Chapter 4

That evening AJ made dinner for the devastated young family. The four younger children ate as if nothing was wrong, but Little AJ picked at his food. He ate a little, however Harriett stared at her plate as if she didn't recognize a thing on it. AJ knew that insisting that she eat even if for her own good would not get very far, so instead he decided to 'guilt' her into eating. "I'm sorry Harriett, isn't the casserole to your liking? I could make you something else."

Looking up, startled that she'd been spoken to, she said, "No AJ, the casserole is fine, thank you."

"Oh, well when you weren't eating it I thought you didn't like it."

Giving him an apologetic smile even though she knew what he was up to, she began to eat. The children had left the table and AJ was cleaning up the dishes when the phone rang. He reached over and answered it. Across the static came Lieutenant JG Mike Roberts' voice, "Hello. Harriett?"

"No Mike, its AJ Chegwidden."

"Oh hello, Sir! How are Harriett and the kids?"

"The younger ones don't really have a grasp of it yet, Little AJ's trying to be brave and Harriett is showing the strength of character I always knew she had and is holding it together well."

"Sir, I just don't know what to do! Normally I'd be on the first flight out and be there for them, but Mattie went into labor last night and delivered just an hour before we heard about Bud. Mattie says it's alright for me to go, but I know she doesn't mean it."

"You stay with her, son. I know Harriett will understand. Welcome to the ranks of fatherhood. By the way do you have a son or daughter?"

"It's a son Sir, and we're going to name him Harold Bud Roberts," replied Mike. "Harold was Mattie's father's name."

"I'll give Harriett the news and I know she'll understand about you staying with Mattie. She'll be honored you've named him after Bud."

After a few more minutes of conversation they ended the call and AJ went to tell Harriett the news. Shortly after they finished talking the doorbell rang and well-wishers started to arrive. Harm and Jen Rabb arrived with a dish of vegetarian lasagna, but couldn't stay long because they'd left baby HJ home with a sitter. Just as they were leaving, Sarah and Clay Webb, as well as General Cresswell and his wife came up the walk.

AJ made room in the fridge for all the food offerings and when members from their church began to arrive, Harriett retreated to her bedroom with a pleading look at AJ. He smiled tenderly at her and told her that he would handle things. After the visitors stopped coming AJ put all five children to bed and made a few phone calls to close down his office for the next few days, then he went to bed in the Roberts' guest room.

When Harriett awoke screaming in the middle of the night it didn't take AJ any time at all to reach her side because he hadn't been sleeping. Holding her in his arms as she wept her heart out, they saw the first rays of the sun creeping through her window before she dried the last tear and squaring her shoulders prepared to face a day of arrangement making.

AJ insisted that she take a long hot shower before coming downstairs and told her that he would start breakfast for the children who they could hear beginning to stir.

He was making French toast for the kids when the phone calls started for the day. The first call however was good news. Mattie Roberts had told her doctor that she needed clearance for her and the baby to fly to the States with her husband because he wouldn't go without her. Mike was calling to say that all three of them would be arriving mid-morning tomorrow.

Harriett came down just as Mike had finished telling AJ the news and he handed her the phone so she could talk to her brother-in-law for a few minutes. She laughed and cried during the short call. Her laughter was at Mike's description of Mattie railroading her doctor into releasing her and the baby to fly and the tears were for Mike when his voice caught as she thanked him for naming the baby after Bud.

To be continued….