Mercedes actually lived about 20 minutes east of Fredericksburg, on the Chesapeake Bay. Mac was in awe as she pulled the car up to a good-sized two-story house that overlooked the water. "Wow," she gasped.
Mercedes smiled as she got out of the car. "Pretty cushy, eh? Thank my mom's parents. Only decent thing they ever did was leave me their money. There's no way I could afford this otherwise. Come on," she said, leading the way in.
For his part Harm was more than a little curious to see what kind of a life Mercedes had made for herself, and how it differed from what he remembered of her. He followed her and Mac in, stepping right into the main room of the house. Wide open and airy, everything was done in shades of blue and white, from the living room area on the left to the kitchen on the far right. Recalling her great love of music, he wasn't surprised when he spotted the piano at the end of the sofa.
"Make yourselves comfortable," CD tossed over a shoulder as she disappeared down the hallway leading off the living area. "I'll be back in a bit."
Harm did as suggested, dropping on to the sofa. Only then did he realize Mac was still standing in the entryway. "Mac?" he asked softly.
"This place is unbelievable," she said, moving in a bit of a daze to look out the French doors that made up most of the back wall of the house. "It's so peaceful, she added, gazing out over the water, noting the powerboat tied up at the dock. "Harm," she asked, turning to him, "What kind of person is this woman?"
He grinned. People had been asking similar questions about CD for as long as he'd known her. "Confusing, opinionated, and frustrating," he answered, which brought one of those luminous smiles from Mac that he loved, something he'd seen so rarely of late.
"Sounds like someone else I know," she commented. Actually.... it seemed like Mercedes and Harm were two of a kind, Mac thought. Pushing away that random thought, she asked, "What do you know about her?" as she sat down in an overstuffed chair opposite him.
"She's been in Virginia for about a year. Lived in Dallas before that," he answered, treading carefully. He knew a helluva lot more, but how much to tell Mac? "Not from the US, actually. She was born and raised in Germany, but her Dad was an American."
"When did you learn all this?"
Uh-oh. Harm's mind scrambled for an explanation. "We went out to
McMurphy's the other night after work."
"Oh."
"It was a friendly drink, Mac. I'm not interested." Why was he telling her this?
"What did Renee think, or did you not tell her?" Mac asked pointedly.
Harm grimaced. "She called while we were there. I was supposed to take her out to dinner that night and forgot."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. But you know, I'm really not sure I even care," he said absently.
Mac rolled her eyes. Another conversation where she needed a Harmon Rabb decoder ring. "What does that mean?"
"CD couldn't resist making a few comments after hearing my end of the phone call, and I hate to say it, I think she's got a point. Renee doesn't make me happy, Mac. I'm not sure she ever did."
Mac could only sit and stare at Harm in silence. If she heard correctly, Harm was thinking about ditching the Video Princess because of something Mercedes said? And he wasn't interested in Mercedes? God help her, but she actually believed him on that. It was the way he said it--it wasn't a denial or a protest, but a simple statement of fact. What the hell was going on...?
Thankfully, she was saved from having to come up with a response by
Mercedes, who reappeared freshly showered and looking much better, dressed in clean jeans and a oversized t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Drive it like ya stole it". For once, her blonde hair was out of its bun, instead pulled back in a ponytail that reached most of the way down her back.
"Next!" she announced, then tossed some sweats at Harm. "Here. These belonged to an ex. They should fit okay, and I'm pretty sure that you'd appreciate a shower. Mac, these should work for you," she said, and another lump of clothing came flying in Mac's direction. "Harm, you can use the spare bathroom. Third door on the left." He nodded, then stood and made his way back. CD turned to Mac. "You get the deluxe version," she said, grinning. "Follow me."
Mercedes led her to the first door on the right, and into what was
Mercedes's own bedroom and to the attached bath. "Use what you like," said, gesturing into the room.
Mac could only stare. While it had the typical sink, toilet, and shower stall, in the middle of the room was a tub big enough for two people, complete with whirlpool. Mac looked back at CD, who was still grinning. "I believe quite firmly in periodic indulgence in hedonism. Good for the soul. Clean towels are on the vanity, and if you like, there's a robe for you on a hook behind the door. Take your time and relax," she directed kindly. "I think we all need a little relaxation after today. I'll cook up some pasta and leave it on the stove; help yourself whenever. Otherwise, I'll be in my office--other side, second door." With that, she disappeared into the bedroom and out the door.
Mac surveyed the room in front of her. "What the hell," she said, then turned on the faucets for the tub. Fifteen minutes later, she was dozing slightly, soaking away her troubles in a tub of lavender-scented bubbles.
