0134 ZULU
BLACKSBURG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA
Harm and Mattie sat fiddling with a carburetor inside the Grace Aviation hangar. All was dark except a single desk lamp on the work table.
"Alright, let's go over it one more time."
"I don't chew gum or spit on the courtroom floor. Call the judge 'Your Honor'," Mattie recited.
"Good. What else?"
" I answer all questions directly. I don't volunteer more information than is asked for."
"And?"
"And I speak from the heart, and I tell them why I want you to be my guardian."
"Excellent. Just keep it simple."
"So, what do I tell the judge? You fly a Stearman good, and instead of Mrs. Del Mucci's Bean casserole, you let me eat pizza seven days a week?
"Oh, yeah, well, that'll convince 'em. You own a dress?"
"No."
"Well, you're going to have to get one."
"Whatever spare cash I have goes into the business."
"It's my treat," Harm finally looks up from the part he was repairing.
"Why, so I can pretend to be someone I'm not?"
" It shows respect for the court and for yourself."
"Now you sound like my mom."
"Well, I would've liked your mother."
"You're a lot like her... Inside."
A door opened and closed quickly, emitting a blast of cold air, snow, and a man bundled up in a black jacket and a suit.
"Matilda Grace?"
" That's me."
"I'm Harry Clark. You haven't returned my phone calls or answered my registered letters."
"I've been busy."
"Well, that's no excuse. "
Seeing Mattie on the defense, Harm draws himself up to his full height and is by her side in two strides, "Maybe you'd like to change your tone."
"And who are you?"
Harm hesitated, "I'm a former employee."
"Are you looking for a job, because I take possession of this hangar in two days. I want all this crap moved out of here by that time. Whatever's left will be sold or thrown away."
Mattie pulls a half gallon of milk out of the fridge and pours two glasses before pulling the reheated pizza out of the oven.
"I had a few problems with the business."
" Why didn't you tell me?"
"So you'd think I was a screw-up?"
"So I could help."
"I do things my way, Harm, for better or worse."
"You're 14, Mattie."
"Fifteen."
"You had a birthday?"
" Yeah."
"When? You could've told me."
"Why?"
"Gee, I don't know. Cake, presents, you know, the usual."
"Hugs all around? I'm not big into birthdays."
"Besides, what if you told the whole world it was your birthday, and you threw a big party, and nobody came?"
"Wow, Mattie, you've got to start having a little more faith in people."
"Well, people suck. They always let you down, except for maybe you, and I'm still not sure about that."
"You're not going to be trouble, are you?"
"Nothing you can't handle."
"Look, why don't you take me through this from the beginning? When I hired you, I was this close to closing up shop. Then winter came. No more crops to dust. Just a little brush clearing. I asked the bank for a break on the hangar payments. I didn't get any. My dad had taken out the loan. The bank found out I was running the business, so they sold it at auction."
"What about the house?"
" Still mine."
"You own it outright?"
" Bank's got a note. I can't lose this house, Harm. It's all I've got left of my mom, and she gave it to me."
"We'll find a way to make the payments. How old is this pizza, anyway?"
"Which topping? Uh, meatball was last Monday. Anchovies were last week sometime."
"My God. Look, Mattie, get your jacket on."
"Where are we going?"
" We're going to get something decent to eat, and then we'll talk about the house."
Harm and Mattie peek around the curtain, out the window as a car pulls up in the driveway.
" What's a guardian ad-litem, anyway?"
"Uh, they're appointed by the court to look into my suitability."
"Why doesn't she just ask me?"
" She will."
They make their way to the door and open it as she walks up onto the porch.
"Good afternoon, Mattie."
"Ma'am."
"Commander Rabb, I'm Donna LeMoyne," she finishes dusting the snow out of her hair and shakes Harm's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. LeMoyne. Please come in."
"Uh, the Commander and I will need to talk in private."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Have a seat, please."
"I will start with a few simple questions. Where will Mattie be living?"
" Uh, with me."
"Social Services will need to schedule a home inspection. They will contact you directly."
"Understood."
"Let's see... What arrangements have you made for her schooling?"
" I'm still working on it."
"I'll need to know before the custody hearing."
"Now, your pay grade allows you to assume the care of a minor child?"
"Oh, I can take care of Mattie."
"Your work take you out of town?"
" Upon occasion."
" Out of the country?"
" Yes."
