Chapter 2

Cate stepped off of the boat at Pearl Harbor with one stretch of her long legs. Her heels clicked on the planks of the dock and her skirt ruffled with the gust of wind that came in from the bay. She put on her sunglasses to take it all in. It was so gorgeous here that it took her breath away. The palm trees swayed with the wind, the water was clear as crystal, the sand was as white and fine as sugar. Indeed, she did not feel as if the rest of the world was at war. Here, it seemed as if all of that was just a bad dream. Here, she was on vacation. Cate smiled to herself.

"Excuse me Miss," said the porter, handing her two of her bags.

"Thank you, sir," she smiled and took them, one in each hand. She then walked down the dock until she came to a taxi that was to take her and a couple other nurses to where they would be staying. The driver took her bags from her and put them in the trunk.

"Excuse me sir, but when will the other nurses be arriving?" she enquired.

"There will be another boat coming. For now, it seems as if it will just be you."

Cate nodded at the man and he opened the door for her. She climbed in and he closed the door behind her. "Yes, I think I will like it here very much," she thought as she took off her hat and set it in her lap.

Once Cate had put away her things in their proper place, more of the other nurses began to arrive. A whole group of them just arrived from New York City. They introduced themselves and Cate thought that they were a very lively group. She particularly liked the one named Evelyn Johnson. They were to be housemates during their stay there along with Betty, Barbara, Sandra, and Martha.

Once everyone was unpacked and freshened up, they all went to have a chat in Cate and Evelyn's room. Each one of them situated themselves comfortably and the room was alive with laughter.

"So, sugar, have you met any cute guys on your way here?" said Martha with a big grin plastered on her face.

"No, I travelled alone. You see, where I come from, none of the girls wanted to become nurses. They've already gotten married and started their own families. Really, that's all you can do in such a small town."

"Oh, and where's that? Timbuktu?" laughed Barbara.

"No," laughed Cate, " it's actually a bit closer than that. Have you ever heard of Jackson? It's in Wyoming. I live in the mountains with my Uncles. They're on a rescue team there."

"That sounds dangerous! I bet you worry terribly about them!" gasped the shy one known as Sandra.

"Yes, that's why I tag along. At least I know I can keep any eye on them that way," smiled Cate, remembering the rash nature of her Uncles and all of the scrapes it got them into.

"No way do you go up there with them! That's absolutely crazy!" asserted Barbra.

"It may be, but I love it! The adventure, the danger, the altitude…"



"You truly are one-in-a-million, Cate," sighed Evelyn with a smile. Cate smiled back at her.

"Well!" exclaimed Betty, "I can't imagine running around the top of a mountain saving people. I opt for a simpler form of entertainment. We met some pretty cute guys on the way here. Now, Evelyn found herself a looker, but I adore this one fella they call Red," Betty told Cate.

"Was he handsome?" asked Cate.

"Well, he's no Carry Grant, but he's the most adorable guy you'll ever meet. He has this stutter that most of girls find annoying, but I find it endearing," Betty said dreamily, her thoughts far away from where the girls were.

"And what about you Evelyn? You have a story to tell our dear Cate," said Barbra suggestively.

"Oh! He is the most romantic guy I've ever heard of! Evelyn got very lucky with this one!" Sandra chimed in.

Everyone turned to look at the woman poised on the daybed.

"Tell the story, Evie!" everyone insisted. A rosy hue crept up upon Evelyn's fair complexion.

"Aww, girls, I've already told this one about a hundred times!"

"But Cate hasn't heard it yet! Don't you want to tell her about Rafe?" complained Barbara.

"Rafe?" the name caught Cate's attention as there weren't many guys named Rafe. "What is his last name?"

"McCauley. Rafe McCauley, the love of my life," said Evelyn blissfully.

"He doesn't happen to be a pilot from Tennessee?" asked Cate, her excitement growing.

"Why, yes, do you know him?" asked Evelyn, confused.

Cate squealed causing the girls to look at her alarmed.

"Honey, are you alright?" they smiled, noting the ecstatic expression on her face.

"Rafe's my cousin, but he's practically a brother to me. Where did you meet him? Did you meet his friend Danny? He's also a pilot as well, but I hear that he stayed behind. He didn't go off to the-" Cate stopped short. She was about to say "war". Evelyn's face fell, obviously knowing what Cate was about to say.

"I remember him telling me that he had a cousin who was to be stationed as a nurse at Pearl Harbor…" Evelyn then proceeded to tell the story about how she met Rafe.Cate had to admit that it was very romantic. She didn't expect Rafe to be capable of something like this. Then again, he always was a ladies man. From what it sounded like though, he did seem to have genuine feelings for Evelyn.

"Anyways, your friend, Danny, he was supposed to be staying really close to here. I'm not sure exactly where though," Evelyn finished.

"That truly is the most romantic story I've ever heard! I'm so happy for the two of you!"



"In his last letter he said that he wanted to ask me something very important when he comes back," said Evelyn.

The girls all gasped in unison, all getting that pointed statement.

"Congratulations!" cried out Barbra, giving Evelyn a great big hug.

"Thanks, but I told him to focus on getting home first. That's what is most important at this point," she said grimly.

The group fell silent. The issue of the war did not suit this island, which was full of ignorant bliss.

"Well, girls!" piped up Betty, "those guys aren't gonna dance by themselves, are they? We gotta start gettin' ready! We're goin' out!"

"Girls, I think I'm going to stay her for the night. I'm kind of tired," said Evelyn.

"Evie! Just because Rafe is not here with you doesn't mean that he would want you to stay by yourself and not have any fun!" commented Martha.

"I know, I know. I'm just tired. That's all," she insisted.

"Alright, well, we gotta get Cate out on the town. No doubt we'll be able to catch quite a few good looking fellas with her around!" said Barbara happily.

"So, where's a good place to go around here?" asked Cate.

"I hear that Big Kahuna's is the hot spot. I know for a fact that Red and his gang are supposed to be headed out that way tonight," winked Betty.

"Big Kahuna's it is then! C'mon girls! We still have to get ready!" Barbara shooed them out of Evelyn and Cate's room.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Cate asked Evelyn as she was picking out an outfit for the night.

"Yes, I have a letter to write. It takes so long for the mail to get to England that I want to get it out as soon as possible."

"Ah, I see. Don't forget to tell him that you met me! I'll be sure to mention you in my letters to him."

"Oh, I will…you look better in the blue dress, by the way. It goes with your eyes," commented Evelyn.

"Thanks Evie!" said Cate as she shimmied into the sexy sleeveless number that showed off her figure.

"Have a good night!" she called back at Evie as she exited the room, slipping on her heels along the way.

"Ready Cate?" called out Martha.

"Yep! I'm excited to meet new guys! There's a complete shortage of them back at home. It's enough to make a girl go crazy!" Everyone laughed at her comment.



"Honey, do the math, there's about two hundred guys to one girl here. Shortage ain't gonna be a problem," Barbara said.

They stepped out of the door talking animatedly and excited for whatever was to happen that night.