Okay Chapter 4!
****************
Danny was sitting in his favorite chair by the window watching Evelyn in the yard, where she was hanging up wash in the yard. It was late October, still very warm in Hawaii. The phone rang. "Bring, Bring, Bringggggg"
"Hello?"
"Hey Danny!"
"Hi Rafe! Your phone bill is going to be outrageous! Calling here all these times."
"Yea but I miss you all. I asked Ells to come with me for the holidays, she said she would want to. She's an orphan, hasn't had a real Thanksgiving in years she said."
"That's great I'll tell Ev, she'll be so glad Rafe. It's always a little lonely here during the holidays, just you, me, Ev and the kids."
"Okay well I've gotta go buy some food. I told Ella I'd make dinner. So I'm actually just going to go get some takeout. I don't know how to cook. Oh Dan, she can cook! She made dinner for me last week it was so delicious. Her peach cobbler was better then my mother's, remember my mother's Dan?"
"Yeah Rafe I do. Rafe you sound very happy."
"Yeah Danny I am." *****************
Ella got dressed quickly in a tight, blue dress. Rafe had invited her for dinner and she was going to be late. She hurried down Fifth Avenue and into Rafe's building. She walked into the living room and said
"Rafe! I'm here!"
"In the kitchen Ells!"
Ella walked into the small kitchen and grabbed an apron, and tied it around her waist.
"Need help?" She said as she moved closer to Rafe. Her lips just inches from his, she pressed them gently against his. She pulled away and said, "Mmm you taste good."
"So do you. And I'd love some help. Wanna put that bowl on the table?"
Ella picked up the bowl of salad that was sitting on the counter, placed it neatly on the table and returned to the kitchen. Rafe was just putting mashed potatoes into a bowl. Dinner was delicious; Rafe was a very good cook, which surprised Ella.
"I talked to Danny today"
"Really? How is everyone there?"
"Very good. Dan said they would love to have you for the holidays. So I was thinking maybe we could go for Thanksgiving and stay through New Years?"
"But what about work Rafe? You have to be at the base and I have to be at the hospital."
"Well we can put in for a temporary transfer. You and Evelyn can go to the hospital and I'll help Danny at the air base."
"That sounds wonderful! But we better go shopping here in New York before we leave. I want to make sure we have lots of presents. And call Evelyn and ask her what we can bring? Rafe where are we going to stay? We can't impose on Danny and Evelyn for two months it's just too long."
"Whoa Elle slow down. We won't leave till just before Thanksgiving, not for another month. But you're right about staying with Ev and Danny. They have two little kids that I love dearly but they can get a little annoying. I'll call the base in Pearl and ask if they can find us a little house to rent."
"I wasn't thinking about the children being annoying, I was thinking Danny and Evelyn would want some privacy."
"Oh. See I was thinking you and I would want some privacy." Rafe said suggestively.
************************
Ella walked briskly down 58th street, tying the belt to her winter coat as she walked. After turning onto Fifth Avenue she spotted exactly what she was looking for, FAO Schwartz. She walked into the toy store and began to search for the perfect gifts for Grace and Danny, Rafe's niece and nephew. After hours of searching in the gigantic store she found a plush doll for little Grace and a pilot figurine with a plane for little Danny.
Meanwhile.
A block away Rafe walked into the large building labeled TIFFANY & CO. A salesman met him at the door.
"Can I help you sir?"
"Yes you can. I'm looking for a ring. An engagement ring."
"Ah found that special someone, have we?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Well there right over here."
Rafe followed the man over to the counter. He had been in love with Ella ever since the moment he laid eyes on her in that club. He knew he was rushing a little, but he wasn't getting any younger. He and Ella could always have a long engagement. It was almost Thanksgiving, and if he proposed on Christmas they'd have been together six months.
"What style ring were you looking for sir?"
"I'm not sure really. I don't have much experience in engagement ring shopping."
A few hours later he had decided on the perfect ring and wanted to look for something special for Evelyn. He decided on a brooch, which was studded with sapphires, Ev's birthstone.
Rafe left the store and headed down Fifth when he spotted a familiar face.
"Elle! Hey Ella!" He moved quickly down the crowded sidewalk to meet her.
"I was just looking for some presents for Grace and Danny. I found a few things that I think you'll like. What's that?" she asked referring to the blue bag from Tiffany's in Rafe's hand.
