Around Christmas of 1944, the Houstons threw a holiday party and invited mainly their household staff, neighbors, and a few friends. They had their party catered so their staff could enjoy the party as well. Rebecca had expertly decorated the living room, kitchen, and dining room with holiday decorations. The room glimmered in the complementary colors of red and green and the twinkling of glitter, garlands, and tinsel. Bill had a large spruce brought in from his property that nearly touched their 15 foot ceiling in the living room. They both had tastefully decorated it in minimal but bright decorations. Rebecca had taken the time to make old-fashioned popcorn and cranberry garland for the tree. Every guest that attended received a plush Santa hat to wear. A string quartet was at the top of the landing above the living room playing Christmas favorites.
The food was arranged on the dining room table while the caterers worked from the kitchen. All of the guests were standing or sitting in the living room talking with each other and drinking holiday libations made at the caterer's open bar: Egg Nog, Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps, the usual wine offerings, and a Christmas Sangria. Once the party was in full swing and everyone had had something to eat and drink, Rebecca and Bill stood in front of the Christmas tree, and Bill clinked his glass with a fork to get everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, everyone," Bill repeated a third time. He waited for silence and attention. The music stopped. "Now that I have your attention," he said, putting his arm around Rebecca, "Rebecca and I would like to thank you all for coming to our party. We are glad to have such wonderful people in our lives."
The room applauded.
Bill continued, "This is what life is all about…. Being surrounded by the people you care about the most and who care about you."
The room applauded again.
"That's why it's with great joy that we share a very important announcement with you," he continued. "Actually, Rebecca, why don't you make the announcement, dear," he said, squeezing her shoulders.
"Well everyone, it seems fitting to announce at this party tonight, that I am in fact, pregnant with our first child," Rebecca announced.
The crowd of 30 or so people applauded and cheered uproariously. Cattle Annie, who was dressed in a Christmas themed cowgirl getup, took off her hat and slapped her thigh with it and yelled, "Yee Haw!"
Over the next several minutes, everyone took their turn to come up and congratulate the couple on their first child. After they had all given their congratulations and best wishes, Bill said, "Thank you, so much, everyone. Now let's get back to the party!" He smiled and kissed Rebecca on the lips. Everyone applauded again and the music resumed.
People broke off into cliques: household staff together, neighbors with neighbors, friends with friends, but Bill and Rebecca, ever the capable hosts, circulated the room, visiting with all in attendance. Guests began leaving around 10 pm and all but Cattle Annie were gone by 11. The three sat chatting about the evening, when a knock came on the door. Bill got up to answer it.
"Someone must have forgotten something," Bill said on the way to the door. "Be right back, ladies." Bill opened the door.
"Hi Bill."
After the initial shock wore off, Bill wrapped his arms around his uniformed friend and said, "Wade! Are you home for good?"
Wade hugged him back hard and patted him on the back and released him. "Yep. Just in time for Christmas. Almost out of a greeting card," he quipped. Wade removed his hat, revealing his crew cut.
"Wow. I think that's the shortest I've seen your hair," Bill said.
"Don't get used to it. I plan on growing it out again," Wade replied.
"How did you find the house?" Bill asked.
"Called the Houston Oil office and talked to your secretary today. She said you were out all day but told me where you lived."
"C'mon in. You've got to meet my wife and a friend of ours."
"Am I interrupting something," Wade asked.
"No. We just had a holiday party, but it's over now. C'mon," he said, grabbing him by the arm and escorting the much taller man to the living room.
Bill walked over to Rebecca who was sitting on the couch and he rested his hand on her shoulder, "Wade, this is my wife Rebecca." Rebecca almost stood up.
"Don't stand up, ma'am," Wade said as he approached her and shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Rebecca." Wade looked at Cattle Annie.
Bill gestured to Cattle Annie and said, "This is Cattle Annie. She owns the ranch next door."
"Pleased to meet you, too, ma'am."
"You best dispense with that ma'am stuff, right away, and commence callin' me Cattle Annie, like my friends here. Any friend of Bill's is a friend of mine."
"Thank you ma'am. I'll do that," Wade replied.
"Cigarette?" Annie offered.
"Thank you. I think I will," Wade said as he took the cigarette and Annie lit it for him. He looked around the room observing the party's aftermath. "I suppose there's some booze here to drink, since there's been a party," he said.
"Absolutely," Bill said. "What would you like?"
"Got any Bourbon?" Wade replied.
"No. Afraid the hardest thing we have is some sangria with brandy," Bill said.
"That'll do," Wade replied.
"You back from the war for good, Wade?" Annie asked.
Bill handed Wade his drink, which he eagerly drank. Wade replied, "Yes."
"Where were you?" Bill asked.
