacket, a lighter blue, was adorned with piping that matched the skirt. Elizabeth sent ribbons for each of the dresses, and Sophie used one of them to pull her long hair back and tie it securely at her neck.
    Sophie forced a smile. “Nona, thank you so much for your kindness.”
    “It’s my pleasure, dear. I know things seem frightening right now, but I hope you will consider my home your home. You are welcome to stay as long as you have need.”
    “Thank you.”
    Nona led Sophie downstairs and into the large dining room. The buffet had a simple but abundant breakfast arrangement. Smelling the savory aroma of the sausage, pancakes, and fried potatoes, Sophie filled her plate, her stomach rumbling in anticipation. Another concoction, a dish that looked positively disgusting, made her stomach roll as the beady eyes of a fish stared at her from beneath the sauce.
    Sophie and Nona were in the dining room for only a few minutes when the butler showed a beautiful, petite woman into the room. Her strawberry-blonde hair framed a heart-shaped face, and wind-blown cheeks illuminated larger-than-life blue eyes. She appeared a younger version of Nona.
    “Christine, what are you doing here so early? Weren’t you scheduled to be at the hospital today?” Nona stood quickly and made her way over to the woman. She folded her into one of her motherly hugs.
    The younger woman removed her winter cloak and gloves to reveal a dark blue skirt. Her matching jacket was buttoned all the way to her throat, and Sophie assumed it was a uniform of some type. She handed her outerwear to the butler hovering behind her and laughed. “A very good morning to you, too, big sister.”
    “My word, where are my manners?” Nona turned to Sophie. “Sophie, this is my youngest sister, Christine. She volunteers at the local hospital, taking care of wounded soldiers.” She turned back to her sister. “Christine, this is Sophie Ford. She landed on our doorstep yesterday, for lack of a better word.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Christine shook Sophie’s hand and then turned to her sister. “Elizabeth came by to see Mama and me after she dropped the dresses off to you this morning, so I’ve heard part of the story. I thought I would call on you and see if you needed anything.”
    News certainly travels fast around here without the use of cell phones.
    “You look lovely