Chapter 15
Brotherly Discussion

"Hi, Rafe." She replied, chilled to the bone. Rafe didn't say a word, just embraced the wet girl. He then introduced her to everyone, but didn't seem to notice Evelyn, spying with denied envy.

"Look at you!" Rafe's mother, Sarah, exclaimed. Both she and her father were exceedingly happy for their son. "You must be freezing. I know my daughter has something you can wear."

Sarah and Rafe's sister, Heidi, took Devonny upstairs leaving a stunned party.

"Who was that, Rafe?" Some inquired. Danny took his and Rafe's coat, and led his best friend outside.

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to." Danny said once they were outside. The rain had died down slightly, and they walked toward the old barn, about a quarter of a mile away.

"We met in Eglin." Rafe replied, "I never expected to see her again."

"Did you two have a relationship?" Danny asked.

"If you mean were we friends, yes. I could tell her anything." Rafe explained, hoping Danny wouldn't ask what.

"I mean did you date?"

"There really wasn't time, Dan. She's a good friend of Doolittle's, and was at the base all the time, but we were always working." Rafe bit his lip, bracing himself. He knew Danny enough to know what the next question was going to be, these were the same questions Danny asked when Rafe told him about Evelyn so long ago.

"Did you kiss her?"

"A couple of times." Rafe recalled those distant memories after they landed in China. After their first kiss the only thing that pulled them away from each other was the Chinese, and then they were inseparable on the plane returning to Hawaii.

"She is pretty." Danny said, without expecting an answer.

"I know." Rafe let his mind go to the days before the mission. Even with short hair she was beautiful, but now, she was even more breath-taking than before. Her hair was past her shoulders, and he could finally see her feminine figure, unlike before when she covered it with a straight corset and baggy clothing.

The friends walked in silence a little while longer. They soon approached the barn where they had once played as children. "This place hasn't changed a bit." Rafe said, letting his hands touch the unforgotten biplane.

"It's weird how much other things have changed." Danny told Rafe. "When we played in this plane as kids, we never even considered what could happen. Now look at us."

Rafe nodded in agreement, after admiring the plane a little longer he said, "That kid looks so much like you."

"Yeah. Let's just hope he doesn't make the same mistakes."

"What do you mean?"

"Evelyn and I aren't getting along too well. We're thinking about separating."

Rafe was shocked at this news, and wanted to jump with joy or shout in anger, but he kept his heroic composure. "What about your son?"

"He's the only thing keeping us together, him and the new baby, but we can't stay together for two kids, Rafe. She doesn't love me anymore."

"Yes she does, Danny. Have you heard of hormones? That's all it is. Don't desert her. She needs you."

"I guess you're right."

"I always am." Rafe smiled. He glanced at the plane, and said, "Hey, Danny, you wanna go flying?"