Chapter 32
Girl Talk

After completing their shopping, Mac and Tina purchased coffees and then walked to a park across the street where they could enjoy the afternoon breeze.

Once seated, Mac reached into her bag and admired her newly purchased brown ankle boots. "These boots will be perfect for the plane ride home tomorrow. Thanks for helping me to pick them out."

"You're welcome. Besides, there's nothing I like better than an afternoon of shopping with a girl friend."

Tina's words reminded Mac of how few friends she had outside of the office. Mac needed friends- especially female friends, but she had never made friends easily.

Something bad always happens to my friends.

Mac changed the subject. "It must be wonderful for you to see Harm again after so many years."

"Of curse it was. I just thank God that Harm is seeing me now, and not like I looked before I began my recovery. If he had seen me then, he would have been frightened."

"Harm wouldn't have cared."

"I would have cared. I came out of a blackout in a fleabag motel, beaten, raped and robbed. When I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize myself. I needed a drink, then it hit me that drinking and drugs were the reasons that I looked like that."

Mac took a deep breath. "I've had a drinking problem since high school. When my best friend Eddie died in a car crash, I went home and locked myself into my bedroom with a bottle of vodka. By my senior year, I was a full blown alcoholic. I'm every bit as bad as my father, who I despise," Mac snarled.

"Family life can be harsh. My father died so deeply in debt that my mother lost our house and our cars. We ended up living in a converted garage in Mira Mesa, and I had to obtain a variance from the school district just to continue attending high school in La Jolla. By the time I graduated, my mom had suffered a nervous breakdown. She was proscribed Norpramin, a powerful antidepressant, which she used with alcohol."

"That's a recipe for disaster."

"My mother became unbalanced, making my home life unbearable. With Harm at the Academy, Trish offered to let me spend the summer staying with her and Frank so that my mother could organize her life. I readily agreed, but when Trish presented the idea to my mother, she not only refused, she began saying horrible things about why Trish and Frank wanted me to stay with them."

Mac thought back to the park, and Harm describing his mother's powerful maternal instincts.

Trish could have been Tina's Uncle Matt.

"Trish was outraged. She and my mother got into a huge argument. Finally, Trish told me to go to her car. 'Don't pack a bag. I'll buy you all new clothes'. That's when my mother threatened to call the police. I was three months away from my 18th birthday, so I was stuck. When I turned 18, I got on a bus for Vegas. I thought it was the fresh start I needed which would turn my life around. Instead, I walked straight into a nightmare. I began drinking heavily- and I'd never drank before. Eventually I began using drugs. Sarah, I was a classic addict: when I could quit, I didn't want to. By the time I wanted to quit, I couldn't. Along the way I allowed people to use me in ways that disgust me." Tina sighed. "I try to concentrate on moving forward. I work one day a week as an addiction counselor. Helping others helps me."

Mac suddenly, and uncharacteristically, felt the need to open up. "I honestly thought that I'd moved forward. I hadn't had a drink in over 10 years, but when my friend Dalton was killed in mugging, I went straight into a bar and got drunk."

"You had a slip. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"It's worse than that. Instead of going home, I went into the office and got in Harm's face. It was the first time that Harm saw me for what I really am: a bitter, self loathing, angry drunk."

Tina grasped Mac's hand. "Addiction is an ugly thing, but trust me, Harm doesn't see you like that. He saw your weakness, but everyone has a weakness, even Harm."

Mac nodded in agreement. "I'm glad that the two of us got a chance to talk."

"I am too. More important is my seeing you and Harm together. It's obvious to anyone that the two of you are perfect for each other."

"What's obvious to anyone is oblivious to Harmon Rabb Jr. The two of us turned a corner on this trip, but we are a long way from where I want us to be. Right now, I'm afraid that when we return to DC, Harm will return to the status quo...which I'm fed up with!" Mac said in a firm voice.

"Then you'll have to work to ensure that doesn't happen."