"Nothing! Just a few presents for some pretty girls." He said as he slipped the thin bag into his inner coat pocket. "Come on lets go somewhere for lunch." *********************
Many suitcases and wrapped packages lined the front porch of Ella's house. She was standing outside with her two roommates. Rafe's car pulled up and he got out.
"Good morning girls!" He said as he leaned in to kiss Ella on the cheek "Ready to go Elle?"
"Yeah, I've got everything, I think."
Rafe loaded all of the suitcases and bags into the trunk of the car and started it. He helped Ella into the passenger side of the car. She waved goodbye and they were off. ************************
They arrived in Hawaii at one that afternoon, but to the two East-coasters it felt like four in the afternoon. They landed on the airstrip at the base and saw a pretty woman with long, dark hair dressed in a pale yellow dress and a white hat waving. A little boy about four years old also with dark hair was holding her hand and a navy blue baby carriage sat next to the two. Rafe and Ella walked down the steep steps to the strip. Rafe had warned Ella that she would have to change because of the heat. So while the plane was refueling in California, both Rafe and Ella had changed into summery clothes. Ella wore a short sleeved white dress, which was decorated with red polka dots. She found it on sale at Bloomingdales in September. A red hat was perched on her neatly combed hair. She really wanted Evelyn and Danny to like her. Rafe helped her down the steps and they walked quickly over the where the woman, who Ella assumed was Evelyn, was. She embraced Rafe and kissed his cheek.
"Uncle Rafe! Uncle Rafe!" the little boy shouted.
"Hey squirt I missed you. Everyone I want you to meet Ella."
Evelyn hugged her and said "Ella it is so nice to finally meet you. We've heard so much about you from Rafe!" Little Danny suddenly got shy and hid behind his mother. "Danny say hello!" Evelyn commanded.
"Hi." The little boy said quietly.
"Hi Danny, it's nice to meet you! I'm Ella." Said Ella who was crouching down so she would be the little boy's height. She stood up smoothed her skirt and said to Evelyn "It's very nice to meet you too Evelyn. From what Rafe has told me I feel like I know you already!"
The baby in the carriage began to cry. Rafe immediately went over to the stroller. He picked up the baby who was about a year old. Rocking her gently he said, "Ev she got so big! The last time I saw her she didn't weigh ten pounds."
"She has grown. She is a year old now Rafe."
"May I hold her?" asked Ella timidly
"Sure" Evelyn replied.
Ella took the baby and bounced her gently, she giggled and Ella handed her back to her mother.
"Ev, we're gonna go find Danny, We'll meet you at the house later."
"Okay! See you soon!" **********************
Danny was working on a plane in the large garage where the planes were kept. Rafe walked into it and Danny walked along the wing to come down and say hello. He jumped down and he and Rafe hugged each other tightly. Ella watched, wishing she had a friend she was this close with.
"You must be the infamous Ella. I'm Danny Walker." Danny said offering her his hand.
"Well I wouldn't say infamous!" Ella replied laughing.
"Oh I would. You are all Rafe talks about."
"So I've heard."
"Dan, Where can I find Lt. Mitchell?"
"Upstairs, I think its room 201. Why?"
"We're renting his house. I'm going to go see him now then I'm going to go visit Ev and the kids."
"I'll see you two then."
****************
"Come in!" a loud voice said.
Rafe and Ella entered the office and introduced themselves. The man said he and his wife would be leaving tomorrow morning so Rafe and Ella could move in then. Rafe signed the lease and they left.
"Wanna go to the beach tomorrow Ells?"
"Yes! I want to put my feet in the Pacific Ocean."
They entered the front door of Danny and Evelyn's house. Danny was sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich with little Danny. As soon as they came in chairs were pulled up and sandwiches placed in front of them. The lunch conversation was lively; Ella and Evelyn talked about the newest fashions and such, while Danny and Rafe discussed the war. They both were hopeful that it would end soon. Hours later Ella and Rafe retired to the two guestrooms to sleep. To them six p.m. felt like 11 at night. *******************
"Rafe! Bring that red suitcase into the bedroom please?" Ella called from the second floor of the beautiful old, Polynesian inspired house. Rafe drug the large, heavy suitcase up the two staircases.
"WHAT do you have in here?"
