"Look Mommy, he gave me breakfast." Jimmy cried when she walked into the kitchen carrying the baby.
"I can see that." Handing the baby to Rafe she started to make a bottle.
"Iz are you going to talk to me?"
"Follow me." She led him into the living room. Jimmy went upstairs to play and she settled down to feed the baby. "Rafe, there is a lot of things that have happened since you and Danny left for training."
"I know some of it. Danny was heartbroken when the letter was returned. He blamed himself for leaving. Dolittle promised to get letters to you, but Danny said that would make it worse for you, so he just wrote. Iz, he never talked about you after that. It was as if by not talking about you he could bury the pain."
"I didn't talk much about Danny either. Then I got his box of letters during the summer of 1942. I nearly lost it right then. He was gone and this time there was no coming back. It took me a long time before I read those letters."
"But the kids where do they come into the story?"
"James is my brother. His mother died soon after he was born. She made me promise to raise him as my own. Rafe, he is mine. His father David and I were married two months before he was shipped out."
"Rafe?"
"Of course Rafe, that was the promise remember?"
"The promise. We pulled names out of a hat to see who we would name our children after."
"I got Rafe, you got Isabel and…"
"Danny got Danny," they finished together with a laugh.
"But married Iz you are so young."
"I am 19 years old now Rafe."
"Not to me, to me you will always be that little terror who always followed us around, but could play chicken better then me."
"Those were some fun days. Even though I could barely see over the instrument panel."
"How did Dolittle find you anyway? I mean this is a small town."
"We have only been here for a year Rafe. I flew with the WAVS (Women's Air Force Voluntary Services) for about a year and a half. Once Jimmy was born that was the end of it for me. That is how I met David. He was training on the same base that I flew out of. He is in Holland right now working in a DP (Displaced Persons) Camp. He is not sure when he will be shipped back. Rafe we can't stay here." She said tears in her eyes. "Father swears he will turn the boys out some of the days or all of us other days. Danny said if I needed help to come to you and I am."
"When can you leave?"
"Today if I had to."
"Mommy, who is this?" Jimmy asked from the doorway his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"Jimmy, this is your Uncle Rafe."
"Hey there Jimmy," Rafe said getting down on his knees in front of the boy, "it is great to meet you."
"My Daddy is in the air force just like you isn't he Mommy?"
"Yes he is." Looking at Rafe she mouthed "David has claimed him as his own."
Taking his namesake out of Iz's arms he took Jimmy's hand, "Who can pack the quickest?" he asked as Iz led them upstairs.
"We are almost all packed Rafe, in case we had to leave before you came."
"You don't look like the picture." Jimmy said as they went into the bedroom.
"That is an old picture Jimmy and he is not in his uniform either."
"Will Daddy look like his picture?"
Rafe had put the baby down while Jimmy had been talking. Getting down on his knees he told the little boy "I am sure you will know your Daddy when he comes." A picture on the vanity caught his attention. It was of the three of them before they had shipped out.
"You were both so proud of those uniforms. You made sure I was clean as a whistle before you let me come near you." She said noticing where his gaze had gone.
"We left a day later. For training with Doolittle."
"The General is a very nice man. He delivered the box to me himself. He didn't have to do that."
"What exactly is in the box Iz?"
"I'll show you, but not here." She answered. She took the picture and but it in the box. "Come on you two she said lets finish up in your room and," she said looking at Jimmy, "get new clothes."
A few minutes later they were all ready to go. Iz went down to the kitchen to pack some food for the trip, Rafe followed with the boys. "Rafe are you sure this isn't a problem."
"I am positive. You are family Iz and you are welcome in my home for as long as you need it. Besides someone has to give this husband of yours a proper once over."
"Oh no you don't you are going to leave him alone you hear me." She said with a laugh as she finished in the kitchen. Glancing at the clock she, "we better head out before Father comes home. Who knows what he would do if he saw this."
"Don't worry Iz, I hit him once when I was a little boy and I would do it again if I had to." He said as she took the baby from his arms.
Grabbing onto Jimmy's hand she replied, "let's hope you don't have to. Here let me take that she said grabbing the knapsack she had put Danny's box in. Leaving the other two bags for Rafe they headed out.
