Title: Sonnets of Life Part 13

Disclaimers in Part 1


Sonnet 92

Thursday, 5 December 2002
Legal Affairs Office
MCB Quantico
Quantico, VA
1500 ZULU

Mac sighed, and stretched. 'For a Marine-run office, this place is a mess!' she thought.

Mac had arrived to her new duty station on Tuesday, and got settled into her BOQ. She reported to General Albanese at 0800 sharp on Wednesday, and he explained what her duties would be. 'Have a lot to do before this place can be really efficient.' She immediately drew up plans for a new library; currently, any books the staff had were strewn all about: in the bullpen, in the lawyers' offices... She also requested that a couple of new lawyers to be assigned to the Legal office. There just weren't enough to go around these days. She was jolted from her thoughts by a knock on her door.

"Enter," she called. Her yeoman, Corporal Whitman, opened the door.

"Mail, Colonel. Oh, and this package came for you. It doesn't have a return address, but it is marked 'Personal', so I didn't want to open it without your permission, ma'am."

"Thank you, Corporal. You're right to have left it unopened. Dismissed."

As the Corporal left, Mac looked at the package curiously. 'I wonder who this could be from?' She set it aside and got to work on the pile of mail on her desk. 'Yes!' she thought triumphantly. Her request for more staff had been approved. She could now start looking for just the right officers.

At 1200, Mac took her lunch break. She stared at the package sitting on her desk while eating her sandwich. 'Oh, just do it already!' she told herself, exasperated.

Slowly, she tore the brown paper wrapping off of the long, rectangular box. A cardboard box, which she now impatiently opened, was contained in the wrapper.

She gasped as she lifted the item from the box. It was a silver, heart-shaped jewelry box. 'It's beautiful!' she thought. Carefully setting it down on her desk, she opened the lid. A music box started tinkling, but her attention was caught by the small slip of paper the box contained. She picked it up. Tears came to her eyes as she read.

"But do thy worst to steal thyself away,
For term of life thou art assured mine;
And life no longer than thy love will stay,
For it depends upon that love of thine.
Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs,
When in the least of them my life hath end.
I see a better state to me belongs
Than that which on thy humor doth depend:
Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind,
Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.
O! What a happy title do I find,
Happy to have thy love, happy to die!

Sarah, this jewelry box represents how I see you. You are a beautiful woman, but you are also a Marine through and through."

Mac laughed out loud as she realized what the music box was playing. The Marine Corps Hymn!

"This sonnet also gives my thoughts on your leaving. I'm not going to let you go without a fight, Sarah. I am sorry for hurting you by running out that night. I didn't mean to hurt you, but I had to think of what would happen--of the regs. If you hadn't left JAG, Sarah, I would have resigned."

'Oh, no, AJ! I would never have forced you to do that!' Mac thought.

"I know...you wouldn't have wanted that. But, Sarah...I love you. I don't know when I realized it. I suppose it was when I almost lost you. You came so close to dying, Sarah, and I was scared, truly terrified, in a way that I had never been before. I almost lost you, when I never really had you.

Sarah, when you're ready, please, call me.

Love, AJ"

Mac laughed joyfully. 'AJ loves me! Harriet was right! He loves me!' She thrilled to the thought. Mac glanced at the postscript.

"P.S. Harriet is the one to thank for the jewelry box. Smart woman, isn't she?"

She giggled. 'I should have known...Harriet is such a schemer!' She would have to thank Harriet somehow. She picked up the phone.


Friday, 13 December 2002
Roberts Residence
Rosslyn, VA
2300 ZULU

"Hi, Mac! Come on in!"

"Hi, Harriet. So, are you ready for your big weekend!"

"Definitely! Listen, thanks so much for taking care of little AJ. I was going out of my mind trying to find a baby-sitter for the entire weekend."

"Don't worry about it, Harriet. I had a favor to return," she winked here, and Harriet giggled, "and besides, I love spending time with my godson! Hey, AJ!" Mac said as little AJ bounded around the corner.

"Auntie Mac!! Pick me up, pick me up!"

"Whoa, whoa! All right, AJ, calm down, I'll pick you up!" Mac bent over and scooped the little boy up into her arms, tossing him into the air. Little AJ screamed with laughter.

Bud came down the stairs, calling, "Harriet, honey, you ready?"

"Yes, I'm ready, Bud!"

As Harriet and Bud made their way out the door, Mac called, "Have a good time, you two!"

Harriet replied, "Oh, we will!" She chuckled, smirking. 'And you'll have a weekend you'll never forget!'

They got into the minivan, and Harriet pulled out her cell phone. "Hello, Admiral? It's Lieutenant Sims. Operation Shakespeare is ready to commence!"