New Years 1951.
It was Rafe and Evelyn's first in Hawaii since they'd returned and it would be the first that Danny and Sarah McCawley would be able to remember.
Rafe's parents had brought the kids out on Christmas Eve after they'd been let out of school for the holiday break. They had been to the beach with their parents and their brother or with Danny's godfather and his family every day since they'd arrived.
Evelyn was a happy woman. She had all of her children with her, Rafe was recovered from the injuries he'd sustained after his crash into the Sea of Japan and everyone had made it back for New Years. Her house seemed to be bursting at its seams with all of the gathered friends and family, but that was how she liked it best.
The only people who were missing were her parents. Her mother had developed a bad case of influenza just before Christmas and was not able to make the trip. The disappointment in her voice was evident as she explained the situation. It would have been only the second time that both sides of the family would have gotten together since the end of the war.
Despite her disappointment at not being able to see the new year in with her parents, Evelyn was happy to have Barbara and Martha there and Gooz had made the trip as well. Red had brought Amy with him and he looked happier every time Evelyn saw them together. She seemed be the girl that Red was going to settle down with. It wasn't that he'd said anything to her or to Rafe or Danny, it was just a feeling she had.
Evelyn talked to Rafe about that after everyone had gone. It was well after three when the kitchen had been cleaned up and they had finally been able to get to bed. It had been a nice evening and they laid in the quiet going over what had happened. "Rafe, what do you think?"
He rolled over on his side to look at her. "About what honey?"
She rolled over to face him. "Do you think Red will marry her?"
He grinned at her question. "You're just itchin' to go to a weddin' ain't you?"
She smiled back and cuffed him lightly on his shoulder, which only made him laugh. "It's not that, honestly. All we've ever wanted for Red was for him to be happy after Betty died and it seemed it would never happen. Now it seems I can't remember when he wasn't happy."
"She's been real good for him, there's no doubt about that. As far as marriage goes, Red's the only one who can decide that."
"Oh I know. But after mourning for such a long time, he deserves all the happiness in the world."
"I can't argue with that." And he pulled her into his arms. "How 'bout you Mrs. McCawley? Are you happy to have all your chicks in the nest again?"
"More than happy." And she kissed his cheek. "To have your folks here and everyone else was more than I expected."
"Are you okay with your parents not bein' here?"
"I don't know who was more disappointed, Mother or me. But Dad called earlier to wish all of us a happy New Year and he said she was doing much better and he wasn't going to have to take her to the hospital."
"Was it really that bad?" Rafe asked her.
"It was looking that way for awhile, but my mother is too stubborn to let something like the flu keep her down for long."
He grinned. "Always wondered where that stubborn streak of yours came from."
"Rafe McCawley, you're just as stubborn as I am." She tried to be serious, but ended up laughing.
"You got that right Evelyn McCawley. And you wouldn't have it any other way." He said as he pulled her close and kissed her.
New Years Day came early and while their friends slept off a night of celebrating, the McCawley's and the Walker's gathered for a family breakfast. It was a noisy affair at the McCawley house with Evelyn, Sandra and Rafe's mother trying to keep the children and their husbands fed while trying to eat something themselves. By the time everyone had finished and the table had been cleared, Evelyn and Sandra were in the kitchen washing up the dishes while Rafe's parents had taken the children to the beach. They had to leave for Tennessee the next morning and Danny and Sarah wanted one more day to play in the sand.
While the girls took care of the breakfast dishes Rafe and Danny were in the living room discussing the upcoming mission. There was a knock at the front door and it was with more than a little surprise when Rafe opened the door and saw General James H. Doolittle standing there. "Hello sir, please come in."
Danny stood at attention as the General walked into the room. "At ease Captain, I'm retired."
"Old habit General."
Doolittle turned to Rafe. "I heard what happened to you Captain McCawley. It's a good thing you had Captain Walker here with you."
"I wouldn't argue with that."
"What brings you to Hawaii sir?" Danny asked.
"I've been doing some work with the Air Force and I was headed home to try and spend part of New Years Day with Mrs. Doolittle. But I knew you boys were here and wanted to stop by and see how you were doing."
Rafe and Danny glanced at each other and smiled, their former commander hadn't changed. "Do you have time for a cup of coffee?" Rafe asked him.
The General seemed to think about it for a moment and nodded. "Thank you Captain. A cup of coffee would hit the spot."
While Rafe walked to the kitchen, Danny and the General sat down on the sofa and started to talk.
"Who was at the door?" Evelyn asked Rafe as he walked into the kitchen. Sandra was putting away the last of the dishes and she was hanging up the damp dishtowel.
"General Doolittle. He's been here on a consultin' job and was stoppin' by on his way to the airfield. Is there any coffee left?"
"I just made a fresh pot, why?"
"I asked him to stay for a little while."
"Why don't you go back out to the living room and talk while I get everything together."
"Thanks honey." And he kissed her cheek before he turned around and walked back out to the living room.
Evelyn followed him out a few minutes later with a tray of cups, cream and sugar. Sandra followed with a fresh pot of coffee and set it on the tray before she sat down next to Danny on the sofa. Evelyn sat on the arm of the overstuffed chair next to Rafe and listened while the men talked.
It was something they'd never really discussed, mostly because the General had considered it a failure. None of the B-25's that had been flown over Japan in 1942 had made it back and many of the men had not either. "I went to see Lieutenant Fusco's parents before we went to Washington." He said to Rafe and Danny. "I wanted them to know how much their son meant to all of us."
"I'm sure they appreciated that sir." Rafe told him.
"We lost some good men that day." He said in reflection.
"But any one of them would do it again sir." Danny commented. "We believed in what we were doin'."
"I've always been very proud to be associated with every one of you men. I don't know if I ever told you that."
"You never needed to General, we always knew." Rafe said.
"I appreciate that son, thank you." He put his coffee cup down on the table and stood up. "Mrs. McCawley, Mrs. Walker it was very nice to see you again."
"Thank you for stopping by General, it was very nice to see you again too." Evelyn replied as Rafe got up out of the chair to walk Doolittle to the door. She, Danny and Sandra followed and they all said goodbye.
Rafe put his arm around Evelyn as they walked back to the living room and looked at her. "When God made that man, He broke the mold."
"Damn right." Danny remarked as they all sat down and finished their coffee.