"Clothes, shoes, stuff. Leave me alone! Oh and there are two more downstairs"
**************************
Danny was sitting in his favorite chair by the window watching Evelyn in the yard, where she was hanging up wash in the yard. It was late October, still very warm in Hawaii. The phone rang. "Bring, Bring, Bringggggg"
"Hello?"
"Hey Danny!"
"Hi Rafe! Your phone bill is going to be outrageous! Calling here all these times."
"Yea but I miss you all. I asked Ells to come with me for the holidays, she said she would want to. She's an orphan, hasn't had a real Thanksgiving in years she said."
"That's great I'll tell Ev, she'll be so glad Rafe. It's always a little lonely here during the holidays, just you, me, Ev and the kids."
"Okay well I've gotta go buy some food. I told Ella I'd make dinner. So I'm actually just going to go get some takeout. I don't know how to cook. Oh Dan, she can cook! She made dinner for me last week it was so delicious. Her peach cobbler was better then my mother's, remember my mother's Dan?"
"Yeah Rafe I do. Rafe you sound very happy."
"Yeah Danny I am." *****************
Ella got dressed quickly in a tight, blue dress. Rafe had invited her for dinner and she was going to be late. She hurried down Fifth Avenue and into Rafe's building. She walked into the living room and said
"Rafe! I'm here!"
"In the kitchen Ells!"
Ella walked into the small kitchen and grabbed an apron, and tied it around her waist.
"Need help?" She said as she moved closer to Rafe. Her lips just inches from his, she pressed them gently against his. She pulled away and said, "Mmm you taste good."
"So do you. And I'd love some help. Wanna put that bowl on the table?"
Ella picked up the bowl of salad that was sitting on the counter, placed it neatly on the table and returned to the kitchen. Rafe was just putting mashed potatoes into a bowl. Dinner was delicious; Rafe was a very good cook, which surprised Ella.
"I talked to Danny today"
"Really? How is everyone there?"
"Very good. Dan said they would love to have you for the holidays. So I was thinking maybe we could go for Thanksgiving and stay through New Years?"
"But what about work Rafe? You have to be at the base and I have to be at the hospital."
"Well we can put in for a temporary transfer. You and Evelyn can go to the hospital and I'll help Danny at the air base."
"That sounds wonderful! But we better go shopping here in New York before we leave. I want to make sure we have lots of presents. And call Evelyn and ask her what we can bring? Rafe where are we going to stay? We can't impose on Danny and Evelyn for two months it's just too long."
"Whoa Elle slow down. We won't leave till just before Thanksgiving, not for another month. But you're right about staying with Ev and Danny. They have two little kids that I love dearly but they can get a little annoying. I'll call the base in Pearl and ask if they can find us a little house to rent."
"I wasn't thinking about the children being annoying, I was thinking Danny and Evelyn would want some privacy."
"Oh. See I was thinking you and I would want some privacy." Rafe said suggestively.
************************
Ella walked briskly down 58th street, tying the belt to her winter coat as she walked. After turning onto Fifth Avenue she spotted exactly what she was looking for, FAO Schwartz. She walked into the toy store and began to search for the perfect gifts for Grace and Danny, Rafe's niece and nephew. After hours of searching in the gigantic store she found a plush doll for little Grace and a pilot figurine with a plane for little Danny.
Meanwhile.
A block away Rafe walked into the large building labeled TIFFANY & CO. A salesman met him at the door.
"Can I help you sir?"
"Yes you can. I'm looking for a ring. An engagement ring."
"Ah found that special someone, have we?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Well there right over here."
Rafe followed the man over to the counter. He had been in love with Ella ever since the moment he laid eyes on her in that club. He knew he was rushing a little, but he wasn't getting any younger. He and Ella could always have a long engagement. It was almost Thanksgiving, and if he proposed on Christmas they'd have been together six months.
"What style ring were you looking for sir?"
"I'm not sure really. I don't have much experience in engagement ring shopping."
A few hours later he had decided on the perfect ring and wanted to look for something special for Evelyn. He decided on a brooch, which was studded with sapphires, Ev's birthstone.
Rafe left the store and headed down Fifth when he spotted a familiar face.
"Elle! Hey Ella!" He moved quickly down the crowded sidewalk to meet her.
"I was just looking for some presents for Grace and Danny. I found a few things that I think you'll like. What's that?" she asked referring to the blue bag from Tiffany's in Rafe's hand.
