Chapter 11

She paused to take a breath and AJ inserted, "Harriett, what is it?"

"Is it wrong of me to want to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant without the children?"

"Harriett! Of course not! I think that's a wonderful idea, you deserve to get out without the kids once in a while. I'm sorry that I didn't think of that myself."

"There's no reason you should have Si…AJ, but I'm glad that you don't think it's wrong."

"I don't at all. In fact as soon as you choose a date…."

"This Friday," she stated firmly.

"Oh, okay, that's fine, and I am free so what time would you like me to arrive?"

"Wow, thank you AJ, I had no idea when I just called with a question, that you would volunteer like that!"

"Harriett what are friends for? Like I said, I'm just sorry I didn't think of it myself. Now if you will just tell me when, I will be happy to be there."

"Well 1830 would probably work best, and of course you can bring Allison along."

"Allison? But I thought you wanted to go out without the children?"

"I do, I just thought it would be easier if you brought Allison with you and you could watch all five of them here."

"Watch them? Harriett I don't understand, I thought that I was taking you out to dinner?"

"But I thought you were offering to baby sit while I went out…Oh no! You thought I was asking you to take me out! Oh Si…AJ I'm sorry that wasn't what I meant at all!"

"I gathered that!" he laughed. "So am I to understand that someone has asked you out to dinner with them?"

"Yes and I said yes and then thought that people might think it was too soon for me to be going out on a date…"

"A date? This is a date you're talking about and not just dinner with a friend?"

"Yes, does that make a difference?"

"I guess that depends of if you feel ready to be dating or not!"

"I do feel ready, I just didn't want anyone to think badly of me for going out so soon."

"Who was it that asked you out Harriett?"

"It was Vic," she freely admitted.

"Vic?"

"Yes, he's been such a help around here since Buddy's death and then last week I finally asked him why he was hanging around so much and he told me that he's been interested in me for years and he was just waiting for me to be ready to date to ask me out."

Realizing after what she said that she had to be referring to Victor Galindez, AJ knew that he would have to have a talk with the man. But he didn't need to let Harriett know that, so all he said was, "I see, well I hope that the two of you have a good time and I will be there at 1830 to baby sit."

"AJ you don't have to! That was all just a misunderstanding. I can find another sitter."

"You already have your sitter, and I'm sure that Allison would love to have an evening to play with your brood."

With a sigh of relief that one thing about her evening out was taken care of, she said, "Thank you AJ, it's good to know the children will be in reliable hands."

After his call to Harriett ended AJ thought about his next move for all of a minute before picking up the phone and dialing Victor Galindez' home number. After getting him on the line and identifying himself, AJ said, "I think we need to have a talk Victor."

"Yes Sir, what's on your mind?"

"I just had a talk with Harriett Roberts. You do know that I look on her like a daughter, don't you son?" AJ asked in his best 'Admiral's' voice.

"In that case I guess I should be asking your blessing Sir. You see I love her and want nothing more than to marry her and help her raise those great kids of hers," Victor told him taking the wind right of AJ's sails by confessing his love for Harriett and his desire to marry her.

To be continued….