"Sorry I haven't written this whole time. The war kept me busy," Wade said.
"I would imagine so. I didn't expect you to write. I just hoped to see you back here alive and here you are," Bill beamed.
"To answer your question, I was released from a hospital in England a few weeks ago, and I finally made my way back to Texas today."
"Are you okay?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Wade replied. "The last mission I was on was D-Day. I was on Omaha Beach."
The trio of listeners all looked at each other aghast, all having heard the news reports on the radio and seen news reels at the theater about the Normandy Invasion. They all sat silently and listened intently.
Wade continued with a faraway look in his eyes and the drink in his hands, "I was on one of the boats that landed on the beach that day. It was total Bedlam. Bullets were whizzing past us. Men dropping left and right, but we pushed ahead. Once past the beachhead, we pushed into the wooded areas and battled the Germans on land. Paratroopers had already dropped behind enemy lines, so our job was to put the squeeze on them from the beach. We were able to push them back despite thousands of casualties. Day two was even more grueling for my battalion. Right before the end of the mission, a German threw a grenade at a group of men near me, one of which was already shot and on the ground. I yelled to tell the men to run, and ran up to get the man on the ground. After I picked him up and helped him run with me, the grenade went off and some shrapnel hit me in the lower leg. Right here," he said lifting his pant leg and revealed the scar. He continued, "On day three, the mission was accomplished, but I had been transported back to a hospital in England by airlift."
"What happened to the soldier you rescued?" Annie asked.
"He was shipped back to England with me and he recovered and I think he went back home to Iowa," Wade replied.
"And you've been in England since then?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes, ma'am. Took a few months to get back on my feet, then I got honorably discharged and toured England for a while."
"Well, I'm so glad you're back in one piece, Wade," Bill said.
"Me too," Bill replied as he got up to pour himself another Sangria.
"Where are you staying?" Bill asked.
"Don't know yet," Wade replied.
"You have to stay with us, then. We have plenty of room," Bill replied.
"I couldn't impose," Wade said.
"You're not," Rebecca said. "We'd love to have you."
"Thank you very much," Wade said.
"Why don't you tell your friend your big news, Bill?" Annie said.
"What's up, Bill?" Wade asked.
"I'm going to be a father," Bill replied.
"Congratulations, Bill!" Wade exclaimed as he rose to his feet and hugged him again. "That's great news!"
"Thank you, Wade. Can I help you with your bags?" Bill asked.
Wade looked down at the only bag he brought, "This is it. I can handle it."
"Let me show you to your room, then," Bill said.
Wade stood up and gulped his drink and put the empty glass down on the coffee table, "Nice meeting you ladies," Wade said.
"You too," Rebecca said. "See you in the morning."
"Nice to meet you Wade," Annie said. "Have a restful sleep."
"Thanks, Cattle Annie. I'll try," Wade said.
Bill grabbed Wade's bag and walked him up the stairs to one of the bedrooms.
"Your wife's beautiful, Bill. You've done quite well for yourself."
"Thank you," Bill replied.
"Now you've got a baby on the way," Wade paused. "And I hope I can catch up on lost time and achieve at least close to what you have."
"You will," Bill said.
"I hope you're right. I feel like an entirely different person."
"I understand. Whenever you're ready, you can come back and work with me," Bill said.
"Thanks for your offer, but I don't know what I'll do yet," Wade said.
"Take your time. There's no hurry. And you can stay with us as long as you need," Bill said.
"Thanks, Bill. I think I'll lay down now and try to sleep," Wade said.
"Okay, Wade," Bill said, patting Wade on the back.
Wade stayed with the Houstons for a little over a month before he started working with Bill again and began renting an apartment in downtown Houston. Shortly after he went back to work with Bill, a tragedy struck the Houstons. Rebecca had a miscarriage and Bill took some time off to spend it with her.
"Cattle Annie told me that it's very common for women to have a miscarriage on their first pregnancy," Rebecca said in a lamenting tone, trying to make sense of what happened.
"Rebecca, it's not your fault. It wasn't meant to be this time," Bill said.
"I wish I could be as rational about it as you are, Bill, but I was the one carrying the baby," she said in an abrupt way.
"I know," he said, not knowing what more to say.
"I'm 33 years old. I'm afraid I'm past my prime," Rebecca said.
"There's no way that's true," Bill said. "When you're ready, we'll try again and you'll see." He continued, "Besides, if you are past your prime, as you say, you are still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and if it turns out we never have children, at least I'll be spending my life with you," Bill reassured.
"Oh, Bill," Rebecca said, leaning in to hug him.
"In the meantime, we'll have fun trying," he said, to lighten the mood.
Rebecca slapped him on the back and continued hugging him.