Chapter 178

Thursday, October 28, 2004

0700 EST

Chegwidden house

McLean, Virginia

All the invitations had been sent out and everyone was excited about attending the party at the Chegwidden's and getting a glimpse of their new baby girls. Krystal and Krista had practiced until they both felt confident they could pull a fast one on Tom and AJ. They had their costumes ready and Krystal's hidden at Kris's so there was no chance of Tom finding it. Kris had made cute little costumes for the girls. She had sewn little flowers to their gowns and they looked so cute that daddy was caught several times in the nursery trying them on his precious Darling's. Everyone invited had accepted the invitation and Krista had the meal completely planned. She decided to ask AJ what he was wearing to the party. "Sweetheart, have you made up your mind what kind of costume you'll wear for the party yet or do you need help?"

"I'm not wearing a costume, the invitations said costumes optional. My home, my party, so I'm not required to wear a silly costume," AJ stated. He put down his cup of coffee to get ready to leave for work. "And don't try to talk me into wearing one, it won't work."

"I'd never do that, sweetheart. I mean, if you didn't want to wear a silly costume to a party I'd planned to present our daughters to your friends and mine, then how could I make you? I don't have time to try, what with all the work I'm putting into the planning and cooking. Not to mention all the clean up afterward. You're a grown man and can make up your own mind after all."

"All right just stop. Pick me out something and I'll wear it. Nothing fancy though, no pretty boy for me," scowled AJ.

"Thank you, darling. To be sure it suits you, I'll make it myself," she smiled. "I'll make you a King. Something stately and dignified, that suits your bearing."

As AJ was driving into work, he pictured the costume Krista would make for him. He was picturing Henry the Eighth in royal robes, and then a thought struck him. He looked down at himself and wondered if that meant Krista thought he had put on a few pounds!

Quickly calling Krystal and catching her before she left for work, "Krystal, who's Tom coming to the party as?"

Giggling, "Well, he didn't want to wear a costume and I told him he looked just like Tom Selleck with all those muscles and that terrific mustache. So he's coming as Magnum PI. I have a gorgeous flowered shirt and a cute pair of shorts and sandals for him to wear. Of course he hasn't seen them yet. Who's AJ going to be?"

"We had a little discussion about that this morning and he didn't want to wear a costume and I was so shameful in making him feel guilty. So, he has let me make him a costume as long it is dignified. I have decided he would look splendid as the king from the movie 'King and I'. A wonderful tunic shirt that will show off his chest and pants that stop just at below the knee and of course he'll have to be barefoot! Do you think he'll kill me?" laughed Kris until her sides hurt.

"You deserve it, but the costume is perfect. I can hardly wait. You better hurry with only three more days to get it done," Krystal replied, just before she headed out the door laughing. She wondered how she was going to keep a straight face at the morning staff meeting.

At the staff meeting AJ was handing out assignments and asking questions of his attorneys concerning investigations. After a lengthy discussion with many here herefores and therefores from Harm, Krystal was thinking about the movie the 'King and I' and said out loud, "Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…."

AJ looked up at his sister-in-law and asked," Pardon me, Commander Boone?"

"Excuse me, Sir. I was just trying to tie something Commander Rabb said to another thing I'm working on."

To be continued…