Chapter 36
The Ninth Year: Fall 2013 to Fall 2014
In Virginia, Harm had dried out and was regularly attending AA meetings. He had joined Bud's law firm and things were going pretty well for him.
Word came down the line that Clayton Webb had been promoted. He was now the Director of the CIA.
Lieutenant Commander Jason Tiner was promoted to Commander and had become the hotshot lead attorney at JAG.
In California, the Chegwidden's were having a hard year. Suzie, their always 'medically fragile' child seemed to come down with every cold or flu virus that was going around. Her already delicate immune system was failing to keep up. She spent more time in the hospital than out, and by spring it was clear she would not make it. Suzie Chegwidden age fifteen died quietly in her sleep on May 1, 2014, just one month before her sister Emily's wedding was to be held.
The entire family was devastated and Emily talked of postponing the wedding, knowing they weren't up for such an occasion so soon after losing Suzie. AJ stepped in and had a talk with her. Death was a part of life, he told her, and it never seemed to come at a convenient time, but her sister wouldn't want Emily to put her happiness on hold because of her. So with a sad smile, Emily agreed that her dad was right and the wedding would go on as planned.
Late that summer, word reached the Chegwiddens that Mike Roberts had died on a mission. Because he'd been a SEAL, the details were sketchy at best, but his body was returned home to a hero's funeral.
Mac and AJ had flown back for the funeral, but they'd left Emily and her new husband watching the younger children so they couldn't stay in town longer. However, they did manage to see and catch up with several of their friends at the luncheon at Bud and Harriett's house after the service.
The Tenth Year: Fall 2014 to present
Elysia Chegwidden became the fourth child to leave the house. She made both her parents proud when she joined the United States Marine Corps!
AJ Roberts turned sixteen and got his driver's license. Both his parents now live in fear that every time he leaves the house they will get a call he was in an accident. Not that he was a bad or reckless driver; it was just the fear of parents everywhere when their child is growing up faster than they would wish.
No one was more surprised than Jen Roberts at how much help and comfort Harmon Rabb was to her and her two boys over the death of her husband Mike. She was reminded over and over again of the feelings that she had for him during their time together at JAG. Even though she had loved Mike deeply, she found that just four months after his death she was ready to start dating again, and the only one that she wanted to spend time with was Harm. But she knew of his past and was not about to let the same thing happen to her, so with some very clear talk, she laid down the law, telling him that he would tow the line with her or things would end before they went any farther. Harm, it seemed, had finally matured to the point that he was willing to take her threat seriously and confessed that he wanted an honest chance with her. He would do his best to see that she and the boys were happy and safe with him.
AJ Chegwidden had his seventieth birthday and his lovely wife of forty-seven made sure that he celebrated in bed…with her! Even though he was often mistaken for his children's grandfather when they were out together, rather than their father, he was still fit and vigorous for his age. None of the kids seemed to mind that their dad was older than their friend's fathers; they just took it in stride.
Just before Christmas that year, word came down that Mac was to be promoted again from Brigadier to Major General. She would be heading back to Virginia to take over for General Creswell who was retiring. There would be another Chegwidden as the Judge Advocate General, but this time it would be Major General Sarah Chegwidden.
So they packed up the seven children still living at home and left Hawaii behind. Alaina and Steven were now fifteen, Andrea was fourteen, Evan was thirteen, Justin and Marcus were seven and little Marta was just six.
To be continued….