Chapter Five
Mattie woke up screaming, which then woke up the entire house. Trish flew into the room. "Daddy!"
"Mattie, sweetheart!" Trish tried to pull her close.
"Gram, I hate him!"
"Mattie, don't talk about your Dad that way."
Mattie threw the covers off her bed and wriggled out of her grandmother's grasp. Frank stood in the doorway holding Mackenzie who looked so much like both of her parents.
"He didn't love us!"
Trish stood up, "How can you say that Mattie? He loved all of her girls with every single bit of his being."
Mattie reached underneath the bed and found her sneakers that she was looking for. She threw them on her feet and pulled back her hair.
"Mattie where are you going?" Trish demanded.
"Away from here."
"Are we that terrible?" Trish frowned.
Mattie looked at her grandmother and ran down the stairs. Didn't her grandmother understand that her father was dead, Christmas and Thanksgiving would be a constant reminder of what went bad in her life.
She looked out at the ocean that her and her father loved so much and took off in the direction of the arena. "Mathilda Grace Rabb!" She heard her grandmother call after her.
Frank put a comforting hand on her back. "Take Mackie, I will handle Mattie."
"Frank, you don't know what it is like to deal with a child who has lost a father."
"I do Trish. I am better at handling teenager's grief."
Frank grabbed his jacket and found one for Mattie as he went after his grief stricken grandchild. His heart ached for her, and as a grandfather, he wished that he could take it away. He found Mattie about a mile away from the house sitting on the beach.
"Gramps, I hate myself for hating Dad for loving his country more than he did his family."
"He struggled with having to go. I caught him out in the pool house almost devastated because he didn't want to leave you and your sister behind. Then he realized that going over there would be keeping you safe sweetheart. He died trying to make the world a safer place."
"He was my dad for so little time. I thought we would have more time. I didn't have enough time to get to know him."
"Well, that is where I come in handy. I have known your father for most of his teenage years. You remind me of him."
"How? You know I'm adopted."
"So, you brought out the best in Harm. You gave him a run for his money. The real reason why he couldn't turn away from you is because you were him. You both are intelligent and perceptive people. You can read people's feelings faster and you try to find ways to help them. But do you know how you remind me the most of Harm?"
"No, what?"
"Your heart sweetheart. When the both of you love someone, you love them with all of you heart, and with every fiber of your being. That is why you are hurting so bad, because a big part of your heart is ripped out. All of us miss Harm, but your heart is causing you to feel it so much more than the rest of us."
"He won't be around to see me graduate from high school, or the academy, or when I graduate from flight school. Gramps, I know I sound selfish but who is going to walk me and Mackenzie down the aisle when we get married?" Mattie's resolve broke down again. "I miss him so much Gramps."
Frank held Mattie close and let her cry for the first time since the funeral.
Unknown location
Harm sat in the cell singing his dad's lullaby, alternating between his girls' name. It was the only thing that could help him sleep in the cold cell.
AN - Thanks for the reviews and patience everyone. I know that this was short, but - I think most of you got what you were waiting for. Let me explain Mattie's reaction - as a child from a military family (both parents, Dad longer than Mom though) I know that I was often angry with my Dad for broken promises and other things - this is how I think I would react if my Dad had died.
Dee - Mattie's dreams do factor in a little, but not a lot - that was just a little foreshadowing.
Webbie - I have been called evil several times - I might just become more evil.
Minorcadence - I just started your story - keep up your good work, and I agree with you . . .
still disappointed - well don't read.
To everyone else - as you just read, he is still alive, but not home -sigh- whatever will this author write next- - - rubs hands together and starts laughing manically! - - - only time in between finishing finals will tell!
