Part 8: A Journey of Separate Hearts – Of Grape-juice and Tiramisu
Disclaimers: I don't own the song "Cosas de la Vida (Can't Stop Thinking of You)" – performed by Eros Ramazotti and Tina Turner.
AN: "Cosas de la Vida" means word-for-word "Things of life", but can be understood as "Stories of life". A special thank you to my boss Nico de Rinaldis, who translated me the words from Italian into German, so I could translate it into English. You make my work funnier and easier because of your good mood and bright grin.
And a special hello to Lina, my new Italian American friend from Boston. This is for you. :)
February 8th 2003, Saturday
2355 Zulu (18:55 hrs EST)
Harm's apartment
North of Union Station
Washington D.C.
It seemed like a lifetime for both of them – they were drowning in each other's eyes and couldn't let go for now.
Probably they would have stood in that position for hours, but then a timer buzzing from the oven brought them immediately and brutally back to the real world.
Both Harm and Mac jumped a little as the persistent tone finally found its way into their minds.
"Uh…Mac…C'mon in. I need to take care of our 'main course'…" Harm nearly ran from her and back to the oven.
Still shocked by that intense moment, Mac walked in slow motion into Harm's apartment and softly closed the door behind her.
Just then she became aware of the surroundings. In that moment her eyes widened, still unsure if this was only a never-ending wonderful dream or actually real life. The whole living room part of Harm's loft was decorated in exactly the three colors both represented with their clothes: green, white and red. The green tablecloth, red napkins and white plates built the tricolor as well as the bouquet of white and red long stemmed roses with dark green stems on the table. Small pillows in all three colors decorated the couch like the long rectangular soft transparent scarves did it with the glass coffee table in front of the couch. Hundreds of those little decoration pieces could be found in every corner, on every wall – simply in the whole room. The light was dimmed, soft Italian music came from the stereo and the smell of foreign spices filled the air. Everything together formed a wonderful and romantic atmosphere with a Mediterranean touch. Mac was totally surprised by all this – she couldn't remember when, or better, if anybody ever had taken so much trouble over setting the perfect decoration for only a dinner with so much love for detail – especially for her.
Overwhelmed by his attentiveness, she turned looking directly in Harm's eyes. A bright smile on her lips she reconciled the small distance between them, laid her arm around his neck and warmly hugged him.
For a second or two, Harm was taken by surprise, but he immediately relaxed in her arms and returned the embrace with all his heart.
Smiling he whispered into her ear, "Whoa marine, how do I deserve this?"
"Nothing in particular, just saying 'thank you' and 'hello' to my very best friend!" she answered softly into his neck.
He backed away – but only to look straight in her eyes, not taking away his arms and spoke up again, "You're welcome, Mac – if you mean this all here. " One hand pointing to the decorations. "And hello, too. I guess our first greeting was cut off by the timer, but I really don't mind 'this' kind of greeting!"
His smile became his huge typical flyboy grin and Mac couldn't help but grin back as well. They stayed there for one more long moment then let go off each other.
"Take a seat, Mac. Dinner's ready. Hope you'll like it."
"I'm sure, Harm. Something smells really good!"
She went to the table, but before she could sit down, Harm was suddenly by her side and pulled her chair out so she could take a seat like a real lady deserved it. She had to smile, touched by his gentlemanly behavior. Harm took a cooled bottle from the champagne bucket that was standing next to the table and filled both their wineglasses with a dark read liquid.
"Um…Harm…you know I don't drink wine – anymore…" reminded Mac, slightly disappointed in him. She had thought Harm knew that. How could he forget?
"Mac, I know that. Taste it and you'll understand."
"Harm, please…I can't…"
"Do you still trust me even after the last few months?"
Without hesitation she answered, "Yes, I still do, I have never stopped trusting you!"
"Then trust me now and drink a sip."
Mac tentatively brought the glass to her lips and tasted the liquid. Harm watched her and could see that her gaze changed into happiness and relief.
"Harm, 'that' is grape-juice! It tastes delicious. Oh, Harm, I was so stupid to doubt you. I'm sorry about that, but you know when it comes to alcohol…it's a hard topic for me – even today…" Mac trailed off.
"I know that, and there's nothing you have to apologize for. But be aware of one thing, I respect you for all your strength and bravery. Because of that, you have beaten alcoholism and become the person you are now. I'm not sure if I could handle that. Oh, and by the way, I'm glad you like the juice. It's a special one – it's imported from Italy. I figured that we would need something special to drink for this Italian dinner." He grinned at her.
"Ah, now I even understand your dress code and your choice of decorations. This is wonderful and I love it. To my mind you brought Italy to Washington and I'm glad you invited me to the dinner."
"Thank you, Mac. I hoped you would like it and I'm sorry for all the secrets, but I wanted you to be a little bit surprised." He smiled happily and added, " By the way, have I told you lately that you look beautiful?"
Mac blushed at the compliment but replied, "You haven't until now, and you don't look so bad, either!"
Grinning, he left her and went to the kitchen getting the salad bowl with croutons, ham, tomatoes, mozzarella and green Italian salad. Although Harm was vegetarian, he loved the little bit of ham in the Italian salad.
Before they started with the salad, Harm took his glass and toasted, "To a hopefully wonderful evening and a definitely beautiful woman!"
Mac felt herself becoming slightly red again and nearly couldn't look into his eyes. After taking a deep breath she looked up and repeated, "To a definitely wonderful evening!"
After the fresh salad, Harm took away their plates and came back with the main curse of the dinner. Gallantly he placed Mac's plate in front of her and acted the whole time like her personal waiter. "Bon appetite, milady!"
