Chapter 9 Correction in time: Ella's parents died when she was 16, not 13, not really important but oh well ************************************************************************

"Oh Ella that's terrible. Are you sure he won't come back?" Evelyn questioned. She and Ella were sitting on the back porch sipping lemonade, discussing what had become known as "The Steve Incident."

"I doubt it, Rafe hit him pretty hard, and Steve may brag about being on the wrestling team but he was, no is, the biggest wimp. He grew up very sheltered."

"And you didn't?" Evelyn said laughing, Ella had since admitted to such things as a coming out party, prep school, shopping sprees in New York City, galas at the White House.

"Well, I was a bit sheltered, I at least knew there were poor people and such thing as a working class."

"Well if it isn't my wife Philadelphia's prettiest debutante." Rafe said as he returned from work, overhearing their conversation.

"Shut up! I never should have told you that!" A lot had come out about Ella since Steve's "visit."

"Oh honey, don't worry I think it's cute."

"Stop! It isn't cute, it's embarrassing!" Ella said defiantly.

"Well as much as I love torturing you Elle, I gotta go, Danny will be in soon."

"See you Ev."

"Tell Danny we all said hello."

"Okay." ************************************************************************

Ella awoke feeling like someone had hit her over the head; she sat up and immediately felt the need to rush to the bathroom. Rafe heard the noise from the bathroom and went to check on her.

"Oh honey, that fish we had for dinner last night must not have agreed with you."

"Yeah." She said quietly.

"I'll tell Barbara you won't be in, and I'll call Ev and see if the kids can go to the neighbors. You should stay in bed."

Ella doubted it was the fish. It was something else, she knew. She heard Rafe leave and called Evelyn. ************************************************************************

Ella paced the doctor's waiting room. She had to know, she had told Evelyn, who was so excited.

"Ella McCawley?"

"The doctor will see you now."

The doctor did the regular tests, took some blood and told Ella her results would be back shortly. If she was pregnant this would be quite a surprise; she and Rafe had only been married three months and already a baby? ************************************************************************

The phone rang. Ella answered it in a daze.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. McCawley?"

"Yes."

"This is Sally from Dr. Brooke's office. We have your test results, you are in fact pregnant."

A baby?

************************************************************************

"Hi Elle, feeling better?" Rafe asked as he entered the living room and saw his wife reading on the sofa.

"Yes much better, I went to the doctor this afternoon."

"Good, did he give you some medicine?"

"Not really. But he did tell me something else."

"What?"

Men, So clueless! "Well Rafe, we're going to have a baby."

"What! That's great! When?" He asked as he scooped her up and spun her around.

"About seven months from now."

"I gotta go tell Danny."

Rafe left his wife standing in the living room and jumped in the car. He thought as he drove over to the base where Danny still was. ************************************************************************

Rafe entered the garage where the planes where kept. Danny was cleaning a tool and looked up as Rafe approached.

"Hey Rafe, I thought you went home?"

"I did I came back to tell you something."

"You could have just called."

"Nah too important. Ella's gonna have a baby."

"That's great! Rafe your gonna be a father."

"I know! Hard to believe it, huh?"

"No Rafe, you'll make a great father." ************************************************************************

Rafe had been thinking about his parents, he really didn't want to tell them they were going to be grandparents over the phone. He also wanted Ella to see where he grew up. Maybe, they could take a trip to Tennessee before Ella got too late into the pregnancy. ************************************************************************

Ella and Rafe were enjoying the soft sea breeze on the back porch. Ella was lying across Rafe, whose hand was caressing her stomach.

"A baby, Elle, I can't believe it. What would you think if we told my parents in person? I mean if we went to Tennessee for a week or two?"

"Sure, Rafe. I'd like to see the house you grew up in, and see your parents again."

So it was settled Rafe and Ella would surprise his parents next week. ************************************************************************

A week later.

Rafe and Ella stepped out of the plane onto a rural airstrip. They still had a train ride to go before they would arrive at Rafe's parent's home. Ella was exhausted, believe it or not the pregnancy (as early in it as she still was) and the trip had taken a lot out of her. Rafe noticing his wife's fatigue placed his arm around her waist, to steady her. Finally they found the car that was to take them to the train station.

Rafe and Ella stepped out of the cab in downtown Nashville. They had over an hour till they had to even be at the train station so they decided to explore some shops and get some lunch. They found a small café and sat down at an outdoor table. The waitress, named Viviane came over to take their order. Surprisingly she recognize Rafe,

"Rafe McCawley! Why it's been years but I would recognize you anywhere!"

Rafe glanced at the woman's nametag, then at her face.

"Viviane Davis. I didn't think you would ever leave your mother on that farm. This is my wife Ella."

"I never thought I'd see Rafe McCawley settle down and marry! It's very nice to meet you Ella. Rafe and I grew up together, I lived one farm over from him."

"Yeah I never thought you of all people Viv would go to the city. She was such a tomboy."

"Ha ha very funny Rafe, I had to get out of there, I was turning into." she answered trailing off. "So Rafe what's new with you?"

"Well I got married, went back to Pearl Harbor, now Elle and I are on our way to see my parents. We have a surprise for them."

Viviane looked at him questioningly.

"Rafe and I are going to have a baby." Ella told her.

"That's wonderful! Congratulations!"

They ordered lunch, said goodbye to Viviane and left for the train station.

************************************************************************

The car approached the farmhouse that stood atop a hill. Mrs. McCawley, who was hanging up wash in the yard walked to meet the car. She was very surprised to see her son and daughter-in-law. Ella got out of the car and hugged her as Rafe paid the cab driver. "Hey Mom! I missed you." "Rafe it's wonderful to see you but what are you doing here?"

"Ella wanted to see where I grew up so we decided to surprise you, especially since if I remember correctly there is an anniversary this week."

Ella remembered Rafe telling her his parent's wedding anniversary was at the end of the week, just before they left. She was glad they had someone to celebrate with.

"Well come in, your father is down at the barn, helping some of the hands finish the chores. He'll be so surprised!"

************************************************************************ Ella had been given the tour of the house and then decided to take a nap. She woke after an hour's sleep feeling very refreshed. She got changed into a pretty blue dress, all the while thinking how she wouldn't be able to wear it again for awhile. She went downstairs to the kitchen where Ruth was making dinner and Rafe was sitting at the table talking to her.

"Hey Elle, you just missed Dad, he went to his study with the paper."

"Do you need any help Mom?" It felt strange calling someone that, it'd been years since she'd had a mother.

"Not at all dear just relax." ************************************************************************

Dinner was finished and everyone was relaxing just enjoying the spring air. Rafe looked at Ella and decided that this was the best time to tell them.

"Well you know guys Elle and I had another reason for coming here. We have a little surprise for you."

By now he had his parents undivided attention. He was holding Ella's hand; he could feel her shaking.

"Ella and I are going to have a baby."