A/N: Hallelujah, I'm finally home and Chapter 37 is done! My sincerest apologies for the delay, but when I got to the vacation part of my European jaunt I unexpectedly found myself with extremely limited computer capabilities (it's a looonnnnnggggg story). Anyway, thank you all for your patience!
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Same Evening; 0133 Zulu; Roberts' Family Residence
Harriet waited until the last of the guests had reached their car before closing the front door and flipping the deadbolt with a resounding click. Turning towards the living room, she saw Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie sitting on the sofa with Little A.J. held in a loose embrace.
"Daddy, I want Aunt Mac to read me a story," the youngster protested.
"Not tonight, A.J." Bud stood a few feet away, sixteen-month-old Jimmy fast asleep in his arms. "Aunt Mac will be leaving soon and it's time for your B-A-T-H."
"I don't want you to leave. Please?" Peering up at his godmother, A.J.'s mouth turned down in a practiced pout.
"Sorry, honey. It's getting late and Uncle Harm will be here soon to take me home. Besides, someone I know needs to hop in the tub, otherwise he'll be pretty smelly tomorrow."
"Say goodnight and then let's go upstairs," Bud told him firmly. To his relief, for once A.J. did not put up much of a fuss.
"Goodnight, Aunt Mac." Pushing upwards, the kindergartener threw his small arms around her neck in a hug, burying his face in her shoulder. A few moments later he pulled back and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Then, to everyone's surprise, he dropped to his knees and laid his lips against Mac's well-rounded abdomen. "Goodnight, baby."
Harriet couldn't help the proud smile that broke open at the sight. Although A.J. was still too young to understand the concept of pregnancy, she and Bud had told him that Aunt Mac had a baby inside her tummy and was going to be a mommy. Apparently he'd listened.
"Come on, A.J.," Bud repeated. Shifting Jimmy's weight to the other arm as A.J. obediently scrambled off the couch, he took the boy's hand and quietly led him towards the stairs. "See you in the morning, ma'am."
"Night, Bud."
As they passed by, Harriet leaned in to give her husband a soft kiss. Then, picking up the flat, rectangular gift box that had been sitting unobtrusively off to the side, she joined Mac in the living room.
"How are you doing, ma'am? Can I get you anything?" she asked, dropping into one of the chairs opposite the sofa.
"No thanks. I'm fine." She gestured towards the half-full glass of water that sat at her elbow and reached for a cookie from the platter nearby. "This has been a wonderful evening, Harriet. I couldn't have asked for a better baby shower."
"It was my pleasure."
"Although," Mac continued, a conspiratorial smile blossoming, "I don't think Harm believed me when I told him it looked like 'Babies R Us' exploded all over your living room. It didn't seem like this much when we registered, I swear." Her eyes scanned thoughtfully over the myriad of gifts scattered about.
"Walking around the store marking things down on a piece of paper doesn't really do it all justice," Harriet agreed. "It's amazing how much STUFF babies require. Remember my first shower? Bud and I could barely fit everything into our apartment."
Nodding, Mac took a sip of water. "Whoever started the tradition of having showers deserves a medal. I can't imagine what the bill would've been like if Harm and I had to buy all of this ourselves."
"Poverty is a common side effect of becoming a parent: you start spending before the baby is born and don't stop until after college," laughed Harriet. "The first is the most expensive because you're basically starting from scratch. But fortunately, the more kids you have, the less you need to buy because most of the major purchases are already under your belt. If you and the Commander decide to try for another after this one..."
Swallowing a laugh at Mac's suddenly shocked expression, Harriet figured it was probably best not to pursue the subject further. Not right now, anyway. She glanced down at the package in her hands before holding it out for her friend to take. "I saved this for last."
The gift was light to the touch and simply wrapped in crisp white paper, held together with a decorative rustic brown ribbon. Peeling the paper away from the box underneath, Mac slid one fingernail to loosen the binding tape and slowly drew open the lid.
"Oh, Harriet..." Her surprise and delight apparent, she pushed aside the white tissue paper and gingerly lifted the delicate lacy garment. "This is absolutely exquisite."
"I didn't know if Mrs. Burnett kept the Commander's christening gown but thought I'd take a chance."
"She didn't." Mac admired the white dress and tiny booties and cap that accompanied it before smiling at her friend, eyes glistening with tears. "It's exactly what I would have picked out. Thank you."
"I'm glad you like it." Beaming contentedly, Harriet was filled with a profound sense of satisfaction. She and Bud had deliberated for quite some time over what kind of gift to get for the Colonel and Commander. In her mind, not only was the gown a gift that exuded timelessness, but it could also be used for future children. She hoped it would serve as yet another hint to Harm and Mac that they belonged together. Grinning to herself as she settled back into her chair, Harriet watched silently as Mac neatly refolded the gown and laid it gently inside the box.
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Buckling his seatbelt a short time later, Harm shifted the transmission into drive and carefully eased the Lexus out of Bud and Harriet's driveway. As he approached the stop sign at the end of the street, his eyes drifted to the large pile of gifts visible in the rearview mirror.
"How can something as small as a baby require so much STUFF?" he asked. "I mean, I knew that we would have to get a lot of things, but this is a little absurd. We could open our own baby store with everything you've got here!"
"Hey, it's not my fault you don't know how much stuff your mom and I picked out. You weren't in town when we went to register, remember?" Mac's eyes sparkled impishly as she teased him. "If you'd gone with us then you would know that—"
"Sturgis and I had to extend our investigation on the Coral Sea per Admiral Chegwidden's orders – that was NOT my fault," he interrupted. "If I'd had the choice I would have gone with you. Remember?"