"Well, what arrangements have you made for Mattie's care when you're absent from the home?"
" I'm still working on that."
"Is she mature enough to be home by herself?"
"Well, she's lived alone here for the last six months."
"That's not really an answer to my question, Commander."
"Arrangements will be made, Ms. LeMoyne."
"I'll not leave Mattie alone."
Ms. LeMoyne looked a bit concerned, "So, you're still working on that, also?"
"You can rest assured Mattie will be well taken care of."
"It's not your assurances I'm interested in, Commander. Have you ever been married?"
"No."
"Do you have other children?"
"Not currently."
"Do you have a significant other?"
"No."
"Are you gay?"
"No."
"So, you have no one in your life."
"No."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Well, I'll tell you, Ms. LeMoyne, it confounds me at times, too."
"Why do you want custody of this child?"
"Somebody needs to take care of this little girl, ma'am."
"She has a biological father."
"We looked for him."
"There are other relatives."
"None that are in a position to take care of Mattie, nor want to. Uh, besides, this is what she wants."
"How long have you known Ms. Grace?"
"Awhile."
"Awhile..?"
"How did you meet?"
"I worked for her."
"Doing what?"
"Crop dusting. She was a good boss."
"Is this a whim, Commander?"
"No."
"Are you doing this out of pity?"
"I'm doing this out of affection, ma'am."
"It's acceptable if you say love. Get back to me when you finish making arrangements. Social Services will call to set up a home inspection. Then I will need to speak with someone close to you who can vouch for your suitability as a parent."
"Good to meet you."
"Merry Christmas."
Harm picks his way across Mac's apartment, picking up mementos and replacing them. It'd been a while since he'd seen her outside of work, and the first time they'd had a chance to speak about anything but work. She had been in the middle of wrapping Christmas presents when Harm had shown up outside of her door, unannounced.
"I need you to vouch for me."
"In love or war? As a family man."
"Hmm."
"Well, when was the last time you called your mother? I-I don't remember."
"So we've established that you're a lousy son," she jokes while taking a sip out of a mug of tea.
"What kind of a parent do you think I'd make? Well, I did once agree to your fathering my child, if you remember."
"Yeah, if neither of us had someone in five years."
"Well, looks like that's happening a bit sooner than planned," she smoothed down the front of her shirt.
"Something's come up, Mac."
"Another woman?"
"A child. I'm petitioning the state of Virginia for the custody of a minor. I need you to vouch for me with the court."
"How long have you known you were going to do this?"
"A few months."
"And this is the first I'm hearing about it?"
"Hey, you moved on. I-I I didn't think you'd be interested."
"Well, of all the dumb things that you have said to me in eight years, that is by far the dumbest. How much moving on do you think I can do at seven and a half months pregnant, Harm?"
"Hey, some guys are into that, but still, you don't deny it?" he sighs, "Mac, I don't want to argue about us right now."
"There is no us."
"Well, yeah, you made sure of that."
"Well, you didn't fight me."
"Look, there is a little girl who needs someone to watch over her."
" So, you've decided to take that responsibility? I won't dispute the fact that this girl needs help, I trust that you can determine that on your own, but you also have a little boy who will be here in a little over a month and a half who is going to need you, too. Can you find a balance? Either way, I have no issues taking care of him myself, as I've said."
"So you have a problem with me taking on this responsibility?"
"No, I have a problem with you cutting me out of your life until you need something."
"Forget about it. It's too important for you to screw up."
Harm stormed out, leaving Mac barely holding it together in his wake. Tears beginning to cascade down her cheeks. Shaking her head and wiping away the wetness from her face, she returned to the couch, propping her elbows on her knees, and smothering her face in her hands.
"So far this is what we have established."
"Smoke detector, sufficient heat, adequate light, working telephone, working toilet. Do you primarily survive on beer and tofu."
"There's other things in there. Mostly I order take out."
"Do you have a problem with alcohol?"
"No."
"You know, Mr. Watley, I'm a pretty good cook when I set my hand to it."
"You have a child in the house, so you cook every day whether you feel like it or not," the man inspected the pans hanging over the stove after examining the bottles of cooking wine on the counter.
"Do you have a firearm in the house?"
"Yes, sir, but it's under lock and key."
"You ever have cause to employ it?"
"Once or twice, in the line of duty."
