Chapter 16
Dawn

"Good morning, Rafe." Devonny greeted him happily at the breakfast table of the McCawleys.

"Hey, Dev." Rafe took a sip of his mother's fresh orange juice, and glanced at her. She wore his shirt and a pair of his shorts. She hated dresses, and he had submitted his clothes to her as an alternative. The rest of Rafe's family were sitting around the table and the breakfast nook, all of them discreetly stealing looks at the two as Rafe retrieved her pancakes. They had all stayed over night, still celebrating Rafe's return.

"Devonny, is it?" Rafe's brother inquired. There were five McCawley children, and all except Rafe were married and had at least one child.

"Yes it is." Devonny replied, thanking Rafe for the orange juice. Not one of his siblings missed the admiring gaze he continually sent her. Devonny seemed to be the only one in the room who had not acknowledged it, or was pretending not to.

At that moment, Danny and Evelyn came storming into the kitchen. "I didn't say that, Ev."

"Well it certainly sounds that way to me." She retorted, becoming composed when she noticed the family's eyes on her. They began to fix their breakfast, passing Rafe who gave Danny a supportive pat on the shoulder.

The room was filled with conversation from the entire family, all delighted to have a reunion. Most lived in Memphis, the eldest, John, lived in Nashville with his family.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Rafe asked Devonny after she had taken bite.

"Better than I've slept in a while." She replied, immersing her pancakes in the soupy syrup.

"Good. That's good." Rafe smiled at her. Devonny seemed uncomfortable, but smiled back.

She set down her fork. "Can we talk?" She asked.

"Yeah." Rafe said, giving her his full attention.

"Alone?"

"Oh, of course. Come into the den."

Rafe shut the door behind him, and Devonny made herself comfortable on the couch. Rafe sat beside her.

"I can't lie to you any longer." She said after moments of hesitated silence. Rafe was about to reply, but she wouldn't let him. "Please don't interrupt me. This isn't easy. I can't be interrupted or I might lose my courage." She took a deep breath. "I've never said sorry in my life probably because I've never been sorry, until now. Rafe..." Her voice trailed off. "I am going to do this." She told herself, and repeated it twice before regaining her courage. She turned slightly so that she was facing him straight in the eyes, and tears formed. "Forgive me for leaving you, Rafe. I thought I knew what I was doing, but I was wrong. So wrong. Please forgive me. I'll never be more sorry for anything else in my entire life than right now. Say you forgive me."

"Oh, Devonny... You don't need-"

"Say it, please, Rafe!" She pleaded.

"Of course, I forgive you, Dev." Rafe took her hand in his.

"I thought you loved Evelyn... I didn't want my heart to be broken. I thought-"

"It's alright, Devonny. I forgive you." Rafe tried to embrace her, but she pulled away.

"I'm not done. I need you to forgive me for leaving you."

"I already did." Rafe replied, confused.

"No for leaving today. I don't want to see you again." Devonny stood, as if what she said was a proclamation.

"What? Why?" Rafe stood as well, trying to grasp the words just spoken.

Devonny gazed into his loving eyes, trying not to cry. "Rafe, I'm pregnant."