First Impressions Part 7/11
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
4:53 PM
Mac's Office
Harm knocked at Mac's door and she nodded at him as he walked in, closing the door behind him. "I've talked to Harriet and she said to count her and Bud in. Tiner is coming also."
"Good, Sturgis called Bobbie and they're coming."
"How did you Uncle take it?"
"He's happy for us and expects to see lots of wedding pictures." Mac paused. "I still can't believe you asked for his permission."
"He's your only relative, plus I know how much he means to you."
Mac grinned. "If only my blinds were closed I would show you how much that means to me."
Harm laughed. "I wish they were closed, but you can show me when we get home in thirty minutes."
"We can make it twenty as long as you get back to work right now."
"Yes, ma'am." Harm walked out of her office.
McMurphy's
7:06 PM
"Hey, Mac," Bobbie said as she and Sturgis walked into the bar.
"Hey, Bobbie." Mac smiled. "How are you?"
"Good, but I'm wondering why Sturgis said we had to come here instead of the movies like we had planned?"
"This was Harm's idea," Sturgis said. "Beside good old Denzel will still be at the movies tomorrow night."
Bobbie looked around the bar. "So why are we having this gathering?"
Sturgis looked at Mac and gave her an odd look. "Just thought it would be nice to get everyone together to relax," Mac said as Harm walked over.
"About time you two got here," Harm said to Bobbie and Sturgis.
Bobbie smiled. "Sturgis needed to convince me again why we had to be here."
Harm gave Sturgis an accusing look. "Did you have fun convincing her?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Sturgis commented back with a sly grin.
"Mac, why don't we go join Harriet and Bud while these two chat and get us our drinks?" Bobbie suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea to me." She and Bobbie walked over to the table.
A few minutes later Sturgis and Harm walked over to the table where everyone was gathered around. Bud, Harriet, Meredith, AJ, Bobbie, Mac, and Tiner were enjoying the pleasant conversation around the table. Sturgis looked at Harm and Mac and smiled. "So, Harm, what's the real reason why we're all here?"
"What, you don't buy the whole getting away from the office thing?" Harm asked.
"No," Sturgis said.
Harm laughed. "Actually, there is something I have to say." He paused as he took hold of Mac's hand under the table and rubbed his thumb across the ring. "For the past two months Mac and I have been dating."
Everyone smiled and was getting ready to congratulate them when Mac quickly said. "There's more."
"Last night I asked Mac to marry me," Harm said.
"And I said yes." Mac smiled.
"This is so great," Harriet said as she leaned over and gave Mac a hug. Soon everyone else joined in congratulating the happy couple.
After they were congratulated Harm pulled Mac into him and kissed her for the first time in front of the group. Everyone smiled at them. As Harm broke the kiss he softly said. "I've wanted to do that since we got here."
"So, Tiner, who won the pool?" Harriet asked.
Tiner took his Palm Pilot out of his pocket and started to open the file. "When did you two start dating?"
"April 25," Mac told the group.
"I've got a LCSMK who placed the bet on November 28, 1999, the date and money arrived in a plain envelope that morning," Tiner reported.
Everyone looked at each other. "Who's LCSMK?" Bobbie asked.
Harm looked at Mac who had a smug look on her face. "How?"
"How what?" Mac asked.
"How long did you know about the pool?" Harm asked.
Mac smile. "Since Columbia."
"We've had the pool since you two meet," Bud said.
"So who is LCSMK?" Meredith asked.
AJ looked at Mac and started laughing, "Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie."
Everyone looked at her blankly. "So how much money did I win?" She asked.
"2,475 dollars and 23 cents," Tiner informed the group.
"Wow!" Mac exclaimed.
Harm kissed Mac on the neck. "So what are we going to do with the money, honey?"
"We?"
Everyone laughed at Mac's question. "Yes, we. We are getting married." Harm added. "What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours."
"Does that include your corvette?" Mac asked.
Harm smiled at her. "Enjoy the money, dear." With that comment everyone enjoyed a good laugh with the happy couple.
Saturday June 31
Beasville, PA
Random road to the Rabb Farm
10:15 AM
"Are you sure she is going to like me?" Mac asked for the tenth time.
"She's going to love you. Will you please calm down?"
"I haven't had that much luck with your family."
"Frank and Sergei love you." Harm paused and added. "Besides, when I met your Uncle Matt for the first time you had a gun to my back."
Mac laughed slightly at his words and took a deep breath. "I know I'm just overreacting." She leaned over and kissed Harm on the cheek. "Thank you for putting up with me."
"It's my pleasure." Harm pulled the car into a gravel driveway. "We're here."
Mac sat silently as they approached the farmhouse. "It's beautiful," Mac awed as she saw the house with the old oak tree in the front yard, wrap around porch, and flower beds flanking the walkway to the porch.
Harm parked the car and they got out. He quickly grabbed her hand as they walked to the front door. Once he opened the door he called. "Grandma, we're here." But there was no answer. He looked at his nervous fiancée and kissed her hand. "She must be out back."
