Six weeks after Sarah talked to Ann about the opportunity the Air Force offered her in California, her family gathered at Honolulu International to see her off.
Ann knew it hadn't been an easy decision for her to make, but Sarah confessed that it was the right one. She wanted the chance to see what was beyond Oahu and the familiar, comforting presence of her family just a few miles away. She was excited and absolutely terrified at the same time because it would be the first time in her life that she would be truly on her own.
Hank wanted to be there to say goodbye as well, but Sarah told him that she would prefer he not because the idea of it made her uncomfortable. She told Ann that just because he'd come to terms with the end of their relationship, he seemed to think that now they could be friends. But at the moment Sarah did not want to be friends with him and didn't know if she ever could be or even wanted to be. He'd been too close to her heart and now his heart belonged to someone else.
Ann was proud of her friend for standing firm on the matter and for not letting Hank talk her into something she didn't want to do. It was hard enough for Sarah to say good bye to her family and she didn't need the added complication of an old boyfriend being present.
The major had his arm around Sarah's shoulder and her mother kept hold of her hand as Danny and Joe tried to keep the imminent departure of their sister light because Major and Mrs. McCawley were having a difficult time of it.
"Now all we need is to get you out of the house Joe. Then Dad and Mama will have the whole place to themselves." Danny grinned at his younger brother.
"Only if I can come live with you." Joe grinned back as he refused to take the bait. "I know how much you'd really like that."
"Your brother is staying put." Mrs. McCawley managed a watery smile. "I'm not ready to have all of my chicks out of the nest just yet."
"I like that Evelyn." Major McCawley was also able to smile but Ann couldn't help but notice that it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You always used to say how you wished we had more time alone. I say that if our oldest is willin' to take our youngest off our hands, we should let him."
"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Danny acted as though he was upset with the idea even though he smiled. "I kind of like living on my own."
"Well then son, you shouldn't make suggestions unless you're willin' to back them up." The major pointed out. "But I'm with your mama on this one because your brother will be leavin' the house in a couple of years when he graduates."
"Be careful there Joe, the clock just started ticking." Danny laughed.
"Don't I know it." He shook his head in mock worry. "Well, I could always go live with Sarah in California if I had to."
"Only if you pay me rent, kid." Sarah glanced at her older brother and gave him a smile of relief before she looked at her younger brother. "If you lived with me, it wouldn't be for free."
"It sounds to me like you just got an invitation to go to California." Danny clapped his brother on the shoulder.
"Don't take this the wrong way little brother, but I don't need the extra baggage." Sarah laughed. "But maybe after I've settled in you can come back for a visit."
"Maybe spring break?" He looked at his parent's expectantly.
"More like this summer." Major McCawley shook his head. "You start your internship at The Advertiser that week."
Joe frowned for a moment. "I forgot about that. Well, summer it is then."
"I'll make sure the sofa is lumpy, just the way you like it." She laughed again, but it was forced because the aircraft that was taking her to the mainland and away from her family came in for a landing. Ann watched as the major's arm tightened around Sarah's shoulders and he kept clearing his throat. Mrs. McCawley was losing the battle not to cry as the tears began to slide down her cheeks and she kept a hold of Sarah's hand.
Ann slipped an arm around Danny's waist as his arm came to rest around her shoulders and felt his cheek rest on her hair for a moment. She took Joe's hand with her free one and he gripped it tight.
"I remember a goodbye somethin' like this when you took your family back to Tennessee, Rafe." Dad commented wryly as the plane rolled to a stop and the engines began to shut down. "Sandra and I had just gotten married and you were mustered out of the Air Corps."
"But you came back to us not too many years later." Mama added gently. "Even if it isn't permanently, Sarah will come back to you soon too."
Mrs. McCawley smiled at Ann's mother as the tears fell freely. "You always know the right thing to say."
"I don't know what's harder, stayin' or leavin'." Major McCawley's voice sounded like gravel as he tried to keep his emotions in check.
