Danny's Story [What If?]
Chapter 5: I Left My Heart In Pearl Harbor
Danny and Evelyn had lived in a hotel room for the last 3 weeks they were in Pearl Harbor. But it was still hard leaving the place. The sun, the beaches, the life. And now they were in cold dreary New York City. The rain was bearable. The snow was intolerable. It turned into a grayish slush no less than 3 hours after it had fallen. It was nothing like the pristine white blanket they had seen in movies and sometimes when they visited the North.
They longed to see one last sunset at Pearl Harbor. To see the swirl of pinks, blues, yellows, oranges, and purples fill the afternoon sky as the sun slowly hides behind the ocean. The Hudson River, well to say the least, didn't even compare. You couldn't call that blackish greenish bluish pollution-filled river a body of water.
The dream stayed concrete in their minds. The dream of returning to Pearl Harbor to see one last sunset. One last look at the mystical greenish blue ocean. One last chance. They had been so excited to leave. Now all they wanted was to go back.
But they were happy. Evelyn was now 7 months pregnant. Danny and Rafe finished their first two months of training. Flying people would be their new job.
They spent many quiet nights at their apartment-just the three of them. They would always eat dinner together.
One day, Rafe was at a clothing store. He walked into the child section. No-the baby section. He looked at all of the clothing available. He looked at one that caught his eye. It was blue. He looked it over. He decided Evelyn and Danny would love it. So, even though it was un-Rafe-like, he bought it.
"Have a nice day," the sales lady mumbled as she shoved the outfit into a bag. Rafe smiled at her. She seemed caught off-guard by his smile. She politely smiled back.
"You too, ma'am," Rafe said as he turned and headed out the door to his apartment. He climbed the steps one by one. He reached for his key and unlocked his door. He closed the door behind him. He searched his small apartment for a box. He found one. "Perfect," he whispered under his breath. He took the outfit out from the bag and placed it in the box.
He attempted to wrap it. And he did. It looked really bad, but he had done it. And he had bought a card, too. It said "Congratulations" on the front. On the inside there was some saying on how wonderful children are. He simply signed "Rafe" at the bottom. He placed both the card and the gift in the closet.
He sighed. Another day of training tomorrow. But at least they were going to fly tomorrow. For the first time in over 3 months, he was going to be flying. A smile crept across his face. He thought of soaring through the clouds. Being able to look down and see the clouds. Being up there was surreal. Like it was a dream, not reality.
Rafe entered back into reality, out of his daydream. He grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note-
Danny and Evelyn,
Have a nice evening together. Alone. You haven't had one of those in 3 months. You deserve it. I'll be back here later.
Rafe
He grabbed his jacket and opened his apartment door. He slipped the note under the door next to his. Danny and Evelyn's apartment. He started down the steps and out the door. The cold air hit him as soon as he stepped into the street. He smiled. Now was a good time to get over Evelyn. Actually it was past due.
He walked into the neighborhood bar. "What would 'cha like?" the bartender asked as he sat facing the bar.
"Beer," Rafe said simply. He hadn't had a beer in a while. At first, he was a little reluctant. Then, he quickly downed it. He didn't plan on getting drunk. So he got up and left after one beer.
He again faced the icy New York air. He felt a familiar hunger in his stomach. He walked another block before he saw a restaurant. He hurried in to get out of the cold.
He sat at a small table. A table for one. 'It's been awhile,' he thought to himself.
"What would you like, Hun?" a middle aged waitress asked.
"The special," Rafe mumbled. He didn't even bother to look at the menu. Or figure out what "the special" was. He just wanted food. He handed her his menu. She smiled and took it.
"Thanks, hun," she said. She turned around and went into what looked like a kitchen. Rafe didn't get what it was with waitresses and the word "hun." But all of them said it.
'Helluva way to get over Evelyn,' he thought. 'Sit alone with your thoughts at a diner. Perfect plan, Rafe.'
