Chapter 21

Labour day weekend

Grams farm

Bellville, PA

They all, (Mac, Harm, Jen, Michael and Dammit) went up to Gram's farm that weekend. Mac's crisis at work had been resolved and she was looking forward to some time to relax after her first week back at work full time. This was the first time Michael had joined them, already Grams was treating him like part of the family.

One of the first things Grams did was pull Harm aside to talk to him.

"What is it Grams?" Harm asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," Grams replied, "Are you still thinking about getting Mattie a dog?"

"Yes," Harm said, "but I'm not sure we're up to handling a puppy right now."

"Well you know Betty Richardson down the road?" Grams asked. Harm nodded.

"She's moving into the city to live with her son," Grams continued, "And she can't take her dog with her. It's only a year or so old but it's well trained and you have that huge backyard."

"I'll think about it," Harm said, "do you mind not mentioning it to Mattie if she calls."

"Of course dear," Grams said, "now why don't you introduce me to this delightful young man Jennifer can't stop talking about."

Later that night Mac was sound asleep but Harm couldn't seem to relax enough to sleep, he was too anxious about the next night. He decided to go down to the kitchen and make himself a cup of chamomile tea. While he was waiting for the kettle to boil Gram came into the kitchen.

"I should have known you'd come down," Harm said, "You always knew when I couldn't sleep."

"Something on your mind dear?" Grams asked sitting down across from him.

"Tomorrow I'm asking Mac to marry me," Harm said, "I'm afraid I'm going to start tripping over my words."

"Just speak from your heart Harmon," Grams said, "she loves you, she'll say yes."

"Grams can I ask your opinion on something?" Harm asked.

"Of course," Grams responded.

"What would you think of having the wedding on Christmas Eve?" Harm asked, "so many bad things have happened on Christmas eve over the years I thought I good memory would do us some good."

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Grams said, "Where were you thinking of having it?"

"Well I wanted to spend Christmas here with you," Harm said, "so I thought we could have it down at St Michael's. We could have a morning wedding and a reception for lunch. That should give people enough time to get back to the city."

"Harmon," Gram said, "I know many of these people are like your family. What if we invited who ever wanted to join us for Christmas. The children could stay here so they have a real tree Christmas morning. The other could stay at the hotel and come over in the morning. I'll make a big Christmas dinner and the kids can play in the snow, building snowmen and have their snowball fights."

"That's a wonderful idea Grams but are you sure you can deal with that many people?" Harm asked.

"I always wanted a big family," Grams said, "for once before I die I'll have my wish."

"There's one other thing I wanted to talk to you about," Harm said taking a deep breath.

"You know about Mac's uncle Matt?" Harm asked.

"The one in Leavenworth," Grams said.

"Yes," Harm replied, "I've managed to pull a few strings to get him a 3 day pass for whenever the wedding is so he can walk Mac down the isle. Are you ok with that? He's going to have a guard with him all the time but if you're uncomfortable having him here than I won't have him come."

"He's not violent," Gram said, "he's in prison for stealing the declaration of independence. He's like a father to Sarah, of course he can come"

"Thanks Grams," Harm said, "don't mention Uncle Matt to Mac though. I want it to be a surprise on our wedding day. As far as she's concerned Admiral Chegwidden's walking her down the isle."

"Does the admiral know he's not walking her down the isle?" Gram asked.

"Yes Grams," Harm replied, "he helped me pull the strings. I think I should be able to get to sleep now. Good night Grams."

"Good night Harmon," Grams said.

Harm drank down the last of his tea and returned to bed.

The next night Harm and Mac took a walk through the fields after supper. They past through a small stand of oak trees and came out beside a stream. It was nearly sunset; the bank of the stream was covered in rocks worn smooth by the movement of the water. Harm sat down on a large rock and motioned for Mac to join him. She sat down between his legs and leaned back into him as they watched the sun set. On the other side of the stream was a field full of wild flowers and in the distance rolling green hills. It almost looked like a picture postcard of the Irish countryside.

Just as the sun touched the horizon and the sky was filled with shades of pink and purple Mac spoke,

"It's beautiful," she whispered almost reverently as if speaking any louder would disturb the scene in front of her.

