Chapter 9

"You weren't supposed to. You were a happily married woman and there was no way I would have interfered in that. I respected both you and Bud too much for that. But when I returned I checked in at JAG to see how things were going and was told that you had left to have twins. Harriett, I never would have wished any harm to Bud and I'm more sorry than I can say that you lost him…"

"Vic, I know that, you have been more than a friend to all of us."

"Well, that's just it, Harriett, I would love to be more than a friend to you, and to the children. I don't want to rush you and am willing to give you all the time you need, but you asked why I was around so much and I just wanted you to know that if and when you are ready, I would like you to…well…"

She stopped his stumbling by squeezing his hand and saying, "I know what you mean and yes when I am ready to think about such things you will be foremost in my mind."

With a relieved smile that she had understood his fumbling confession, Victor told her, "Thank you."

"For what?" Harriett asked gently.

"For several things," he answered with a grin. "For your considerate answer, for being you, and for not laughing in my face."

"I would never do that, Victor Galindez!" she protested.

"I know. That's why I thanked you for being you."

"Well, I don't know who else I would be, but you're welcome anyway."

"You are a very special woman and I have thought so for a long time," he assured her.

Blushing Harriett said nothing, but once again squeezed his hand to let him know that she appreciated what he had said. Before anyone could say anymore, they were interrupted by AJ and Jimmy running into the house insisting that they were starving to death!

Harriett laughed and told them it had only been two hours since lunch, but getting up she shooed them into the kitchen to make them a snack. She was secretly relieved at the interruption because she didn't know where her conversation with Victor could have gone from where they were. But the ideas he had presented were not something that had shocked or appalled her and although that surprised her a bit it also made her think. Maybe she was more ready to consider his offer than either one of them had thought. Harriett never thought she would ever love again as she did Buddy, but she had loved being married and being a wife, and she would like to have that feeling of security and contentment again. But would that be fair to Victor? If she could never love anyone again as she had Buddy? She should allow him to find someone who could give him what she and Buddy had. But from what he had said to her he had been interested in her for some time…years even!

Was he in love with her? That was the only explanation she could think of for someone to be interested that long and not moved on to someone else.

Several days went by with nothing more said about what the two of them had talked about. Harriett managed to find several things that needed doing outside so she didn't have to spend much time alone with him. He still received offers to stay for whatever meal they were having, but they always had the four children there as chaperones.

Harriett did notice one thing changing during those days however, when she dressed for the day if she knew Vic would be stopping by, she chose jeans without rips or holes and shirts without stains on them. After a week she was putting on perfume when she knew she would see him.

Saturday, March 28, 2010

1100 EST

Roberts' home

Victor had noticed these changes and in seeing them took hope that she was indeed thinking about starting to date him. The day that she was wearing make-up though he had to say something. Finding a quiet place to talk in a house with four children wasn't an easy task, but Victor was a resourceful man. He managed to get her alone after making sure that all four children were playing in the backyard. "Harriett, may I speak to you for a minute?" he asked her.

To be continued….