"I've tried every approach, and Harm has countered my every move. It's as though our relationship is some sort of chess match. I always concede, and we're right back where we started."

"What is it that you want?"

"First, I want his father's memorial decided. For the past week, Harm has been wavering between Arlington and Rosecrans Cemetery. Harm and I are going to visit his grandmother next weekend, where I hope he will finalize his plan. We can't move forward until it's settled."

"And after the memorial?"

"I want our relationship to be out in the open so that the entire world can see it (starting with Annie Pendry and Kate Pike). I also want a formal engagement. Then, I want us to set a date, and I want that date etched in stone!"

Tina saw Harm walking towards them. "Here comes Harm now."

"Shh. Mum's the word," Mac whispered.


For Harm, informing Tom Boone of his father's death had been every bit as difficult as telling his mother. After all, his dad and Tom had been as close as Harm had been with Luke Pendry, and Harm still hadn't come to grips with his best friend's death.

After talking with Tom, Harm had telephoned Jack Keeter, who was currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. As usual, Keeter couldn't comment on his assignment, but he told Harm that if there was anything he could do, Harm only had to ask.

Harm's next call was to Bud Roberts. After apologizing for interrupting his Saturday, Harm asked Bud's assistance in locating several personnel who served in the old Ticonderoga squadron. Bud was anxious to help, telling Harm that he and Harriet would drop everything and begin working on the list immediately.

Harm's phone rang.

"Hi, mom, I'm glad you're home. How's Frank?...No! He can't sue the hospital for delaying his discharge...Mom, I'm a lawyer. Tell Frank that he has no case…Yes, we've finished lunch. The girls went into the village to do some shopping while I took a call from Tom Boone...Of course Tom took the news hard...Okay, we'll head over to the house...Yes, Tina is coming with us...I love you too, mom."


As Tina Thomas followed Harm's rental car through the exclusive but familiar streets, she found it hard believe that she had once lived in the same affluent neighborhood.

Once they were inside the house, Trish greeted her son with a kiss, and gave hugs to Mac and Tina.

"Tina, dear, it's wonderful to see you again. I'm sure you know your way around the house, so make yourself at home."

"It's good to be back, and I have to say that the house hasn't changed much."

"I've been telling Frank that we need to redecorate," Trish insisted.

"Good God!" Frank called out from the living room. "Do you have any idea how much that would cost? Are trying to give me another heart attack?"

Mac and Tina went directly to Frank, who was sitting in a large reclining chair.

Frank put an arm around each of them. "A pretty girl in each arm? This how a man should come home from the hospital."

"What about your wife, dear? You must remember her. After all, she's the one who drove you home from the hospital," Trish deadpanned.

Tina broke into laughter. "You two haven't changed a bit!"

Harm stepped over to Frank. "How are you feeling, Dad?"

Tina couldn't believe she'd just heard Harm addressing Frank as "Dad."

Redecorated or not; a lot had changed in this house!

"I'm a bit weak, but no worse for the wear. I have to watch my diet and cut down on the booze." Trish frowned at Frank. "I meant to say, cut out the booze."

Trish had prepared pitchers of iced tea and lemonade. Frank, who was desperate for a martini, settled for iced tea.

Trish brought Frank his drink, then sat down on the love seat which was closest to his chair. In the meantime, Harm, Mac, and Tina sat together on the sofa, with Harm on the right, Mac next to him and Tina on the outside.

Most of the conversation was for Tina's benefit and revolved around Harm.

Tina remembered hearing the news about Harm's MiG kill over Libya.

"When the news was announced, I told everyone I knew that I'd gone to school with Harm. After all, not many girls know a real hero."

"He was the defender of the fleet," Mac added, and then gave Harm a kiss.

Thank god you're no longer flying!

Despite the praise, Harm's mind took him back to a much different event.

Inside the Thailand hotel room, 16 year old Harm Rabb Jr., racked by fever was moving between lucid and dreaming.