"Not as beautiful as you," Harm whispered in her ear.

"Harm you can't honestly call me beautiful," Mac said quietly, "I'm balder than the admiral and as pale as a ghost."

"True beauty comes from the inside," Harm said, "and you are the most beautiful person I have ever known. You're smart, witty and the best friend I could ever ask for. We've been though so much together, and I want us to go through a life time more, Marry me?" Harm pulled a velvet jewelry box from his coat pocket.

"Oh yes," Mac cried, tears of joy running down her face. Harm opened the box. To Mac's surprise there nestled beside a diamond, emerald and sapphire ring were Harm's gold wings.

"Harm?" Mac asked finally turning completely around.

"I know how much you worry when I fly," Harm said, "all we've been through over the past year has taught me that life is precious. I shouldn't take risks I don't have to."

Mac put a hand on his cheek and looked him in the eyes, "Harm flying is part of who you are," she said, "Part of the man I fell in love with. You love flying, I won't let you give it up."

"I still have Sarah," Harm protested.

"You can't honestly tell me that flying a stearman is the same as flying a tomcat off a carrier," Mac said sarcastically.

"It's not, but it's better than being dead," Harm replied, "I mean what if we get married and them we have a kid. Then one day I'm out on the Henry doing my quals or maybe on an investigation and something happens. Another generation of Rabb kids grow up without a dad."

"So that's what this is about," Mac said, "Your father."

"You have to admit Mac my family's kind of cursed that way." Harm said, "I mean my grandfather never even met his son, Dad wasn't even born when he left for WWII. Dad went MIA when I was 5, he died before Sergei was born. The Rabb men have a habit of growing up fatherless."

"Harm if your family really is cursed, which it isn't, you're not going to stop it by not flying" Mac assured him, "I'm not going to let you hang up your wings. And I happen to know you are due for your quals in a couple of months and you will do them. Just make me a promise."

"Name it."

"Don't do anything stupidly heroic or stupid just to prove a theory or a point. Meaning no playing chicken with nukes and no going up in planes or with pilots you think are unstable. And if you're on the right ship I want skates as your RIO and Tuna as your wingman."

"The wingman's up to the CAG but if Skates is there, she'll be the one in my backseat I promise. And I won't do anything stupid, not when I have you and Mattie to come home to."

"Good," Mac said, "now are you going to put that ring on my finger or not?"

"Yes Ma'am," Harm said taking the ring out of the box and slipping it onto her finger.

"It's a beautiful ring Harm," Mac said admiring it in the dying light.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you will be on our wedding day," Harm said, "or right now for that matter."

"Any thoughts as to when this wedding day will be flyboy," Mac asked as they stood and began walking back to the farm house.

"You can disagree with me if you like but I was thinking of here in Bellville on Christmas eve morning," Harm said.

"So we have a happy Christmas eve memory," Mac said with a smile, "I think it's perfect."

"I talked to Grams about it last night and she's invited any of our guests that want to to stay for Christmas day." Harm said.

"I think that's great," Mac said, "AJ would love a country Christmas. All that snow to play in."

"He's not the only one who likes to play in the snow," Harm said with a grin.

"Will you ever grow up?" Mac giggled.

"Not completely," Harm said, "that what makes me such a good Dad."

"Oh I just thought of something," Mac said.

"What?" Harm asked.

"Little AJ can be our ring bearer but we don't know any little girls to be a flower girl," Mac said.

"Kate Pike has a 4 year old daughter, Harmony," Harm said, "We could ask her. I was planning on asking Kate to the wedding anyways."

"It's a good thing you've put a lot of thought into this already flyboy," Mac said, "because 4 months isn't very long to plan a wedding."

"We can do it," Harm said, "We're Batman and Robin, remember?"

"Don't you mean Butch and Sundance?" Mac asked.

"Them too," Harm smiled.

"Shall we go tell Jen and Michael the good news?" Mac asked as they approached the house.

"Well they already knew I was going to ask you," Harm said, "Mattie saw the ring in my drawer. But was can certainly tell them you accepted."

TBC