Chapter 90

The next week passed pretty quietly at the Chegwidden household. Mac was going out of her mind, because she was still not allowed to drive, and she wasn't yet feeling strong enough to go out for her normal runs. She loved being home and taking care of Angela, but she needed to find something to do to keep her mind occupied.

Sunday, May 1, 2004

1300 EST

Chegwidden home

McLean, Virginia

Mac and AJ had just finished eating lunch when the phone rang, because Angela had just gone down for her nap, they both reached for it to stop the ringing as quickly as possible. AJ was just a split second faster and lifted the receiver to his ear, "Chegwidden," he said.

"AJ, what the hell is this FISH doing on my doorstep?" yelled Webb, so loudly that Mac could hear him clearly, even though she was two feet from the phone.

"What fish would that be, Webb?" AJ asked with a smirk.

"You know damn well what fish!" Webb growled.

"Oh, that blue marlin I caught! Yeah, I had it sent to your place in case it got back before we did. I can pick it up tomorrow," AJ laughed, picturing Webb's face when he had taken the delivery.

Mac sank into the nearest chair. It was happening again, she was remembering. AJ pulling in the huge fish and then her saying that if he could do it, so could she. Then a short time later, she was pulling in a fish of her own and it turned out to be a shark and they would not let her keep it. And for some reason, Webb was acting as a deckhand? What was that all about? Shaking and confused, she looked up to find that AJ had hung up the phone and was kneeling in front of her.

"You remembered something?" he asked with a concerned look.

"Yes, but it was so odd…we were on a boat and fishing…you caught a big fish and I caught a shark? And Clay was the deckhand? It makes no sense, AJ! What's going on?"

"Darling…"

She could tell from the look on his face what he was going to say. "I know! I know! You can't tell me!" she shouted, jumping to her feet and starting to pace the room. "It's all so frustrating!"

"I know it is, Sarah, and I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you things."

"AJ, please tell me one thing…it's just a little thing…I can't see how it could matter, but it would mean so much to me…"

"If I can, Sarah. What is it you want to know?" he asked, dreading what this request might be.

"I want to know when our anniversary is. What day did we get married? Please, AJ, just the date, no details…"

Sarah was so earnest and seemed so desperate to know this one thing. He considered all the possible negative effects it could have and really could not find any. So he said, "We were married on April 18." All he omitted was the year.

A stricken look came over her face and AJ quickly asked, "What is it, Sarah? What's wrong?"

"That was two weeks ago!"

"Yes…"

"We missed our first anniversary! We were supposed to get out the top of our wedding cake and share it. And I spoiled it all!" She was crying now.

"Sarah, you couldn't help the accident and we did get Angela out of the deal, so I wouldn't call it completely spoiled," AJ tried to reassure her.

"But we didn't eat our cake topper! Let me go and get it from the freezer and we can have it tonight after dinner."

"It's not here, darling!"

"It's not? Then where is it?" She was puzzled.

Lying through his teeth now, AJ told her, "We were leaving on our honeymoon right after the reception, so Harriett said she would take it home with her. I guess she still has it."

"Oh," Mac sighed sadly.

"How would it be if I called her and asked her to bring it to work tomorrow? I could bring it home with me and we could have a special dinner, followed by our cake."

"AJ, I may have forgotten some things, but have you forgotten my cooking leaves a lot to be desired?"

"No, darling, I haven't. I'll set some steaks out and you can do the baked potatoes and salad."

"Okay," she smiled. Just then, Angela decided to make it known that she had not liked the loud voices. Mac headed to the nursery to soothe her, while AJ started towards the office to call Harriett.

Over her shoulder, Mac called back to him, "By the way, darling, just so you realize it, you just gave me information on our wedding reception and nothing bad happened."

AJ stopped in his tracks, stunned, he had done just that! Even though he had made it up, he had told her something he shouldn't have. Calling himself all kinds of a fool, he went into the office to place a call to Harriett, to make his lie as much of a reality as he could.

To be continued….