All's Fair in Love and War.. Yeah Right.
Chapter 7
Might as Well Face it You're Addicted to Love
When I got there I went to my new apartment, but not before paying Lenny for the apartment, and then I went furniture shopping. I found this bed it was black wrought iron and a canopy bed, queen sized, when I finally had it put up in my apartment, I put a light green sheer material around the top then I put different fake flowers at each corner, then I painted my room yellow. The living room we painted light blue and I got a white sofa and a yellow love seat. I painted the kitchen dark green and the cabinets white and I painted the bathroom a light green and the spare room light purple. For the spare room, I got a regular queen sized bed. When I was done, I went out for ice cream, because I was hungry, then I went to the grocery store. When I got back Gooz and Red were waiting for me.
"Hey you two."
They looked up at me Red smiled weakly, and Gooz still looked unhappy.
"Hi Jo," said Red.
"What's wrong?"
"Let's go inside."
"Okay."
I opened the door and we went in. As I was putting the groceries away, Gooz cleared his throat.
"Danny's father, he died last night. Rafe and Evelyn are down at my apartment," said Gooz.
I slowly looked up. I didn't know what to say. I just began to cry. My knees suddenly became weak, and I fell to the floor. Gooz and Red fell with me and hugged me. Gooz rubbed my hair and rocked me back and forth, like Rafe does. Someone knocked on the door, and Red went to go get it.
"Come on in you guys. She's in the kitchen," said Red.
"Where, I don't see her."
It was Rafe.
"She's behind that bar, island thing right there, that big table that you need stools to sit at. She's back there with Gooz."
"With Gooz? What are they doin'?"
He came in, and I got up, then helped Gooz up. I splashed cold water on my face, and Evelyn and Danny Jr. came in.
"Hi Rafe, Evelyn. Hey Danny- boy!"
I picked him up and twirled him around, he giggled.
"Want something to eat?" I asked him.
"No, that's okay, we just came to tell you about Danny's father, good bye, Jo," said Evelyn, hurriedly.
"Okay."
"Evelyn, we could have dinner here," said Rafe.
"No, it's okay, she obviously doesn't want to stay here, I don't mind. I like being by myself, when I am. Gooz and Red come up here most of the time, but I'm usually at work."
"She is. It's a miracle she's here. When we were looking for her we went straight to her office," said Gooz.
"It's a Saturday," said Evelyn.
"Evelyn, I'm not like you. I work as much as possible, it gives me somethin' to do. And the government works every day, and on weekends most people take those off, but I usually don't. Speakin' of which. What time is it?"
"One twenty one," Red said.
"What!? I've got to get ready, I've got work in ten minutes."
I ran into my room, got my clothes, went into the bathroom, got a quick shower, put my clothes on, and ran into the living room, putting my wet hair into a pony tail.
"Are you okay?" asked Rafe.
"Yeah. I'll try to get an hour or so off tonight and make y'all dinner. Red, Gooz why don't y'all hang out or somethin' while I'm gone. Bye."
And I ran out the door to catch a taxi, and it got to the Pentagon, and ran inside.
"You're late," said Commander Zenski.
"Sorry sir, my brother, sister- in- law and nephew are in town because a close friend of our family died recently."
"I'm sorry. Do you need a long leave?"
"No sir, only a day or two, possibly. And I need an hour or two to make dinner for them."
"You didn't even need to come in today. We don't really need-- oh never mind."
I shrugged and did whatever needed doing, at six thirty, I went into the Commanders office.
"Sir--"
"Commander. A message from the President, sir. The Russians won't give in. They've blockaded us from getting to Germany," said the lieutenant.
"Thank you, Smith."
He left and Commander Zenski sighed, sitting down at his desk putting his head in his hands.
"Sir? Are you all right?"
"I need to find a way to get supplies and goods to Berlin."
"Fly them."
"No, there are no runways, they're all blocked off."
"Drop them from the planes."
He looked up, smiling.
"You're brilliant. That's absolutely brilliant!"
"Thank you sir."
"No thank you. You can have as much time as you want off. Oh, and in a week the plane leaves for Hawaii. I know you've volunteered for that."
"Thank you sir."
I left, exhausted, and caught a taxi home. When I got there I began to make dinner. I made roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn, Rafe's and my favorite. They came in just as I set it on the table.
