Part 7
That evening, just as she was finishing her chef salad, she got the call she wanted. "Mac, I wasn't home, what do you want?" Harm sounded 'different' to her, but she chalked it up to the stress of his current lack of employment.
"Harm, I was wondering if you were planning to go to the admiral's party on Saturday. I know you aren't at JAG any longer, you aren't required to go. Hey, if you don't want to go alone, come with me. You shouldn't be alone on your birthday." She figured it was likely the reason he wasn't going.
"I'm sorry Mac, but I already have plans. I'm going to this party for Francesca and her husband. In fact, the admiral asked if I would attend. To tell the truth I'd really rather be at that, than be the unfortunate guest of honor at a fortieth birthday bash. We'll have a birthday breakfast with Grandma Sarah; and get back in plenty of time for the party. Mac I need to go, the pizza delivery guy is here."
He knew he wasn't giving Mac a chance to talk, but he wasn't kidding, the pizza boy, had just arrived. Harm would miss this particular pizzeria when he moved cross-country. He debated whether he should tell Mac privately about his marriage, but he was still smarting from the word never. It was childish he knew, to not let her know, but it was too late now, he wouldn't tell her without Francesca with him. He'd asked AJ and the Roberts' not to tell Mac, that he would tell her, but he kept putting it off. A part of him hoped he wasn't making a mistake by not telling her.
Mac was disappointed; as she'd really wanted a chance to talk with Harm. She wanted, albeit belatedly, thank Harm for what he'd done for her in Paraguay. She'd realized only a couple of days after her return to JAG that she'd never thanked Harm for all he'd given up for her. Instead, she'd made things worse, by her words and then her unwillingness to listen to anything he might want to say. She wanted to apologize for that as well. She knew that if they had the chance to talk, alone, and away from work, they would get their relationship back on track and maybe they could finally be more than just friends. It appeared Clayton was right that he'd heard that Harm was seeing someone. He'd said, "We'll have breakfast" not I'll have breakfast." Maybe Jack Keeter was in town to celebrate Harm's milestone birthday.
Harm spent the next several hours packing up his apartment. He'd have the contents shipped to Frank's place. By three in the afternoon, he was on a plane to Pittsburgh where he met Francesca, then drove to his grandmother's farm. Harm had the honor of introducing Francesca to his grandmother.
Sarah Rabb had understandably been disappointed to hear her closest at least geographically grandson eloped and hadn't informed the family of the event for months. At least her other grandson Sergei sent an invitation; with the wedding to be next July. Sarah was enchanted with the woman who'd stolen her grandson's heart and privately wondered what occurred between Harm and Sarah MacKenzie, as her grandson usually had glowing things to say about her, until his abrupt departure from the Navy earlier in the year.
"You two finally have given me a reason to leave Belleville at Christmas time; I'll see you two in December" she said as they were getting ready to return to DC. With the yarn she had stockpiled she started crocheting a baby blanket that very day, keeping the colors neutral.
The only thing Harm had left to do in his apartment besides cleaning was to take the bed apart; but they needed somewhere to sleep. Sunday afternoon they were to fly to San Diego, where they'd stay at the Burnett's a few nights. The older couple would be out of town for most of the week, giving them privacy and a chance to find a house without added input. This way they could look for a place to live without the pressure of rent or a motel bill. Harm needed to report to his new commanding officer on Friday. Halloween, of all days. Until then they were free to do what they wanted. He'd already contacted a high school classmate who he knew sold real estate, and told her they'd be available on the twenty-eighth to look at houses in a certain price range.
Other than the funds he'd used for law school, which the Navy reimbursed, and he'd put back into the fund Harm hadn't used the trust fund Frank's parents gave him upon Frank's wedding to Trish Rabb. He'd kept the fund in Frank's capable hands knowing Frank would treat the money as his own and carefully invest it. He knew he'd be able to get a house they might not normally afford on a commander's salary. If anyone on base commented, he'd remind them; first, it was no ones business as he'd acquired it quite legally, and secondly he was from San Diego, and still had family here. Francesca had told Harm early in their marriage that her stepfather had provided handsomely for her in his will, and unless they were very foolish with their money, they'd never have to scrimp and save. Neither would their children.
