Disclaimer: They're not mine. But then, you knew that, didn't you?
Author Notes: This is the third installment of the series which began with "The Promise". This story won't make much sense
if you haven't read The Promise, or at least Homecoming (which is part two). This installment picks up the day after
Homecoming ends.
Any and all feedback is welcome at dcamp@wheelerlegal.com.
The early morning sun was just beginning to warm the cool autumn air. Mac was bent over in her flower garden,
absent-mindedly pulling weeds. She was thinking of the events of the last couple of days: the news of Harm's imminent
return from the presumed dead, seeing him again after so much time, the explanations surrounding their daughter. Mac
had no idea what was in store for the three of them now, but she knew one thing: it sure was good having Harm back.
Something passed between Mac and the sun, and the shadow interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see Harm, coffee
cup in hand, smiling at her. She smiled back. "What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"Enjoying the view." He didn't mean the flowers, though they were quite pretty.
"I thought you might want to sleep in."
"Bed got cold," he said. They'd celebrated his return by making love on the couch, then retired to her bed, where
they'd slept soundly in each other's arms. As was her custom, Mac had awoken early. She lay for a time staring at
the man in her bed, then slipped noiselessly out of the room. She'd brewed a pot of coffee and come out here to get
some work done before the busy day began.
"Sorry," she said. "I've gotten to be even more of an early riser since Sabbrina came along. She's demanding, and the
more I can get done before she wakes up, the better."
"When will she be home?" Harm asked. He took a sip of coffee and savored it. He'd come to appreciate the simpler
things in life of late.
"After breakfast," Mac said, and she pulled a few more weeds. "Your parents are staying for lunch. I've also invited
Bud and Harriet and the kids and the Admiral and Sydney. I hope you don't mind. I know it's kind of soon, but Bud and
Harriet are really anxious to see you, and Sydney wanted to meet you."
"No, I don't mind. I'm looking forward to seeing them."
They were silent for some time, Mac weeding, Harm watching her, sipping his coffee and enjoying the sun. "How's
your uncle?" he finally asked.
"He's fine. He's out of Leavenworth and living in Yuma. He says hello." Another cloud passed over Mac's face, this
time caused by something internal. "Oh my God! You don't know!
Harm, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your grandmother died last year."
Harm flinched. He realized with guilt that he hadn't thought of his grandmother since his return. "How . . . how did
she die?"
"She had a stroke last July. The doctor said she didn't suffer. She was working in her vegetable garden."
"Well, at least she died doing something she loved," Harm said quietly.
"It may help to know that she met Sabbrina shortly after she was born, and we visited many times. Your grandmother
loved Bree very much. She's buried on the farm, which is what she wanted. Maybe we could go up there this weekend so
you can say good-bye."
"I'd like that. What happened to the house?"
"She left it to you, as you might have expected, so it's just sitting there empty. A neighbor keeps an eye on it.
Bree and I stayed there a couple of weeks early in the summer. I guess you'll need to decide what you want to do with
it now." Mac stood up, pulled her gloves off, and laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Harm. I know she meant a lot to
you. And I understand why. She was a remarkable woman."
Harm looked into her eyes, and she could see the pain there. "Just another reason I regret the decision I made,"
he said.
She wasn't sure what she heard in his tone, but whatever it was, it triggered her own guilt about the part she'd
played in that decision. She wondered briefly if he'd intended for her to feel guilty, then decided she was being
too sensitive. She smiled at him. "Can I make you some breakfast?"
He smiled back, chasing away her doubts. "It's my turn," he said. "How do waffles sound?"
"Oh, sir!" Harriet cried, throwing herself into Harm's arms. "It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to se you, too, Harriet. And it's Harm. Where's Bud?"
"He's bringing the kids in. He's just been out of his head since we heard you were coming home!"
"Same old Bud," Harm noted with a grin.
"Just a little older, sir," Bud said from the door. He was holding a beautiful blonde toddler in his arms. Behind him
was a young boy, who Harm assumed must be little AJ.
Harm and Bud shook hands, both men grinning broadly.
"And this must be AJ," Harm said. "The last time I saw you, you were less than a month old."
The boy made a face, showing his displeasure at any reminder that he was once a baby. "Is Sabbrina here?" he asked.
"She's out back with her grandparents," Harm said. He missed the look Harriet and Bud exchanged. AJ ran toward the back
of the house, obviously familiar with where he was going.
"And this must be baby Sarah," Harm said, tickling the baby under the chin. She smiled shyly before burying her face
in her father's shoulder.