"Good. I'm starving," said Gooz, sitting down.
"Eugene Wood!"
He flinched at his name, I laughed.
"What?"
"Your name is Eugene?" asked Rafe, laughing.
"So?"
"Gooz, go home, this was supposed to be a family thing, but if you want my cooking, you can stay," I sighed.
"Thanks."
We sat down and ate in quiet. The next day we went beck to Shelby, Tennessee, for the funeral. I didn't know what to do, say or think. All I could think of was Danny, Ma, Pa and Mr. Walker all being together. The next day, after going through Mr. Walker's old things, I went back to Washington. I was only there a few days when I left for Hawaii, back to Pearl. I unpacked and sat down on my old bed, when Doolittle walked in.
"General, you're the first one here."
"Sir. Is this bunker reserved for us or something?"
"Yes, actually it is."
"Wow."
The others walked in.
"Jo!" they all yelled.
"Hey guys. I heard there's a boxing match on the Virginia, wanna go check it out before dinner?"
There was cheering, and we went and watched Officer Miller, kick some butt. When he got tired, another man stepped in the ring.
"Miller, come on, let's fight!" he growled.
"He needs a break!" someone called from the audience.
"Fine! Then I need a challenger!"
My adrenaline pumped, and a smile came to my face.
"No, Jo," said Red.
Too late.
"I will!"
The crowd 'oo'ed. And everyone, but the guys in my bunker bet against me. I stepped in the ring, and Miller handed me his gloves.
"Knock 'em dead, Miss--"
"General, General Jo McCawley. And I won't knock him dead, I'll knock 'im unconscious."
Miller laughed. The bell rang, and the men began to scream. The man took the first swing. Right jab, he missed. I gave him a double hit, right hook and then a left hook. The infamous fists of Shelby, Tennessee. He got my cheek with a right hook, but I got him a good few punches in the face and stomach. After a while, he got tired, but I wasn't.
"Are you a nurse lady?" he asked.
"No I'm a General, General Jo McCawley of the Air Force."
His eyes grew wide., and a punched him in the nose, causing him to fall backward. I raised my arms in triumph and the men threw my money to me, or more, at me. Over the next few days the sailors stayed away from me, I found it highly amusing. The second day, I was able to get back into a plane, I felt free, like I had before the war. I did barrel rolls, and outside loops, only when no one was looking. When I landed we all went out to dinner, and someone came up behind me, covering my eyes.
"Guess who."
"Who?"
"Guess."
"Give me a hint."
"Do you want to leave, so you're not being watched?"
"Paul?"
The hands were removed from my eyes and I turned to see Paul's smiling face.
"Hey. How are you?" he asked.
"I'm good. And you? I haven't seen you for a while."
"I'm great now that I've seen you again."
I blushed slightly.
"I'm sorry about the note, I had to catch my plane, and then my train, and you weren't there, so."
"Let's go out for ice cream, and forget about the past."
"Okay. I'll see you guys later, okay?"
"Have fun kids," said Gooz.
"Don't stay out too late," said Red.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," said Rafe. "Wait! I take that back!"
"Bye you three."
And Paul and I left the restaurant. We went back to the spot on the cliff over-looking the beach and the ocean. Then went back to the parachute hangar. We repeated our original date, excluding the Italian restaurant. This time, I made it back around midnight, instead of two. Paul and I didn't see each other much after that. The next week Gooz, Red and I went out for ice cream.
"Wow, she's cute," said Gooz, looking at a blonde.
"Are you challenging me?" I asked.
"You bet."
"Okay Red you wanna join in?"
"No, I'll keep score," said Red.
"Okay. I'll get this man over here, without saying a word."
"No you can't," said Gooz.
That was when the competition began. I looked at this table full of men, and looked at them and smiled slyly, they raised their eyebrows and every one of them looked for a pen, pencil and a piece of paper. All of them wrote down their name, city, state, address and phone number. And placed it next to me as they passed by.
"That's..... fifteen for me and how many for you?"
"Six."
"Only six?"
"Shut up, what about that guy over there, he's staring at that blonde and she's all over him."
"I won't say a word."
I cleared my throat, and he looked at me, I licked my ice cream spoon and winked at him, he stood up and came up to me.
"Here? Nine tonight?"
"Can't get out of the base, heavily guarded."
"Prison?"
"No, Air Force."