Harm and Francesca were already packed for the move, leaving out the clothes they needed for their trip north, with the exception of the outfits they were wearing to the party. They left those at the apartment to quickly change into upon their return to the city. Harm had on the same suit he was married in, Francesca was wearing the same dress, but as snug as it felt it was obvious it would be the last time she'd be able to wear it until the baby came.
"It's a good thing AJ said something about you being pregnant, or we'd need to tell everyone tonight. You can see the baby bump" Francesca realized this, and began to cry. Harm wasn't sure if they were happy tears or not. He tried to talk himself out the hole he'd just dug. "I'm still amazed our little one is in there, now you can see where he or she is close to your heart and mine." Francesca smiled; he knew he'd said the right thing.
Maybe living close to his mother would be good, he could ask questions easier, and Fran would have a listening ear close by.
Gina and Paolo had taken pictures during the wedding and had them professionally developed as a gift for the couple. Francesca brought several of the pictures with her to show everyone. "We need to get going; poppa wants to talk to me before the party."
Admiral Chegwidden's house
McLean VA
1717 local
October 25, 2003
Harriet had done a wonderful job; if she wanted to go into party planning full time, she'd succeed. She and Bud were the first to arrive. They'd stopped at Reagan National to pick up a surprise guest or two.
"It's nice to finally meet you; Harm has told us so much about both of you" Trish Burnett said as they headed towards McLean.
She'd been quite upset at AJ when Harm told her he was out of the Navy, that the papers had gone through. Trish was relieved to hear from her son, in part because of the recent inquiry AJ was pressured to push his resignation through over his objections. Harm told her he'd have likely ended up on some icebreaker but he'd have still been in the Navy if the admiral had left to choose his fate.
The parents of the newlywed couple met on the porch of her father's home. "Trish, Frank I was just as surprised as you were to find out. I know Harm told you how I found out" AJ said, inviting the older couple into his house. "I'd like you to meet Francesca's mother, Marcella Peretti, and my fiancée Meredith Cavanaugh." AJ did the introductions.
Harriet and Bud stayed with at the van giving the parents a chance to talk. They had a few items to bring in which gave them an excuse to tarry. The women were gracious in their introductions but Trish sensed Marcella was not at all pleased about the situation, and knew she had to make nice if she wanted to have any contact with her daughter or grandchild in the future. That bode well for Trish. At AJ's urging, Harriet had sent Harm and his parents to the store for added ice. This insured everyone would be there when it came time to make the announcement.
Sturgis came with Congresswoman Bobbi Latham. Petty Officer Coates brought Captain Sebring's aide with her. Commander Alan Mattoni and his wife Jackie were there. Mac had decided on going solo, figuring she'd see Harm and have a chance to talk. It seemed they did their best talking on the admiral's porch during engagement parties. She noticed Francesca, who was looking radiant, but didn't see anyone with her other than Marcella. She went over to talk. "Francesca it's nice to see you again, congratulations on the wedding and the baby. You look radiant" Mac said this sincerely and wondered why she sensed strong disapproval from AJ's daughter.
"Grazi" Francesca was doing her level best to be nice to the woman who'd broken Harm's heart. Then she realized she had to thank Mac, if Mac hadn't broken Harm's heart she wouldn't be with Harm today, in love, and expecting his baby. She owed Mac more than Mac would ever know.
Mac saw the cake, which didn't look large enough to feed the group. It was a white cake with yellow icing and on it was the words Congratulations Fran and Josh. She was wondering where Harm was if he was even going to make it back in time from Pennsylvania. He hadn't made it to Jimmy's dedication ceremony, never did return any of the eighteen phone calls she'd left on his phone. There were several pictures frames with material draped over them.