The two of them walked through the house to the kitchen, where Harm stopped and stole a cookie from the cookie jar. To which Mac chuckled at him. They walked onto the back porch and Harm smiled as he saw his grandmother walking out of the barn with her dog Jasper behind her. Jasper took one look up at Harm and started to run at him.
Harm and Mac walked down the back steps as Jasper jumped on Harm. "Hey Jasper. How you doing?" Harm asked as he rubbed the dog's head.
"You drive four hours to play with that mutt," Sarah Rabb said as she walked over to Harm.
Harm smiled and looked at his grandmother. "No, I drive four hours to get harassed by you." He leaned down and gave her a bear hug and a kiss on her cheek. "How are you, Grandma?"
"I'm good. You look more and more like your grandfather every time you visit." Harm smiled at her comment and kissed her forehead. Sarah looked at Mac. "And who is this young woman?"
Mac smiled as Harm introduced the two Sarah's. "Grandma, this is Sarah MacKenzie, the woman I'm going to marry. Mac, this is my grandmother."
"Oh, my lord," Sarah said with her hands moving towards her mouth in surprise. "You two are getting married."
"Yes, ma'am," Mac said to Sarah.
Sarah looked at Mac's left hand and looked at the ring. She smiled as she pulled Mac into her arms and gave her a hug. "Welcome to the family, Sarah."
"Thank you, ma'am," Mac said as Sarah let go of her.
"Oh, no. It's not ma'am. It's Grandma." The smile on her face caused Harm's smile to grow. "Oh, I am so happy for the two of you. Let's go inside and you can tell me how he proposed. I want to know everything." Sarah grabbed Mac's arm and pulled her onto the porch and into the house, leaving Harm proudly watching his two Sarahs.
7:35 PM
Harm and Mac walked through the woods behind the farm. "I can see why you're wild about your grandmother."
"She is pretty great." Harm pulled Mac against a tree and trapped her between himself and the tree.
Mac wrapped her arms around his neck. "She is."
"She's wild about you now, too." Harm started to kiss her neck and collar bone.
"It's very nice here." Mac tried to ignore Harm's lips and tongue on her skin.
"Mmmm-hum," Harm muttered as he started to kiss below her jaw bone. Mac moved her head away from his lips. "Aren't you going to play along?" He asked her as he pulled his head away from hers.
Mac gave him a mischievous look. "Sure, I'll play along." She moved her foot and caused Harm to fall to the ground. She ran about four feet away from him; he just stared at her from the ground. "But you have to catch me first."
Harm looked up at her and smiled as she took off towards the house, "You're on, jarhead." Harm stood up and took off after her.
Meanwhile in the house
"Hi, Frank. How are you?" Sarah asked as she talked on the cordless phone in the kitchen.
{"I'm good, Sarah. You?" Frank asked, glad to hear from his wife's mother-in-law.}
Sarah smiled. "I'm good, Harm is visiting this weekend."
{"That's wonderful; it's been a while since he's been up. Give him my love."}
"Well, he brought someone with him." Sarah tried to act coy.
{"Who?" Frank asked, having a good idea.}
"He brought Mac and I just bet you and Trish are trilled about the latest development," Sarah practically gushed.
{"I'm pretty happy they are dating, they seem so in love." Frank hoped Sarah wouldn't notice that didn't say we are happy.}
Sarah listened to his words and thought for a second. "How does Trish feel about it?"
{"When was the last time you talked to Trish?"}
"Last week, she didn't mention anything about Harm and Mac dating. What happened?"
{Frank explained the whole story about finding Harm and Mac in bed and Trish being outright rude and mean towards Mac. He also told her about how Trish found out who Mac was and Harm's reaction to it. "They haven't talked since that day."}
"Oh no. Frank, they must be devastated." Sarah stepped onto the back porch just in time to watch Mac run out of the woods with Harm right behind her.
{"I know. Trish can't even look at one of Harm's pictures without feeling horrible and guilty." Frank heard some laughter from Sarah's side of the conversation. "What's going on, Sarah?"}
"Just watching my grandson carry the woman he loves into the barn." Sarah watched Harm and Mac disappear into the barn. "Does Trish really hate her?"
{"I don't know. She's hurt and feels dreadful about all of it. She's been waiting for Harm to date Mac for years, and since everything happened it's been very different around here. I don't know what to say to her about all of it."}
"Well, then I take it you don't know the latest development."
{"What development?" Frank asked slightly worried about his stepson and Mac.}
Sarah took a deep breath. "Harm proposed Thursday night and they're getting married."
{Frank smiled. "That's wonderful." Then he thought about Trish. "Let's not tell Trish till Harm talks to her."}
"I know, they are so happy and in love together."
{Frank thought about Harm and Mac. "They deserve each other."}
"They do."
{"Sarah, Trish is home. Do you want to talk to her?" Frank asked as he heard Trish's car pull into the drive way.}
"No, I'll call Monday after they leave and I'll talk to her then. Talk to you later, Frank," Sarah said before she hung up the phone.
{"Good bye, Sarah." Frank hung up the phone.}
End Part 7