But he didn't have to be alone with his thoughts for long. Soon the waitress brought his food. "Now ya'all have a good dinner," she said smiling at him. He didn't get what the word "ya'all" had to do with one person.
"Thanks," he mumbled. So now he was alone with his thoughts and his meat loaf. It didn't look too appetizing, but he didn't exactly have a choice. He shoved some into his mouth. 'Not half bad,' he thought.
Soon he had finished his meat loaf. He got out his wallet to pay. He put down her tip. He smiled. "Ya'all buy yourself something nice, hun," he whispered. He laughed quietly at his own joke.
Rafe didn't know what to do next after he left the restaurant. He looked around. He decided the best thing to do now was sleep. So, he headed home.
He unlocked his apartment door, took of his coat, and then fell onto his bed. His get-over-Evelyn plan was not working. He still couldn't stand to see her with Danny. But he needed to give himself time. Of course he would get over Evelyn. Sooner or later.
********************************************************************
Danny smiled. "You look beautiful," he said. "Stunning."
"Thank you Danny," Evelyn replied. She giggled. From an outsider's view, they were just two people in their twenties that were head over heels in love with each other. Until Evelyn stood up and you could see her rounded stomach. Proof that life wasn't going to be easy.
Danny leaned across the candlelit table and kissed Evelyn. She surrendered to him and soon began kissing him back. Yes, all was right with the world. Unexpectedly, Danny pulled away. "Evelyn, let's do it," he said grinning.
"What?" she asked looking horrified.
"No, not that! Let's get married. Right now. Just grab Rafe and go down and get married."
"Danny, we couldn't," she said. She was laughing. Obviously, this was a joke.
"Evelyn, I am completely serious! Why wait? We have to get married before the baby! And you have your dress!" Danny started.
"No, Danny, but what about our guests?" Evelyn protested.
"Who? Rafe's family were the only people coming!" Danny said.
Evelyn smiled. She was giving in to Danny. "Well, I guess the dress won't fit for long," she said rubbing her stomach. "Let's do it."
*************************************************************************************
Rafe was lying in bed. He wasn't asleep, he was just lying there. Staring at the ceiling. Wondering what was happening just one apartment away.
"Rafe! Open up! This is an emergency," Danny called from the other side of his door.
Immediately, 10,000 thoughts raced through Rafe's brain. Is Evelyn hurt? Is the baby hurt? Is Evelyn giving birth? "Danny, what is it?" he yelled racing to unlock the door.
He opened it. What he saw was surreal. Danny in a black tuxedo. "Evelyn is getting ready right now! Rafe, Rafe we're getting married. Right now!" Danny cried.
"What the? Oh man oh man oh man!" Rafe said.
"What the hell are you waiting for? Get ready!" Danny said shaking his friend by the shoulders.
That's when he saw her. Gorgeous, sweet Evelyn. Her hair was curled and fell evenly around her dress. The top of her dress was fitted and had innumerable beads. The bottom was like a skirt. It was made of silk. Her shoes were white heels with small beads to match her dress. "Evelyn, you look amazing. No...fantastic," Rafe said. "Wow." What else could he say? He was at a loss for words. She looked so gorgeous with her wedding gown on and her face all dolled up. It was like all of his dreams met with reality. Except she wouldn't be walking down the aisle to marry Rafe. She would be walking down the aisle to marry Danny.
"Thanks. Now go get ready before we're late!" she said.
*******************************************************************************
He invited us in. Danny and I. We sat on his couch patiently as he put on his tuxedo in the other room. "You do look amazing," Danny said.
She blushed. "Thank you," she said giggling. She actually loved all of this attention. She felt special. Not just a nurse anymore. She was Evelyn. She was going to be a bride. She was going to be a mother. And she couldn't think of two better people to be with.
The fact was, she was happy when Rafe commented on how gorgeous she looked. That is what she had been hoping for. Because no matter how many times Danny said it, it wasn't the same. She needed the approval of Danny. She longed for the approval of Rafe. And right now she had both. And she was about to be married.
Yes, she could say it now. Life was good.
