Rafe hated keeping secrets from Evelyn and this was no exception. But he needed to keep this from her if his surprise was going to work. He had told her that he was going to be late and wasn't sure when he would be home. He couldn't tell his wife he was going to wait for an incoming transport that was bringing Barbara back to Hawaii for a couple of weeks.
He stood at the gate and looked at his watch Damn! Where was that transport? He wondered as he looked at his watch again. His own question was answered as he saw the C-47 coming in and lining up with the runway. He watched as it touched down and came to a rolling stop. He jogged out to meet it and waited for Barbara.
When she stepped off, she stood still for a moment and smiled at Rafe. "I've really missed this place."
"And Evelyn's missed you somethin' fierce. I'm sure glad you're here."
Barbara's smile turned to a look of concern. "You are telling me everything, aren't you Rafe?"
"I swear I'm not keepin' anythin' from you. But I have been keepin' this a secret from Evelyn and it's killin' me, so let's get you to the house."
After she'd retrieved her suitcase, Rafe took it from her and they walked to his waiting car.
The house was quiet by the time Rafe pulled into the drive and got Barbara's suitcase. "Leave it there, I've got a hotel room."
"You know that Evelyn's goin' to want you to stay."
"That's why I got a room. I don't want to disrupt things around here because Evelyn finally has you home for more than a few weeks at a time." She grinned.
They walked into the house and Rafe indicated for Barbara to be quiet. She nodded her understanding as he went looking for Evelyn. The kids had already been put to bed for the night and Evelyn was not in their room. He came back out to the living room and headed to the back porch. Evelyn was curled up, fast asleep on the sofa. He should have known that she'd be here. He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss before he brushed a lock of her hair back. She smiled as she opened her eyes. "Hey sleepy head." He said.
"Hey yourself Captain, you're late."
"I know honey and I am sorry, but I have a real good reason." He smiled at her.
"What is it then?"
Rafe turned toward the screen door and saw Barbara standing there, waiting. She came out on the porch and smiled. "He was picking me up from Hickam, that's why he was so late."
Evelyn heard a voice that sounded just like Barbara but it couldn't be, she was back in New York. It took some doing but she sat up and she couldn't believe it, Barbara was actually standing there.
Rafe helped Evelyn to stand and once she had, her arms were around Barbara and she started to cry. Barbara did too and hugged her back. Without saying anything he walked into the house to give the friends some time to catch up.
By the time they let go of each other, Barbara stepped back to get a look at Evelyn. "You look good Ev, you really do."
"I look terrible and you know it."
She smiled. "Honey, we should all look that good when we're that far along." And they laughed.
Evelyn hugged her again, so glad that she was there. They sat out on the back porch for what seemed hours, Barbara telling her everything that was going on in New York and how Martha was so envious of her coming back. She told her how the hospital where they'd first been posted was now a veterans hospital and how many of the injuries were not of a physical nature, but psychological. Those were the things that Barbara had the toughest time with, but she was lucky because she had her family close by. "I've been living with my folks until I decide what I'm going to do. I didn't want to break in a whole new set of roommates."
"Why don't you and Martha get a place?"
Barbara shook her head. "I love Martha like a sister, but after sharing a house with her in New York and here I learned it was better if we didn't this time. So what about you? The last time we talked you said Rafe wasn't going to re-enlist."
"No, he decided he's had enough and he wants to go home."
"What about you? Wouldn't you rather stay here?" Barbara looked at her.
Evelyn flushed. "Rafe wants to go home and I want to be with him, so we're going back to Tennessee."
"Ev."
"Barbara, we stayed the last time because I didn't want to go and he gave up an assignment that would have kept him out of the war. Now it's my turn to give up something so he can have what he wants."
"You love him that much." She grinned.
"I know how much our life together has meant to me and that I almost lost him, twice. Don't you understand? He's nearly sacrificed his life and this seems such a small thing compared to that."
"Does that husband of yours have any idea how lucky he is?"
Evelyn smiled. "No more lucky than I am."
"How are you feeling Ev? You sure had Rafe worried enough to get me back here."
"That husband of mine is full of surprises isn't he?" She said.
"Evelyn McCawley, you haven't answered my question." Barbara wouldn't be distracted.
"I'm fine and the baby is fine. The doctor's been keeping a close eye on us and he seems less and less worried the closer I get."
"That's good to hear. Martha and I have been on pins and needles since we got transferred because we couldn't keep an eye on you."
"I've had Rafe for that and I think I've been making him a little crazy with all of it. He's not used to being around for all of the changes that I went through with the other two."
"You've shown him the real you, have you?" And she laughed.
"Barbara!" Evelyn replied, but she laughed at the joke because it was so nice to have her here and whatever Rafe had had to do to get Barbara here, she'd thank him for it later.
Barbara looked at her watch and stood up. "It's time for me to go Ev. It's been a long day and I need to get some sleep."
"You'll stay here of course."
"No I won't. You don't need an extra body around here gumming up the works and besides, I've already paid for a room and I'm not going to waste it."
"I wish you'd reconsider."
"Nothing doing honey. Now let's find that husband of yours so you can drive me to my hotel." And with that settled, she helped Evelyn to stand up and they went to go look for Rafe.