"Pilot?"
I nodded.
"General."
"Oh."
And he left.
"I win."
"Jo wins," said Red.
Gooz sighed and handed me twenty dollars. Over the next couple of weeks, I felt horrible, and Rafe made me go to Tennessee with him, instead of being in Washington alone. I tried to help out, but everything I did, it was wrong. One morning, Danny Jr. got up really early, and I was throwing up, so instead of waking Evelyn up at quarter to six in the morning, I made them all breakfast. Well, when they came down, Evelyn didn't look happy.
"What's this?" she asked.
"I was up, and Danny- boy was about to wake y'all up, and I told him I'd make everyone breakfast, so you didn't have to get up."
"Oh, well, I like my eggs over easy."
"Well, I was about to make some, actually. I know Rafe'll eat them all three ways, so I'm about to make them now."
"How many do you want Jo?" asked Rafe.
"A couple."
I had made French toast and eggs. I gave Danny his chocolate milk and made coffee for the adults. Evelyn wouldn't let me have any, and gave me milk and orange juice. All through the three weeks I was there Evelyn found something to lecture me about. I was supposed to stay until I got better, but I left after three weeks.
"Jo, you're still sick," said Rafe.
"I'm not sticking around here for nine months."
"You won't be sick for nine--"
"Yes Rafe, that's right. I'm pregnant."
"Oh."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'll be fine. I'm going home tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"I've been here three weeks."
"Your point?"
"Your wife hates me."
"That's not true.
"Yes it is Rafe. Everything I do, it's wrong."
"She's picky."
"Whatever you say. I mean it's just-- I'm going."
And the next morning I went back to Washington. All the time I was miserable. In about the seventh month, Commander Zenski realized it wasn't fat.
"General McCawley?"
"Yes sir?"
"Are you-- um... I mean-- are you--?"
"Am I what sir?"
"What he's trying to say is are you going to have a baby?" finished Col. Doolittle.
"Yes sir I am, in two months."
"Two--? General, there is this thing called maternity leave."
"Okay?"
"Usually women go on it when there pregnant."
"So?"
"You have to go on Maternity leave."
I sighed.
"I don't want to, but I guess I have to, I've still got to turn the spare room into the baby's room."
"What color is it?"
"Still spring green, I'm not changing it, not until the baby wants to change it, but I'll paint it anything but pink."
Doolittle laughed.
"You hate that color, don't you?"
"Yes sir I do."
He laughed again, and drove me home. I got into my pajamas and got some much needed sleep, I'd been working hard because of the end of W.W.II and the beginning of the Cold war. About dinner time, I woke up and walked into the kitchen, and smelt something.
"Morning. We thought you could use some help," said Gooz smiling.
"You taught us well," said Red.
We sat down and ate dinner discussing the news. Who's dating Gooz, who's dating Red, who's the Godparents of the baby going to be, who the father of the baby's going to be, and the tally of how many times Doolittle asked me into going into Maternity leave.
"How many?" asked Gooz.
I thought for a second.
"Today it was forty seven."
Red sighed.
"Are you actually going to stay this time?" asked Red.
"I suppose."
"Good."
They came in every day after that to check up on me, and on day I went out grocery shopping with Gooz, and Red. They were playing catch with toilet paper, when I felt a sharp pain. I looked down, I could feel my face go white.
"Oh great."
"Jo? Are you all right?" asked Red.
"I will be in a few hours."
"What's in a few hours?" asked Gooz.
Red looked down, then elbowed Gooz in the ribs, then pointed to the floor.
"Jo? I think your water broke," said Red.
"My what?"
"You're having the baby."
"I know."
I had an idea. I took a jar of pickles and dropped them, so no one would know what it really was. We left the cart there, and Gooz and Red practically pushed me out of the store. They drove to the hospital, surprisingly without being pulled over for speeding, and rushed me into the hospital, by this time, it was really starting to hurt. The nurse came up to us.
"Get Rafe," I said to Gooz and Red.
She led me into a room, and I was in there for a very long time, I don't know how long, maybe ten hours of sharp pains. Right when I was about to call for Red and Gooz, the doctor came in.
"Knees up and apart."
He took my knees and lifted them up, so they were bent, and pulled my legs apart.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What in the world are you doing?" I demanded, putting my legs together.
"You're gonna have to trust me."
"Bull."
