Monday, June 28th
Harm sat down on a bar stool and ordered a beer. He was back in D.C for a few days to attend meetings at the Pentagon. He'd been sitting in meetings with SECNAV and the new JAG as well as Captains in the same command situations as him. He still had a packed day the next day; then his schedule would ease up a little. He was scheduled to fly home on Thursday.
"Hi, Harm!"
He turned and offered his hand. "Bud!"
"Good to see you, sir," Bud smiled brightly.
"Civilian life is agreeing with you, Bud," Harm slapped his shoulder.
"And Florida agrees with you, sir," Bud sat down and pointed to Harm's glass. The waitress smiled and nodded. "You're still coming over on Wednesday?"
"Absolutely. I can't wait to see the kids, and Harriet," Harm sipped his beer. "Damn Bud, I can't remember the last time I went out for beers."
"That busy huh?" Bud wondered. "Thank you," he said to the waitress as she put a beer in front of him.
"Yeah, you know how it is," Harm hesitated. "But life is good."
Bud nodded. "I get updates from Harriet. She and the Colonel talk at least twice a week I think. She's very up to date on things."
"I think Mac miss having Harriet around. And I know the kids miss each other," Harm sipped his beer thoughtfully. "I have a great XO, but you are missed."
"Glad to hear that, sir," Bud hesitated. "I find myself missing it, sir. I love my job, don't get me wrong, but I miss putting on the uniform. Harriet is happy. More money, fewer hours."
"It's a different life," Harm agreed.
"Harm?" he turned and found Alicia Montes looking at him.
"Alicia, hi," he stood. "It's been years."
"Yeah, you never called me," Alicia motioned for a woman standing beside her. "Captain Harmon Rabb. This is a colleague of mine. Professor Stina Miles."
"Nice to meet you," Stina shook his hand.
"You too, Professor. This is Bud," he introduced before turning his focus back on Alicia. "And I'm sorry about not calling. Something came up," Harm hesitated.
"Or someone?" Alicia suggested.
Harm smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. So, how have you been?"
"I got married. I'm still at the university. That's pretty much it," Alicia studied him curiously. "What about you?"
"Got married, got promoted and a new command in London, four kids," he noticed Alicia's eyes widen in wonder. "We adopted two and got custody of Mattie again. We had Matthew together," he explained.
"No wonder you never called back," Alicia smiled. "I take it Colonel Mackenzie is your wife?"
"That would be correct," Harm smiled widely. "We're in Florida now. Jacksonville."
They talked for a while longer then the women excused themselves when the rest of their company arrived. Harm noticed Bud's look. "It wasn't what you think."
"But it could have been?" Bud assumed.
"Maybe. I couldn't." Harm hesitated thoughtfully. "I was waiting for Mac to come to me."
Bud nodded. "She did, and the rest is history."
Harm chuckled. "You know, the past has visited us on occasion since we got married, and every time I get this overwhelming feeling of happiness because we got it right."
Bud raised his glass. "To true love. Our wives."
Harm raised his glass. "To them."
Tuesday, June 29th
Mac let her bare feet touch the grass and let out a sigh. She had left work early to spend the afternoon with the kids. Nathan and Claire had been in San Diego for two weeks with Trish and Frank. Mattie had come home on Sunday night, and they were all together again. Except for Harm who would be back Thursday night.
"Looking good Claire," Mac smiled.
Claire was practicing her ballet. As usual, she didn't skip one single day of practicing what she had learned the previous lesson. It was something beautiful with the way she barefooted moved around the lawn, so free and happy.
Matthew was in his sandbox with his cars and tractors, and of course, he had a hangar with planes. Harm had built it for him. Now he was busy towing the aircraft with the tractor. Like father, like son.
"Look, Mom," Claire took a backflip and landed perfectly on her feet. "Can you do that?"
"Not without breaking my neck," Mac chuckled.
Mac's cell phone rang. "It's your father," she called out. "Hi, handsome."
"Hi, beautiful. What are you up to?"
"Standing in our garden watching the kids play. Nathan is at Hall's place. You?"
"Wish I could be there. Today has been all about sitting in meetings. I'm getting ready to have dinner and drinks with the new JAG now."
"Two nights out in a row. You're really taking advantage of your time away," she teased.
He laughed softly. "I would rather go to the gym tonight, babe. I figured I couldn't turn down a three star."
"It's good to have the right connections," she agreed. "I miss you."
"I miss you too. All of you. I wanted to check in, but I have to go now. I'll call you later if it's not too late. I have an early meeting in the morning, so I thought I'd turn in early. The Admiral has the same meeting, so I suppose he's thinking the same thing."
"Call me no matter how late it is so that I know you're okay," she requested.