"Aren't you a lawyer, Commander Rabb? Well, I'm also a war veteran, a Naval officer and qualified F-14 pilot."
"Then there's the matter of the separate bedroom."
"How do you plan to deal with that?"
"I don't know yet."
"If you can't find a solution, you'll be required to move."
"Look, Mr. Watley, this is all happening very quickly and I haven't had time to work out the fine points. A bedroom for a child is not a fine point. How long have you lived alone?"
"Since I was 17."
"No roommates."
"Not since the Academy."
"What kind of relationship did you have with your father?"
"I never really had a chance at one, sir. He went missing in action when I was five."
What do you know about raising children?"
"Honestly, not a lot."
"I hope you have a better answer when you appear at the custody hearing."
"I intend to. Look, I'm playing catch up right now, Mr. Watley."
"The Adolescent Girl: A Study In Pathology. Between Sixteen and Sex: Raising a Teenage Girl. You seem to be prepared for the worst."
"I'm a fighter pilot, Mr. Watley. We prepare for the worst, that way we cut down on our surprises."
"Mm. Have you ever crashed?"
"Oh, yeah."
"More than once?"
" Four times."
"And you intend to keep flying, Commander?"
" Yes, I do."
"I'll say this about you, Commander: You are refreshingly candid."
The return of Mattie's father had her in an extremely sour mood, reflected by her snippiness before court even started.
"Commander Rabb, you have petitioned the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to become the guardian of Matilda Grace Johnson, a minor child."
"I have, Your Honor."
"I have read the reports of Donna LeMoyne, the guardian-ad-litem, and the home inspection report of Morgan Watley."
"Both reports raise questions. But both indicate a refreshing honesty and realistic appraisal of the challenge you face."
"I would be glad to answer any questions the court has, Your Honor."
"And you will have your chance. However, this matter has become complicated due to the return of Thomas Johnson, Matilda Grace Johnson's biological father. Mr. Johnson, I understand at this time you wish to address the court."
"I do, Your Honor."
"You need to convince me that you are willing and capable of taking care of this child. So before you speak your piece, I have a few questions for you. Firstly, where have you been the last six months?"
" Well, I've been trying to get my life back together, Your Honor," Tom was almost stumbling to find his words.
"And you left Matilda on her own?"
" No, I left her with relatives. She chose not to stay with them. Mattie can be, uh, strong willed."
"And what's to say that you will not abandon this child a second time? "
"Well, ma'am, I was the victim of a very unfortunate accident."
"You killed my mother."
"Miss Johnson."
"My name is Grace. Mattie Grace. Johnson is his name. And he was drunk."
"Mattie. Sit down."
"Your father has a right to be heard, and you need to respect this court."
"I'm sorry, Your Honor."
"Apology accepted, Miss Grace."
"Your Honor I wasn't always the way I am now. Mattie might not remember, in fact she might not want to remember, but I used to be a good man. And I was a good father. See, her mama used to work nights and I'd make the dinner. I used to read to her. She seems to have forgotten all that now. The fact is, Your Honor, I've made some mistakes. Made some big ones. Things I can never repent for, no matter how much I wish I could. But I am trying to be a better man, for Mattie. And all I'm asking you is to give her the chance to get to know me the way that I am now."
"May I say something, Your Honor?"
" This is your day, Mattie."
"There is no way that this man can make it up to me. He got behind the wheel when he was drunk."
"I will never forgive him for that. Commander Rabb has offered to make a place for me in his life. I promise to do what he says. I won't make any trouble for him."
"Trouble is a part of life. I am only interested in how Commander Rabb is going to handle that trouble. Your Honor, I lost my father when I was young. Not because he left, but because he went missing in action in Vietnam. I know what it's like to grow up without a father. And I don't take the responsibility of fatherhood lightly. I give my word to this court, Your Honor, that I will do my level best to be sure that Mattie gets everything she deserves. I've given her my word that she will never be alone in this world again."
"Yeah, well, there's only one problem with that, you're not her father."
"Donna LeMoyne was most impressed with Commander Rabb. She believes he would make a very suitable guardian."
"But doesn't a man have a right to be with his own child? That is a primary consideration, Mr. Johnson. However, this court must also consider what kind of father you will make. And also what kind of guardian Commander Rabb will make."
A bailiff opens the door and steps in, "Your Honor, there's a character witness who would like to be heard. A Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie."
