Chapter Thirty Seven
Mac stared at the prize at the end of her pole. Harm with his hand still wrapped around her waist, drew her closer, and whispered in her ear. "I love you Sarah. I want to wake up every morning with my arm numb because you are sleeping on it. I want you to be the last person I see before I go to sleep every night, I want to breathe in the scent that is only you. I want you to borrow my toothbrush, I want to kiss you every morning with toothpaste in your mouth, I want watch you smile in your sleep, I want to wipe away your tears always. I want to be your partner for life, and if I don't ask you this, I would making the biggest mistake of my life. Marry me?"
She turned around to face him and buried her head in his shirt. She looked up at him with tears started flowing down her face, and he thumbed away her tears. He reached for the ring hanging on the hook of her fishing pole still. He tilted her head up and kissed her.
She looked at him, and memorized the features of his face, the dazzling smile, the way his eyes delved into hers. "Yes" she whispered back. He slipped the ring on her finger, and she threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. He picked her up and swung her around in circles.
"SHE SAID YES!" He yelled. He kissed her again. He set her back down on the ground and brushed her hair out her face. He slipped he ring on to her finger.
For the first time Mac looked at the ring. It was beautiful. It was around a carat, cut in a pear shape. It was set in platinum with two side trillion diamonds framing the larger diamond. "Harm, the ring is beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you."
Mattie hobbled out to her dad. "Dad, I heard the verdict. Congratulations Dad, Mom."
"Thank you Mattie." Mac told her. "I want you and Jen to be my bridesmaids."
"How cool." Mattie said. She hugged Mac. "If I can't have my real mom, I am glad I have you as a step-mom. And that is the next best thing. I love you Mom."
Jen called out from behind the booth. "Sir, Ma'am, Mattie is dizzy and getting a headache."
"Thank you Jen for alerting us." Harm looked over to Mattie.
"Dad, I hate having a concussion. I feel sick, like I want to throw up. If I ever want to have children, I want to be reminded of this experience."
"Sweetie, I hope you don't want to have children for a long time. Why don't you and your friends go up to the master bedroom and watch the fireworks from there?"
"Are you sure Dad?"
"Are there going to be boys?" Jen asked, "If there is, I will chaperone with Tiner."
"Thank you Jen."
"Mattie be mindful of your grandparents. They will probably be on the covered deck watching fireworks."
"Where will Mackenzie be?"
"They will probably keep her."
"Okay Dad."
"Jen take care of her," Mac ordered.
"I will Colonel. By the way, congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you Jennifer."
Harm and Mac watched Mattie and Jen walk off together. They stood in line for the Ferris Wheel. He bought her another cotton candy. They got to the top of the wheel, when the ride jerked to a stop.
"Are you folks okay?" The ride operator yelled up to them.
"Yeah," Harm yelled down. "How much longer will we be up here?"
"Well, the gear shaft is stuck. Probably about 15 to 30 minutes."
They were the only people on the ride. People were getting ready for the fireworks. Harm yelled down to the guy, "If you can wait to fix that, we can watch the firework from up here." Harm swiped a piece of Mac's cotton candy.
"Hey!"
He took the cotton candy from her and tilted her chin up. He brought his lips down to hers, and lightly placed a kiss there. The DJ started playing music to get everyone geared up for the fireworks, "Thank You for Loving Me" by Bon Jovi came on, telling everyone to grab their loved ones and to find a place to watch the fireworks.
"I love this song," Mac murmured and Harm brought his arms around her.
"I love this song too." Harm started singing along with the lyrics, "Thank you for loving me, when I couldn't fly you gave me wings."
Mac brought her lips to his. "Thank you for loving me Harm. I know I'm not perfect."
"I meant it Mac. You give me wings, you make my heart soar. I love you so much." Harm responded, and they got comfortable from the top of the Ferris wheel in each other arms to watch the fireworks.
People watched the fireworks boom all around them as "Proud to be an American" started playing over the loudspeakers. Mac started shaking in her seat high on the Ferris wheel.
Flashback
The guns were erupting all around her, and she stood there bravely like any marine would.
"You whore! American women think they can have it all! Well you can't." Corporal Jenkins tied a piece of rope around her neck and tugged it until the momentum made her drop to her knees. Dust flew around her as she hit the desert floor.
"Stand down Marine – That's an order!" Mac demanded in her best drill sergeant voice.
"I don't take orders from women!" He kicked her back down as she was getting up.
End Flashback
Harm held her tight as she was shaking, he knew another flashback had claimed Mac's mind.
"I said stand down." She whispered, Harm held her running his hands through her silky hair.
"Mac, it will be okay. We will deal with this together, I promise. There is nothing our love can't overcome."
"I know, just hold me for right now." She whispered as the flashback subsided. "I feel safe in your arms. It is going to take a little time for me to get over what happened."
He held her close and placed several kisses on her head. "I would protect you forever if you let me." She turned around and kissed him.
The Ferris wheel started whirling and the man let them down right after the finale. There was an announcement over the loud speaker for the beginning of the square dance.
"It wasn't really stuck, now was it?" Harm asked the ride operator.
"No, I just figured you guys deserved the best seat in the house, considering it is your house and all."
"Thank you," Mac said to the man.
Harm picked his bride to be up, and swung her over his shoulders. "Harm put me down."
"No can do, we have to go square dance." They went out to the dance floor and found his parents swinging around Mackenzie. Harm took her and danced to Cotton-Eye Joe with her. At the end of the song, he told his parents that he was going to take her up to the nursery. He kissed his parents good night and took Mackenzie upstairs with Mac.
The marine guard recognized them, and let them in the house. He heard Mattie giggling away with Jen, and he heard the boys in the kitchen bringing them popcorn for a movie.
"Mattie honey, we are back. We'll keep Mackenzie in our room so you can be really loud." He said walking into her room.
"Thanks Dad, we will try to wrap it up soon. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!"
"You too."
He got back to his room to find Mac fast asleep wearing her clothes. He changed the baby into her sleeper, and changed into his boxers. He woke Mac up, and she changed into one of Harm's shirts. He dropped a quick kiss on her head and curled up next to the love of his life.