"Yes, ma'am. I love you guys."
Mac smiled. "We love you too." She let out a sigh as she put her phone away. Two more days.
She suddenly noticed Commander Catherine Graves coming around the house. "Graves?"
"Ma'am, I rang the bell, but no one opened. I heard voices…"
"That's okay," Mac smiled reassuringly. "We're just having some fun."
"He's just adorable," Graves motioned for Matthew.
"Yeah, he's to eat up," Mac agreed and chuckled. "You should have seen him this morning, crawling into our bed looking for Daddy."
"The Captain is still coming back on Thursday, right?" Graves assumed.
"Thursday night," Mac confirmed. "But that's not why you're here."
Graves hesitated. "I was hoping for some insight."
"Into?" Mac motioned for the lawn chairs. "Have a seat."
Graves smiled. "Thank you," she sat down and hesitated. "It's this case I'm working on, ma'am. The Captain sent me to Tampa to investigate a claim of sexual harassment. One thing turned into something more, and now I have a feeling that it's a command issue and I don't talk the Marine language so…"
"Slow down," Mac suggested.
"Sorry, ma'am," Graves let out a sigh. "Corporal Rita Hayes claims that several of her fellow Marines continue to make sexual advances. It's the language they use, and some inappropriate touching has occurred. She took it up the chain of command without being taken seriously and now several other female Marines have come forward with similar claims."
"That doesn't sound good," Mac leaned back in her chair. "It sounds like a command issue."
"Ma'am, have you ever experienced anything like that?" Graves wondered.
"Sure, as a female you have to listen to the occasional banter. I usually didn't mind, but when I felt that it got inappropriate, I always let them know. Usually, they respected that and stopped. Men aren't all bad, but they do tend to have a need to comment on how a woman looks and not how a woman is. You know."
"I do know," Graves smiled. "You are beautiful, which I assume hasn't made it easier for you in a male-dominated environment?"
"Looks are mostly beside the point, but what I can tell you is that leadership has a way of influencing how the chain of command deals with sexual harassment. My time in Bosnia thought me that. And Harm and I worked on a case with a young Marine who made a decision in the field that got a civilian killed. Leaders had let their attitude work its way down the chain of command and influenced that young Marine's decision to go through a block instead of retreating the way they came."
Graves nodded thoughtfully. "I understand what you're saying. I'm glad I came here. Thank you."
"Any time," Mac smiled. "Have you had dinner yet?"
"No, I haven't had the time," Graves admitted.
"We're ordering pizza, why don't you join us?" Mac suggested.
"That sounds great, ma'am," Graves agreed.
Wednesday, June 30th
Harm put his phone to his ear as he ran his hand over the yellow biplane. She was doing good. He had been in meetings for two days and today the second meeting had been canceled so he had driven out to the hangar and done some maintenance on Sarah before he took her for a spin.
"Rabb residence."
"Hey, Mrs. Rabb."
"Hi there. Good to hear from you."
"How was your day?" he wondered as he leaned on the plane.
"Good. I left work early, and we went to the beach."
"Wish I could be there with you guys," he patted Sarah. "Guess where I am?"
"I can hear it in your voice. You've been flying."
He laughed softly. "The second meeting got canceled so I drove out and took her for a spin."
"Good for you, honey."
"I have those meetings tomorrow, then I'm coming home," he let out a sigh. "I miss you guys. How are the kids?"
"We miss you too, but everyone is good. I've been able to be home early every day actually, so we've spent a lot of time together. Mattie is enjoying having lazy days, but she watched the kids all by herself today."
"I'm glad you have my mom and Frank, and Mattie this week while Anna is on vacation," Harm gave Sarah one last look before he headed for the car. The Vette would be going back to storage the next day. He had wondered about shipping it to Jacksonville but decided against it. With the kids, it was an unpractical car to drive, so he settled for his SUV.
"I've had great help," Mac agreed. "Are you going to see Harriet and Bud tonight?"
He got into the car. "I am heading there right now."
"In the Vette?" she assumed.
He laughed softly. "I've missed driving it. It feels great."
"Sounds like you're having a lot of fun, Harm. I'm glad."
"I am," he admitted. "The meetings have been a drag, but I'm glad I got the time to take Sarah for a spin."
"You deserve it."
"I can't wait to get back home though," he leaned back in his seat as he studied his yellow airplane inside the hangar. "I can't wait to take the kids up one of these days. I better get going now. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Give Harriet and Bud, and the kids, my best. I love you so much."
"I love you more," he smiled as he started the car. "Listen to that sound."
Mac chuckled. "Enjoy."
"I will. Bye," he hung up and put the Corvette in gear.
