Rafe was cold, damn cold. "I was in the ocean, it was so cold."
His eyes were open and Evelyn was sound asleep next to him. They'd left the window open overnight and a chill had crept into the room. That would explain why he'd gotten so cold, but Tennessee in the dead of winter was worse than this.
It was being back in Hawaii and being back in this room. He had been trying to do something romantic for Evelyn, but it was bringing back memories he thought long buried.
Evelyn opened her eyes and saw Rafe lying next to her, his eyes open. His brow was damp and she suspected he was dealing with some ghosts because he'd been restless through most of the night. She gently brushed the hair back from his forehead. "Rafe, are you all right?"
He sighed. "Bein' back here..." He couldn't voice what he was feeling and he sat up.
"Maybe staying here wasn't such a good idea." She told him before she sat up next to him.
He looked at her. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't think about how I would feel."
"We're going to be here for a week, so I think it would be a good idea to find another place to stay."
Rafe sighed again and shook his head. "I'm not goin' to let some old ghosts run me out of here. Besides, bein' back in this room with you brings back good memories. So if I have to deal with some old nightmares for a few days it's worth it. As long as you're here with me, it's worth it." And he kissed her.
She smiled. "You really are something."
The telephone rang and Rafe reached for the receiver. "Hello?"
"Hey Rafe, you awake?" Danny's voice sounded too damn cheerful.
"What time is it?"
"It's about eight o'clock."
"It's a little early, ain't it?"
"You're the father of small kids, think about it." Danny sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
Rafe couldn't help but grin. "I was wonderin' why it was so quiet this mornin'. Our kids are at home."
"Red called and we're meetin' at the Black Cat at nine for breakfast. That all right with you and Evelyn?"
He looked at his wife. "Nine o'clock at the Black Cat okay?"
She nodded.
"It's all right with her, so we'll see you there."
"Nine o'clock Rafe, don't get sidetracked." And he laughed before he hung up.
Rafe put the receiver back in the cradle. "Danny told us not to get sidetracked." And he grinned at her.
Evelyn smiled at him. "You should have told him the same thing."
He laughed at that. "Do we have time to get sidetracked?"
"Not enough time, so why don't you get your shower now while I get dressed." She suggested.
He sat up on the edge of the bed. "Evelyn McCawley, you're no fun."
"I know." And she sat up on the other side of the bed. "But Rafe, that doesn't mean we can't get sidetracked later." She said as she got up off the bed and went into the bathroom.
Damn, he loved that woman.
By eight forty five they were ready to go.
While Rafe had showered, Evelyn had made the bed and put their nightclothes away. They had decided to walk because it was such a short distance so while Evelyn waited outside, Rafe closed the door and then took her hand. They walked up the drive and as they turned on to the street, he let go of her hand to put his arm around her.
It was a beautiful morning and they strolled up the street, not really talking. This was a nice time for them because they didn't have three children to constantly keep an eye on or reminding to get their homework done or helping their grandparents with chores. They were the young nurse and the cocky pilot again and having no responsibilities except to each other.
When they reached the cafe, Danny was there waiting for them. "The last time we were here, you'd just returned from the dead." He said to Rafe.
"It wasn't all that I expected, seein' as how the Japs bombed us that mornin'."
"Everyone else is here, we were just waitin' on you two. You didn't get sidetracked did you?" He asked trying not to smile.
Rafe looked at him. "No, we didn't get sidetracked. Evelyn wouldn't let us."
Evelyn laughed. "But it wasn't that he didn't try." And they walked into the cafe and found the table where everyone was sitting and waiting.
"How is it that any time we meet anywhere, you two are the last to show up?" Barbara asked.
Evelyn looked at her friend. "Well Barbara, there are two of us to get ready and one of you ."
"She's got you there Barbara." Martha grinned.
"Well at least your here and we can eat." Gooz commented.
As the waitress came over to take their orders, a nurse stopped by the table to say hello to Red. It was not lost on anyone watching the exchange how his face flushed because he'd not reacted to a girl like that since Betty.
When she left the table, all eyes were on Red and he looked at his friends. "It's not what you think."
"What are we thinking Red?" Gooz asked him.
"She was just transferred here from San Francisco and she doesn't know anyone. She wasn't lucky like you girls were and coming with nurses she knew." He sounded a little defensive.
"She looks like a nice girl." Martha said. "And I think I speak for all of us when I say it's about time you let yourself feel something for someone."
"I don't feel anything for her." He insisted.
"I think it's time to leave Red alone." Sandra remarked. "If he says he doesn't feel anything, we have to believe him."
"Thanks Sandra." Was all Red would say.
The waitress came back with a pot of coffee and cups. She said it would save her making countless trips to their table, to which the group was grateful.
When their orders finally came, they ate and talked about what they were going to do for the day. Danny and Red wanted to take Rafe and Gooz to the base to see the jets they were now flying and the girls wanted to go to the hospital and take a look around. For Evelyn it had a special meaning because her three children had been born there.
Danny insisted on paying the check but Red wouldn't here of it, so they ended up splitting it.
As they all got up from the table and made their way to the front door of the cafe they began to separate, but not before Rafe kissed his wife and reminded her that at some point that day they were going to have to get sidetracked.
"Only you would remember that Rafe McCawley." She said before she kissed him back and left the cafe with the girls.
"Sidetracked?" Gooz smiled before they also left and headed to the base.