"My wedding pictures, we are waiting for everyone to arrive then you can see them." Francesca explained to Jennifer and Mac who were about to take a sneak peek. Mac heard another car pull up, seeing everyone else had arrived, realized it must be Harm. Then Mac heard three doors shut, he must have brought along a date, remembered Harriet said she'd sent Harm to the store. She was about to go out and help him when she heard a female voice. Mac was disappointed; Harm had brought a date. She was starting to wonder when the Admiral's son-in-law would show, it seemed the man had an even worse time sense than Harm. Harm could be excused as he'd been roped into running an errand. She was surprised to see Harm walk in with an older woman—and a man, and then realized she'd seen a picture of the couple before it was Frank and Patricia Burnett, Harm's mother and stepfather.
Bud took the ice from Harm into the kitchen. He grabbed the digital camera on his way back into the living room to take pictures. Francesca walked over to Harm and gave him a hug. Mac didn't think anything of it, she knew Harm and Francesca were friends.
"Now that we're all here, I'd like for everyone to raise a toast" the admiral then waited until everyone had a drink in their hand.
"To my daughter and son-in-law, to Francesca and Harmon Rabb." Mac nearly dropped the glass of mineral water she was holding. She wasn't alone. There were more than a few looks of astonishment, as everyone comprehended what they'd heard. It was also very apparent Harriet and Bud weren't shocked. It made sense as Harriet was hosting. Harm gave his wife a passionate kiss.
Captain Sebring was the first one to say anything. "To the happy couple" everyone said "to the happy couple" including Mac who didn't feel at all cheerful.
Jackie Mattoni had seen the cake and very curious as to why it said Fran and Josh when it was Francesca and Harmon who'd obviously married and she asked the question on nearly everyone's tongue. "Who's Fran and Josh?"
Harm answered "Fran is obviously is short for Francesca; my middle name is Joshua."
Mac's voice did not giving any hint to the emotions she as feeling as she asked the question "When and how?"
"This past June when I was about to work for you know who, I had a few days free and went down to St. Thomas where I ran into an old friend. We talked, and ---to get certain friends and family off our backs—we decided to fake an 'engagement'. In several months time, or if we met someone else, we'd end it. We knew family would figure out what we were doing, so we decided on using my middle name as a ruse; Josh is a lot more common than Harmon is. On a lark, the next day we eloped. With my job, and Francesca living in Rome, we saw each other maybe a total of a week before my time with the other company ended. We talked on-line a lot its a lot cheaper, the International rates would have used up my paycheck rather quickly."
Everyone got a chuckle from his comment "In August we found out we're expecting we didn't tell anyone, except for the admiral who showed up at Francesca's apartment the same weekend I was there, until a few weeks ago about the baby, just in case."
Captain Sebring asked the other question on everyone's mind "Rabb what are you going to do the agency let you go?"
"I report to San Diego Naval Air Station on Friday. For obvious reasons I can't return to JAG Corps. This position uses all my talents. I'll be chief of staff for the c.o. deal with minor legal issues that can be handled in-house."
The news Harm was back in the Navy cane as a surprise to most. "Didn't you resign?" Mac asked her tone of voice confused.
"Sheffield pressured me. Because of that hatchet job of an inquiry, I couldn't keep the papers, which was my original intention. I reminded him, again, the other day that the inquiry was worthless; as the person inquiring, had an axe to grind against JAG and myself. Rabb, regardless of the fact he's my son-in-law, deserved to be back in the Navy. A certain Director insisted to Sheffield Harm return to the Navy."
Everyone knew Nelson, the former SecNav had been a pain, but he'd been a fair pain. Senator Sheffield seemed to let politics get in the way of the job.
Harriet had been taking the cover off the pictures. Everyone quickly noticed the newlyweds were wearing the same clothes. "Who were your witnesses?" Bobbi asked. She didn't see anyone familiar in the pictures other than Harm.
