"Each time I saw him I couldn't wait to see him again,
I wanted to let him know that he was more than a friend.
I didn't know just what to do, so I whispered 'I love you'
And he said that he loved me to and then he kissed me,"
-"And Then He Kissed Me",
Barbara knocked on the bathroom door. "Are you almost ready?"
"Almost," Sandra replied. She looked at herself in the mirror. The black dress was slimming on her body. She adjusted her glasses and put on her red lipstick. She opened the door to see Barbara leaning against the door. "Where's Evy?"
"Waiting with Rafe at the church,"
"Already?"
Barbara nodded. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Are you going to pick up Anthony?"
"Yeah," Sandra nodded. "Well actually no…Red is bringing him to the church. I'm taking him back." She slipped on her black high heels. "Come on." They walked out the small nurses hut together and headed for the church.
* * *
A priest stood in front of the crowd of people. Rafe and Evelyn sat in the first spots of the first pew on the left. She had one hand resting on Rafe's and one hand on her growing pregnant stomach. Her face was pale and tear stained. Rafe's face had a serious tone to with no sign of any emotion.
Red sat next to Barbara, Martha and Gooz. Barbara had a tissue to her eyes, dabbing them. Red held her hand as she silently cried. Gooz felt uncomfortable in a suit and around so many mourners but he felt sadness in his heart at the loss of his friend. Martha held onto Barbara's other hand and looked on helplessly. So much death in the past few months.
Sandra sat at the end of the pew next to Anthony who was in a wheel chair, but was still in a nice black suit. Sandra wasn't crying at this point and she didn't know why. Danny was a good friend…but tears wouldn't touch her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Anthony. He fidgeted in his chair a bit. He felt remorse for the loss of his friend. He, Rafe, Red, Billy and Danny had all been to basic training, flight school and Pearl together but only three of them remained. He wouldn't cry right now. Not in front of people, especially the women.
"Rafe McCawley will be presenting the eulogy," the priest said. He walked away from the podium. Rafe took a deep breath and released Evelyn's hand. He stood at the podium. To his left was the pine box that held Danny. On top of the box were a picture of Danny, and a flag. Danny wouldn't be buried at Pearl Harbor but would be sent to Tennessee with Rafe and Evelyn and would be buried in his homeland. Evelyn was being honorably discharged from the navy.
Rafe gripped the side of the podium. He didn't have his speech written down because of his letter problem but he had it memorized in his mind. He took another deep breath and looked forward.
"Danny…there are so many things about him that I could tell you. I could tell you that he was a great pilot…the best pilot. I could tell you how he helped me pass school but letting me copy his homework and tests. I could tell you that he would never once let me give up on anything in my life. I will also tell you that Daniel Walker was the best friend any of us could have. He died not knowing how much all of us cared for him. I think that if were here right now he'd tell me to stop talking about him and just to get this over with," he paused to hold in a sob. "He will always live in our hearts…I love you Danny." Two tears rolled down his cheek. "Thank you." He left the podium and sat back next to Evelyn.
Sandra felt tears sting the side of her eyes and she felt them roll down her cheek. She then felt a hand close over hers. She turned her head looking down seeing it was Anthony's. She then looked up at his face and managed a small smile. He returned the smile and gently squeezed her hand. At that moment she felt at ease and felt that she finally figured out her feelings.
* * *
People stood around the food tables talking. Some talked about the weather, others about Danny and some talked about the service.
"It really was a nice service," Sandra said.
"Yeah," Anthony agreed.
"Thank you…for in there," Sandra explained. She pulled up a chair and sat at Anthony's level.
"No problem,"
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she reached out to touch his hand. "I mean it. It helped me."
"With what?" he questioned.
"Can we talk outside?"
"Uh huh,"
She led him out of the room and into the hallway. "This is going to be hard…" she once again sat at his level. She didn't know how to say it so she just blurted it out. "I like you. Uh…I do…and I didn't know I did until…until you held my hand in there…" she looked down at her shoes.
He reached his hand out and touched her chin, lifting her head. "I like you too." He brought her face close to his and kissed her softly on the lips.
Uck cheesy, cheesy, cheesy!!! But oh well. I promise it'll get better if you give it a chance. Remember it was on a whim! Lol.