Chapter 81

"Here, let daddy have his little Angel. She scared daddy, didn't you, sweetheart?" asked AJ, taking Angela from Sarah and kissing the sweet-smelling baby.

Sarah stood and watched father and daughter bond, thinking how perfect they looked together. Suddenly, she remembered she had a flash of memory to tell AJ about. "Darling, I was just about to tell you about my flash of memory," Sarah tried again.

"That's wonderful, sweetheart. Can you take Angel while I return the SECNAV's call? If I don't call him back within the next few minutes, he'll be leaving his office. He had some papers he wanted to go over with me. Sorry, Darlin'," he apologized, handing Angela to her and heading to his office. Locking himself in his office, he sat there wondering how he could put her good news off much longer. He hated lying to her. But it was either do that or lose her forever. He didn't think his heart could stand the loss. He knew when she left she'd take his Angel with her and that would take all the love and happiness from his life.

Sarah called him for dinner and AJ waited as long as he could before going to the dining room. It was quiet and just the two of them. There was no, 'How was our day?', or 'What did the SECNAV want?'. "Guess what I remembered today?" Sarah asked.

"What, Darlin'?" he asked reluctantly. Just then Angela started to cry. AJ jumped up from the table, nearly knocking over his chair. "I'll get her. You must be tired. Why don't you take a bath and go to bed early tonight, Sarah? You do so much for us, let me do this for you, sweetheart, please," he begged.

"Well, a long hot bath does sound wonderful," she stopped and looked at the dirty dishes.

"I'll clean up the dishes and the kitchen. It's about time Angel learned her father knows his way around the house as well as the office," smiled AJ.

"If you really don't mind, then I think I will take you up on that offer," Sarah said, getting up and going into the bathroom.

AJ went to pick up the crying Angela. "Thank you, sweet Angel. You just helped get daddy out of a world of trouble," he said kissing her. "Daddy loves his Angel."

Thursday, April 22, 2004

1900 EST

Chegwidden home

McLean, Virginia

Several more days went by before Sarah's next flash of memory; it started with an uncomfortable moment…

That evening, after dinner, Mac tentatively asked, "AJ, would it be all right if I did a load of laundry tonight? Both Angela and I need some clean clothes."

"Sarah! Why do you think you need to ask me that? This is your home, you can do whatever you want or needs to be done!" He was surprised that she felt the need to ask.

"I'm sorry, AJ, it's just awkward."

"Being married to me?" he asked, wounded.

"Heavens no! That is as natural as breathing and as wonderful as having Angela in our lives! I just meant that with the memory loss it was awkward to think of this as 'our' home. It's always been 'your' house to me."

"Well, not anymore darling, look around, all your things are here…this is our home."

"I know, I'm just being silly." They both heard Angela wake and start crying. Going into the nursery, Mac said, "It's a shame this room is blue for our Angel."

"I told you we were expecting a boy, Sarah. Would you like me to repaint it pink?"

"PINK! NO!"

"Then what?" he asked, bewildered.

"I just think you have an unfair advantage with her room being blue, Navy man…it should be Marine green!" she teased as she finished diapering Angela.

Laughing he said, "Not going to happen, Darlin'! Angel is going Navy all the way! You can corrupt the next one!"

"Next one! AJ, Angel is not even a month old yet! How soon do you want another?"

To be continued….