The sound of barking dogs and laughing boys woke up the household the next few mornings, until Rafe decided to kick the dogs out of the house for the nights. So the inhabitants got a few extra minutes of sleep before the boys would wake up Rafe or Iz asking for their puppies.
R.J. as he was now called passed his first year without his father. Iz tried to hide her disappointment for the boy's sake, but Rafe wasn't fooled. He knew that she wanted Gooz to come home. Rafe knew Doolittle had pulled a lot of strings to get him shipped back early, still early would take time, time it seemed they had for now.
There were no more signs of Walker in town and both Iz and Rafe were breathing easier as the days went by. Both busy working to start their company. They also began working on the house that Iz and David now owned.
Evelyn had been moved to the hospital shortly after
the New Year on the advice of her doctor. Every Saturday the family would
pile into Rafe's truck and go visit her. She was happier in bed at the
hospital then at home, since she was able to pour over medical charts and
help nursing students.
It was nearing March and David was nearing New York,
where he would be formally discharged from the army. He was itching to
get to Tennessee and see Isabel and his family again. He hated that he
had heard no news from Rafe and wanted to be off as soon as possible.
He patted his pocket, which held a small diamond
ring that he had bought in Paris. He couldn't wait to slip it on Isabel's
finger and give her a real ring. In his army bag was checkers set for James
and a puppet for Rafe.
He let his mind drift back to his talk with Doolittle
that day he had received Rafe's note. He had rushed in ready to plead his
case if need be. Thankfully he didn't have to as soon as Doolittle heard
the name Walker, he was assigned to leave on the next transport.
Red was going to follow when Doolittle finally left
the area for good in June. Red had fallen in love. The barracks were full
of bets that Red would be staying with her or brining her home. He knew
better then them all Betty was still to close to Red to do anything, but
he hoped that changed before June.
