For disclaimer and other stuff, see part 1.
Thanks for their reviews to VisualIDentificationZeta, camile and MichelleUK.
WHERE RAINBOW ENDS is coming to an end, there will be just one more chapter and an epilogue.
Chapter 7
There was an old pain in her chest, one that she wished would leave her. Painful, humbled first pangs of love, buried deep inside. She was going to lose everyone she loved sooner or later. First Paul and the baby and later Harm. Yes, she would lose him. He wouldn't stay. Never.
Right now she was introduced to friends of her family she had never met before.
"This is our daughter Loren and her friend Harmon. He has an important job in Washington."
Her parents had decided to not tell that Harm was a sailor. What would their friends think, their daughter bringing a sailor home?! No. Constance and Deacon Singer had decided to tell that he worked for the government. It wasn't far from the truth.
Harm had wanted to tell the truth. He had protested against their lie but Loren had asked him to play along, for her sake.
Loren had told him to remember the three letters R S S, relax, smile, shake hands.
He was her friend. That was how her mother introduced him. But was he a friend? A friend of the Singer's? Loren's friend? He was a coworker. Yes. But a friend? Maybe. He could be. He liked her. Yes, he did!
And he cared for her. He wouldn't be here if he didn't care. He could have argued with the Admiral. He could have cancelled at the last minute. Lying. Telling her that he had a family emergency. But he was here. With her. Being introduced as her friend.
Harm smiled. Yes. It was ok. It was ok to be her friend and maybe more.
What he didn't know was, Loren had the same thoughts running through her head. Right now and days before. She hoped that one day she would find happiness. Maybe even with Harm. She trusted him. She liked him. He was her prince charming. She hoped for a happily-ever-after. She still did.
Every woman hoped for a happily-ever-after. But not every woman had her happily-ever-after.
Out of the corner of his eyes Harm observed Loren. She appeared to be strong. She appeared to be the woman he worked with.
"How much longer?" he whispered towards Loren.
"You could get out of attending the rest of the dinner by faking an illness. I tell them that you have , ehm, the flu?" Loren suggested.
"And you?"
"What about me? I have to attend." Loren stated.
And Harm stayed, too. He didn't fake an illness. He couldn't leave her alone. Not after everything he learned about her past and her family. For the rest of the evening he made sure to be at her side. Always.
Later they had little time to disappear. Just to a secluded place in the garden. Loren needed some alone-time. But she had told him she wouldn't mind his company. And Harm wouldn't leave her alone. He went with her.
"It's beautiful." He said.
Loren only nodded.
"Your favourite place as a child?"
"Yes. I got my first kiss sitting next to the rosebush." She told him.
A soft smile playing on her lips. Loren started to get lost in thoughts. She remembered. She had brought Paul home. One day. Her parents hadn't been home, her sisters neither. They had sat here, in her secret garden, just talking. Yes, two teenagers could spend time together and only talk. She had morals after all. Until her parents had accused her of sleeping around. She had been hurt and upset. After storming out of the house she had sat in her garden for hours before she had went to Paul. Spending the night together. And the next.
The wind was playing with her hair. She looked totally relaxed. Happy. For the first time.
"If you could get back in time, would you do it again? Being friends with Paul. Rebelling against your parents. Choosing life in the Navy?" Harm asked.
Loren looked at Harm. Trying to decipher why he had asked her. Why he wanted to know if she would change her past if she had the chance to do so.
"Would you?" she finally asked.
"I have asked you. But no, I wouldn't change a thing. I love being in the Navy. My father and grandfather were sailors too. It's kind of a family tradition."
"I chose life in the Navy because I knew I could prove myself. I knew that they wouldn't make it easier for me just because my last name is Singer. In Boston everyone knew who I was. The daughter of Deacon Singer. In the Navy I could be Loren Singer. I wouldn't want to change it, my life, not for anything." Loren paused, taking at deep breath before continuing, " But if I had the chance, the possibility to change something in my past, I would have wanted for my child to survive. I know that I can't influence why a miscarriage happens but-"
Loren stopped. She couldn't continue. She wasn't ready to talk about her child. She had thought so. She had started to trust Harm. Still trusted him. But the memory of her miscarriage was still painful.
"I know. It's not the same but I sometimes hope for another chance to see my father. When I was prisoner in China. I thought I had heard my father. But he wasn't there. He had died in Russia years ago. After fathering another son. I was angry. I hated him. For leaving me and having another son." Harm told her.
He had decided that he could and should trust her with his past. If he didn't, how could she trust him?
"Thank you." Loren said and leaned over. Kissing him on the cheek.
Surprised Harm looked at her. Yes, she had thanked him for trusting her with a part of his past. But a kiss! Even a simple one on his cheek. Harm was more than surprised. But it felt good! It felt wonderful!
