0329 Zulu;
Mac's Apartment;
Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Mac's eyes were instantly ablaze. "What?!"
"Take it easy, Marine." Although outwardly calm, Harm found himself fighting down a wave of anxiety. "I'd appreciate your listening to what I have to say before passing judgment," he said carefully. He hoped she would go for this.
Inhaling deeply, she forced herself to relax. He was right -- the least she could do was hear his suggestion before snapping at him. "I'm sorry. Please, continue."
"Thanks." He glanced down at his hands. "Now, we both know that a lot of rumors will fly once word gets out we're having a baby. You said it yourself: how many people are going to buy the story about a deal made between old friends? People's imaginations will be in overdrive, speculating how long we've been secretly dating, sleeping together, whatever. However," he raised one finger with a smile, "even though we may not be able to stop the gossip mill from turning, I think we can at least minimize the damage by putting on a unified front."
"And moving in together now would accomplish that how, exactly?"
"Mac, when we go public, what do you think the reaction is going to be? I hate to say this, but people are most likely going to assume you became pregnant by accident. The fact that this was an intentional pregnancy won't even cross their minds. We need to do something that will demonstrate our commitment to raising this child in friendship, something that will show everyone how much time and effort we've spent planning for this. If they see that we've taken steps to be in this together as friends, then we may just stop the scuttlebutt before it has a chance to start."
"Harm, I don't know--"
"C'mon, Mac. How are people supposed to believe we're committed if we're living on opposite sides of town? Besides, you're not the only one here who wants to give this child the love and attention it deserves. Living apart only makes it that much harder for me to be here for you and the baby. We've been spending practically every evening together anyway..." The words lingered between them. Watching her carefully, Harm wondered what Mac was thinking. Her neutral expression didn't reveal much.
"Okay, I see your logic," she finally conceded. "But the original deal was only for you to stay here temporarily after the baby was born. If you were to move in now, that would mean an additional six months of the two of us living together in a one bedroom apartment. I can't very well ask you to sleep on my couch the whole time." Her eyes widened, realizing too late what her words had unintentionally implied. "I mean, do you honestly think that would be good for your back?" she covered quickly.
Harm chuckled silently as he settled back into the chair. "I actually had something else in mind. When Mattie first moved in I had contacted a real estate agent about two bedroom homes in the Falls Church area. But then Coates agreed to be Mattie's roommate--"
"And finding a house dropped down on the list of priorities."
"Quit finishing my sentences," he grinned. "The realtor called this afternoon to see if I was still looking for a place." Leaning forward again, a note of hopefulness crept into his voice. "What do you say, Marine? Are you up to going house hunting with me?"
Shifting underneath the blanket, she cocked an eyebrow at him. "When did you have in mind?"
"You mean you'll do it?"
"Yeah, I'll do it," she nodded. "But we'd better start looking ASAP if we want to find a place before we make the big announcement. Our little secret will only stay hidden for another couple of weeks, I'm afraid."
"Then why don't we give her a call right now?" Thrilled, he grinned in her direction as he stood and reached for his jacket.
"Wait a minute," Mac interrupted. "Don't you think that two bedrooms might be a little tight, given the circumstances?"
Harm sighed with relief. For a split second he'd been unexpectedly afraid she had changed her mind. "What, you mean you don't want to share?" he joked, eyeing her thoughtfully. *Of course, I wouldn't object if you did!*
Mac glared at him pointedly.
"Alright then," he chuckled, "if sharing is out of the question, how many bedrooms do you think we'll need?" He picked up the jacket and pulled out his wallet.
She gave it some thought. "I'd say four at the very least: one each for me, you, Mattie and the baby."
"Four?" he asked, eyes widening as he turned towards her. "Mac, do you know how much four bedroom houses go for in Falls Church? No offense, but a home that size is a little out of my price range."
"*Your* price range? Between the two of us we should be able to afford a home big enough to fit all of us comfortably."
"Mac, I don't want you to feel like you need to offer--"
She stared at him incredulously. "Harm, whatever happened to putting on a united front, and to raising this child together in friendship? You should know me better than to think I would make you pay for all of this by yourself." A soft smile graced her face as she added, "Besides, it is the twenty-first century. How about it, Sailor? Want to go halves on a house?"
"Are you sure?" Stepping around the coffee table, Harm sat next to her on the sofa and gently gripped her hand.
"Go ahead and make the call, Flyboy," she said with a reassuring squeeze. Returning her smile, Harm retrieved the agent's card from his wallet and picked up the phone. Mac watched as he dialed the number.