"Come on Miss--"
"General Jo McCawley."
"Okay, General, you're going to have to relax, it won't be long now."
"Okay. Fine, what do I do?"
"Think about something else until I say."
"Okay. What?"
"Were you in the war? As a nurse?"
"No. I'm a pilot, and yes I was in the war. I was shot down in Poland, there was a massacre there, between the Allies and the Nazis. I believe I'm the only survivor of it."
"I heard about that. There were a few others who survived, they were found, almost dead. Then there were a few Nazis dead, one holding an arm and another a--"
"Head. I killed those eight men, they were playing baseball with them, I killed them, as they had my buddies, can we move on to another subject?"
"The father of the baby. What's he like?"
"He's tall dark, handsome, a Naval doctor, haven't seen him for nine months. Next subject."
"Okay, the baby's coming, push."
I pushed and a while later, I was holding my new baby girl.
"What's her name?" asked the nurse.
"Harley Gabrielle Walker McCawley," I said, smiling down at my baby.
"Two last names?"
"No two middle names."
The nurse shrugged and let Red, Gooz, Earl, Martha, Tony, Barbara, Danny Jr., Rafe and Evelyn in. Gooz had cigars for everyone. The nurse came back in.
"Umm,. excuse me, which of the two men you came in with is the father?" she asked.
"Neither."
"Then where is the father?"
"That's classified."
She shrugged and left.
"You know where he is?" asked Rafe.
"No."
"Do you even know who it is?" asked Red.
"Yes."
"Did you name the baby?" asked Gooz
"No," I said sarcastically.
"What did you name her?" asked Evelyn.
"Harley Gabrielle Walker McCawley."
"Long name," said Earl.
"You got a problem with that?"
"No."
"Good."
Over the next few months I was a stay home mom, I cooked cleaned, took care of the baby, all those thing house wives do. I didn't like it very much. Two months later, I was at the grocery store, Harley was with Gooz and Red, and I accidentally bumped into a man.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't payin' attention," I said.
He turned and faced me. His features lightened and he smiled.
"It's all right, Miss--? I'm John Walters"
"McCawley. Jo McCawley."
"Wow. Really? "
"Yes."
"Wonder Woman eh?"
I blushed a bit.
"I wouldn't say that. I got the nickname on the Doolittle Raid. A friend of mine was jokin' around, askin' me to marry him or sleep with him, and I kept sayin' no. One night he grabbed me around the waist and I flipped him over my head, so that's how I got that nickname."
He laughed. He had gorgeous brown eyes and dirty blonde hair.
"Umm, are you busy Friday night?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"
"Sure."
I smiled at him and he blushed a little. That Friday I put on my hula dress, and did my hair, no make up, I still wasn't quite sure how that worked, but Lauren, Gooz's new girlfriend came up, to help me get ready. When I was done I took Harley down to Gooz's place for him to watch her for me.
"Thank you so much Gooz."
"No problem. I love her. You have fun tonight."
I kissed Harley on the forehead and left. I met John at the French restaurant on 15 th street. We ate, talked, laughed, and without realizing it, we ended up kissing profusely in his car, in front of my apartment building. When we broke apart, I looked at my watch.
"Four forty five. I've got to get home. I had a great time. Thank you."
"Good bye, Jo."
We kissed again and I got out of the car. Through the months I went out with several different men. A few times we ended up back at his place, or mine. A few times, Gooz saw him leave and brought Harley back up, and put her in her bed.
"Jo?"
"Hey Gooz. Sorry I was out so late. I am never able to keep track of time."
"That's not what I wanted to say. I'm worried about you. You go out with a different man every week, and nine times out of ten you end up here or at his place, and don't get back until early morning. Might as well face it Jo. You're addicted to love."
"Huh?"
"You haven't found the right guy for yourself."
"Yes I have, he's dead."
"Jo, he died for a reason, maybe so you could move on with your life, to teach you to get over things. Jo, slow it down."
I sighed. He was right. I'd go on a date, get in his car and then I'd end up on my back. I seemed to have made that a habit.
"Okay, Gooz."
"Good."
He turned to leave.
"Oh, and Gooz. Thanks."
"For what?"
"Everything."
He smiled kissed me on the forehead and left. Within the next few months, I was a workaholic again. I did most of my work at home, so I could still watch Harley, and everyone in the Pentagon loved Harley.
