This historical thriller opens with a short chapter in the 1930's, with a brief view of the major characters.   Set in rural San Joaquin Valley, the reader is then lead into the real time life of the major character Darla, at the opening of the story, an exciting June air show with a focus on the World War II warbirds.  At this airshow she meets a younger family friend, Ernie, and tellss her story about this young man's family and hers.  This begins the flashback to the 1940's, prior to Pearl Harbor.  We follow these folks through their trials and through the hometown trials as well.  Depicted are the war settings in U.S. training bases, then stations in England, scenes in Europe and Pacific area of operations.  While toward the end the reader get s some answers, story flashes forward to real time.  Back in real time Ernie plans a surprise for Darla.  Some that surprise works out, part of it fails.  In the end is revealed what became of the men and women in the story.   There is one last surprise for Darla.