Chapter 2

Walking into the foyer with his bag AJ saw Mac enter the room. He hadn't seen her in six years but she looked great. He was glad that she and Harm had invited him to this reunion even though he hadn't been a part of the JAG staff at the end when they got married. Walking over to Mac he wrapped her in a hug and said, "You look great Mac…" Sensing something odd he took a step back and looked her in the eye. With a sheepish smile and said, "You're not Mac are you?"

Before she could answer he heard Harm's voice coming from the staircase behind the Mac look-a-like "You seem to know out hostess pretty well Admiral."

Looking up AJ saw Harm and Mac coming down the stairs hand in hand. Mac grinned at him and walked up to AJ, "I believe you owe me a hug," she chuckled.

AJ opened his arms and gave her the hug that had been meant for her. When it ended Mac stepped back and said, "I'd like you to meet our hostess Cassie Nightengale, she owns and runs Grayhouse. Cassie this is Admiral AJ Chegwidden."

Holding out his hand he said, "Retired Admiral Chegwidden, so you could just call me AJ, Ms Nightengale."

Taking his hand Cassie said, "Then since we are already on hugging terms please call me Cassie."

Smiling at her he replied, "Alright Cassie." AJ then turned to Harm who had come forward to put his arm aournd Mac, "It's good to see you too Harm." The two of them shook hands.

"Why don't you let me show you to your room AJ?" Cassie asked.

"That would be fine Cassie," AJ told her and picked up his bag to follow her. They walked up the stairs side by side and he questioned her, "Who else from the group have arrived already?"

"Mr Rabb's ward Mattie and her husband and baby, as well as the Roberts. The rest are arriving later today."

"Have you and Mac figured out why the two of you look like identical twins?"

"We have no idea, there is no family connection that we could find. I guess it's just one of those things. How did you know it wasn't her you were hugging even before you saw them on the stairs?"

"Well I knew Mac for eight years and granted I hadn't seen her in six years, but suddenly I just knew you weren't her. I don't think I can really explain it, I just knew," he shrugged as he finished speaking.

Smiling at him Cassie said, "Why don't I let you get unpacked and then come down whenever you want. I can show you around Grahyhouse if you like."

"Sounds fine, I'll see you later," he told her.

That evening at dinner everyone sat around the large table in the dining room. Sturgis and Varise his wife of three years had arrived as well as Jen and Jason Tiner, they were only going to be able to stay for the weekend rather than the whole week because they didn't want to be away from two year old Johnathan. Jen was also six months pregnant with a little girl.

Cassie and Mac had explained several times that they could think of no reason at all as to how they came to look so much alike.

Mac and Harm were on one side of the table and on the other Cassie sat next to AJ. There were a lot of looks back and forth between the two women, everyone having a hard time getting over the linenesses.

Dinner concluded with fresh apple pie ala mode. After his first bite AJ turned to Cassie and told her, "This has to be the best apple pie I've ever tasted. What is your secret?"

"It's really all in the spices. I use a high quality cinnamon along with nutmeg and cloves, I also put in just a pinch of mace."

"I would love to have your recipe if you don't mind?" he asked.

"You cook?"

"Yes, I had to learn when I got married or we would have both starved."

"She didn't cook?"

"No, her father was a Mayor and because their family had servants she never learned or felt that she ever needed to."

"What are some of your favorite things to make?"

To Be Continued…