Here's chapter 4! Enjoy!

Anna knew she was expected at her mother in laws house soon, but she couldn't seem to get up from the floor. She was too tired and sick. She heard a knock and a voice "Anna?"

It was Phyllis and Anna called out "Come in!" The front door opened and she could hear Phyllis in the kitchen.

"Anna?" The voice sounded hesitant, like she wasn't sure that she should have invited herself into the house.

"In the bedroom." Anna called, she struggled to get up. She was exhausted and hungry. She knew there was a good possibility eating would make her sick again but she also knew that she needed to eat.

"What's wrong?" Anna could feel Phyllis' hand on her back.

"I've been sick." Anna said, sitting up. "I must have gotten a bug of some kind."

"When was the last time you threw up?" Phyllis asked.

"About an hour ago, I'm just so tired." Anna said.

"Let's get up, I'll get you to Mama's and she can help you." Phyllis said. It seemed to take forever but Anna got dressed properly and both women made their way to Mama's house. Phyllis knew the way now as it had been about a month since John had left and both women had gone to Mama's for Sunday dinner several times.

They were later than usual but Mama took one look at Anna and ordered her to lay down and drink some tea and eat some plain toast. Anna felt a little better after being at Mama's for a few hours, but wasn't feeling up to making her way home after Phyllis and Mama finished dinner. Mama insisted that Anna stay the night. Anna was too exhausted to complain and fell asleep almost as soon as Mama had a bed made up for Anna.

The next morning, Anna felt much better and made her way to the kitchen. Mama was busy making breakfast and smiled at Anna when she sat at the table. "How are you feeling, darling?"

"Better, I remember that a little girl at the library was sick, that's where I must have gotten it." Anna said, Mama gave Anna a knowing smile.

"How long have you felt like that?" Mama asked.

"Just a few days." Anna said. "I do feel better though, so it must be going."

"Forgive me for asking, but when was your last cycle?"

Anna blushed at the last question. "Before John and I got married."

"Have you been having mood swings?"

"Yes, but Phyllis says she had the same mood swings when her husband went to war." Anna said.

"When did you last go to the doctor?" Mama asked.

"Before the wedding, do you think I should go?" Anna was worried. She felt much better, did she really need to go to the doctor?

"I would go, just to make sure." Mama said, "Would you like me to go with you?"

"That would be nice." Anna said.

"We can go see my doctor." Mama promised, "we'll see if we can make an appointment for today."

Dear John,

The first month without you has been difficult, but I now have something that will help pass the time. I went to the doctor and found out that there will be a child for us. The child will come this winter. I've already decided that if it's a boy he will be named John after you. I don't know if you'll be home before the child is born but I hope he or she looks like you. I know we only briefly talked of children but I hope you are as pleased with the news as I am.

She paused in her letter, looking around her kitchen. She had come home after her doctor appointment and had started a letter to her husband. John still hadn't written her, but she had written him several times a week since he'd left. She was interrupted by a knock on the door, Phyllis was there, "How are you feeling, Anna?" she asked.

Anna couldn't stop the smile. "There will be a child." Anna said, "That's why I've been sick."

"That's wonderful!" Phyllis said. "I'm so happy for you and your husband."

"I know it's a bit early to start on blankets or clothes but..." Anna started.

"I'll start on a blanket tonight." Phyllis promised.

"I'll be starting on one as well." Anna said, "I never thought I could be so excited for a child. When my mother had her last child, I wasn't this excited."

"You're excited because it's yours." Phyllis said. The subject turned to other things but Anna could hardly keep her mind off of the child. She was going to be a mother!

John Bates glanced up as he saw someone coming towards him.

"John Bates?" He could hear someone calling his name.

"That's me." John said he stood as the man turned towards him.

"Someone misses you at home." The man commented, he handed John a small bundle of letters. John flipped through them, he could see one from his mother, a couple from Vera and several labeled John in a handwriting he didn't recognize, he assumed it was Anna's handwriting and he asked the mail carrier, "will you be taking mail back to England?"

"I'll only be going north, but I can send them along when I get to the sea, ask a soldier who's going home to send them."

"That will be fine, just a moment." John wrapped the letters he'd written to Anna in a piece of paper and quickly wrote on the inside, "Haven't been able to send these letters, thinking of you. John." After handing the stack to the mail carrier, he opened one letter from Anna.

My John;

I've just gotten back from your mother's Sunday Dinner, she's been wonderful in the week you've been gone. She's gone and invited our next door neighbor along. I hope that Phyllis will take the invitation, I know she can get lonely as I do at times. Her husband had been gone 6 months and I can only imagine how difficult it had been for her before I moved next door. It's been wonderful to have a friend here.

The letter went on to outline how she was filling her days. The curtains had been replaced, she said, and the sheets that had been on the bed when she'd gotten there were on the mending pile. It sounded like she was doing a wonderful job keeping house and John thanked his lucky stars that he'd found Anna. He knew that Vera would have spent his money on drinks and nonsense items. It sounded like Anna was making the house nicer, new curtains, tablecloth and the like. There was a promise to send socks when she'd finished knitting them and then she closed the letter.

I hope this letter finds you well. Even though we were only together a short time, and you told me to try not to, I do miss you. But I will be strong, and bear anything. Forever yours, Anna

Anna

John smiled and opened the next one. Soon he had read all the letters Anna had sent him, the comfort it brought him surprised him. They'd known each other less then a month before he'd gone off to war, how could he have gotten so attached to her? She was sweet, that much was for certain. And from the sound of the letters it seemed like she wasn't going to run around playing with his money. He couldn't help but remember the nights they had shared before he'd gone to war. Her soft body, the way she had moved under him. He could feel his body reacting and he cleared his throat and tried to think of something else. It wouldn't do to think to much about their week together, it wouldn't do any good.

He slipped Anna's letters into his breast pocket and then opened the letter from his mother.

It was short, saying that Anna had come by for Sunday dinner and she seemed to be doing well. "You've found a wonderful young woman, John do right by her, and she'll do right by you."

When he finished his mother's letter, he turned to Vera's letters. With barely a second thought, he tossed them in the fire.

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