Harm barely made it through the front door before he had the phone in his hand and was dialing. He had already mentally calculated the time difference. It was 1500 hours here in London, so that meant it was 0700 hours in California; a bit early, but it wasn't going to stop him. He was so excited; he absolutely had to share the news with someone and who better than his mother?
"Hello," said a familiar voice on the other end.
"Mom," Harm half yelled. "It's me."
"Harm, sweetie, it's so good to hear from you! How are you?" Trish asked excitedly.
"I'm wonderful, Mom. How are you and Frank?"
"We're great. We sure do miss you though. How's Mac?"
"She's perfect," Harm gushed, not able to contain himself.
"How are the two of you enjoying England?" Trish added with a chuckle.
"Honestly, I think it's the best thing that ever happened to either of us."
Harm lost himself in thought for a moment, but then snapped back to reality when he heard his mother's voice come across the line again.
"Well, you can't have a much better endorsement than that," she laughed.
"Mom," Harm continued, "When can you and Frank come out to visit? Mac and I were hoping to see you soon."
"Did the two of you set a date?" Trish asked excitedly.
"No. No wedding date yet," said Harm with a smile in his voice. "But soon, Mom. I promise."
"Don't promise me, honey. Promise Mac. She's the one who waited nine years for you." His mother did always have a way with words.
"Don't worry, Mom. Mac and I fully intend to get married as soon as possible." He paused for a moment.
"But," his mother began, somehow reading his mind.
"But, we've come across a small . . . bump in the road." Harm mentally congratulated himself for the metaphor.
"Bump?" Trish sounded a bit aggravated. "What bump? Haven't you two hit every speed bump and road block there was to hit already?"
"Not that kind of bump, Mom." Harm laughed. "This is a good kind of bump."
"Harmon, don't do this to your mother," Trish scolded. "Now, do I have to guess, or are you going to tell me?"
Harm took a deep breath.
"Mom, Mac and I are going to have a baby."
There was a slight pause in which Harm could hear the phone crackle and then . . .
"Frank!" Trish yelled, causing Harm to have to pull the phone away from his ear.
"Frank, get in here. We need to buy tickets to London."
Harm laughed out loud. This was too much fun.
"Mom," he began with a snort of laughter, "You don't have to jump a plane tonight. You've still got plenty of time before the baby's actually here."
"Harmon Rabb," she scolded. "I have waited a long, long time for this day and to tell you the truth, I didn't think it would ever come. So give your mother a break. I don't want to miss a second of this."
"Alright," he conceded. "Come out as soon as you want. We'll be more than happy to have you."
"Wonderful," she said. "And son, I almost forgot. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Mom." Harm was still laughing.
"Now where's Mac? I want to congratulate her too," said Trish.
"I think she's in the kitchen. Let me go find her for you."
Harm set the phone down as he got up and headed toward the kitchen, shaking his head and laughing as he walked. Waiting on the other end of the line, some five thousand miles away, Trish sighed with happiness. Her son had finally been blessed with the family he'd always wanted. There wasn't much more a mother could wish for than to see her son perfectly and sublimely happy. Evidently, miracles did happen.