Chapter 5: I Left My Heart In Pearl Harbor
Danny and Evelyn had lived in a hotel room for the last 3 weeks they were in Pearl Harbor. But it was still hard leaving the place. The sun, the beaches, the life. And now they were in cold dreary New York City. The rain was bearable. The snow was intolerable. It turned into a grayish slush no less than 3 hours after it had fallen. It was nothing like the pristine white blanket they had seen in movies and sometimes when they visited the North.
They longed to see one last sunset at Pearl Harbor. To see the swirl of pinks, blues, yellows, oranges, and purples fill the afternoon sky as the sun slowly hides behind the ocean. The Hudson River, well to say the least, didn't even compare. You couldn't call that blackish greenish bluish pollution-filled river a body of water.
The dream stayed concrete in their minds. The dream of returning to Pearl Harbor to see one last sunset. One last look at the mystical greenish blue ocean. One last chance. They had been so excited to leave. Now all they wanted was to go back.
But they were happy. Evelyn was now 7 months pregnant. Danny and Rafe finished their first two months of training. Flying people would be their new job.
They spent many quiet nights at their apartment-just the three of them. They would always eat dinner together.
One day, Rafe was at a clothing store. He walked into the child section. No-the baby section. He looked at all of the clothing available. He looked at one that caught his eye. It was blue. He looked it over. He decided Evelyn and Danny would love it. So, even though it was un-Rafe-like, he bought it.
"Have a nice day," the sales lady mumbled as she shoved the outfit into a bag. Rafe smiled at her. She seemed caught off-guard by his smile. She politely smiled back.
"You too, ma'am," Rafe said as he turned and headed out the door to his apartment. He climbed the steps one by one. He reached for his key and unlocked his door. He closed the door behind him. He searched his small apartment for a box. He found one. "Perfect," he whispered under his breath. He took the outfit out from the bag and placed it in the box.
He attempted to wrap it. And he did. It looked really bad, but he had done it. And he had bought a card, too. It said "Congratulations" on the front. On the inside there was some saying on how wonderful children are. He simply signed "Rafe" at the bottom. He placed both the card and the gift in the closet.
He sighed. Another day of training tomorrow. But at least they were going to fly tomorrow. For the first time in over 3 months, he was going to be flying. A smile crept across his face. He thought of soaring through the clouds. Being able to look down and see the clouds. Being up there was surreal. Like it was a dream, not reality.
Rafe entered back into reality, out of his daydream. He grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note-
Danny and Evelyn,
Have a nice evening together. Alone. You haven't had one of those in 3 months. You deserve it. I'll be back here later.
Rafe
He grabbed his jacket and opened his apartment door. He slipped the note under the door next to his. Danny and Evelyn's apartment. He started down the steps and out the door. The cold air hit him as soon as he stepped into the street. He smiled. Now was a good time to get over Evelyn. Actually it was past due.
He walked into the neighborhood bar. "What would 'cha like?" the bartender asked as he sat facing the bar.
"Beer," Rafe said simply. He hadn't had a beer in a while. At first, he was a little reluctant. Then, he quickly downed it. He didn't plan on getting drunk. So he got up and left after one beer.
He again faced the icy New York air. He felt a familiar hunger in his stomach. He walked another block before he saw a restaurant. He hurried in to get out of the cold.
He sat at a small table. A table for one. 'It's been awhile,' he thought to himself.
"What would you like, Hun?" a middle aged waitress asked.
"The special," Rafe mumbled. He didn't even bother to look at the menu. Or figure out what "the special" was. He just wanted food. He handed her his menu. She smiled and took it.
"Thanks, hun," she said. She turned around and went into what looked like a kitchen. Rafe didn't get what it was with waitresses and the word "hun." But all of them said it.
'Helluva way to get over Evelyn,' he thought. 'Sit alone with your thoughts at a diner. Perfect plan, Rafe.'
