The transport was due into Hickam at any moment and Evelyn looked at her wristwatch again.
Where were they?
Rafe stood next to her and laughed before he put a hand on her shoulder. "They'll be here honey, just be patient."
She looked up at him and smiled. "They've been away from us for almost a year Rafe. We've never been separated from each other for that long."
"You seem to forget that there was a war on just a few years ago." He grinned.
She cuffed him on the arm. "Don't be smart Rafe. You know darn well what I mean."
His grin got wider as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. "I know what you mean Evelyn."
"They're comin' in." Danny observed as a small speck in the sky appeared and suddenly had to tighten his hold on an excited Joseph who tried to jump out of his arms. "Hold on there son." He laughed.
Rafe turned around and looked at his youngest. "Mind Danny now." And turned back to watch the transport come in.
Sandra smiled at the boy. "You're just happy because you get to see your brother and sister, aren't you?"
Joseph smiled back and nodded as Sandra held Shelby in her arms and Ann held on to her skirt. "Just a few more minutes Ev."
Evelyn turned around for a moment and smiled.
The transport came into clear view and it got larger as it lined up for its approach on the runway and Rafe's arm tightened around her shoulders. He would never say it but Evelyn thought that he might be more excited than she that the kids were home.
When it finally rolled to a stop and the door opened, Evelyn couldn't contain herself any longer and she ran for the plane. The stairs were lowered and as she heard Rafe stop behind her, the stairs were lowered.
It seemed an interminable amount of time as military personnel got off and some civilians as well before the two that Evelyn had waited for, for so long stepped off. Danny was in his father's arms and a moment later Sarah was in her mother's arms. They all laughed as Danny let go of his father and hugged his mother while Sarah hugged her father.
"What about me?" An excited voice asked.
Joseph had squirmed his way out of Danny's grasp and had run after his father; Danny wasn't far behind.
"Hey squirt." Young Danny grinned as he ruffled his brother's hair. "You haven't been givin' Daddy a rough time have you?"
Rafe shook his head in amusement. "Never mind about that son."
Sarah hugged her brother and smiled.
They hadn't seen another pair step off until someone spoke up. "That's a nice warm welcome we got there son."
Rafe looked toward the transport and saw his parents. "Sorry about that Daddy."
"Your mama and I understand. We just ain't as important as we used to be." Tom McCawley ribbed him before he embraced his son.
Evelyn hugged Sarah. "So now you have all your chicks back in the nest." Her mother in law told her with a smile.
"And ours is finally empty." Tom grinned.
Sarah looked at her two oldest grandchildren. "Don't let him fool you. He'll miss you like crazy, just like me."
Sandra had caught up with the group and had put Shelby on her feet.
"Rafe tells us that you two received a surprise package." Tom told Danny and Sandra.
Evelyn caught Sandra's eye as she flushed and Danny grinned. "That we did sir. But it was a real happy surprise."
"When are you due?" Sarah asked Sandra.
"Around New Year's we figured." She answered.
"Congratulations honey." Sarah smiled at her and hugged her.
"Mama, what's a surprise package?" Ann asked as she looked up at her mother.
The adults looked at each other and tried not to laugh.
Tom grinned at Sandra and put an arm around her shoulders. "Sorry about that honey."
"It's all right Tom. We'll explain it to her later." And she kissed his cheek. "We're just so glad you're here."
"Unlike my son over there."
Rafe shook his head. "I said I was sorry Daddy." And he laughed as he and Danny collected the bags that had been offloaded from the transport.
"Did you get the boxes we sent out?" Sarah asked Evelyn. "We wanted to be sure that they had most of their things here."
"We did Sarah, thank you. It was almost like having them there." She smiled.
"All right you two; you're holdin' up the parade." Tom told them. "Let's get movin' before these grandkids of ours starve to death."
"They'll hardly do that Thomas." Sarah didn't take the bait. "They ate all the way back here."
Tom looked at his son and grinned. "Just don't say I didn't try."
And they all headed to the cars that waited outside the gate.
Evelyn and Rafe couldn't persuade his parents to stay with them or with Sandra and Danny. Tom was adamant that he and Sarah not interrupt their routine too much even after Rafe told him that he and Danny were off rotation for the next week.
"Just drop us at our hotel son and when we get settled in we'll call you."
"You need time with your children. After all, you haven't seen them since Christmas." Sarah reasoned.
Rafe nodded. "All right Mama. Someone will come get you when you're ready."
"Nonsense." His mother answered. "Just let us know what you want to do and Daddy and I will get a cab."
"Mama." He protested.
"You can't win an argument with your mother Rafe, I thought you knew that. Besides, I happen to agree with her."
Rafe looked at Evelyn and she shrugged as though to say, They're your parents.
"All right Daddy." He grinned as suitcases were put into both cars and everyone got situated before they left the airfield.