CHAPTER FOUR
Disclaimers – Most characters don't belong to me, they belong to the production people in Hollywood, – but writing definitely doesn't pay the bills or my tuition bill – All of the sudden the NAVY recruiters are beginning to make sense in my head.
Bud and Harriet's House
Rossyln, VA
1300 EST
He rang the doorbell to be greeted by a pounding of little feet racing down the stairs.
"AJ look out the window first to make sure it is your Uncle Harm." Harriet yelled.
"Unca Harm!" Little AJ cried as he flung himself into Harms arms. Luckily Harm had put down the carrier. He shifted AJ to one arm and picked up the carrier with his free hand.
"Hey buddy, you want to meet someone?"
"Sure."
"This is my daughter," Harm said.
"Daughter?" AJ and Harriet said at the same time. "Unca Harm, what's her name?"
"Well buddy, I was thinking Nicole since she was born near Christmas."
"Huh?" Harriet smiled at AJ.
"Sir, I will explain. You see AJ your Uncle Harm, Aunt Mac, daddy, me, and you all believe in saints and miracles. Well, your Uncle Harm is going to name his daughter after Santa Clause, who is also called St. Nicholas."
"Oh, okay. I don't like Nicole for her first name though. Maybe her middle name. But the baby is pretty like Aunt Mac. That's what you should call her. Aunt Mac!"
Harriet looked a little sad, she was thinking about her baby she named after Sarah Mackenzie. "AJ go upstairs and play with Jimmy."
"Think about it Unca Harm, Aunt Mac Nicole. It sounds pretty." Harm smiled.
"Squirt go upstairs, and I will play with you later." AJ ran upstairs. Harriet looked at Harm.
"It is a beautiful name, Mackenzie Nicole Rabb. It's a mouthful, but lovely."
"Harriet, I love the name, but if it will bring you sadness, then we will think of something else."
"Oh, no, I love the name too. So there we go. Sir, how come this baby didn't already have a name?"
"Jordan wanted me to pick out a strong name."
"Jordan, as in Commander Parker?"
"Yeah the same one. Harriet, you should sit down. After twenty minute of telling the story, Harriet sat in shock. "So now, I have little Mackenzie, two diapers, two bottles, no toys, no crib, no room in my apartment, no baby food, and a teenager at home."
"Well Harm, nothing in life is ever boring with you. I'll ring the neighbor to come over and watch Jimmy and AJ. We will go to Babies Galore and get some basic things." Harriet arranged for a sitter and loaded up with Harm.
"Harriet, thank you."
"Sir, everything is going to be different with a baby, what is she almost five months? I can watch her for you while you are at work."
"Harriet, you are supermom. As much as I love the offer, and can't thank you enough, I will have to say, with twins on the way, Jimmy just learning to walk, and AJ going to school, you are going to have enough on your plate. Maybe when she is older, and won't depend as much on you. Right now, you are the closest thing she has to a female role model. I should really find her biological mom."
"Sir, isn't Jordan her biological mom."
"No, I must of left that part out." Harm kept his eyes on the road. "She stole some eggs out of the Bethesda fertility clinic. Mackenzie is not biologically hers. She is not listed as the birth mom on the birth certificate." Harm showed her the piece of paper, the birth certificate only had him listed as the birth father. He pulled up into the parking lot. Harriet smiled as Harm struggled with the car seat and managed to break the locking mechanism.
"Well, Harm, it looks like you will have to buy a new car seat. But those aren't that much."
Harriet loaded Harm up with clothes, toys, a pack-n-play, portable changing table, and books. They got to the diaper aisle, and Harriet smiled. "Lets see, Dad, what do you know?"
"Well," He picked up Mackenzie, "She feels as if she is around 30 lbs." He walked over to the package and picked some up with a triumphant flourish. "See, it wasn't that hard."
A couple of women watched Harriet and smiled. "That's good sir, however you picked up the most expensive brand, and she is probably more in the 15 lbs to 22 lbs category."
"What's wrong with the expensive brand. And so what if the diaper is huge?"
"Pampers and Huggies are the best brands. Never buy store brand or the expensive type, they will turn your summer whites yellow. Also, if you buy the diaper and its to big, it will fall off of her. We won't get a crib until you have a bigger place, assuming you want one."
Harriet picked up four packages. "This should get you started."
"See Harriet, this is why I have you with me today. What else do I need?" Nothing. Why don't you leave the woman up front your card, and go get the Lexus, so we can load it up." Harm smiled, and did just that.
The workers loaded up the Lexus and smiled. They made a killing in commission that day. Harm dropped Harriet off home and drove home to his place.
(AN-Obviously I have no clue what they do for surrogates when they give birth and what is actually put on the birth certificates in that situation)