But he didn't have to be alone with his thoughts for long. Soon the waitress brought his food. "Now ya'all have a good dinner," she said smiling at him. He didn't get what the word "ya'all" had to do with one person.
"Thanks," he mumbled. So now he was alone with his thoughts and his meat loaf. It didn't look too appetizing, but he didn't exactly have a choice. He shoved some into his mouth. 'Not half bad,' he thought.
Soon he had finished his meat loaf. He got out his wallet to pay. He put down her tip. He smiled. "Ya'all buy yourself something nice, hun," he whispered. He laughed quietly at his own joke.
Rafe didn't know what to do next after he left the restaurant. He looked around. He decided the best thing to do now was sleep. So, he headed home.
He unlocked his apartment door, took of his coat, and then fell onto his bed. His get-over-Evelyn plan was not working. He still couldn't stand to see her with Danny. But he needed to give himself time. Of course he would get over Evelyn. Sooner or later.
********************************************************************
Danny smiled. "You look beautiful," he said. "Stunning."
"Thank you Danny," Evelyn replied. She giggled. From an outsider's view, they were just two people in their twenties that were head over heels in love with each other. Until Evelyn stood up and you could see her rounded stomach. Proof that life wasn't going to be easy.
Danny leaned across the candlelit table and kissed Evelyn. She surrendered to him and soon began kissing him back. Yes, all was right with the world. Unexpectedly, Danny pulled away. "Evelyn, let's do it," he said grinning.
"What?" she asked looking horrified.
"No, not that! Let's get married. Right now. Just grab Rafe and go down and get married."
"Danny, we couldn't," she said. She was laughing. Obviously, this was a joke.
"Evelyn, I am completely serious! Why wait? We have to get married before the baby! And you have your dress!" Danny started.
"No, Danny, but what about our guests?" Evelyn protested.
"Who? Rafe's family were the only people coming!" Danny said.
Evelyn smiled. She was giving in to Danny. "Well, I guess the dress won't fit for long," she said rubbing her stomach. "Let's do it."
*************************************************************************************
Rafe was lying in bed. He wasn't asleep, he was just lying there. Staring at the ceiling. Wondering what was happening just one apartment away.
"Rafe! Open up! This is an emergency," Danny called from the other side of his door.
Immediately, 10,000 thoughts raced through Rafe's brain. Is Evelyn hurt? Is the baby hurt? Is Evelyn giving birth? "Danny, what is it?" he yelled racing to unlock the door.
He opened it. What he saw was surreal. Danny in a black tuxedo. "Evelyn is getting ready right now! Rafe, Rafe we're getting married. Right now!" Danny cried.
"What the? Oh man oh man oh man!" Rafe said.
"What the hell are you waiting for? Get ready!" Danny said shaking his friend by the shoulders.
That's when he saw her. Gorgeous, sweet Evelyn. Her hair was curled and fell evenly around her dress. The top of her dress was fitted and had innumerable beads. The bottom was like a skirt. It was made of silk. Her shoes were white heels with small beads to match her dress. "Evelyn, you look amazing. No...fantastic," Rafe said. "Wow." What else could he say? He was at a loss for words. She looked so gorgeous with her wedding gown on and her face all dolled up. It was like all of his dreams met with reality. Except she wouldn't be walking down the aisle to marry Rafe. She would be walking down the aisle to marry Danny.
"Thanks. Now go get ready before we're late!" she said.
*******************************************************************************
He invited us in. Danny and I. We sat on his couch patiently as he put on his tuxedo in the other room. "You do look amazing," Danny said.
She blushed. "Thank you," she said giggling. She actually loved all of this attention. She felt special. Not just a nurse anymore. She was Evelyn. She was going to be a bride. She was going to be a mother. And she couldn't think of two better people to be with.
The fact was, she was happy when Rafe commented on how gorgeous she looked. That is what she had been hoping for. Because no matter how many times Danny said it, it wasn't the same. She needed the approval of Danny. She longed for the approval of Rafe. And right now she had both. And she was about to be married.
Yes, she could say it now. Life was good.
