Surprise!, Part III

March 1958

Lois smiled.  “I know we don’t have to explain ourselves, but I’m really thinking of our folks. I don’t want to put them in the position of having to explain it to their friends or feel ashamed at church.”  

Bill watched her for a few seconds while he puffed his cigarette. “And you’re sure about this? Not having a church wedding and all?”

“Yes.” Lois looked down and patted her stomach again. When she looked up her smile was as soft as her eyes. “All I care about is marrying you and getting our family started.”

He got up and walked around next to her. Crouching beside her, he put his big hand on top of hers on her belly. “We’ll do whatever you want sweetheart, because that’s all I care about too.”

The screen door banged and Lorraine came trotting across the floor with a big smile on her pretty pixie face and a big fish dangling from her fingers by its gill slit. “Uncle Bill, look at the carp I caught.” She beamed at him and then glanced over at Lois. “Hi, Aunt Lois.” 

Lois shook her head and laughed. “Hi, Rainy.”

“Wow,” Bill said, standing up. “Man, that’s a beauty.  He grabbed the fish’s slimy tail.  “Would you look at that,” he whistled, “must be over a foot long.”

Rainy nodded and gazed up at her Uncle, adoration shining from her eyes. “Let’s go measure it.”

“You got it, kiddo.” Bill let the tail flop down and put a big hand on the girl’s shoulder. He grinned over his shoulder at Lois who made a shooing motion with her hand.

“Don’t mind me. Go on, you two peas-in-a-pod, and get that fish measured so Rainy can brag to her brothers.” 

to be continued...