All eyes were on Mac, as she stepped into the court room behind the bailiff. Harm looked at her, perplexed but also disbelieving.
"Your Honor, I've been a colleague of Commander Rabb's for eight years. I have the highest level of respect for his honor and integrity."
"What is your opinion of his suitability as a guardian for Mattie Grace? "
"Highly suitable, Your Honor."
"On what do you base that opinion, Colonel? "
"Your Honor, I have seen the Commander put his own life at risk to protect the son of a fellow aviator who was killed in the line of duty. The Commander has always taken a personal interest in cases involving children, Your Honor. He's taken a child witness into his home and pulled strings to get medical attention for a traumatized little girl after he made it his personal quest to solve that little girl's sister's murder."
"That does speak well of the Commander. What else can you give me?"
"I've given a lot of thought to the kind of man that I would want to be the father of my children," she paused looking down and busied her nervous hands with the olive brown fabric of her cover, taking a breath, she continued, " Commander Rabb is that kind of man, Your Honor. I can't prove it to you. I can only state without reservation that he is up to the job."
Mac took her seat on a bench behind Harm and Mattie's table while the judge took a moment to mull over Mac's assessment of Harm, and also skeptically taking note of Mac's 30 plus week state of pregnancy.
The judge continued, "Thank you, Colonel. You both make compelling cases for custody. Mr. Johnson, while you do share biology and a history with Mattie, it will be very difficult for you to continue your recovery while caring for a minor child. Commander Rabb, your lack of experience with children combined with your professional responsibilities makes you equally questionable in my mind as a suitable guardian. I need to take this matter under submission to determine what is in Mattie's best interest. In the meantime, Mattie, I'm going to temporarily place you into foster care."
"Your Honor, why can't I just go home?"
"I'm sorry. That is no longer an option. Social Services will find an appropriate temporary foster family for you to stay with until I can sort through these issues."
At the Christmas Eve service, Mac had chosen to sit on the opposite side of the church from Harm and Mattie, though they arrived at the same time, because she was still nervous about the testimony she'd given at Mattie's custody hearing. The service, led by CDR Sturgis Turner's father, CAPT Matthew Turner was simple, but beautiful, Mac stealing occasional glances at the quasi-father/daughter duo. After the service, Harm and Mattie were some of the first out of the chapel, so as not to keep Tom Johnson waiting for too long. Mac coming out just after Mattie departed, seeing the forlorn look on Harm's face.
"You won't forget me?"
" Are you kidding?"
" I don't want you to see me cry."
"Mattie I'm sorry."
"You did your best. I'm going to have to get used to being without you. I'll send you the address of my new foster family. Come visit sometime."
She hurried down to the Johnson's truck, and arrived just in time for Tom to fire up the engine. She knocked lightly, startling them, "Mr. Johnson?"
"Colonel," he replied almost laughingly.
"May I speak with you?"
"Do you want me to get lost?" Mattie piped up, excited at the possibility of spending just a few more minutes with Harm before being dropped off at the foster family's home.
"Might be best." Mac smiled at Mattie, then turned to Tom, "Why didn't you come inside?"
" Because last time I was inside a church, I was burying my wife. Now I'm losing Mattie to a bunch of strangers. I'm supposed to drop her off tonight."
"I'd like to speak with you, sir, as one alcoholic to another."
Tom looked up, surprised at the marine's words. She'd been surprising him all evening, it seemed.
Harm turned around from running his fingers along his father's name on The Wall and was shocked to see Mattie right behind him, "Harm. Hi."
"What are you doing here?"
"You're my guardian. Mac talked to my dad. He agreed to step aside so I won't have to go to the foster family."
He looked up from Mattie, bewildered at the woman who had come through for him not once, but twice that night, "How did you do that?"
" I convinced him that now that he's stopped drinking, he'll have to start dealing with life, and he's not fit to take care of Mattie until he can take care of himself. Mr. Johnson agreed to a full course of treatment. And if he can pull his life together and if Mattie wants, then they'll give it a shot."
"Until then I'm yours," Mattie wrapped her arms around Harm's waist hugging him, though he was still in shock from the events of the past five minutes, "You can hug me, you know. I-I won't break."
"Good night," Mac smiled at Harm and turned to begin walking back up the wall toward the parking area.
"Where are you going?
"Home," she smiled again, "Let you two get started on the first of hopefully many Rabb family holidays. Merry Christmas."