"You know, that wasn't the right language?" she teased him.
"Eat, Colonel," he ordered smiling before he tasted the tortellini gratin himself. He had made a half vegetarian and half non-vegetarian – normal – filled tortellini gratin topped with lots of cheese – so to say a 'soufflé au gratin'!
Mac as well took her first bit and a stretched. "Mmm-aah," escaped from her mouth.
They ate in comfortable silence only enjoying the delicious dinner and the company of each other.
After they had finished the meal, Harm started cleaning up the table. When Mac wanted to help him, he pushed her back into the chair.
"No, Mac, I'll take care of that. You just relax, ok? Make yourself home on the couch, I think we should finish the dinner there."
"That wasn't everything?"
"Now I'm shocked. How can an always hungry marine forget about the most important part of a dinner?" When Mac looked at him puzzled he gave her the needed hint, "Dessert, Mac. Don't tell me you forgot about that? Oh, no, not you – never!"
"Funny, squid, really funny!"
Mac walked over to the couch, took off her boots and snuggled herself in the warmth of all the pillows.
0200 Zulu (21:00 hrs EST)
Harm's apartment
Some minutes later Harm carried a tray with two cups of cappuccino and two plates with dessert. He gave one plate to Mac and sat down next to her on the couch, her feet softly touched his right thigh. He didn't miss the touch and enjoyed it, but didn't mention it.
"What's that, Harm?" wondered Mac, pointing with her index finger at the 'something' on her plate.
"That's called Tiramisu and it's very popular in Italy. I found the recipe and tried it today. Hopefully it's good for you."
Mac parted a little piece of it with her pastry-fork and tasted it.
Again, the only thing she responded to Harm's asking look was a loud "Mmmahhh".
"I guess that means you like it and I did a good job, huh?" Now eating the Tiramisu himself.
"Definitely and 200% yes, you did. Not only with the dessert but with everything: the whole meal, the decorations, the music – everything. I feel pampered by you. Thank you for that, the evening was amazing."
"Mac, I wanted to make this evening as special for you as for me and I wanted to treat you like a lady. I'm honored you've joined me tonight. And I don't think the evening is over yet!"
"No, it isn't. Tell me, when did you have the idea for such an evening?"
"Oh, I didn't have the slightest idea what I should make today until I drove to the mall to get all the ingredients, even though I didn't know then what that might be. I switched on the radio and listened to a wonderful duet song performed by Tina Turner and a popular Italian singer called Eros Ramazotti. I only understood the English lyrics, but even the Italian one touched me and when the song came to its end, I suddenly knew how the evening was supposed to be."
"You might say, that it was fate!"
"Oh no, that was only my natural genius, ego and brain!" Harm teased her.
They enjoyed their Tiramisu and cappuccino in silence again. He cleared up the coffee table as well and came back with their newly filled glasses. When he sat down next to her, Harm felt that Mac shivered slightly and recognized that her feet were quite cold.
"Oh, Mac, you're cold. I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner." With that he put the blanket over her. Immediately she felt much warmer and smiled a thank you to Harm. Nevertheless, her feet stayed cool, so Harm suddenly took both feet and pulled them into his lap. He cupped them softly with his large warm hands and started to massage them.
Mac couldn't believe what he had done, but it felt so wonderful. She always knew about his magic hands and this time she wasn't disappointed by these hands, either. Closing her eyes she enjoyed his touch through the thin material of her stockings.
Even after her feet were warm like the rest of her body they remained in his lap and hands. He couldn't and didn't allow himself to let them go. It felt so right and he saw that Mac didn't mind his touch, either.
Both were totally relaxed and as of one mind, both agreed that this was the right time to start the most important part of this evening.
"Harm…" "Mac…" Both said simultaneously, looked at each other and laughed nervously.
"Go on, Harm."
"Uh, ok, Mac. Do you remember Tuesday evening on the terrace of Martha's house? I promised you that we would have this final important talk – we've needed for so long – soon. And we agreed that a dinner would be the perfect event to start it. I really don't want to destroy the wonderful atmosphere we've had all evening, but I guess that now is just the perfect time to do it nevertheless. I know we can't discuss all the unsaid issues and misunderstanding during one evening. But I want to start right now. I'm only afraid, that I won't make myself clear and express myself in a way that I can avoid more misunderstandings. You've surely figured out from the past, that I'm not good at talking about my most private feelings, my fears, my hopes… But for us I'll try my best, because I want an 'us'. I want us as best friends and as equal partners back and I want to feel again what I felt on Martha's terrace. I want a future 'us' – an 'us' that goes beyond friendship … deeper and closer than only friendship. Mac…Sarah…I…I want you and me even more than friendshi… "
Harm was stopped by an annoying ringing from Harm's phone.
Neither of them was pleased by this ringing and Harm tried to forget it when he spoke again, "It'll stop soon. I don't want an ending of this conversation and this evening. Not now…" Harm looked at her pleadingly.
But the phone didn't stop ringing and Mac gave up. "Harm, you have to take the call. Maybe it's the admiral and we have an important assignment. I don't want an ending like this either, but you know we aren't the kind of people who can hide from the real life, are we?"
"You are right, we aren't. But nevertheless, I hate the intrusion. We will continue it, right?" Harm sighed and went to get the call.
"Right, Harm, we will. There's nothing that will stop me from this," answered Mac more to herself than to him.
By then Harm picked up the receiver and sadly greeted the unknown caller with, "Rabb."