Chapter 7
Might as Well Face it You're Addicted to Love
When I got there I went to my new apartment, but not before paying Lenny for the apartment, and then I went furniture shopping. I found this bed it was black wrought iron and a canopy bed, queen sized, when I finally had it put up in my apartment, I put a light green sheer material around the top then I put different fake flowers at each corner, then I painted my room yellow. The living room we painted light blue and I got a white sofa and a yellow love seat. I painted the kitchen dark green and the cabinets white and I painted the bathroom a light green and the spare room light purple. For the spare room, I got a regular queen sized bed. When I was done, I went out for ice cream, because I was hungry, then I went to the grocery store. When I got back Gooz and Red were waiting for me.
"Hey you two."
They looked up at me Red smiled weakly, and Gooz still looked unhappy.
"Hi Jo," said Red.
"What's wrong?"
"Let's go inside."
"Okay."
I opened the door and we went in. As I was putting the groceries away, Gooz cleared his throat.
"Danny's father, he died last night. Rafe and Evelyn are down at my apartment," said Gooz.
I slowly looked up. I didn't know what to say. I just began to cry. My knees suddenly became weak, and I fell to the floor. Gooz and Red fell with me and hugged me. Gooz rubbed my hair and rocked me back and forth, like Rafe does. Someone knocked on the door, and Red went to go get it.
"Come on in you guys. She's in the kitchen," said Red.
"Where, I don't see her."
It was Rafe.
"She's behind that bar, island thing right there, that big table that you need stools to sit at. She's back there with Gooz."
"With Gooz? What are they doin'?"
He came in, and I got up, then helped Gooz up. I splashed cold water on my face, and Evelyn and Danny Jr. came in.
"Hi Rafe, Evelyn. Hey Danny- boy!"
I picked him up and twirled him around, he giggled.
"Want something to eat?" I asked him.
"No, that's okay, we just came to tell you about Danny's father, good bye, Jo," said Evelyn, hurriedly.
"Okay."
"Evelyn, we could have dinner here," said Rafe.
"No, it's okay, she obviously doesn't want to stay here, I don't mind. I like being by myself, when I am. Gooz and Red come up here most of the time, but I'm usually at work."
"She is. It's a miracle she's here. When we were looking for her we went straight to her office," said Gooz.
"It's a Saturday," said Evelyn.
"Evelyn, I'm not like you. I work as much as possible, it gives me somethin' to do. And the government works every day, and on weekends most people take those off, but I usually don't. Speakin' of which. What time is it?"
"One twenty one," Red said.
"What!? I've got to get ready, I've got work in ten minutes."
I ran into my room, got my clothes, went into the bathroom, got a quick shower, put my clothes on, and ran into the living room, putting my wet hair into a pony tail.
"Are you okay?" asked Rafe.
"Yeah. I'll try to get an hour or so off tonight and make y'all dinner. Red, Gooz why don't y'all hang out or somethin' while I'm gone. Bye."
And I ran out the door to catch a taxi, and it got to the Pentagon, and ran inside.
"You're late," said Commander Zenski.
"Sorry sir, my brother, sister- in- law and nephew are in town because a close friend of our family died recently."
"I'm sorry. Do you need a long leave?"
"No sir, only a day or two, possibly. And I need an hour or two to make dinner for them."
"You didn't even need to come in today. We don't really need-- oh never mind."
I shrugged and did whatever needed doing, at six thirty, I went into the Commanders office.
"Sir--"
"Commander. A message from the President, sir. The Russians won't give in. They've blockaded us from getting to Germany," said the lieutenant.
"Thank you, Smith."
He left and Commander Zenski sighed, sitting down at his desk putting his head in his hands.
"Sir? Are you all right?"
"I need to find a way to get supplies and goods to Berlin."
"Fly them."
"No, there are no runways, they're all blocked off."
"Drop them from the planes."
He looked up, smiling.
"You're brilliant. That's absolutely brilliant!"
"Thank you sir."
"No thank you. You can have as much time as you want off. Oh, and in a week the plane leaves for Hawaii. I know you've volunteered for that."
"Thank you sir."
I left, exhausted, and caught a taxi home. When I got there I began to make dinner. I made roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn, Rafe's and my favorite. They came in just as I set it on the table.
"Good. I'm starving," said Gooz, sitting down.