"My friend Gina, and her husband Paolo. I've known Gina since university Paolo just as long. Gina designed our rings." The women took a closer look.
Mac stayed quiet going through the motions of being involved with the group. The news about Harm and Francesca rocked her to the core of her being. She hadn't truly meant what she'd said in Paraguay about them never working out. She'd realized Harm had been suffering from a slight concussion she'd just been through a traumatic ordeal. It had not been the best time or place for a serious discussion about relationships. If she'd asked Harm she wanted to talk, but wait a few days until she'd been debriefed; when they'd returned to DC things would be different today.
Clayton Webb had been strongly pursuing her since their return the States and she'd rebuffed his advances. She'd figured Harm was off licking his wounds, and would talk with her when he was ready. Clayton had let it slip he'd heard Harm was seeing someone exclusively but she'd not taken Clay seriously, knowing the spy's jealousy of Harm. As the summer progressed Harm hadn't returned a single phone call. Now she understood why. Any free time when with the agency he'd spent with his wife.
Taking the time to unobtrusively study Harm, she could see he was content, and less tense than she'd seen him since his return from the CIA.
Since his return to JAG, he'd hid the fact he was married and an expectant father from most of them. If you added what he'd been through since spring; an accusation of murder, and the apparent abandonment by friends. Harm could not have known Sheffield had insisted on strict adherence to protocol upon his arrest for Lt. Singer's murder. Other than Chaplain Turner, the only person to see him during his imprisonment had been his attorney. He'd been through a few hair-raising through various escapades during his time with the CIA. Add in trying to spend time with his wife. He'd had the stress at the time of a family to care for which he hadn't had earlier. No wonder he'd seemed worse for wear when she'd first seen him a few weeks ago after months of no contact.
Mac decided it would be a good night for her to attend an AA meeting, something she rarely did, but knew when she required it. In the past she'd been able to use Harm as a sounding board, she had not felt the urge to drink in years. Now her sounding board was now off-limits. She knew they'd stay friends, if nothing else for AJ Roberts, as they were his godparents. The close friendship was now over, for good apparently. Mac sensed it would take a lot of bridge building on her part, to get back to how things were at the JAGathon, much less before the misadventures in Australia, years before. She wondered what Harm had told Francesca about her or their 'relationship' because when the younger woman looked at her Mac sensed disapproval. Maybe she was reading things not there. She hoped so. Mac concluded the best way to let Harm know what she was feeling was to write him a letter and let him know everything she could not say to him in person. She wanted to keep the lines of communication open. It was probably a good thing he was leaving for San Diego the close proximity of an unattainable Harm would be too painful for her.
"When do you head out to San Diego?" Harriet asked. The last time she'd talked to Francesca, the younger woman didn't know the time of their flight. Francesca told her Harm was dealing with the airlines.
"We head out in the morning I have leave, between the accumulated leave I had before my trip south and the hours I put in this summer, I have more than this week left. We need to find a place to live but for the time being we are going to stay at Mom and Frank's."
Bobbi Latham was the first to comment on Harm's baby picture with the wedding pictures. "You were a cute baby, nice six, if I do say so." Harm turned three shades of red. He had no idea his mother brought that picture. Everyone laughed at Harm's discomfiture. "There's a reason this picture is here if my sources are correct someone here is turning forty. Isn't he Harm?"
"Francesca, Harriet, I thought I said no birthday party." Everyone chortled obviously she'd ignored her husband, and planned something for his birthday anyway.
Alan Mattoni put a comradely arm around Harm's shoulder "A fact of married life, as you are finding out, sometimes your wife doesn't listen to you."
"And you don't listen to your husband" Harriet concluded. That comment eased what tension there had been in the room.
"Why do you think we had the party today, instead of last weekend?" Harriet retorted.
"So Mom and Frank could attend?" Harm asked hopefully.
AJ shook his head "no, when these two started planning the reception Harriet knew the significance of this particular birthday, and my dear sweet daughter decided to kill two birds with one stone."
