Pearl 25 "Evelyn, why don't you like to go swimming?" Iz asked as she fed Rafe his bottle. The two women were sitting on the porch watching the older boys play.
Evelyn looked at Iz startled. This was the first thing she had said since the children had woken up. Thinking for a moment on how to respond she looked at the boys in the yard. "Danny and I went swimming once before the attack. I think it is my way of keeping Danny alive by not sharing something like swimming with Rafe."
"That must have been one fun swim," Iz said a glint of mischief in her eyes. Now I don't remember having that much fun with Danny when I went swimming, I would go into the water with either of them or both." Looking at Evelyn she laughed at her blushing face. "I am sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"That is alright, it is good to hear you laugh again. Iz, did you really mean what you said?"
"To Rafe?" At Evelyn's nod she continued. "Yes I did if he doesn't accept who I am married to I will leave. I couldn't stay here knowing he hated David or me. I wouldn't go home though. My father would kill me if I did. I would go live with another friend from the WAVS."
"He doesn't hate you or David. He just reacted badly to the situation."
"I can't blame him for that I just assumed that he would put David and Gooz but he hadn't. We are both to blame for this situation."
"Where do you think Rafe has gone off to?" Evelyn asked taking Iz's mind off the fight with Rafe.
"I am not sure Evelyn, he could have gone to several places to be alone for awhile. The swimming hole, my old house, to town there, are many places."
"Where do you think he is right now?"
"Honestly I have no idea."
"I am getting worried about Rafe," Evelyn said as they settled the boys down for a nap.
Looking at the time Iz saw that it had been 6 hours since the fight that morning. "I have never known Rafe to go off that long even when he was mad."
"Really?"
"Yeah even at Pearl he and Danny were mad at each other for five hours before they started to settle things."
"But the…"
"But nothing that is the way with Rafe, he should have been back by now. Tell you what, I will go look at my old house and the swimming hole. You stay here in case he comes back."
"I could go to the swimming hole and save you a trip. Rafe never showed me where you used to live."
Nodding her head Iz started out the door followed closely by Evelyn. The two women headed in their respective directions looking for Rafe.