A few moments later, he straightened up. "Hello, Eileen? This is Harmon Rabb, returning your call..." Overwhelmed by curiosity Mac scooted closer to Harm, moving so that her ear was right next to the receiver. It wasn't perfect, but this way she had a better shot of hearing what the real estate agent had to say.
"Yes... ...I'd like to start looking at houses larger than what we'd originally talked about... ...Terrific... ...Yes, four bedrooms... ...Hmn, good question. Just a minute." Turning slightly, he placed his free hand over the mouthpiece. "How many baths do you think we'd need?" he whispered to Mac.
"At least two. Preferably three."
Repeating the information into the phone, Harm was suddenly acutely aware of how near Mac's mouth was to his. Distracted by the scent of her perfume, he struggled to concentrate on what the realtor was asking him. "This weekend?" he asked, glancing at Mac for confirmation. She nodded. "Yes, this weekend will be fine... ...All right, we'll see you Saturday. Thanks again, Eileen." Turning off the handset, his attention turned involuntarily to the beautiful woman sitting beside him.
"She'll email over a new list of houses first thing in the morning," he said absently, his gaze fixing on Mac's lips as one hand dropped lightly to her knee. Lowering his head, their lips brushed in the gentlest of kisses before Mac pulled away.
"What else did Eileen have to say?" she asked quietly.
Somewhat startled, Harm shook his head slightly in an effort to bring himself back to the present. "Um, she suggested that we go over the list beforehand and let her know which properties we'd like to see. She's going to meet us at her office at 0900 on Saturday morning."
"Okay," agreed Mac. "We really need to make a decision about Mattie and your mother."
"I know." He sighed and peeked at his watch. "Mac, it's late and you should be in bed. You need your rest. We can work out the rest of the details tomorrow."
As if on cue, she unsuccessfully tried to stifle a yawn. "All right, Sailor, I'll give you this round. But we *will* continue this discussion in the morning." Standing, she padded over to the door while Harm grabbed his jacket.
"See you tomorrow, then?"
"Bright and early." She smiled sleepily as the door swung open. "Drive safely."
"I will. Goodnight, Mom." Then, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he disappeared into the hallway outside. Closing the door behind her, Mac laid her head for a moment against the paneled frame before flipping the deadbolt lock.
"Goodnight, Dad" she whispered into the empty room.
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To be continued...
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Mac's eyes were instantly ablaze. "What?!"
"Take it easy, Marine." Although outwardly calm, Harm found himself fighting down a wave of anxiety. "I'd appreciate your listening to what I have to say before passing judgment," he said carefully. He hoped she would go for this.
Inhaling deeply, she forced herself to relax. He was right -- the least she could do was hear his suggestion before snapping at him. "I'm sorry. Please, continue."
"Thanks." He glanced down at his hands. "Now, we both know that a lot of rumors will fly once word gets out we're having a baby. You said it yourself: how many people are going to buy the story about a deal made between old friends? People's imaginations will be in overdrive, speculating how long we've been secretly dating, sleeping together, whatever. However," he raised one finger with a smile, "even though we may not be able to stop the gossip mill from turning, I think we can at least minimize the damage by putting on a unified front."
"And moving in together now would accomplish that how, exactly?"
"Mac, when we go public, what do you think the reaction is going to be? I hate to say this, but people are most likely going to assume you became pregnant by accident. The fact that this was an intentional pregnancy won't even cross their minds. We need to do something that will demonstrate our commitment to raising this child in friendship, something that will show everyone how much time and effort we've spent planning for this. If they see that we've taken steps to be in this together as friends, then we may just stop the scuttlebutt before it has a chance to start."
"Harm, I don't know--"
"C'mon, Mac. How are people supposed to believe we're committed if we're living on opposite sides of town? Besides, you're not the only one here who wants to give this child the love and attention it deserves. Living apart only makes it that much harder for me to be here for you and the baby. We've been spending practically every evening together anyway..." The words lingered between them. Watching her carefully, Harm wondered what Mac was thinking. Her neutral expression didn't reveal much.
"Okay, I see your logic," she finally conceded. "But the original deal was only for you to stay here temporarily after the baby was born. If you were to move in now, that would mean an additional six months of the two of us living together in a one bedroom apartment. I can't very well ask you to sleep on my couch the whole time." Her eyes widened, realizing too late what her words had unintentionally implied. "I mean, do you honestly think that would be good for your back?" she covered quickly.
Harm chuckled silently as he settled back into the chair. "I actually had something else in mind. When Mattie first moved in I had contacted a real estate agent about two bedroom homes in the Falls Church area. But then Coates agreed to be Mattie's roommate--"
"And finding a house dropped down on the list of priorities."
