"Ev, did we or did we not have a conversation about you dating pilots? And here you are accepting an invitation from an Air Corps pilot, of all things." Barbara looked at her friend in exasperation.

"I seem to remember you saying I shouldn't date Navy pilots."

"I said pilots and don't change the subject."

"I'm not and I did not accept an invitation from him. Gosh Barbara, you're sounding like my mother."

"Then how is it you're going out to dinner with a pilot if you didn't." She put her hands on her hips.

"One of the nurses up on three wanted to thank me for taking her shift the other day. She went home sick and I covered for her." Evelyn explained.

"You were ordered up there."

"I know that. But she's a friend of one of the pilots at Mitchell Field and he was trying to set up two of the other pilots. She asked if I would mind going to dinner with one of them so there would be three couples."

"But Ev, a pilot."

"Would you stop saying that! You're acting like I'm going to marry the guy."

"Come on Rafe, I already talked Danny into going. You're the only other guy I would even think of to round out this little trio." Lieutenant Anthony Fusco pleaded with his friend.

"Why not ask Billy or Red?"

Anthony looked at him in disbelief. "Are you kidding? I want Cary Grant. But since I can't get him, you're the closest thing."

"I ain't Cary Grant and I don't know why you think I am." Rafe said. Irritated that this was the second time he was being compared to the popular screen idol. He was a damn good pilot and resented being compared to an actor, even if it was Cary Grant

"Rafe, I've seen what you do to girls. You leave 'em speechless." And he grinned.

That made him flush with embarrassment but he could see he was in a losing battle and sighed. "Who is she?"

"She's a nurse at the hospital in New York. You know where you found yourself after you knocked yourself unconscious?"

"Very funny, Anthony. If you really want me to take that nurse, this ain't the way to do it."

"I'm sorry. I know I promised you I wouldn't bring that up again and I shouldn't have. Rafe, please do this for me and I swear I'll never ask you another favor again."

"She must really be somethin'."

"I wouldn't know, I've never met her."

Rafe looked at his friend. "Oh my god." He said and wondered what he'd just gotten himself into.

Evelyn had finished her shift and was in the nurses changing room, getting ready for dinner. She had said she would meet the two other nurses and the pilots at the restaurant. Why they had chosen a Friday night was beyond her. After a long week, Fridays were always her night to relax, take a long hot bath and listen to the radio. The girls usually had dates and Fridays she usually had to herself, except tonight.

Barbara came in as Evelyn was brushing out her hair, ready to start the next shift. "All ready for your blind date?"

"I know you disapprove of this, but I think it's only right. She was trying to be nice."

"I'm sorry for making you feel so bad about this, Ev. It's one of my business who you go out with and I know this wasn't your idea."

"If you weren't my friend you wouldn't bother and you know I wouldn't do this if I didn't want to. Who knows, he might be a nice guy."

"I hope so." And she hugged her friend.

Evelyn got her coat out the closet and put it on. "If you want I'll come back on my way home and tell you how it went."

Barbara grinned at her. "You do that honey. I want to know if he was worth it."

Evelyn smiled at her. "You'll be the second to know." And she left the room.

Rafe sat with Danny, Anthony and two nurses he didn't know. He kept asking himself how he'd let Anthony talk him into this because he could think of so many things he'd rather be doing. Getting chewed out by the Major didn't seem like such a bad thing right now, but Anthony was his friend and he had to make the best of it.

The nurse he was paired up with was late and he was trying not to look at his watch. Mama had always told him it was never all right if a girl were not punctual. If a man was expected to be on time so should she.

He tried not to sigh and chewed on another breadstick.

"I'm going to call the hospital and see what's keeping her." Anthony's friend said and got up to go look for the telephone. Her companion suddenly needed to go powder her nose and got up and left in the other direction.

This left the three pilots alone and Anthony was apologetic. "I'm sorry about this Rafe. She told me this nurse would be here."

Rafe shook his head. "Somethin' probably happened at the hospital." He said charitably.

"I'll never ask you to do this again, I swear."

Rafe pointed a breadstick at him. "I'm holdin' you to that, Anthony."

When Anthony's friend finally made it back to their table she sat down and told them her friend would not be able to come. She'd been called back to organize supplies because of the final physicals the Navy and the Army were coordinating for the pilots the following week. "She was really sorry about not calling but she wasn't able to get to a telephone."

Rafe knew an out when he saw it. "Anthony..." Was as far as he got.

"It's okay Rafe, you can go back to the barracks."

Rafe stood up. "I 'preciate that. I'll see y'all tomorrow." He said to his friends and to Anthony's friend. "Ma'am."

"I'm sorry about all of this Lieutenant. We've been short nurses recently and we've all had to take on more than our fair share. None of us truly get time off."

"I understand ma'am." And he left the dining room.

Evelyn was really upset when she hung up the telephone at the front desk. She had been called back to work when one of the night shift nurses failed to show up.

The restaurant was not far from the hospital and she had decided to walk. She'd made it as far as the front door when she was hailed by one of the orderlies to come back. She had not been given the chance to go into the restaurant to explain and had to leave.

Of all things to be called back for, preparing for the mass physicals they would be conducting. Honestly!

She happened to glance toward the front entrance when she saw an Air Corps pilot walk past the door. It was just a moment, but she could see he was handsome. His cap was tilted like most of those cocky pilots wore them and he was tall. She couldn't tell what color his hair was because it was too dark.

That got her to shake her head and smile. What was it about pilots that always got her attention?

And she left the front desk to return to the supply room.