"Can you say 'hi' to Uncle Harm?" Bud coaxed.
The blonde curls shook back and forth in the negative.
"Bud! Harriet!" Mac said as she entered the room. "I thought I saw a tornado that looked like AJ go by!"
The little blonde head came up at the sound of a familiar voice. "Aunnie!" the little girl cried, extending her arms
to Mac.
"Hey there, Sweetheart," Mac said, taking the child from Bud's arms.
"That's the only word she says," Harriet told Harm. "Won't even say 'mama'."
"How's my girl?" Mac asked, tickling the girl's belly, which forced gales of giggles from the little body.
"Where do you want this salad?" Harriet asked.
"Bring it in the kitchen," Mac said. "Why don't you guys go out and see if Trish and Frank would like something
to drink?"
"Take Sarah with you," Harriet requested. Bud took his daughter from Mac and followed Harm out into the back yard.
Harriet followed Mac into the kitchen. "So? How did he take the news?" she asked.
"Who? What news?" Mac asked.
"Harm! The news about Sabbrina!"
"You knew?"
"It wasn't hard to figure out, Mac," Harriet said. "Why else would you have called Trish when you went into labor?
That was my first clue, but those eyes confirmed it!"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was none of my business," Harriet said simply. "I figured if you wanted me to know, you'd tell me."
"Does everyone know?" Mac asked.
"I don't think so, although I've suspected that the Admiral may have guessed."
"He did," Mac confirmed.
"So how did he react?"
"He was stunned. He cried. He said if he had known, he never would have gone on this mission."
The back door opened, and Harm entered, ending their conversation. "Mom and Frank are all set. The kids, however,
want something called Freezer Pops."
"As the name implies, you'll find them in the freezer," Mac said with a grin.
"Let me get them," Harriet said. "I need to check Sarah's diaper anyway."
A knock sounded on the from door. "Harm, would you get that?" Mac asked. "Must be the Admiral."
Harm walked to the front door and opened it. A pretty, dark-haired woman stood looking at him. "You must be Harm,"
she said, extending her hand. "I'm Sydney Walden-Chegwidden."
Harm shook her hand. "Harmon Rabb. It's very nice to meet the woman who finally tamed the Admiral."
"Tamed, hell!" the Admiral growled behind his wife.
"Sir!" Harm said, aware he'd been caught. "Please come in."
After lunch had been eaten and cleaned up, the adults sat on the deck watching AJ and Sabbrina play on the swing set.
Baby Sarah was sleeping in a portable playpen in Mac's bedroom. Everyone had noticed Sabbrina address Harm repeatedly
as "Daddy", but no one had mentioned it.
Harm felt uncomfortable with these people, who now felt like strangers. He wasn't privy to their inside jokes, and
their attempts to explain them and include him in their conversation somehow made it worse. He told himself he was
being ridiculous and that it would take time to re-acclimate himself, but he couldn't help but feel relieved when
everyone finally went home.
Frank and Trish had stayed for super, then had gone to the airport for their return trip to California. By the time
they'd gone, Sabbrina was exhausted, and she was making it known in the way most pre-schoolers do -- by screaming at
the top of her lungs when things didn't go her way. Mac ran water in the tub for Sabbrina's bath and tried to calm her
daughter. She knew from experience that once Bree was in the water, she'd be fine and would play happily as long as
she was allowed to. In the meantime, though, her behavior would fray the most patient person's nerves.
"Sabbrina, you need to calm down. You're gonna make yourself sick," Mac said. More than once, the child had cried so
hard she's vomited.
"I don't care!" Sabbrina shrieked, tears running down her face.
"Can't you make her stop that?" Harm asked tiredly.
"If I could, don't you think I would have already?" Mac snapped back. "Come on, Bree. Your bath is ready."
"I don't wanna take a bath!" the child wailed. Mac picked her up and brought her kicking and fighting into the
bathroom. She undressed the child despite Sabbrina's efforts to prevent it and plopped her into the water. As soon
as she did, Sabbrina stopped crying and asked, "Can I have my toys?"
Mac smiled with relief. "Of course you can," she said, and she took the toys from their place under the sink and
dumped them into the water. Sabbrina immediately began transferring water from one cup to another, chatting happily
to herself.
Mac returned to the living room. Harm sat on the couch, watching the news. Mac began to fold a basket of laundry
she'd left by the couch.
"Are you supposed to leave her in there alone?" Harm asked.