"Eugene Wood!"
He flinched at his name, I laughed.
"What?"
"Your name is Eugene?" asked Rafe, laughing.
"So?"
"Gooz, go home, this was supposed to be a family thing, but if you want my cooking, you can stay," I sighed.
"Thanks."
We sat down and ate in quiet. The next day we went beck to Shelby, Tennessee, for the funeral. I didn't know what to do, say or think. All I could think of was Danny, Ma, Pa and Mr. Walker all being together. The next day, after going through Mr. Walker's old things, I went back to Washington. I was only there a few days when I left for Hawaii, back to Pearl. I unpacked and sat down on my old bed, when Doolittle walked in.
"General, you're the first one here."
"Sir. Is this bunker reserved for us or something?"
"Yes, actually it is."
"Wow."
The others walked in.
"Jo!" they all yelled.
"Hey guys. I heard there's a boxing match on the Virginia, wanna go check it out before dinner?"
There was cheering, and we went and watched Officer Miller, kick some butt. When he got tired, another man stepped in the ring.
"Miller, come on, let's fight!" he growled.
"He needs a break!" someone called from the audience.
"Fine! Then I need a challenger!"
My adrenaline pumped, and a smile came to my face.
"No, Jo," said Red.
Too late.
"I will!"
The crowd 'oo'ed. And everyone, but the guys in my bunker bet against me. I stepped in the ring, and Miller handed me his gloves.
"Knock 'em dead, Miss--"
"General, General Jo McCawley. And I won't knock him dead, I'll knock 'im unconscious."
Miller laughed. The bell rang, and the men began to scream. The man took the first swing. Right jab, he missed. I gave him a double hit, right hook and then a left hook. The infamous fists of Shelby, Tennessee. He got my cheek with a right hook, but I got him a good few punches in the face and stomach. After a while, he got tired, but I wasn't.
"Are you a nurse lady?" he asked.
"No I'm a General, General Jo McCawley of the Air Force."
His eyes grew wide., and a punched him in the nose, causing him to fall backward. I raised my arms in triumph and the men threw my money to me, or more, at me. Over the next few days the sailors stayed away from me, I found it highly amusing. The second day, I was able to get back into a plane, I felt free, like I had before the war. I did barrel rolls, and outside loops, only when no one was looking. When I landed we all went out to dinner, and someone came up behind me, covering my eyes.
"Guess who."
"Who?"
"Guess."
"Give me a hint."
"Do you want to leave, so you're not being watched?"
"Paul?"
The hands were removed from my eyes and I turned to see Paul's smiling face.
"Hey. How are you?" he asked.
"I'm good. And you? I haven't seen you for a while."
"I'm great now that I've seen you again."
I blushed slightly.
"I'm sorry about the note, I had to catch my plane, and then my train, and you weren't there, so."
"Let's go out for ice cream, and forget about the past."
"Okay. I'll see you guys later, okay?"
"Have fun kids," said Gooz.
"Don't stay out too late," said Red.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," said Rafe. "Wait! I take that back!"
"Bye you three."
And Paul and I left the restaurant. We went back to the spot on the cliff over-looking the beach and the ocean. Then went back to the parachute hangar. We repeated our original date, excluding the Italian restaurant. This time, I made it back around midnight, instead of two. Paul and I didn't see each other much after that. The next week Gooz, Red and I went out for ice cream.
"Wow, she's cute," said Gooz, looking at a blonde.
"Are you challenging me?" I asked.
"You bet."
"Okay Red you wanna join in?"
"No, I'll keep score," said Red.
"Okay. I'll get this man over here, without saying a word."
"No you can't," said Gooz.
That was when the competition began. I looked at this table full of men, and looked at them and smiled slyly, they raised their eyebrows and every one of them looked for a pen, pencil and a piece of paper. All of them wrote down their name, city, state, address and phone number. And placed it next to me as they passed by.
"That's..... fifteen for me and how many for you?"
"Six."
"Only six?"
"Shut up, what about that guy over there, he's staring at that blonde and she's all over him."
"I won't say a word."
I cleared my throat, and he looked at me, I licked my ice cream spoon and winked at him, he stood up and came up to me.
"Here? Nine tonight?"
"Can't get out of the base, heavily guarded."
"Prison?"
"No, Air Force."
"Pilot?"
I nodded.