***********************
Harm finished his shower and returned to the living room, only to spy CD at work in the kitchen, a serious look on her face. "Hey, it isn't brain surgery," he teased, leaning against the counter.
"Nope--it's Italian. Much more serious than that," she shot back, continuing to stir the large pot of sauce on the stove.
"What're you making?" he asked, reaching around to try and steal a taste.
A sharp rap across the knuckles with a wooden spoon stopped him short. "Hands off. It's Mama Andretti's capellini al pomodoro, and you can wait like the rest of us," she chided.
"Sheesh! That hurt, CD!" Harm fairly whined, rubbing his hand.
"Good. It was supposed to."
Harm sighed, giving up. "So where's Mac?"
"Probably still enjoying my bathtub," CD admitted with a smile before sampling both the sauce and the pasta cooking on another burner. "Perfect. Almost ready. Anyway, she looked ready to drop, so I thought she could use the break." She looked at Harm curiously. "If I may ask, what's the story with you two? And don't tell me you're just friends. I'm blonde, not blind and stupid."
That, of course, had been exactly what Harm was going to say. As was appearing to be standard with CD, she cut through the crap and got to the point. "Where were you a few years ago?" he asked wearily.
"Working my heine off in Dallas with a crapload of gang murders. Answer the verdammte question."
Uh-oh, the German was slipping in. That was never a good sign. "I'm not quite sure anymore, CD. Once we were partners, best friends, and maybe more. Now... she's engaged to somebody else, and would be already married to him if I hadn't crashed my plane on the way back to her wedding."
"Whoa! Back up there, hotshot. You crashed again? Hell, you're flying again?"
"It's a long story."
"I would think so," CD commented, dishing up two large plates of pasta, handing them to Harm and directing him to the table. "Sit. Eat. And then you're going to tell me all about this fiasco that your life seems to have become."
He watched her duck into the fridge, retrieving two beers. "And what? Auntie Mercedes will make it all better?" he snapped sarcastically.
She ignored the sarcasm, sitting down across from him. "You know damn well I'm not your Auntie anything, and you should also know that the only person who can 'make it all better' is you. But maybe I can offer a different perspective-- one you might not be able to see," she finished quietly, fixing a pointed gaze on him. "After all, what have you got to lose just by telling me and listening a little?" With that, she dug into her pasta.
Harm sighed and did likewise, taking a long swig of beer before telling her everything.
TBC....
Mercedes smiled as she got out of the car. "Pretty cushy, eh? Thank my mom's parents. Only decent thing they ever did was leave me their money. There's no way I could afford this otherwise. Come on," she said, leading the way in.
For his part Harm was more than a little curious to see what kind of a life Mercedes had made for herself, and how it differed from what he remembered of her. He followed her and Mac in, stepping right into the main room of the house. Wide open and airy, everything was done in shades of blue and white, from the living room area on the left to the kitchen on the far right. Recalling her great love of music, he wasn't surprised when he spotted the piano at the end of the sofa.
"Make yourselves comfortable," CD tossed over a shoulder as she disappeared down the hallway leading off the living area. "I'll be back in a bit."
Harm did as suggested, dropping on to the sofa. Only then did he realize Mac was still standing in the entryway. "Mac?" he asked softly.
"This place is unbelievable," she said, moving in a bit of a daze to look out the French doors that made up most of the back wall of the house. "It's so peaceful, she added, gazing out over the water, noting the powerboat tied up at the dock. "Harm," she asked, turning to him, "What kind of person is this woman?"
He grinned. People had been asking similar questions about CD for as long as he'd known her. "Confusing, opinionated, and frustrating," he answered, which brought one of those luminous smiles from Mac that he loved, something he'd seen so rarely of late.
"Sounds like someone else I know," she commented. Actually.... it seemed like Mercedes and Harm were two of a kind, Mac thought. Pushing away that random thought, she asked, "What do you know about her?" as she sat down in an overstuffed chair opposite him.
"She's been in Virginia for about a year. Lived in Dallas before that," he answered, treading carefully. He knew a helluva lot more, but how much to tell Mac? "Not from the US, actually. She was born and raised in Germany, but her Dad was an American."
"When did you learn all this?"
Uh-oh. Harm's mind scrambled for an explanation. "We went out to
McMurphy's the other night after work."
"Oh."
"It was a friendly drink, Mac. I'm not interested." Why was he telling her this?
"What did Renee think, or did you not tell her?" Mac asked pointedly.
Harm grimaced. "She called while we were there. I was supposed to take her out to dinner that night and forgot."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. But you know, I'm really not sure I even care," he said absently.