"Maybe you haven't noticed this about her, but she talks all the time." Indeed, they could hear Sabbrina babbling.
"I figure as long as she's talking, she's not drowning."
"You seem a little defensive," he noted.
"I'm sorry," she said, and she was. "I just sense criticism from you. Maybe I'm being too sensitive."
"No, you're not," he admitted. "And I don't mean to be critical. I have no right. Everything is just so weird."
"Give it some time," she said sympathetically. "Once you get back to work, things will be better. Did you talk to the
Admiral?"
Harm nodded. "He said he wants me back, but it's gonna take some time to get me back among the living and get new
orders cut. He had no idea how long it would be."
"I assume you'll be staying here," Mac said. "You know you're welcome as long as you want to stay." When she
finished folding clothes, she moved around the living room, picking up toys the kids had discarded.
"I appreciate that," he said. "We'll see how it goes."
"It's getting late. I've gotta get Bree cleaned up and out of the tub." Mac left the living room. After she'd
scrubbed the layers of dirt off Sabbrina and washed her hair, she dried her and dressed her in her favorite pink
pajamas with kittens on them. Mac took her by the hand back to the living room.
"Say good night to Daddy," Mac said.
"Daddy, can you read me a story?" Sabbrina asked.
"Well, sure I can, honey," Harm said. He stood up, and Sabbrina jumped into his arms. She was soft and warm and smelled
of baby shampoo. She put her arms around Harm's neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?" Harm asked Mac.
"Something like that," Mac said with a smile. "Give me a kiss."
Harm kissed her on the cheek.
"Not you!" Mac said, playfully slapping Harm on the chest. She kissed Sabbrina on the cheek. "Good night, Pumpkin.
One story," she reminded the child.
"Night, Mommy!" Sabbrina said as Harm carried her out of the room.
When Harm returned, Mac was at the sink, washing the last few dishes. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her
close. Mac stiffened for a moment, then allowed herself to sag into his embrace. "She sleeping?"
"Yeah. Out like a light. Didn't even finish the story."
"Not surprising."
"I'm sorry I've been such a jerk," he whispered in her ear.
"It's okay. It's one of the things I missed about you," she joked.
"What do you say we finish this conversation under the covers?" he asked, nuzzling her neck. "You can apologize to
me for that little remark."
"That sounds good, but I need to finish this. If I don't, it'll just be here in the morning."
"I'll help," Harm said, picking up a dish towel.
Monday morning was it usual chaotic self. Mac was up early, showered and had breakfast before she got Sabbrina out
of bed. Not a morning person, Sabbrina had to be nagged constantly to get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast,
brush her hair, put her shoes on. Finally, when they were both ready to go, they went into Mac's bedroom, where Harm
was still in bed. Sabbrina jumped onto the bed beside him, and Harm slowly opened one eye, then the other.
"Morning," he mumbled.
"Morning, Daddy!" Sabbrina said. "Can you come to soccer tonight?"
"Sure I can," Harm said, sitting up. "Just tell me when and where."
"Seventeen hundred hours at the Youth Center in town. I can just stop in here and pick you up if you want,"
Mac suggested.
"All right," Harm said. He kissed Sabbrina on top of the head. "Have a good day, Bree."
"Okay," the child said, scrambling from the bed. She raced from the room.
"Get you shoes on!" Mac called after her. "What your plans for the day?"
"Not sure," he said. "Although I'm sure I could think of something if you get back in here with me."
"Should we invite the Admiral, too?" Mac asked coyly. "Because he'd be sure to show up here if I'm not in court
this morning."
"You're no fun," Harm complained. "Could I at least get a kiss?"
Mac bent over to kiss him. He put his arms around her and pulled her down on the bed.
"Harm! You'll wrinkle my uniform!" she complained, standing up and smoothing her skirt.
"You could take it off," he suggested.
"We'll finish this conversation later," she promised.
"I'm looking forward to it. Good luck today."
Work had been more hectic than usual. Mac raced through her day and left the office later than she'd anticipated.
She rushed to Sabbrina's daycare and then home to pick up Harm. She drove them to the Youth Center where Sabbrina
participated in many activities, and they rushed inside, just in time. Mac introduced Harm to a few of the parents
as they watched fifteen three and four year olds run around after the ball. At one point, the "coach" gathered all
of the children in a circle. Everyone heard Sabbrina when she said proudly, "That's my Daddy!" She pointed at Harm,
and all eyes in the gym turned toward him. Self-consciously, he smiled and waved.