Where was that transport? Evelyn wondered as she looked at her wristwatch again.
They were supposed to have landed fifteen minutes ago and she had become a little agitated because the plane was late.
She felt Rafe's hands on her shoulders and he laughed softly. "They'll be here honey, you just have to be a little more patient."
She turned around and looked at him. "Patient? Rafe, it's been three months since Barbara told me that she and Martha had been transferred back here and I'm tired of waiting." She told him and then she laughed. "I guess I am a little impatient."
"I know how much you've missed her, Evelyn."
She smiled at him and laughed. "Then you understand why I'm so impatient."
"Ev, it's coming in!" Sandra said excitedly and pointed toward a speck in the sky that slowly grew larger.
Danny laughed and put a hand on Sandra's shoulder. "Calm down honey, it won't be long now."
She looked back at her husband and smiled. "Honestly Danny."
The foursome stood at the gate of the Hickam airfield and watched as the aircraft grew from a speck to a large spot to a C-17. The noise grew louder as the plane lined up with the runway and screeched as the tires finally hit the tarmac. It rolled to a stop and before the door was even open Evelyn and Sandra made a beeline for the aircraft.
They stood and waited as military officers and enlisted men stepped off the plane before they saw Barbara and Martha. Barbara had a wide grin on her face as she got off the plane and waited for Martha. They stood in front of their friends and they all started to laugh before Barbara and Evelyn hugged each other.
"I never thought we'd get back here." Martha said before she hugged Sandra.
"You could have knocked us over with a feather when you told us about Red and Amy. How is she feeling?" Barbara asked.
Evelyn smiled at her. "She's feeling fine. But Red is a worrywart and he's driving her a little crazy."
"I can't say as I blame him Ev. After being by himself for such a long time, now he's got a wife and a baby on the way." Barbara observed.
None of the girls had noticed Rafe and Danny approach until they took Barbara and Martha's suitcases out of their hands. "You'll have plenty of time for talkin' after we get to the house." Rafe grinned. "Let's get movin'."
He and Danny led the way and walked to the two cars that were parked nearby. "Honey, I'll go with Rafe if you want to ride with the girls." Danny told Sandra. "It'll give y'all a chance to start catchin' up."
"Thank you Danny." Sandra told him and kissed his cheek.
"We'll see y'all back at our place." Rafe told them as he put the suitcases in his car while Danny helped Sandra into their car.
"Drive careful Sandra."
"I always do Danny, you know that." And he leaned over to kiss her before he turned around and got into the passenger side of the McCawley's car before Rafe turned over the motor and pulled away.
Barbara looked at Evelyn and smiled.
Martha didn't miss the exchange and grinned at the two. "It's been a long flight from New York and I'm starving, so can we get out of here please?" And she got into the back of the car.
"She always did cut to the chase." Evelyn observed and waited for Barbara to get into the back seat before she got in on the passenger side as Sandra started the car and headed toward home. It didn't take long to reach her house and she pulled into the drive.
They got out of the car and walked the short distance to Rafe and Evelyn's where Rafe and Danny sat on the front porch with the kids. "I went ahead and sent Mrs. Monahan home." Rafe told Evelyn as she and the other girls came up the walk. "And when Red found out that you girls were comin' back today, he wanted to get over here to see you."
"When will they be here?" Barbara asked.
"About now I'd say." Danny smiled as he bounced Shelby in his lap.
Barbara and Martha turned around and saw Red stop his car in front of the house and get out. He gave them a quick wave before he walked around to the other side of the car to open Amy's door. He took her hand as she got out and they walked up to the house. He gave them each a hug before he turned to his wife. "Amy, you remember Barbara and Martha don't you?" Red smiled at her.
She nodded and gave them a shy wave. "I certainly do. It's nice to see you again."
"I think we can do better than that." Barbara smiled and hugged her. "Congratulations."
Amy smiled back. "Thanks. It happened a little faster than we'd planned on, but we're happy about it just the same."
"It usually does." Martha observed with a grin.
"Come on in everybody ." Evelyn said to them as she opened the front door.
"I hope you didn't go to too much trouble Ev." Martha told her. "We still need to get to our new quarters and get settled in. Besides, I want to size up the nurses they have us living with."
"It won't be the same as living with you and Sandra, but at least we're all close by again." Barbara remarked.
"And don't think my wife ain't been countin' the days." Rafe laughed as he followed the group into the house.
Evelyn had kept it simple and with Sandra's help laid out a buffet. Sandwiches were the order of the afternoon and everyone was encouraged to make their own. There was beer for the pilots and Barbara offered to mix drinks for the girls. Amy demurred and took a club soda instead.
Ann and Shelby Walker and Joseph McCawley were reacquainted with the nurses but none of them ventured too far away from their parents. Evelyn knew it would take some time for the kids to warm up to them because she, Rafe, Danny and Sandra had had the same experience with their own kids.
The afternoon passed too quickly and it was time for the girls to leave. Red was ready to take Amy home, so he offered to drive the girls to their new quarters. They accepted the offer and with a promise to meet at Danny and Sandra's for breakfast the next morning, they got their suitcases out of the McCawley's car. Red put them into the trunk of his own car as they got into the back seat. After he'd settled Amy in the front seat he started the car and pulled away.
The McCawley's and the Walker's stood on the porch and waved as Red drove away and Rafe grinned at his best friend. "Well Danny, now that they're back, we're outnumbered again."
"And they wouldn't have it any other way Rafe." He answered with a grin.
"Oh honestly." Evelyn and Sandra answered in unintended unison as their husbands laughed and put their arms around their wives and walked back into the house.