Mac rolled her eyes. Another conversation where she needed a Harmon Rabb decoder ring. "What does that mean?"
"CD couldn't resist making a few comments after hearing my end of the phone call, and I hate to say it, I think she's got a point. Renee doesn't make me happy, Mac. I'm not sure she ever did."
Mac could only sit and stare at Harm in silence. If she heard correctly, Harm was thinking about ditching the Video Princess because of something Mercedes said? And he wasn't interested in Mercedes? God help her, but she actually believed him on that. It was the way he said it--it wasn't a denial or a protest, but a simple statement of fact. What the hell was going on...?
Thankfully, she was saved from having to come up with a response by
Mercedes, who reappeared freshly showered and looking much better, dressed in clean jeans and a oversized t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Drive it like ya stole it". For once, her blonde hair was out of its bun, instead pulled back in a ponytail that reached most of the way down her back.
"Next!" she announced, then tossed some sweats at Harm. "Here. These belonged to an ex. They should fit okay, and I'm pretty sure that you'd appreciate a shower. Mac, these should work for you," she said, and another lump of clothing came flying in Mac's direction. "Harm, you can use the spare bathroom. Third door on the left." He nodded, then stood and made his way back. CD turned to Mac. "You get the deluxe version," she said, grinning. "Follow me."
Mercedes led her to the first door on the right, and into what was
Mercedes's own bedroom and to the attached bath. "Use what you like," said, gesturing into the room.
Mac could only stare. While it had the typical sink, toilet, and shower stall, in the middle of the room was a tub big enough for two people, complete with whirlpool. Mac looked back at CD, who was still grinning. "I believe quite firmly in periodic indulgence in hedonism. Good for the soul. Clean towels are on the vanity, and if you like, there's a robe for you on a hook behind the door. Take your time and relax," she directed kindly. "I think we all need a little relaxation after today. I'll cook up some pasta and leave it on the stove; help yourself whenever. Otherwise, I'll be in my office--other side, second door." With that, she disappeared into the bedroom and out the door.
Mac surveyed the room in front of her. "What the hell," she said, then turned on the faucets for the tub. Fifteen minutes later, she was dozing slightly, soaking away her troubles in a tub of lavender-scented bubbles.
***********************
Harm finished his shower and returned to the living room, only to spy CD at work in the kitchen, a serious look on her face. "Hey, it isn't brain surgery," he teased, leaning against the counter.
"Nope--it's Italian. Much more serious than that," she shot back, continuing to stir the large pot of sauce on the stove.
"What're you making?" he asked, reaching around to try and steal a taste.
A sharp rap across the knuckles with a wooden spoon stopped him short. "Hands off. It's Mama Andretti's capellini al pomodoro, and you can wait like the rest of us," she chided.
"Sheesh! That hurt, CD!" Harm fairly whined, rubbing his hand.
"Good. It was supposed to."
Harm sighed, giving up. "So where's Mac?"
"Probably still enjoying my bathtub," CD admitted with a smile before sampling both the sauce and the pasta cooking on another burner. "Perfect. Almost ready. Anyway, she looked ready to drop, so I thought she could use the break." She looked at Harm curiously. "If I may ask, what's the story with you two? And don't tell me you're just friends. I'm blonde, not blind and stupid."
That, of course, had been exactly what Harm was going to say. As was appearing to be standard with CD, she cut through the crap and got to the point. "Where were you a few years ago?" he asked wearily.
"Working my heine off in Dallas with a crapload of gang murders. Answer the verdammte question."
Uh-oh, the German was slipping in. That was never a good sign. "I'm not quite sure anymore, CD. Once we were partners, best friends, and maybe more. Now... she's engaged to somebody else, and would be already married to him if I hadn't crashed my plane on the way back to her wedding."
"Whoa! Back up there, hotshot. You crashed again? Hell, you're flying again?"
"It's a long story."
"I would think so," CD commented, dishing up two large plates of pasta, handing them to Harm and directing him to the table. "Sit. Eat. And then you're going to tell me all about this fiasco that your life seems to have become."
He watched her duck into the fridge, retrieving two beers. "And what? Auntie Mercedes will make it all better?" he snapped sarcastically.
She ignored the sarcasm, sitting down across from him. "You know damn well I'm not your Auntie anything, and you should also know that the only person who can 'make it all better' is you. But maybe I can offer a different perspective-- one you might not be able to see," she finished quietly, fixing a pointed gaze on him. "After all, what have you got to lose just by telling me and listening a little?" With that, she dug into her pasta.
Harm sighed and did likewise, taking a long swig of beer before telling her everything.
TBC....