Part 10: A Journey of Separate Hearts – A white Envelope
February 10th 2003, Monday
1245 Zulu (07:45 hrs EST)
Hallway of Mac's apartment house
Apartment "The Washington 2812"
Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Harm was nervous. He didn't know why, but there was no way of denying it. He stood in front of Mac's apartment door; he wasn't even late this time. Nevertheless, he hesitated to knock. He couldn't explain why he was behaving like a little shy boy, but he was. Everything was packed, the cab was waiting and in exactly 3 hours and 15 minutes they would be sitting in an airplane, leaving for Europe!
He still couldn't believe that he was going to spend two whole weeks with Mac – his partner and best friend. And better than that, he had the feeling that this trip would bring them and their relationship to a higher level. And he was anxious to find out how close they would be after the vacation was over.
'Stop that, Rabb. Be a man and knock on that damn door! Surprise her and be on time for once!' An inner voice tried to convince him.
Hesitating for another short moment, he took a deep breath, lifted his hand and knocked more confidently than before…
February 10th 2003, Monday
Same time
Inside Mac's apartment
Apartment "The Washington 2812"Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Mac looked satisfied at her luggage. She was proud that she finally could close her suitcase without taking some clothes back into her dresser. Mac was sure she had chosen too many clothes, but she couldn't decide which piece she should leave at home. A strange feeling convinced her she would need everything at least one time! Next to the case stood her beauty case. Sure she was a marine, but she was also a woman. And during this vacation she would be the woman, Sarah MacKenzie, most of the time and so she was going to pamper herself every second she could. So in her beauty case was everything a modern woman needed – you could say it contained the secrets of Mac's natural beauty. The last piece of her luggage was a bigger than normal handbag, where she had put in everything she would need during the flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
One look at her not needed clock on the living room wall told her that she had still four minutes left, but she guessed it would be more, because she doubted that her flyboy would arrive in time.
'Only when pigs fly! He'll never change…never!' Mac added in her mind. But like the proverb says: 'Never say never!'Mac jumped slightly at the sound of a sudden knock.
'No, that can't be Harm!' But as Mac looked through the peephole, in fact she saw her handsome partner and best friend!
With a shivering motion, she opened her door. A hint of shock passed over her face when she gazed at Harm, but vanished within a second as he flashed his favorite flyboy grin at her.
"What happened to you, Harm? There are still 3 minutes and 24 seconds left until 0750 and you're already here? Is a drill sergeant the newest piece of furniture in your loft or how did you get your six out of bed so early?" Mac couldn't resist teasing Harm.
"Ha, ha, Mac. Why is it that you're totally shocked because of me arriving on time?" Harm retorted with a dramatic hurtful look on his face.
"Mmph…let me think about that! Perhaps because you're 'never' punctual!" was Mac's simple answer.
"Oh, I'm deeply hurt!!! But anyway, let's get your luggage and leave. If not, we will be late because of 'you'! So where's your stuff?"
Mac let him in and pointed to her three pieces.
"I'll take the beauty case and the handbag. Could you help me with the suitcase? – It's kind of heavy!"
"What – the Marine Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie asks me – a simple Navy Commander – to take care of her suitcase? Are you out of shape, marine?" Harm chuckled in amusement.
"No, I'm definitely not out of shape! Look, squid!" With that, Mac turned slowly in front of Harm until she could face him again.
Stunned, Harm could only stare at the beautiful woman, wearing a tight deep blue jeans and a printed brown shirt. In different languages was the word 'Hello' printed: Salut, Ciao, Alo, Hallo, and Hello …
"Hello, yourself, Mac. That's quite a way to contact other people all over the world!"
With one eyebrow raised as if she was asking what he meant, he pointed to her chest and she smiled.
"Yeah, I figured out that the nicest way to meet new people would be to simply say 'hello', wouldn't it?"
Mac stated seriously.
"Right, Mac. Anyway let a 'real man' take care of your suitcase, although I could definitely see that you are in the best form, marine!" His eyes scanned admiring up and down her body. She blushed because of his intense gaze and turned taking her coat and leaving the apartment.
Harm lifted Mac's suitcase with a heavy "uuuh" and left the apartment as well, but not without another teasing stab at his marine.
"Uuuh, Mac, what's in it? Bricks?"
"Harm, I thought I heard you say 'Let a real man take care of your suitcase!' So I guess you believe you 'are' a real man. If so, you shouldn't have any problems with carrying my luggage to the cab, should you??" she replied laughing.