"Nothing! Just a few presents for some pretty girls." He said as he slipped the thin bag into his inner coat pocket. "Come on lets go somewhere for lunch." *********************
Many suitcases and wrapped packages lined the front porch of Ella's house. She was standing outside with her two roommates. Rafe's car pulled up and he got out.
"Good morning girls!" He said as he leaned in to kiss Ella on the cheek "Ready to go Elle?"
"Yeah, I've got everything, I think."
Rafe loaded all of the suitcases and bags into the trunk of the car and started it. He helped Ella into the passenger side of the car. She waved goodbye and they were off. ************************
They arrived in Hawaii at one that afternoon, but to the two East-coasters it felt like four in the afternoon. They landed on the airstrip at the base and saw a pretty woman with long, dark hair dressed in a pale yellow dress and a white hat waving. A little boy about four years old also with dark hair was holding her hand and a navy blue baby carriage sat next to the two. Rafe and Ella walked down the steep steps to the strip. Rafe had warned Ella that she would have to change because of the heat. So while the plane was refueling in California, both Rafe and Ella had changed into summery clothes. Ella wore a short sleeved white dress, which was decorated with red polka dots. She found it on sale at Bloomingdales in September. A red hat was perched on her neatly combed hair. She really wanted Evelyn and Danny to like her. Rafe helped her down the steps and they walked quickly over the where the woman, who Ella assumed was Evelyn, was. She embraced Rafe and kissed his cheek.
"Uncle Rafe! Uncle Rafe!" the little boy shouted.
"Hey squirt I missed you. Everyone I want you to meet Ella."
Evelyn hugged her and said "Ella it is so nice to finally meet you. We've heard so much about you from Rafe!" Little Danny suddenly got shy and hid behind his mother. "Danny say hello!" Evelyn commanded.
"Hi." The little boy said quietly.
"Hi Danny, it's nice to meet you! I'm Ella." Said Ella who was crouching down so she would be the little boy's height. She stood up smoothed her skirt and said to Evelyn "It's very nice to meet you too Evelyn. From what Rafe has told me I feel like I know you already!"
The baby in the carriage began to cry. Rafe immediately went over to the stroller. He picked up the baby who was about a year old. Rocking her gently he said, "Ev she got so big! The last time I saw her she didn't weigh ten pounds."
"She has grown. She is a year old now Rafe."
"May I hold her?" asked Ella timidly
"Sure" Evelyn replied.
Ella took the baby and bounced her gently, she giggled and Ella handed her back to her mother.
"Ev, we're gonna go find Danny, We'll meet you at the house later."
"Okay! See you soon!" **********************
Danny was working on a plane in the large garage where the planes were kept. Rafe walked into it and Danny walked along the wing to come down and say hello. He jumped down and he and Rafe hugged each other tightly. Ella watched, wishing she had a friend she was this close with.
"You must be the infamous Ella. I'm Danny Walker." Danny said offering her his hand.
"Well I wouldn't say infamous!" Ella replied laughing.
"Oh I would. You are all Rafe talks about."
"So I've heard."
"Dan, Where can I find Lt. Mitchell?"
"Upstairs, I think its room 201. Why?"
"We're renting his house. I'm going to go see him now then I'm going to go visit Ev and the kids."
"I'll see you two then."
****************
"Come in!" a loud voice said.
Rafe and Ella entered the office and introduced themselves. The man said he and his wife would be leaving tomorrow morning so Rafe and Ella could move in then. Rafe signed the lease and they left.
"Wanna go to the beach tomorrow Ells?"
"Yes! I want to put my feet in the Pacific Ocean."
They entered the front door of Danny and Evelyn's house. Danny was sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich with little Danny. As soon as they came in chairs were pulled up and sandwiches placed in front of them. The lunch conversation was lively; Ella and Evelyn talked about the newest fashions and such, while Danny and Rafe discussed the war. They both were hopeful that it would end soon. Hours later Ella and Rafe retired to the two guestrooms to sleep. To them six p.m. felt like 11 at night. *******************
"Rafe! Bring that red suitcase into the bedroom please?" Ella called from the second floor of the beautiful old, Polynesian inspired house. Rafe drug the large, heavy suitcase up the two staircases.
"WHAT do you have in here?"
"Clothes, shoes, stuff. Leave me alone! Oh and there are two more downstairs"
**************************