Only an hour ago, Harm had imagined that he was with Tom Boone and was watching his Blue Angel father flying in an airshow.

Frank Burnett was gently wiping Harm's forehead with a damp washcloth when Harm suddenly sat bolt upright, his eyes red and wide open.

"The Navy will never let me fly a Tomcat! They don't let cowards fly fighters," Harm wailed.

"Calm down, Harm. You don't know what you're saying."

"How could I protect the fleet when I couldn't protect one little girl?"

"You were surrounded. Stryker was Special Forces and had been trained to react to that exact situation. He couldn't save Bian, so there's no reason that you could have."

"But I did nothing. I just stood by and watched her die."

"Had you tried to do anything, the bandits would have killed you," Frank explained.

"Please, Frank. Let's go home. I want to see mom," Harm pleaded.

Frank Burnett had no children of his own. When he married Trish, no instruction manual was included on how to raise her child. Even so, Frank treated Harm as though he was his own son.

"You'll need another three or four days to get your strength back. We can talk about it then. Now, please lay back down and try to sleep."

Once Harm laid down in the bed, the chills set in again. "I'm freezing. Please, Frank, can I have another blanket?"

Frank had already shut off the room's air conditioner, making the room so hot that he could barely tolerate it.

"Of course, son," and after placing a second blanket over Harm, Frank returned to drying Harm's forehead with a washcloth.

Back in the living room, Trish and Frank purposefully limited their questions for Tina to her night classes at the community college. Both were aware of what had taken place in Las Vegas, and they felt only sympathy for the girl who had been Harm's first friend in La Jolla.

Trish now listened politely while Tina described her mother's recovery, but she had nothing but contempt for Kitty Thomas, who Trish felt had failed badly as a mother.

During a lull in the conversation, Frank indicate for Trish to speak up.

"Tina, dear, in addition to our catching up, I invited you here to discuss you coming to work in my gallery."

Tina was caught off guard. "I don't know anything about art."

"Neither does anyone else working in that gallery," Frank grumbled.

Trish ignored her husband. "A knowledge of art is not necessary, or not right now. Frank's recovery will be slow, so I'll be spending more time here with him." Frank groaned. "My assistant, Marianne, already has her hands full, so I need someone who can step in and help as needed. Frank suggested you, and I wholeheartedly agreed."

"I'd be thrilled to work for you. Thank you so much for thinking of me."

Trish smiled. "Come by the gallery on Tuesday at 1130. We'll discuss salary and a schedule which won't interfere with your classes or with your work at the clinic. Then, we'll go to lunch."

Tina went to Trish and put her arms around her. "You and Frank have always been so nice to me, although I'm not sure what I've done to deserve it."

"I owe you far more than I can ever repay. After I married Frank and Harm and I moved here to La Jolla, Harm had a difficult time adjusting. Your friendship helped Harm to get through it.

"It's true," Harm admitted, and Mac gently squeezed his hand.

"It cut both ways," said Tina. "After my mother lost the house and I had to move, my friends ignored me. I was no longer invited to any of their parties, but you and Frank still included me in the group."

"Trish and I love you for who you are, Tina. Your finances made no difference to us," said Frank.

Tina went back to the sofa and sat down next to Harm. Tina looked at Mac, who nodded her approval, and the two school friends shared a hug.

Frank spoke up. "Now that business has been concluded, it's time for the entertainment portion of our show." Frank reached into the drawer of the table next to his chair and removed a DVD. "Harm, please set up the TV and insert this disc."

Harm rose from the sofa and opened a set of twin cabinet doors to reveal the screen for a CRT projector TV which was mounted in the ceiling. After inserting the disc into the player, Harm handed Frank the remote control.

"Over the past few months I've had photos, slides and VHS tapes burned onto DVD to allow easier viewing."

"No more slide shows?" asked Harm.

"I'll donate my projector to the Smithsonian."

Frank opened the show with scenes of Bora Bora, where newlyweds Frank and Trish had honeymooned.