"General."
"Oh."
And he left.
"I win."
"Jo wins," said Red.
Gooz sighed and handed me twenty dollars. Over the next couple of weeks, I felt horrible, and Rafe made me go to Tennessee with him, instead of being in Washington alone. I tried to help out, but everything I did, it was wrong. One morning, Danny Jr. got up really early, and I was throwing up, so instead of waking Evelyn up at quarter to six in the morning, I made them all breakfast. Well, when they came down, Evelyn didn't look happy.
"What's this?" she asked.
"I was up, and Danny- boy was about to wake y'all up, and I told him I'd make everyone breakfast, so you didn't have to get up."
"Oh, well, I like my eggs over easy."
"Well, I was about to make some, actually. I know Rafe'll eat them all three ways, so I'm about to make them now."
"How many do you want Jo?" asked Rafe.
"A couple."
I had made French toast and eggs. I gave Danny his chocolate milk and made coffee for the adults. Evelyn wouldn't let me have any, and gave me milk and orange juice. All through the three weeks I was there Evelyn found something to lecture me about. I was supposed to stay until I got better, but I left after three weeks.
"Jo, you're still sick," said Rafe.
"I'm not sticking around here for nine months."
"You won't be sick for nine--"
"Yes Rafe, that's right. I'm pregnant."
"Oh."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'll be fine. I'm going home tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"I've been here three weeks."
"Your point?"
"Your wife hates me."
"That's not true.
"Yes it is Rafe. Everything I do, it's wrong."
"She's picky."
"Whatever you say. I mean it's just-- I'm going."
And the next morning I went back to Washington. All the time I was miserable. In about the seventh month, Commander Zenski realized it wasn't fat.
"General McCawley?"
"Yes sir?"
"Are you-- um... I mean-- are you--?"
"Am I what sir?"
"What he's trying to say is are you going to have a baby?" finished Col. Doolittle.
"Yes sir I am, in two months."
"Two--? General, there is this thing called maternity leave."
"Okay?"
"Usually women go on it when there pregnant."
"So?"
"You have to go on Maternity leave."
I sighed.
"I don't want to, but I guess I have to, I've still got to turn the spare room into the baby's room."
"What color is it?"
"Still spring green, I'm not changing it, not until the baby wants to change it, but I'll paint it anything but pink."
Doolittle laughed.
"You hate that color, don't you?"
"Yes sir I do."
He laughed again, and drove me home. I got into my pajamas and got some much needed sleep, I'd been working hard because of the end of W.W.II and the beginning of the Cold war. About dinner time, I woke up and walked into the kitchen, and smelt something.
"Morning. We thought you could use some help," said Gooz smiling.
"You taught us well," said Red.
We sat down and ate dinner discussing the news. Who's dating Gooz, who's dating Red, who's the Godparents of the baby going to be, who the father of the baby's going to be, and the tally of how many times Doolittle asked me into going into Maternity leave.
"How many?" asked Gooz.
I thought for a second.
"Today it was forty seven."
Red sighed.
"Are you actually going to stay this time?" asked Red.
"I suppose."
"Good."
They came in every day after that to check up on me, and on day I went out grocery shopping with Gooz, and Red. They were playing catch with toilet paper, when I felt a sharp pain. I looked down, I could feel my face go white.
"Oh great."
"Jo? Are you all right?" asked Red.
"I will be in a few hours."
"What's in a few hours?" asked Gooz.
Red looked down, then elbowed Gooz in the ribs, then pointed to the floor.
"Jo? I think your water broke," said Red.
"My what?"
"You're having the baby."
"I know."
I had an idea. I took a jar of pickles and dropped them, so no one would know what it really was. We left the cart there, and Gooz and Red practically pushed me out of the store. They drove to the hospital, surprisingly without being pulled over for speeding, and rushed me into the hospital, by this time, it was really starting to hurt. The nurse came up to us.
"Get Rafe," I said to Gooz and Red.
She led me into a room, and I was in there for a very long time, I don't know how long, maybe ten hours of sharp pains. Right when I was about to call for Red and Gooz, the doctor came in.
"Knees up and apart."
He took my knees and lifted them up, so they were bent, and pulled my legs apart.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What in the world are you doing?" I demanded, putting my legs together.
"You're gonna have to trust me."
"Bull."
