The following Thursday, the lei stands at the airport were busy. Joe made it to the arrival gate just in time. There was Morgan with a new haircut, looking somewhat larger than life in a short sleeved shirt, wearing chinos rather than jeans, striding along with a small blonde woman. She saw Joe approach and flashed a thousand watt smile. "Aloha," Joe said, hanging leis around their necks.
"Aloha," Morgan said. "Edie, this is Joe."
"Edie Rowantree," she said through the dazzle, extending her hand.
"Joe Burke. How was the flight?"
"I hate flying," she said. "We encountered turbulence in the middle of the ocean. I asked Morgan if there was any hope. 'There is always hope,"' she imitated.
"Baggage claim," Morgan said. A short time later they were in a cab speeding toward Waikiki.
"I thought we might have dinner with a friend of mine, if you aren't too tired."
"Oh, good," Edie said. "We spent last night in San Francisco to break up the flight. We aren't tired, are we Morgan?"
"Certainly not. Where are we?"
"Passing the old cannery," Joe said. "That's where Alphonse showed me the right way to drive a fork lift."