Jennifer Coates had been in the kitchen lighting the candles on his cake, all forty of them, Meredith helping her. When Jennifer brought out the cake Trish started singing and everyone joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Harm.
"I was wondering why you had such a small cake," Jackie Mattoni admitted. "You had a birthday cake as well."
The party went into full swing Trish telling a few stories on her son as did Frank, who'd had to deal with a recalcitrant stepson for many years. Harm tried to defend himself, when he could which was often.
"After listening to these stories it gives me hope AJ and Jimmy will grow up to be fine, upstanding young men." Bud commented after Harm's mother and stepfather told of a particularly embarrassing incident.
Another forty-five minutes passed before Mac felt she could leave the party without having to face a myriad of questions Monday morning. She approached Harm, who was standing with his wife at his side "I need to head out; I told Chloe I'd call her, and I forgot my cell. You two take care, and don't be a stranger." Mac felt she should be up for an Academy award for her acting tonight, she'd presented a happy face to everyone when inside she was feeling as low as when Dalton Lowne had been murdered.
Harm knew Mac about as well as she knew herself; knew he needed to say his goodbye's to her privately. There were things he needed to say to her. "Mac I want to talk, let's step out on the porch for a few minutes." She let him lead her to the porch, empty of people because of the crisp autumn air.
"Mac I wanted to talk to you, to tell you about Francesca and me, about the transfer. I wanted, no needed to tell you face to face, and I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did. I apologize; we've been friends too long. I want to keep in contact; after all, we have a godson to keep an eye on. Fran knows there was never anything but a close friendship between us, but I think it best, for the time being, we keep contact between us to a minimum. People here tonight know of our friendship, and have no problems with it, but for proprieties sake, we cannot meet privately unless it's regarding JAG business."
Mac was silently crying, "It's probably for the best, just let me know your new address and phone numbers." Wiping the tears from her face with the handkerchief Harm proffered.
"Supposedly, in my new position, I'm going to be dealing with JAG issues less than a third of my day, and most of that will be determining what needs to go to the local office, and what can be handled by myself or a legalman. I might need the occasional consultation with a colleague."
He gave her a hug, and a kiss on the cheek and they both went inside. Mac gathered her coat, and purse, then left.
When she'd driven a safe distance from the Admiral's she pulled over, calling to find out where the closest AA meeting was. She was glad she did later, because there was someone at the meeting who'd faced similar circumstances and "fell off the wagon" destroying their life. This person told her after the meeting, one of the smartest things she'd done was avoiding the temptation to drown her sorrows.
The two developed camaraderie over the next few months. It turned out Rob had been in the military until an injury forced his discharge, his much younger brother had been one of her drill instructors at basic training. Rob told her, she was the first woman he'd met in many years he felt he'd consider a daughter. Mac was with him several months later when he found out he had terminal cancer of the lung. Both he and Mac found it ironic, as he'd never smoked a cigarette in his life. With all the drinking he'd done, he was sure his liver would do him in.
Because Trish and Frank were on their way to Europe on gallery business, and would not return for a few weeks, they'd given Harm and Francesca keys to their place, Harm had a key but the Burnett's had been forced to change the locks and codes for the security company when Trish had to dismiss her personal assistant for theft. The young woman had access to the house as well as the gallery, and the police had strongly suggested a complete change in codes and keys. Harm and Francesca spent a short last night at the apartment, knowing they had many things to do before they left.
Harm went alone to the Vietnam Memorial before heading to AJ's. He'd taken Francesca to the wall earlier, soon after her arrival in DC; explaining the significance of the memorial to his wife. "If things had gone differently for your father, AJ might be here."
He told her it was here that his brother Sergei made his presence known nearly two years earlier. "I couldn't believe it, Sergei was a POW, just like dad, I was facing another Christmas with a loved one held by an enemy, it was about the best Christmas present I ever received."