More Fair Winds and Following Seas
Saturday Morning
It was a warm spring Saturday morning as Sarah Mackenzie bounced down the steps of her apartment. She could not believe how beautiful the weather was, as she tossed the last of her bags into the back seat of the silver SUV. She knew someone was watching her, she could feel it. The thought of being watched like that almost scared her. She turned slowly to find a tall, very handsome man standing at the top of the steps, flashing one of the biggest smiles she thought she would ever see, and she smiled back. That huge 'Flyboy' grin belonged to her. Every time she thought about, though it, she would shudder, just a little, as a tiny thought of "What If" crept through her mind.
'What if this is only a dream and I wake up in San Diego?' That thought had gone through her mind more than once that Saturday morning. What if he changes is mind about all this, what if I change my mind, what if…? What if…? No she couldn't,wouldn't
think that way any longer. That big Sailor was hers now, and she was his. That was all that mattered.
"Hey, Ninja Girl!" came that strong, warm voice. She looked up to see that huge grin, beaming at her. She knew he had not been that happy in a long while. But now all she saw was that smile that would melt her heart. Did she have a right to be this happy?
"Earth to Mac, earth to Mac!" he spoke from the door of the apartment building.
"Do you have your dress, Marine?" he asked, as he laid the suit bag that held his Dress Whites in the back of the SUV.
"We have three hours to get to the chapel. Chaplain Turner called in some real favors to get us the Academy Chapel for 1400."Harm grabbed her arm and spun her toward him, wrapping his strong arms around her. He would have been more than happy to exchange their vows in the JAG courtroom, but the Academy Chapel in Annapolis? That had been Mac's idea.
She wanted a military wedding, even if it was only going to be a very few close, personal friends and family. Harm had called Trish and Frank, his mother and step-father, in LaJolla the night before. They had gotten a private jet to D.C. where the Admiral was picking them up at the airport and would drive them to Annapolis. Bud was to be Best Man and Harriet, the Matron of Honor, Admiral Chegwidden would give the bride away and Chaplain Turner was officiating the service. The Honor Guard would include Sturgis, Mikey, General Cresswell, the Admiral, and the Gunny, who just happened to be in Washington at the time. True, it was not the typical Honor Guard, but Harm and Mac were not the typical couple.
Mac had wanted Chloe and Mattie to be able to attend,but,Chloe's travel arrangements could not be made fast enough to get her to Washington, and Mattie's health was still too fragile for her to leave the hospital.Tiner and Coates had handled the logistics to that 'little problem'. They were going to 'borrow' a video feed from the office and were going to transmit live pictures to Chloe and Mattie by way of TV.
"Two hours, fifty-six minutes.Flyboy." Mac said. Harm just shook his head. After all these years, he still found Mac's ability to tell time so accurately very discomforting. He opened the driver's door to the SUV, gave her a little peck on the cheek and pushed her into the vehicle. It had become natural for Mac to drive when the two of them went anywhere together. Harm got into the passenger seat, flashed her a big smile and said,
"You're the pilot today,dear.Do you know where you are going, or do you need a navigator?"
"I've been planning this trip for a long time…"