"Wait, Mac. You're just as much a part of this family as I am, " Mattie reasoned, "You and Harm have been, as he calls it, 'complicated', for years, right?"
Harm and Mac shared an awkward exchange of looks before Harm spoke up, "Please Mac, join us?"
She sighed, knowing defeat when she saw it, "Alright."
Shifting Mattie to under his left arm, Harm closed the distance between the trio and placed a gentle hand on Mac's lower back, leading them all up to the parking area.
Once at Harm's car, he looked around puzzled, "Where's your car? How did you two get here?"
"I traded in the Corvette last week," Mac replied gesturing to the brand new SUV parked next to Harm's Lexus with a small smile, "It was a two seater, remember? I've gotten to the point where I can hardly fit in there, forget a baby. I've been thinking about it for a while, it was great in the summer, but driving it in the snow was almost suicidal."
He agreed with a chuckle. Mattie shifted her things from Mac's car to Harm's, then climbed in the front passenger seat to wait for the two.
"So, uh, want to spend Christmas Eve night at my place?" Harm asked, throwing in his best smile to try to convince her to agree.
"Harm, you live in an 800 square foot studio. Mattie already has to sleep on your couch, where are you going to put me?" Mac asked doubtfully.
"Sleep with me?" he suggested, then quickly, "Uh, I mean... You know, we can share my bed. We don't have to- In fact, with Mattie there, that would be-"
She put her finger up to his lips to stop his word vomit, "I know what you mean. I have to stop by my place to pick up some things first. Meet you there?"
He took her gloved fingers that were still pressed to his lips into his hand and answered, "Sure. See you there."
An hour later, Mac was knocking on the door, with astonishing levels of coordination, arms laden with presents and a small duffel thrown over her shoulder. Harm answered, eyes widening immediately, quickly unloading most of the parcels from her arms.
"Mac, why didn't you call when you got here? You could have asked for help," he said squatting in front of his Christmas tree to deposit the presents.
She shrugged, taking off her snow dusted jacket and hanging it on the coat tree next to his door, "It was handled, no big deal."
"Hey Mac!" Mattie greeted, stepping down from Harm's bedroom area, dressed in her pajamas and freshly showered. She slid up onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island, turning to look at the two adults, "So, how's uh..?"
Mac laughed at Mattie's awkward gesturing, "He's great. Active, measuring a little bit ahead. Everything is good, he's very healthy baby."
"So you're having a boy? Do you have a name for him yet?" Mattie was in full on inquisitor mode, "Will he live with you all the time, or Harm..?"
"Yes, a boy. Uh, no name yet, but I've been working on making a list, and I- We haven't talked about that... Yet," she looked at Harm.
"Look, Mattie, there's a lot of things that haven't been fully worked out yet. For you or him, luckily, there's still some time to figure out his stuff. Right now, we need to work on getting you settled. But first, bed," he finished with a laugh, "Today has been a very long day full of surprises."
"Fine..." Mattie hopped down from the stool and climbed under the covers on the made up couch, "See you guys in the morning. Behave!"
Harm and Mac ascended the steps to Harm's 'bedroom' splitting off as they passed the glass partition. Harm went go to his dresser to pull out a pair of plaid flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt, Mac dropped her bag on the end of Harm's bed and took out her own pajamas, a pair of white fleece pants decorated with candy canes and holly, and a red, long sleeved t-shirt.
"Nice pajamas, Marine," Harm joked, "You have quite the collection."
"Some people collect postage stamps, some people collect more useful things," she laughed, tapping his chest as she brushed past him, heading into the bathroom.
Harm was dressed and getting into bed by the time she made her way out of the bathroom. She carefully folded the clothes she was wearing to pack them back into the bag, then climbed into the other side of the bed.
Settling down under the covers, she noticed Harm watching her from his side of the bed, propped up by his headboard, "What?"
"Nothing, just the last time we slept together, things didn't end... Pleasantly."
"Was that a Freudian slip?" she countered .
"What? Oh, no. I..." he stammered, "No, no. I'm actually looking forward to this new chapter in life, believe it or not. I just want everything to go well. I want to be the father mine didn't get to be."
"Harm, I meant what I said in court. You're a good man, you're going to make an excellent father. "
He scooted down to lay on his pillow, then gently drew her to him, so her head was on his chest and his arm around her. Smiling, she sighed contentedly.