There was nothing left for him to answer and so he stayed quiet until they arrived at the cab and Harm could stow all her stuff into the cab's trunk.
With a heavy sigh, he sat down into the backseat of the cab next to Mac.
1300 Zulu (08:00 hrs EST)
Martha's house
Georgetown, Washington D.C.
A few minutes of comfortable driving, the cab stopped in front of Martha's house.
They paid the driver and left the cab, because they weren't sure about what time they would leave Martha to head to the airport.
Martha had spotted them through the window and happily opened Harm and Mac.
"Sarah, Harm – c'mon in."
"Good morning, Martha…Uh, Martha, maybe it will take three or four trips to get all the luggage into your house, because this marine here didn't pack for two weeks, but for two months."
This statement caused Harm a punch in his rips by Mac's elbow.
"Ouch, Mac!"
A warning gaze of Mac's and he bit his tongue to stop any further comment. They placed their luggage in the hallway of Martha's house and sat down in the living room where hot coffee already awaited them!
After a few sips of tasting the liquid, Martha was the first to break the silence.
"So, are you at least a little bit excited to visit Europe?"
"A little bit excited, Martha? I'm so anxious and I'll bet Harm is as well! So what kind of information do we need from you?"
"It's all in the envelope: your tickets and hotel reservation, a guidebook and your vacation schedule. But only for your first city. You will always stay two days in one city and at the end of the second day, before you leave for the next European city, a driver in each city will give you all the information about your next city and take you to the airport in time for your next flight. The vacation schedule tells you about events, sightseeing tours or stuff like that, which is arranged for you."
"Martha, that's unbelievable. How could you organize everything?" Harm asked, still not sure if this is all a dream or reality.
"Oh…let's just say I have good connections and lots of help!"
Mac stared at the still closed white envelope with amazement. Like a shy, little unsure girl she asked, "Can we open the envelope now, so we know which town we'll visit first?"
"No, not yet. Promise me you won't open it until you're sitting in the cab that drives you to Dulles International Airport!" Martha answered seriously.
She saw Mac's disappointed look in the young, brown eyes and she continued softly, "Look, Sarah, I'm 100% certain that you'll like it. But not knowing the destination is part of this vacation. So please do me the favor!"
"Ok, Martha – sure. I should be able to manage that, behave myself and be a patient girl!" Mac promised Martha.
They talked about this and that and suddenly it was time for Mac and Harm to say their good byes and leave for the airport. They didn't need to call a cab, because Martha had already taken care of a driver and a car. Both waited in front of the house and the driver took their luggage stowing it in the trunk.
"Thank you so much again, Martha. I don't know how to say thank you!" Mac hugged her as well as did Harm.
"Oh, I didn't do much – Fortuna was on your side and you won the trip. So, the best you can do for me: enjoy the vacation, relax as much as you can, take as many photos as you can and maybe you could send to me at least one postcard from every town you will visit! You got my address?"
"Yes, I have it, and of course we'll send you postcards. But I'm afraid you'll get them after we arrive back in D.C.!"
"Probably – but that doesn't matter. Can't wait to hear from you about everything you do overseas in Europe. Bye, Harm, bye, Sarah. Enjoy your time!"
Harm and Mac hugged her one last time and got into the car. They waved until Martha's house disappeared.
They leaned back into their seats and finally Mac couldn't wait and opened the envelope. The suspense nearly killed her.
In big capital letters she read out loud the name of their first destination "DUBLIN, Ireland!"
"Oh my God, Harm – I can't believe it. We'll see Dublin. You must know I'll love Dublin and Ireland, because my ancestors are from Ireland. The O'Hara's and MacKenzie's have Irish blood in them. That's why I love St. Patrick's Day so much. It is something that connects myself with my origins. You know we have been in Belfast one time but I've never been to Dublin. That's wonderful – oh, Harm, it's like a dream come true!"
Harm could only smile. He loved the view of a totally happy and excited Sarah MacKenzie – a view he would prefer to see all day long!
February 10th 2003, Monday
1600 Zulu (11:00 hrs EST)
Onboard the Boeing 747
Runway 3
Dulles International Airport
Washington, D.C.
Mac and Harm sat next to each other in the airplane, impatiently waiting for the Boeing 747 to take off.
After the stewardesses explained the security devices and every passenger fastened his or her seatbelt the big airplane slowly started to move.
Mac took Harm's right hand in hers when the plane finally took off. They smiled at each other both anxious to see what would happen during the next 14 days!