"I think I'd say both." Dad put a hand on the major's shoulder. "But Sandra's right, Sarah will be comin' back soon for a visit and that's somethin' to look forward to."
He gave Dad a look that Ann thought was grateful. "You always know the right thing to say too."
"That's what friends are for."
The stairs were rolled across the tarmac out to the aircraft so that the arriving passengers could deplane. It would be awhile before the plane would be ready to leave because it needed to be refueled and meals loaded on board but as soon as the last passenger was off the plane, Sarah needed to get in line to board.
"You call us as soon as you get settled." Mrs. McCawley told her. "I know there's a three-hour time difference, but it doesn't matter."
"And take this." Major McCawley pressed some bills into her hand. "I don't want you worryin' that you can't buy somethin' if you need it."
"You don't need to do that." Sarah tried to give the money back and her father refused.
"When Danny went to the Academy, Mama and I did the same for him so please take it." He said to her. "It would ease our minds."
"Thank you Daddy." Sarah's eyes filled with tears as she put her arms around her father's neck and held him as though she never wanted to let him go. "Thank you for everything."
"If you change your mind and want to come home your room will be waitin'." He promised her as he held her close to his heart.
"I know." Her voice was barely audible as he kissed her cheek and Ann felt Danny begin to tense next to her as he held his own emotions in check. "I know."
He seemed reluctant to let her go, but time was running out and Sarah needed to board her flight. As soon as he let her go she was in her mother's arms and it was then that Sarah began to cry and Mrs. McCawley's unsteady voice tried to soothe her. "You're beginning a new adventure honey in a place you've never been before and I know you're scared. But you'll meet new people and make new friends and see a part of the country that your dad and I never had the chance to. So you'll have to tell us what California is like and what this new air base is like." She paused long enough to loosen her hold and look at her only daughter. "Dad and I and your brothers are very proud of you and the decision you made because you could have stayed at Hickam and been content. But you wanted a new challenge and it wasn't going to happen here, so you're going somewhere else to meet it."
"I love you Mama." Sarah tried to compose herself as her mother dried her eyes.
"I love you too honey." She answered and slowly let her go. "Call us when you get there."
"I will." She promised before she faced her older brother. "I don't think you know how happy I am that you got to come home for your first assignment. Four years was a long time for you to be away and I missed you."
"I missed you too Sarah and I'll miss you again." He cleared his throat. "Come home when you can, all right?"
"I will, I promise." She answered as Danny let go of Ann to put his arms around his sister and hold her. "It's going to feel strange not being able to drop over to your quarters to say hello."
"For me too." He replied. "Just don't stay away too long, will you?"
"I should be able to come home for Easter, so it won't be that long." She told him as they parted and she looked at her younger brother with a smile. "I can't help but remember you as my baby brother who was waiting for me and for Danny when Gramps and Grams brought us back from Tennessee. You ran out to the transport and scared Mama and Dad because they were afraid something would happen to you."
"I remember that I didn't like being by myself that year and it took me a long time getting used to living here. I was just so relieved to see you get off that transport." Joe grinned at her.
"And I'm sure you're just as relieved now to see me getting on that airplane." She teased.
"I'll carry your suitcase for you." He joked in return before he let go of Ann's hand and put his arms around Sarah. Neither said anything else as Joe let her go and she looked at Ann.
Ann didn't know what to say and Sarah didn't seem to either, so they hugged each other. "I'll miss you." She finally managed and Sarah nodded.
"Me too."
The gate was opened and one of the stewardesses was there to greet the passengers and check their tickets as they walked across the tarmac to the waiting plane. "We'll be taking off in a few minutes so please find your seats as soon as you can." She smiled.
"I guess I'm through stalling." Sarah joked.
"Have a safe trip honey." Mama hugged her.
"Thanks Mrs. Walker."
Dad hugged her too and Ann heard him laugh. "I'll never forget the day you were born. Your mama was as calm as anythin' when she knew it was time to have you but your daddy wasn't. But I figure that was because he couldn't be here when Danny was born so he didn't know what to expect."
