Amy was instructed to sit while the other girls, with the assistance of their husbands got dinner on the table that Thanksgiving evening.
She protested of course, but she was two weeks overdue and her doctor told her to take it easy.
Rafe watched from the kitchen doorway as Red sat with his wife and she started to cry. He sighed because there was nothing anyone could do as he had learned with Evelyn. He turned back into the kitchen as Evelyn finished mashing the potatoes and Danny was checking on the turkey.
"How is she?" Evelyn asked him and Rafe could see her concern.
"She's cryin' and Red's tryin' to help her." He sighed again.
"I just wish there were something we could do." Sandra commented as she folded that last of the linen napkins for the table. "Ev and I have been through this and we know how difficult the last month can be..."
"But to be two weeks overdue makes it worse." Evelyn finished.
"Well, Barbara is coming and if anyone can cheer Amy up it's her." Sandra added. "Is she bringing Dennis with her?"
"That's what she said, but she couldn't persuade Martha to come. She's working today and said she wouldn't be off in time to get here."
"You sound like you don't believe her." Rafe said. "Maybe she didn't have a choice."
"Of course she had a choice. She's a senior nurse and that gives her choices." Evelyn replied.
"And she made a choice to work today." Danny interjected. "Someone has to."
"That's true." Sandra agreed. "And it's not like you boys are here every holiday either."
Rafe nodded. "You got a point about that. So when are they comin'?"
The doorbell rang and the two couples looked at each other and smiled. "About now, I'd say." Evelyn answered before she looked at her husband. "Would you get that for me? I'm up to my elbows in potatoes."
"I will if Danny promises to keep an eye on that turkey."
Danny grinned. "You're only goin' to answer the door Rafe. You ain't goin' to be gone that long."
Rafe grinned back as he walked out of the kitchen and saw Amy wiping her eyes. "It ain't goin' to be much longer." He told her and Red as he headed to the front door and opened it. As Evelyn thought it might be, Barbara and Dennis were there and she held a pumpkin pie in her hands.
"Ev asked if I would bring something for dessert, so here it is."
Dennis smiled at her before he looked at Rafe. "I'm sorry we're late. Hickam called in all the pilots this afternoon for an unscheduled briefing."
Rafe shook his head. "You ain't late. Besides, we've been through a few of those ourselves so please come in."
"Where can I put this?" Barbara asked as she held the pie.
"I'll take this if you would try and cheer Amy up. She's feelin' pretty discouraged about now and I don't think Red's helpin' much." He added quietly.
"Sure thing." She answered as she handed the pie to Rafe and he walked back to the kitchen. Evelyn was spooning the potatoes into a bowl and Danny was closing the door to the oven. "Barbara and Dennis are here and I asked her to try and cheer Amy up."
"Forget about cheering her up, we need to get her to the hospital." Dennis' sudden voice got Rafe to turn around and he looked at the pilot. "She says that her water just broke and Barbara's trying to keep Red from panicking."
He turned to his wife and she was washing her hands in the sink. Danny turned off the oven and Sandra rushed out to the living room. "Rafe, take Red and Amy in our car because he's not going to be in any condition to drive." Evelyn asked as she dried her hands on a dishtowel. "Dennis, could you and Barbara would go over to their house and get Amy's suitcase? I know that she's had it packed for the last month and it should be by the front door."
"We'll meet you at the hospital." Dennis told her and left the kitchen.
"Danny, if you and Sandra would stay here with the kids we won't have to interrupt the Monahan's dinner." She asked as she took the pie out of Rafe's hands and put it in the icebox.
"Sure thing Evelyn. Just keep us posted on how she's doin'." Danny agreed and followed Dennis out of the kitchen.
"Well honey, it looks like this is finally it. Red's goin' to be a daddy." He grinned and kissed her cheek.
She smiled back at him. "And I'd prefer if it happens in a hospital so let's go."
Rafe put an arm around her shoulders as they met the rest of the group in the living room. Dennis and Danny were helping Amy to stand while Sandra talked to her and tried to keep her calm. "Don't worry about anything Amy because you're in awfully good hands. I'll call the hospital to let them know you're coming."
"Thanks Sandra." Amy gave her a weak smile as Red put an arm around her waist and walked her to the door.
"I need to tell the kids what's going on, so you go ahead and get them out to the car." Evelyn told Rafe and headed to the back of the house.
He followed Red and Amy to the door. "I'll meet you outside." He said and checked his pocket to make sure he had the car keys before he opened the front door and jogged out to the car. He started the car and waited.
Barbara and Dennis followed and walked to his car in the front of the house. "We won't be long." Barbara called to him as the motor came to life and they pulled away.
He looked up to see Amy wince as she and Red got to the car and Rafe knew what that meant. She was having another contraction and they needed to get the hell out of there and get her to the hospital. "You're doin' fine Amy." He smiled at her and opened the door. Red got her settled and jogged around to the other side of the car and got in. Rafe looked at his watch and as he looked up Evelyn was walking quickly toward the car and headed to the passenger side and got in.
He sat down and put the car in gear before he backed it out of the driveway and headed to Pearl Naval.
"Sandra called the hospital and they know we're coming. I explained everything to the kids and we decided that they shouldn't miss out on their Thanksgiving, so Danny is going to finish cooking the turkey and they'll go ahead without us." Evelyn explained as they drove toward the hospital.
"I'm sorry about this. I've ruined everyone's dinner." Amy said from the backseat.
Evelyn turned and smiled. "Don't be silly. I can't think of a better reason to miss out on turkey than to welcome a new baby into the world."
"I have to agree with my wife on that." Rafe added. "What's this day for except to give thanks? And I think you two have a lot to be thankful for."
"Thanks Rafe." Red smiled.
It didn't take long to reach the hospital and after parking the car, Rafe helped Red get Amy out of the car. Evelyn ran ahead to get an orderly with a wheelchair so that Amy wouldn't have to walk. When they returned Red helped her to sit down and he kissed her. "Don't worry about anything. I'll be in the waiting room and I won't go anywhere."
"I'll be fine." She answered him with a shaky smile as he held her hand and they headed inside with the orderly pushing the wheelchair.
Rafe put his arm around Evelyn's shoulders as she sighed. "What was that for?"
"It just feels so strange to be here and not having a baby." She admitted.
He couldn't help but grin because he knew that the matter had already been settled. "We could fix that you know."
Her cheeks flushed as she looked up at him. "And you know my answer to that."
"I know." He smiled as he tightened his hold on her shoulders for a moment. "But we're goin' to be back here again in a couple of months for Danny and Sandra."
"And my answer will still be the same." She laughed and they walked into the hospital.