"I know you would have," she finally conceded. "Tell you what: if you still want to be a part of the whole baby shopping experience, no one got me a breast pump."
Harm looked at her weakly.
"All right then, I'll spare you the humiliation." Mac chuckled, then sobered. "Seriously, though, there ARE a few items we still need to get before Little MacKenzie-Rabb arrives."
"Like what?"
"A few packages of cloth diapers, some more onesies, a baby bathtub... oh, and Harriet recommended buying stock in Pampers."
"Whoa, CLOTH diapers?"
The Lexus came to a halt as Harm turned to stare at Mac incredulously, eyes wide with disbelief. Before she could open her mouth to respond, he began shaking his head emphatically. "Uh-uh, Marine. There is NO WAY you'll catch me changing poopy cloth diapers! That's why we asked for the Diaper Genie, remember? No muss, no fuss?"
Mac burst out laughing.
"Relax, Flyboy, it's not what you're thinking. Trust me," she eventually managed to say between heaving breaths. Inhaling deeply, she'd nearly gotten herself under control when another bout of giggles erupted. "Did I really just hear you use the word 'poopy'?"
He glared at her momentarily before turning his attention back to the road. The SUV once again began to move as her laughter finally died down, leaving a broad grin in its wake.
"Cloth diapers make great burp rags, especially the non-pre-folded kind," she explained. "And I have it from a good source that you can never have too many burp rags."
"As long as we're clear that the only diapers we'll be using will be disposable."
"Harm, you've got nothing to worry about. Your precious Diaper Genie will be getting plenty of mileage." Twisting in her seat, Mac looked back at the heap of gifts that filled the rear cargo area and back seat. The Diaper Genie box was buried somewhere underneath. "You know, it really is a good thing you brought the Lexus," she commented.
"We never would have been able to fit all this into one of the 'Vettes."
"That's because Corvettes weren't exactly designed for toting around babies," Mac reminded him. Her eyes widened. "Oh God, I hadn't thought of that."
"What?"
"My car doesn't have a back seat."
"So?"
"You didn't really spend much time around Bud and Harriet when the boys were babies, did you?"
"Not when they were brand new," Harm conceded. "But it wasn't for lack of interest – I went back out to the Henry shortly after A.J. was born, and then with Jimmy..."
He stopped mid-sentence. Neither of them needed reminding of why he'd maintained distance from his JAG friends and family around the time of Jimmy's birth. The mess of Paraguay and his ensuing stint with the CIA were water under the proverbial bridge.
"Harm, you can't put a car seat in front. It's too dangerous. And even if it weren't a question of safety, where am I going to put a stroller, diaper bag, portable crib, and everything else I'll need to haul around with me on a regular basis? My 'Vette is simply too small."
"You could always drive this," he suggested.
"Right. And what happens when it breaks down, or if we need to switch cars unexpectedly?" She shook her head with a sigh. "Three cars between us and only one that's really practical."
"What exactly do you propose, then?"
Leaning back against the headrest, she closed her eyes. "As much as I love my Corvette, it only makes sense that I trade it in for something that's kid-friendly. You've already got the Lexus, and I couldn't ask you to give up your convertible after all the work you've put into it."
"Any ideas what you'd like to get? Another Jeep?"
"I haven't a clue." She glanced over at him. "Want to come with me to pick out a new car?"
"How does Saturday sound?"
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The rest of the ride home was spent in quiet, earnest dialogue. By the time Harm pulled the Lexus into the garage they had worked out the details for the weekend's shopping excursion, having decided on a handful of makes and models they believed would be the most appropriate for their needs. As they had discussed which dealerships to visit, in the back of each of their minds lingered a conversation they'd had years before, after Harm's first Corvette had met an untimely end at the hands of a car thief:
Why don't you come with me to pick out a new car with Bud and Harriet?
Isn't that something Jordan should be doing?
Mac, you pick out a new car with your girlfriend, you might as well buy her a ring.
That one statement equating car shopping and wedding bands had lodged itself deep in their memories and refused to let go. Each recalled it now, thinking about its implications as they related to the present situation.
I'm the mother of his child, but does Harm think of me as his girlfriend? If so, does it count if the girlfriend is the one who does the asking? Mac wondered.
She probably doesn't remember my saying that, Harm thought to himself, but as the mother of my child she means more to me than any girlfriend. Did mom tell her about the ring?
Neither mentioned anything to the other.
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To be continued...
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A/N #2: For those of you who aren't familiar with it, a Diaper Genie is a nifty device that encapsulates used disposable diapers in plastic so they don't stink up the room. I don't currently have kids of my own, but I will be sure to have a Diaper Genie next to the changing table if I ever do!
A/N #3: Several people have expressed curiosity as to why I travel so much when my profile says that I'm an accountant. Right now I work as an internal auditor for a large manufacturing company, which means I spend approximately 2 weeks out of every month at one of our plants inquiring, testing, and documenting the facility's financial & operational processes and internal controls. In the last year they've sent me to: San Antonio, Akron, Mumbai (India), West Palm Beach, Denver, Cincinnati, Albany, Kansas City, Chicago, and Liege (Belgium). However, I'm happy to report that this month I don't have to go anywhere... all the travel I've been doing lately has me pooped, LOL! :-)