Sarah smiled back. "I think that was one of the stories I heard more growing up and Mama always enjoyed telling it."
"She still does." Major McCawley laughed and put his arm around Mrs. McCawley, who in turn put her head on his shoulder.
"Well honey, I think it's time we let you go." Dad sighed. "You've got a plane to catch."
"Yes Sir." She gave Shelby and Tom a hug before she picked up her travel bag.
"It's going to be a long flight Sarah; do you have enough in your bag to keep you occupied?" Mrs. McCawley asked her.
"I have a couple of books, a lot of crossword puzzles and some knitting." She tried to reassure her mother. "Don't worry Mama, I won't get bored."
"Try to get up every hour or so to stretch your legs; it ain't good to sit for all that time." The major advised.
"I'll try Dad." She promised.
"Miss, we need to get you on board." The gentle voice of the stewardess interrupted the goodbyes.
"I'm ready." Sarah nodded and headed through the gate. She stopped for a moment and turned around. "I'll call you as soon as I get to my hotel."
She turned back around and was followed by the stewardess as they walked toward the aircraft. She walked up the stairs and as she reached the top step, stopped again and waved before she disappeared inside.
A few moments later the door was closed and the stairs were rolled away as the engines came to life and slowly began to gather strength.
Ann felt Danny's arm around her shoulders again and he was tense. She slipped an arm around his waist and tried to let him know that he wasn't alone. It was particularly hard for him, Ann knew because he'd always been close to Sarah and they were being separated again.
It seemed to take forever before the plane finally began to move and slowly lumbered toward the runway. The noise had become to great to try and talk but it filled in the silence of the family group that came to say goodbye.
Mrs. McCawley seemed to take advantage of it because the major put his arms around her and she began to cry. He was saying something to her because Ann saw her nod as his hand caressed her back in comfort.
The noise abated as the aircraft got farther away only to slow to a stop and then began to move again as it rolled onto the runway. It stopped one more time as the engines revved and then moved down the runway. It picked up speed and before anyone realized it, the plane was in the air and headed toward California.
Sarah's mother took that time to gather her composure and dab her eyes with the major's handkerchief.
"Why don't y'all come back to the house for some lunch? Sandra figured that you might not feel much like makin' yourself somethin' so she put a small buffet together." Dad offered.
Ann could see several different emotions cross Mrs. McCawley's face, as she seemed to try and decide if she wanted company or to be alone. Company won out. "Thank you Sandra, that would be lovely."
"It's odd, isn't it Ev? Our parents had to say goodbye to us all those years ago when we joined the Navy and we left home. Now here we are and you're saying goodbye to your own daughter." Mama commented.
"I understand how my mother felt now. It was different when Rafe and I had to leave Danny and Sarah behind because we knew they'd be coming to us when the school year was over. Sarah might never come back here to live and I must admit that the idea makes me sad."
"There's always the telephone honey." Danny's father reassured her. "You still burn up the long distance line talkin' to Martha."
"That's true." She conceded. "It's just so hard sometimes to believe that my children are young adults."
"It's hard for us too Mama." Danny joked. "We have to take care of ourselves now."
"Some of us do." Joe chimed in with a grin. "I still live at home."
"And you're earnin' your keep, ain't you?" Major McCawley smiled.
"I'm earning my keep." He answered.
"All right everybody, let's head on out of here." Dad shook his head in amusement. "There's food back at the house that needs to be eaten."
The McCawley's seemed to be reluctant to leave the gate until Dad put his hand on the major's shoulder. "Come on Rafe, we're done here."
"I know." He nodded and took Mrs. McCawley's hand. "You ready for somethin' to eat?"
"I think so. Food hasn't been high on my list the last few days and I'm suddenly very hungry." She admitted.
"So am I." He grinned. "She's goin' to be fine Evelyn and so will we."
"Yes we will."
"All right then." Dad laughed. "Now that we have that settled, let's go eat."
As the families left the tarmac, their spirits seemed to be lighter. Sarah was heading toward a new life and a new adventure.
They couldn't be sad about that.