"Come on Miss--"
"General Jo McCawley."
"Okay, General, you're going to have to relax, it won't be long now."
"Okay. Fine, what do I do?"
"Think about something else until I say."
"Okay. What?"
"Were you in the war? As a nurse?"
"No. I'm a pilot, and yes I was in the war. I was shot down in Poland, there was a massacre there, between the Allies and the Nazis. I believe I'm the only survivor of it."
"I heard about that. There were a few others who survived, they were found, almost dead. Then there were a few Nazis dead, one holding an arm and another a--"
"Head. I killed those eight men, they were playing baseball with them, I killed them, as they had my buddies, can we move on to another subject?"
"The father of the baby. What's he like?"
"He's tall dark, handsome, a Naval doctor, haven't seen him for nine months. Next subject."
"Okay, the baby's coming, push."
I pushed and a while later, I was holding my new baby girl.
"What's her name?" asked the nurse.
"Harley Gabrielle Walker McCawley," I said, smiling down at my baby.
"Two last names?"
"No two middle names."
The nurse shrugged and let Red, Gooz, Earl, Martha, Tony, Barbara, Danny Jr., Rafe and Evelyn in. Gooz had cigars for everyone. The nurse came back in.
"Umm,. excuse me, which of the two men you came in with is the father?" she asked.
"Neither."
"Then where is the father?"
"That's classified."
She shrugged and left.
"You know where he is?" asked Rafe.
"No."
"Do you even know who it is?" asked Red.
"Yes."
"Did you name the baby?" asked Gooz
"No," I said sarcastically.
"What did you name her?" asked Evelyn.
"Harley Gabrielle Walker McCawley."
"Long name," said Earl.
"You got a problem with that?"
"No."
"Good."
Over the next few months I was a stay home mom, I cooked cleaned, took care of the baby, all those thing house wives do. I didn't like it very much. Two months later, I was at the grocery store, Harley was with Gooz and Red, and I accidentally bumped into a man.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't payin' attention," I said.
He turned and faced me. His features lightened and he smiled.
"It's all right, Miss--? I'm John Walters"
"McCawley. Jo McCawley."
"Wow. Really? "
"Yes."
"Wonder Woman eh?"
I blushed a bit.
"I wouldn't say that. I got the nickname on the Doolittle Raid. A friend of mine was jokin' around, askin' me to marry him or sleep with him, and I kept sayin' no. One night he grabbed me around the waist and I flipped him over my head, so that's how I got that nickname."
He laughed. He had gorgeous brown eyes and dirty blonde hair.
"Umm, are you busy Friday night?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"
"Sure."
I smiled at him and he blushed a little. That Friday I put on my hula dress, and did my hair, no make up, I still wasn't quite sure how that worked, but Lauren, Gooz's new girlfriend came up, to help me get ready. When I was done I took Harley down to Gooz's place for him to watch her for me.
"Thank you so much Gooz."
"No problem. I love her. You have fun tonight."
I kissed Harley on the forehead and left. I met John at the French restaurant on 15 th street. We ate, talked, laughed, and without realizing it, we ended up kissing profusely in his car, in front of my apartment building. When we broke apart, I looked at my watch.
"Four forty five. I've got to get home. I had a great time. Thank you."
"Good bye, Jo."
We kissed again and I got out of the car. Through the months I went out with several different men. A few times we ended up back at his place, or mine. A few times, Gooz saw him leave and brought Harley back up, and put her in her bed.
"Jo?"
"Hey Gooz. Sorry I was out so late. I am never able to keep track of time."
"That's not what I wanted to say. I'm worried about you. You go out with a different man every week, and nine times out of ten you end up here or at his place, and don't get back until early morning. Might as well face it Jo. You're addicted to love."
"Huh?"
"You haven't found the right guy for yourself."
"Yes I have, he's dead."
"Jo, he died for a reason, maybe so you could move on with your life, to teach you to get over things. Jo, slow it down."
I sighed. He was right. I'd go on a date, get in his car and then I'd end up on my back. I seemed to have made that a habit.
"Okay, Gooz."
"Good."
He turned to leave.
"Oh, and Gooz. Thanks."
"For what?"
"Everything."
He smiled kissed me on the forehead and left. Within the next few months, I was a workaholic again. I did most of my work at home, so I could still watch Harley, and everyone in the Pentagon loved Harley.