Evelyn had continued to urge Barbara all week to bring her pilot to the Sunday picnic and when she finally asked him, he was all for it.
"They sound like really nice people Barbara and they obviously care a lot about you." Dennis tried to calm her nerves.
"They are a great bunch and I love them to death, but the boys are a little over protective." She answered as they walked to his car.
He smiled and took her hand. "They just want you to be happy honey. If I were one of them, I'd want that for you too."
Barbara leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'm glad you aren't one of them."
"So am I." He agreed and he opened the car door and waited for her to sit down before he went around and got in on the driver's side. "So where are we going exactly?"
"I didn't tell you that?" She smiled at him.
He was just as amused as he shook his head. "I'm sorry honey, but you neglected to tell me that."
"Everyone usually meets at Ev and Rafe's, so I'll direct you there."
"Sounds like a plan." He commented as he started the car and true to her word, she got them to the McCawley's without a problem.
Everyone was gathered on the porch as they pulled up in front of the house and Barbara wanted nothing more than to crawl under the seat.
"I'm a big boy Barbara and I'm also a pilot. I should be able to think of something to say." He leaned over and smiled at her. "Just introduce me and I can handle the rest."
He got out of the car and came around to open her door. When she got out, he held his hand out to her and she smiled at him and took it. His sure grasp gave Barbara the courage to face what she had told Evelyn was a motley crew of pilots.
Evelyn met them half way down the walk and she smiled.
Barbara smiled back at her friend. "Ev, this is Captain Dennis Dearborn. Dennis, this is my very best friend Evelyn McCawley."
"It's nice to finally meet you Captain, Barbara's told me a lot about you. Why don't you come on over and I can introduce you to everyone else." And she turned back toward the porch.
Barbara looked up at him and he smiled before he followed Evelyn, with her in tow.
"If I could have everyone's attention for a minute, there's someone here that I'd like to introduce." Evelyn quieted down the group and she looked at Dennis. "Captain Dennis Dearborn, this is the unruly mob that Barbara has told you about I'm sure." She laughed.
"Now that ain't fair honey." Rafe stepped off the porch and put his hand out. "I'm the husband of my diplomatic wife here." And Dennis took his hand. "Captain Rafe McCawley."
"It's nice to finally meet you Captain."
"Please call me Rafe." And he looked at Evelyn. "If I may?"
Barbara looked at Evelyn who shook her head in amusement. "By all means."
"Captain, this is my best friend and fellow Captain, Danny Walker." Rafe said to him and Danny got up to shake his hand. "This is his wife Sandra and his two girls Ann and Shelby."
Dennis looked at Barbara with curiosity before he looked back at Danny. "Shelby?"
Danny grinned. "That's the name of our hometown in Tennessee."
He nodded in understanding.
"These are our kids Danny, Sarah and Joseph."
Before he had a chance to ask Barbara explained. "His son Danny was named for Captain Walker who is also his godfather."
"Just remember there is goin' to be a quiz on this later." Rafe grinned and Dennis laughed.
"Rafe." Evelyn admonished him with a smile.
He grinned at her and continued. "This is Red Winkle and his wife Amy and they're expectin' their first come November."
"And Danny and Sandra are expecting their third in January." Barbara added and she saw a look of sadness pass momentarily across his face.
"Congratulations to you both." He said to Sandra and Amy.
"Well, now that we've got that out of the way what do you say we head on down to the beach." Rafe commented.
"Let's do it." Danny agreed and picked up the Walker's basket.
"I've got our basket in the car; I'll be back in a minute." Dennis told them and headed down the walk to his car.
"He seems really nice Barbara." She hadn't heard Evelyn come up behind her.
"And he looks like he can handle himself around our pilots." Sandra added with a smile.
Barbara grinned. "He is and he can."
The girls laughed together before Barbara frowned. "I wish Martha had decided to come. I asked her to come with us, but she didn't want to."
She felt Evelyn's hand on her shoulder. "You were in her position not too long ago, remember? We could never get you to come either."
"It was the nurses and the pilots for such a long time and now we've expanded into families." She remarked. "I do understand how she feels, but we are still friends."
"We'll try again next Sunday Barbara." Sandra said as she picked up Shelby.
Dennis returned with the basket and a blanket, which he handed to Barbara. "If you would carry that, I can handle this."
"That sounds fair." She smiled and he took her free hand.
"All right everybody, let's move out." Rafe called out and after Danny picked up Ann and Rafe's oldest took the hand of his little brother they began their trek down to the beach. When they reached a good spot blankets were put down on the sand, baskets were opened and the lunch began.
It didn't take long for the pilots to begin talk about Korea and their missions. With Dennis in the mix, it became a good-natured debate about the effectiveness of fighters versus bombers. The whole thing was lost on Barbara.
When she looked over at Evelyn she had a smile on her face and it dawned on her that Dennis had been accepted by the pilots without the third degree she had worried about and when he looked over at her, he smiled.
He did say he could take care of himself.