Several photos showed the couple enjoying the beach. Frank, his hair not yet fully gray, looked tall and handsome, while Trish appeared young, blonde, and beautiful in her one piece bathing suit.

Trish sighed. "Please, Frank, take down those photos. I don't want to think back to what I used to look like."

"Sweetheart, you remain a vision."

The next series of photos were of Frank and Trish hiking along the trails of the Grand Canyon.

Back in the parking lot, one of the photos showed Harm sitting in Frank's Chrysler Imperial with a huge frown on his face.

Mac and Tina broke into laughter.

"Talk about a sourpuss," said Tina.

"What's wrong, Harm? Are you sitting on a thumbtack?" asked Mac.

Trish came to her son's defense. "Harm wasn't feeling well during that trip," she explained, when in fact Harm had pouted during the entire vacation.

Next were the school photos. Most of them showed Harm playing baseball and basketball, as well as his winning numerous awards in science and math.

Tina looked over at Harm. "What was the name of the Italian scientist that you were always studying?"

"Daniel Bernoulli, and he was Swiss. Bernoulli identified the mathematics of the mechanism in the fluid dynamics which is underlying the operation of the airplane wing."

"How tedious," Mac groaned.

Photos were now being supplemented by video tape, which included pool parties with Harm's high school friends; Tina among them, who appeared tall and statuesque in a white bikini.

As the videos progressed, Mac saw the same friends appearing at all of the parties. Mac also detected a pattern: the girls at the parties were mostly tall and blonde with big boobs, and just like Tina, all of them were good looking.

Was that Harm's preferred type?

Now came video of a summer spent at Frank's vacation home in Lyford Cay, one of the most exclusive areas in the Bahamas.

"That was a great house," said Frank. "It was right on the golf course."

"I loved the beach," said Trish.

"Lyford Cay is where I learned to drive," Harm added. "When we came back home I had a tough time adjusting to driving on the right."

Photos of prom night came next. Harm looking handsome in his tuxedo, while Tina appeared alluring in a blue sleeveless mermaid-dress with an off the shoulder neckline which highlighted her magnificent figure.

"That's a lovely dress," said Mac, who had been too drunk to attend her own prom.

"The other girls at the prom were wearing beautiful gowns, but because I was with Harm, all of them were jealous," Tina said with satisfaction.

Video which followed consisted of Harm's high school graduation, his being awarded an Eagle Scout badge, and his going away party to the Academy, which included scenes of Frank playing with the scale model F-14 Tomcat, as well as the late night pool party.

Harm's first summer vacation at home from the Academy was up next, with video of Harm, Luke, Keeter, Sturgis Turner and Bruce Carmichael clowning around by the pool.

When Diane Schonke appeared on the screen, Tina was shocked.

"Sarah?"

"That's Diane Schonke. She attended the Academy with Harm. I'm aware of the resemblance." Mac's tone was clipped, so much so that Tina didn't pursue it.

Harm's graduation from the Naval Academy followed, then his graduating from flight school at Pensacola.

The commander of Harm's training squadron was Gary Grissom, a former Air America pilot who was a member of the old Ticonderoga squadron. Grissom served as master of ceremonies.

In addition to Grissom, Tom Boone, Bill Ross, and Al Cherry were in attendance. Admiral Jack Nielsen, who had retired in Pensacola and often attended the ceremonies, was also present and was enjoying a visit with Harm's grandmother, Sarah Harmon Rabb.

With 21 aviators in Harm's graduating class; 18 Navy, 2 USMC and 1 from the Coast Guard, the ceremony took nearly an hour.

Official photographers were on hand, but Gary Grissom had allowed Frank free movement to record the events himself.

Jack Keeter was pinned by his parents. Vincent Mace, Harm's arch rival in flight school, was pinned by his younger brother Billy, who was enrolled in Navy ROTC and hoping to become a flight officer.

Luke Pendry was pinned by his wife Annie, who was pregnant with the couple's first child.

