Chapter 29

When they were all at Callisto's, Harriett suggested that they do the bouquet and garter tosses before they ate. Jen Coates and the two teens were the only unmarried females there so Mattie and Chloe weren't too surprised when Mac threw her flowers almost directly to Jen. However, Jen wished that Harm had taken note of the fact that she caught it, and had realized that he should marry her!

Mac apologized for not having a garter for AJ to throw, but there were three men who were actually glad of the fact. AJ was pretty sure that Harm wouldn't want to be expected to get involved in the garter tossing. Sturgis, as the only single male other than Harm, wasn't ready to be thinking of marriage yet. Harm was pretty sure that he would have walked out then and there, rather than stand there trying to catch the garter of the woman he should have married!

Not unexpectedly, Harm and Mattie made their excuses and left the restaurant right after they'd eaten. That however, lightened the mood and the rest of the afternoon took on a real party atmosphere. The only change in that was as people started to leave, they knew that AJ and Mac were going to spend the next day in McLean, but come Monday morning they would be taking off for California.

Each of them said good-bye to the newlyweds and made promises to stay in touch. When only Bud and Harriett were left with them, the four shared hugs all around and both women even shed a few tears. Knowing how much they were going to miss Mac and AJ, Bud came up with an idea, "I know you two will probably be busy with last minute packing and such, so I was thinking that Harriett and I could bring you lunch tomorrow and help you get the Escalade loaded. That way you'd have more time for…ummmm…that is, you could be…ummmm…"

With a purely male smile, AJ helped out the floundering younger man, "We'd have more time for 'honeymoon activities'?"

Blushing, Bud nodded that that was what he'd meant.

Everyone laughed when Mac answered, "Thank you very much, Bud, we would love that!"

They had dropped Francesca off at the Willard at her insistence that she not intrude on their wedding night, and arranged for Bud and Harriett to bring her with them when the came to lunch the next day. Her flight home was Sunday evening and Bud had volunteered to take her to the airport so AJ and Mac could have as much time as possible for 'honeymoon activities'.

The drive back to McLean never seemed so long. For the couple in the Escalade it seemed never ending. Since neither wanted to be stopped and waste time getting ticketed for not wearing their seatbelts, they had to content themselves with clasped hands and heated glances. When they finally arrived, AJ told her to 'stay put' and hurried around to her side of the vehicle.

Opening the door he scooped her up into his arms after undoing her seatbelt and started for the house. Giggling, Mac protested, "You're just supposed to carry me across the threshold not all the way from the car silly!"

"As I said before, I don't want to get anything wrong with you, Sarah, so better safe than sorry."

"Oh AJ!" she sighed, hugging his neck as he maneuvered them through the door, "We're going to be just fine! Please don't worry so! We'll get through anything that comes our way together, okay?"

"I will try and remember that," he told her, carrying her into the bedroom. "But for now, why don't we concentrate on those 'honeymoon activities'?"

"Oooooh, I like the way you think sailor!" she replied as he released her legs and let her body slide along his until she was on her own two feet again.

To be continued….