The news that she was pregnant had not reached the house. Mary Ellen had been informed of course, but she had promised not to tell anyone yet. As Emma and Ben drove home Emma's excitement was almost replaced with worry. What if this pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, or a stillbirth?
Ben glanced over at her. "You feeling okay?"
"Yeah," Emma answered quickly. "I'm just a little upset that John Boy and Jason won't be here to know. I'll write to them, though." She added.
When they got out of the car, Emma scanned her surroundings. John was down at the mill, Olivia was working in the garden, Erin and Mary Ellen were at work, Jim Bob would probably be at Ike's, and if she guessed correctly Elizabeth would be home from school and watching John Curtis.
The young couple walked over to Olivia and John, who had just walked up to his wife. "We have some news. We are expecting our first child." Emma said softly. Her adoptive parents broke into wide smiles and pulled them both into tight hugs.
After words of happiness, Emma and Ben walked inside to see Elizabeth and John Curtis at the table. "Elizabeth, John Curtis, we have some news. We're having a baby." Elizabeth ran over and hugged them instantly, while John Curtis had to have the fact explained to him, and Emma was satasfied that he thought that he was going to be a big brother.
"I can't wait to meet you, little one." Ben said softly as they lay in bed that night. He thought Emma was asleep, but she was wide awake, listening intently. "You may not know this yet, but I love you more than anything in the world, except Emma of course."
Emma moved onto her other side and grinned at her husband. "You are so cute." She said, kissing him. Ben flushed when he found out that she had heart him, but he soon laughed about it.
The four sisters went for a walk down to Drucilla's Pond, Sunday afternoon. Mary Ellen, who was now coming twenty three later in the year, had a spring in her step and her dark hair bounced off her shoulders. Her dark eyes had their old twinkle in them, and she seemed just like the old her.
Erin was a bit more reserved, her hands behind her back as usual. Her bright blue eyes complimented her lighter shade of red hair. She was twenty, and she was working hard. No men at the moment for her. Elizabeth had grown into a beautiful young lady of fifteen years old. Her red hair was straightened and pinned in a delacite way, and her brown eyes were filled with wonder all the time. She was the sensible sister, even if she was the youngest.
They stopped for a moment to chat, their laughter filling the silence around them. They didn't notice their four brothers creeping up behind them. They didn't remember that Olivia had made a passing remark at breakfast about seeing the whole family together. They only remembered how close the sibling bond was when they turned around and almost screamed with happiness at seeing John Boy and Jason.
Emma found herself in a massive hug surrounded by a huge crowd, and she giggled in content. Ben sent her a wink and helped her out of the mess. "I thought you couldn't get a pass?"
John Boy smiled. "We couldn't. But then Jason managed to get his new girlfriend to get us them." Jason went red.
"Her name is Toni Hazelton. She is the truck driver for my general." Jason said quickly, his ears also turning red. "But we also have some other news."
Mary Ellen frowned. "What is it, Jason?"
"John Boy and I are being stationed overseas. France."