Because the aviators were introduced in alphabetical order, the program was nearly at its end before Grissom called Harm's name.

"Lieutenant Junior Grade, Harmon Rabb Junior. LT Rabb is from La Jolla, CA. He is a Naval Academy graduate, and a third generation naval aviator. Pinning LT Rabb is his mother, Patricia Burnett. I'm told that the wings LT Rabb will receive had belonged to his father, Harmon Rabb Sr. On a personal note, I had the privilege of flying with Harm Sr. while on Yankee Station. We all continue to pray that Hammer will be found and return home."

Harm was considerably taller than his mother, so he had to bend down to allow her to reach into his jacket. The white uniform fabric was thick, and Trish struggled with the clasp.

Once the badge was attached, Trish made a fist and then punched the wings home, driving them hard into her son's chest.

When Harm shouted "Ouch", the audience exploded in laughter.

Gary Grissom got back on the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, that was what we call tagging on a new set of wings. Current Navy policy frowns on it, but us old timers, most of whom were tagged by the entire squadron, have a scar in that very spot."

At the conclusion of the ceremony the newly winged aviators broke into groups and congratulated each other.

Thanks to a planned 600 ship Navy with 15 carrier battle groups, everyone selecting the strike syllabus (fighters) got their wish. Harm, Luke, and Jack- as well as Vincent Mace, were now one step closer to flying the F-14 Tomcat, the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.

In the meantime, members of the old Ticonderoga squadron were anxious to talk with Trish, especially Tom Boone, who seemed overly familiar and drew angry glances from Frank Burnett.

Following the official photos, Tom Boone, Bill Ross, Gary Grissom and Al Cherry posed together. After the members of the old Ticonderoga squadron had formed up, Harm was asked to join them.

Harm felt awkward; he'd known these men since childhood. More to the point, each man in the group was a decorated combat pilot. Harm felt he hadn't earned the right to stand alongside any of them.

When they insisted, Harm took his place next to Tom Boone, which was where his father had stood in the photo taken aboard USS Ticonderoga in December 1969.

The final photos on Frank's disc showed the original group of men from Yankee Station, which included Harm Senior, followed by the same four men now posing with Harm Junior.

Because all of the student pilots had grown mustaches, the resemblance between Rabb father and son was striking.

"Good God. You can't tell father from son," said Mac.

"I had no idea that Harm and his father looked so much alike," said Tina.

Trish was wiping her eyes when she said, "I need to begin preparing dinner. Tina, will you be joining us?"

"I'm sorry, but I have to study this evening. I want to thank all of you for a wonderful visit. Sarah, I enjoyed our talk. Call me anytime, day or night."

After Tina left, Mac joined Trish in the kitchen.

Alone in the living room, Frank removed three more discs from the drawer and handed them to Harm.

"One copy is for you. The others are for you and Mac to give to your children."

Harm chuckled. "You're worse than mom, but thank you."

"Your dad left behind his audio tapes, so I want to leave behind something of my own."

"You mean leaving something for the boy who you took into your home, and who you raised to become the man who now stands humbled before you."

"Harm, someday this will be your home, and there's no reason for you to be humbled. Everything I did was out of a father's love for his son."

Following dinner, the group returned to the living room. Frank removed a gift wrapped box from the hall closet and then relaxed to savor his allotted glass of red wine.

"Any chance of a second?" Frank asked Trish.

"Half a glass, but no more," Trish begrudged.

It was getting late. Harm and Mac hadn't packed for the flight home, but Frank had one final detail to attend to.

Frank handed the gift wrapped box to Mac. "Trish gave you her pearls, so I wanted to give you something from my heart."

"This is sweet of you." Mac opened the box, which held a pink sweatshirt. When Mac read the front of the shirt she hugged Frank. "I love it. Thank you so much."

"I hope I didn't step over a line?"

"Frank, you could never do that with me."

Mac turned and showed the front of the sweatshirt to Harm and Trish.

It read..."Daddy's Girl."