"Quit finishing my sentences," he grinned. "The realtor called this afternoon to see if I was still looking for a place." Leaning forward again, a note of hopefulness crept into his voice. "What do you say, Marine? Are you up to going house hunting with me?"
Shifting underneath the blanket, she cocked an eyebrow at him. "When did you have in mind?"
"You mean you'll do it?"
"Yeah, I'll do it," she nodded. "But we'd better start looking ASAP if we want to find a place before we make the big announcement. Our little secret will only stay hidden for another couple of weeks, I'm afraid."
"Then why don't we give her a call right now?" Thrilled, he grinned in her direction as he stood and reached for his jacket.
"Wait a minute," Mac interrupted. "Don't you think that two bedrooms might be a little tight, given the circumstances?"
Harm sighed with relief. For a split second he'd been unexpectedly afraid she had changed her mind. "What, you mean you don't want to share?" he joked, eyeing her thoughtfully. *Of course, I wouldn't object if you did!*
Mac glared at him pointedly.
"Alright then," he chuckled, "if sharing is out of the question, how many bedrooms do you think we'll need?" He picked up the jacket and pulled out his wallet.
She gave it some thought. "I'd say four at the very least: one each for me, you, Mattie and the baby."
"Four?" he asked, eyes widening as he turned towards her. "Mac, do you know how much four bedroom houses go for in Falls Church? No offense, but a home that size is a little out of my price range."
"*Your* price range? Between the two of us we should be able to afford a home big enough to fit all of us comfortably."
"Mac, I don't want you to feel like you need to offer--"
She stared at him incredulously. "Harm, whatever happened to putting on a united front, and to raising this child together in friendship? You should know me better than to think I would make you pay for all of this by yourself." A soft smile graced her face as she added, "Besides, it is the twenty-first century. How about it, Sailor? Want to go halves on a house?"
"Are you sure?" Stepping around the coffee table, Harm sat next to her on the sofa and gently gripped her hand.
"Go ahead and make the call, Flyboy," she said with a reassuring squeeze. Returning her smile, Harm retrieved the agent's card from his wallet and picked up the phone. Mac watched as he dialed the number.
A few moments later, he straightened up. "Hello, Eileen? This is Harmon Rabb, returning your call..." Overwhelmed by curiosity Mac scooted closer to Harm, moving so that her ear was right next to the receiver. It wasn't perfect, but this way she had a better shot of hearing what the real estate agent had to say.
"Yes... ...I'd like to start looking at houses larger than what we'd originally talked about... ...Terrific... ...Yes, four bedrooms... ...Hmn, good question. Just a minute." Turning slightly, he placed his free hand over the mouthpiece. "How many baths do you think we'd need?" he whispered to Mac.
"At least two. Preferably three."
Repeating the information into the phone, Harm was suddenly acutely aware of how near Mac's mouth was to his. Distracted by the scent of her perfume, he struggled to concentrate on what the realtor was asking him. "This weekend?" he asked, glancing at Mac for confirmation. She nodded. "Yes, this weekend will be fine... ...All right, we'll see you Saturday. Thanks again, Eileen." Turning off the handset, his attention turned involuntarily to the beautiful woman sitting beside him.
"She'll email over a new list of houses first thing in the morning," he said absently, his gaze fixing on Mac's lips as one hand dropped lightly to her knee. Lowering his head, their lips brushed in the gentlest of kisses before Mac pulled away.
"What else did Eileen have to say?" she asked quietly.
Somewhat startled, Harm shook his head slightly in an effort to bring himself back to the present. "Um, she suggested that we go over the list beforehand and let her know which properties we'd like to see. She's going to meet us at her office at 0900 on Saturday morning."
"Okay," agreed Mac. "We really need to make a decision about Mattie and your mother."
"I know." He sighed and peeked at his watch. "Mac, it's late and you should be in bed. You need your rest. We can work out the rest of the details tomorrow."
As if on cue, she unsuccessfully tried to stifle a yawn. "All right, Sailor, I'll give you this round. But we *will* continue this discussion in the morning." Standing, she padded over to the door while Harm grabbed his jacket.
"See you tomorrow, then?"
"Bright and early." She smiled sleepily as the door swung open. "Drive safely."
"I will. Goodnight, Mom." Then, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he disappeared into the hallway outside. Closing the door behind her, Mac laid her head for a moment against the paneled frame before flipping the deadbolt lock.
"Goodnight, Dad" she whispered into the empty room.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
To be continued...
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