Barbara had kept quiet about the fact that she'd continued to see a pilot from Hickam and Evelyn was the only one that she'd talked to about it.

She'd told Evelyn that Martha had been a little put out that she hadn't talked to her, especially when they were roommates. But she and Evelyn had always talked things over with each other and Barbara didn't see any reason to change that.

They sat together on the back porch and discussed the matter over their second cup of coffee that morning. It was Barbara's day off and the kids were in school.

"So have you decided when you're going to bring him around?" Evelyn smiled at her smitten friend.

"I thought we could come for the Sunday picnic. It always sounds like so much fun and I've missed being able to spend the day with all of you. Dennis has wanted to come, but I just wasn't ready."

Evelyn hugged her. "He sounds like a really nice guy and you would both be more than welcome to join us. That goes without saying you know."

"I know. He's wanted to meet all of you for a long time but I didn't want him to have to put up with those pilots of ours." She shook her head.

"They mean well Barbara."

"I know, but my pop isn't as bad as those boys are." She laughed. "At least he trusts me."

Evelyn laughed with her. "It's not that they don't trust you, but they know how hard it was for you after Billy was killed."

"Ev, he was a lot of fun to be with and I do miss him sometimes. But I was never in love with him."

That surprised her. "Then why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Because before I met Dennis, I wasn't interested in anyone else. Besides, we were at war at the time and I didn't want to take a chance on losing someone else." She said in way of explanation.

"But we're at war again and you fell for someone anyway." Evelyn smiled at her.

"When it 's the right man Ev, I guess it doesn't really matter."

"I'm so happy for you, Barbara." She said and hugged her again. "So are you going to tell me what he's like? You've talked of him this whole time but you've never told me much about him."

"He's not like any man I've ever met really. He's tall and serious and his wife died when he was overseas in the last war. He never intended to date anyone but we just hit it off." She said and her face flushed. "He came in for his annual physical and I happened to be on the desk that day. He's got a wonderful sense of humor." She added.

"How did his wife die?" It felt funny to ask, but she knew that Barbara wouldn't mind.

"Influenza. He said it swept through and took a handful of people including his wife. She'd just had a bad cold and hadn't quite recovered yet."

"That's awful." Evelyn sighed.

"He was with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy flying a B-24 and by the time word got to him, it was too late for him to get home for the funeral."

"That's just awful." She repeated. "Did they have any kids?"

Barbara shook her head. "They had decided to wait until the war was over before they started their family."

"Had they been married very long?" She asked.

"Only for about six months before he shipped out to Italy. He told me his biggest regret after she died was that they hadn't had a baby, even though it's what they had decided on."

"So he's told you all about her?"

"She sounds like a wonderful girl Ev and I sometimes can't help but wonder how I measure up." Barbara sighed.

"He doesn't sound like the kind of man who would do that." Evelyn remarked.

"Oh, he hasn't! It's just me. He loved her a lot and I can't help but be a little jealous of that. Does that sound really awful?" She asked.

"It seems to me that if he's being so up front about this and telling you how he feels, it matters to him that you have the whole picture about his life. That sounds to me like a man who doesn't want to keep any secrets."

"So it's all right if we come on Sunday?"

Evelyn smiled at her. "Of course it is. The kids will love having someone else to make sandcastles with."

Barbara stood up. "Thanks Ev, I appreciate that. But now it's time for me to go. I'd love to sit here and talk your ear off, but I've got some errands to run before I meet Dennis for lunch."

Evelyn stood up and walked her to the front door.

"So how are the girls feeling?" Barbara asked as they stood on the front porch.

"Amy is ready to have that baby, but it's still a couple of months to go. Other than that though, she feels fine. As for Sandra, she's still dealing with morning sickness."

She frowned. "She's going to be all right isn't she? When she was carrying Ann she seemed to be sick all of the time."

Evelyn nodded. "And don't think that doesn't have Danny worried."

"Aren't you?"

"Remember nursing school? Every woman is different when it comes to having a baby and every baby is different."

"Well, at least we're here to help her this time."

"And I'm glad that we are. She was pretty much alone when she had Ann and Shelby and I always felt bad about that because she'd been here for me with my kids."

"I'm sure she doesn't see it that way Ev."

Evelyn smiled at her. "She told me as much the day that she and Danny made the announcement. So I just try and help her now as much as I can."

"I'm going to drop over there for a moment and say hi before I go home."

"She'd like that. Tell her that our afternoon coffee date is on for this afternoon if she's feeling up to it."

"I'll tell her." Barbara told her before she walked down the front path. "Talk to you later Ev."

She waved as her friend walked up the street and she smiled. Barbara had a beau, and he was a pilot.