December 20, 2003

Sycamore Street – Falls Church, Virginia

0728 Eastern

Mattie came downstairs, figuring on another silent kitchen. Harm was a late riser on the weekends and the teen didn't expect anything different today. She also knew that his mom and stepdad had flown in from California, so their bodies probably thought it was even earlier than 7:30. What the teen wasn't prepared for was Harm's Grandmother, who was busily working away at the stove as Mattie entered the room.

"Good morning, Mattie," Sarah said from the stove. "Eggs and hash browns sound good?"

"Yes, Mrs. Rabb," Mattie replied.

"Mattie, you heard what I told Beth last night about calling me Grandma. That goes for you too."

Seeing the uncertainty in the teenager's face, Sarah turned down the heat on the stove and pulled the skillets over to unused burners. That done, she went over to Mattie and directed the young woman to a chair before taking the one next to her.

"Mattie, is something wrong, dear?" Sarah asked.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable calling you Grandma, Mrs. Rabb. I mean, I'm not really your great-grandchild," Mattie told her, staring down at her hands.

"In what way aren't you my great-granddaughter? Isn't there a legal document that says Harmon Rabb is your father and you are his daughter? You're a Rabb, by God, and that makes you family. But even more, adoption is something special, child."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, just think about it for a moment. When a child is adopted, it's because the family wants that child. From the little I've heard, my grandson could have just gotten guardianship of you until you were 18, then cut you loose and left you to find your own way. Instead, he chose to adopt you, which means he wants you in his life and so do the rest of us."

"How can you say that?" Mattie asked. "You don't even know me."

"I'd like to try and know you, Mattie. For now, I'm trusting in my grandson. I know that boy well enough to know he wouldn't have adopted you unless there was something special about you, something that made him love you," Sarah Rabb told her before standing up to return to the stove. "Heaven knows that he doesn't give his love easily, which makes winning it all the more precious."

The older woman fixed plates of eggs and hash browns for herself and Mattie, carrying them over to the table as Harm and Beth came downstairs. Harm quickly stepped up to take the plates from his grandmother, who went back to the stove to make more. He placed a plate before Mattie and one in front of Beth, then went to the refrigerator to get drinks out. He and Beth had glasses of tomato juice while Mattie helped herself to a cup of coffee from the brewing pot on the counter.

Everyone was just finishing up when Trish and Frank finally came down, drawn by the smell of frying eggs. Harm, Beth and Mattie quickly moved away so that the Burnetts could sit down, as Sarah went back to work at the stove. Once breakfast was done, the family gathered to discuss the plan for the day. The women would be going shopping, while Harm and Frank did whatever during the afternoon. They would all meet back at the house in the evening for dinner followed by a movie on the television.

Firstly, though, everyone needed to shower and get ready, so it was off to the various bathrooms. The number of people put the hot water tank to the test, which it fortunately passed as a cold shower in December isn't a pleasant experience. It was almost two hours later when everyone was ready to leave, only to be stopped by a knock on the door. Beth happened to be closest, so she was the one who opened the door and proceeded to scream with joy as she saw who was there.

Harm had been standing right behind her and quickly realized what he was seeing. Beth hand her arms wrapped around the neck of an older man and was kissing his cheek, while an older woman stood behind them with an indulgent smile on her face. Looking from Beth to the woman, it was easy to see that was Beth's mother, the resemblance was remarkable. He felt like he was seeing what Beth could look like in twenty years or so and he liked what that could be.

Beth finally stepped back from her father, tears in her eyes. Her father gently brushed the few that spotted her cheeks away, smiling at his only child. The glow on her face filled his heart, as did the sight of the tall man who came up and gently wrapped an arm around her, which served to draw Beth's face away from his to the face of her fiancé then back down.

"Daddy, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Captain Harmon Rabb. Harm, this is my father, John Hawkes."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hawkes," Harm said as he extended his hand.

Jack Hawkes smiled as he gripped the man's hand and squeezed. A lifetime of working outdoors had given the man an impressive grip and a means to measure other men. He believed that a man should have a firm grip and despised weakness and limp handshakes. A smile crossed his face as he noticed Harm didn't flinch from the strong grip, but just naturally returned it. 'Yes,' he thought, 'this man will do.' Jack had never said anything to either his daughter or his wife, but he had not liked Beth's previous fiancé and hadn't been surprised when that relationship had ended. The man had had a weak handshake and that was all Jack Hawkes had needed to believe the man was weak too.

"It's good to meet you too, Captain," Jack finally replied. "Call me Jack."

"Only if you call me Harm, Jack."

"This is my wife, Katherine. Everyone just calls her Kate," Jack told Harm as Beth's mother stepped up, arms opened to hug him.

"I've very pleased to me you, Kate."

As Kate hugged him to her, she whispered into Harm's ear. "Thank you, Harm. Beth's been so happy since you asked her to marry you."

"She can't be any happier than I was when she said yes," Harm whispered back, drawing a pleased chuckle from the woman and a mock-stern glare from Jack.

"What exactly are you whispering to my wife, Captain?"

"He was asking if Beth would be as pretty as me when she got older and I told him that she would as long as he took good care of her," Kate said with an impish grin that was a mirror of Beth's.

"Oh, he'll take good care of her, if he knows what's good for him," Jack mock threatened, drawing laughs from Beth.

"Dad, you can stop the act now. You're not going to frighten Harm anyway," Beth said.

Jack just smiled at his daughter, keeping from laughing by an effort of will. His daughter just knew him too well. Besides, he had no real intention of scaring Harm away, not after seeing the look on his daughter's face whenever she looked at Harm.

Seeing her father smile while remaining silent, Beth took the opportunity to introduce her mother to Harm's family. The women all exchanged brief hugs, seeming to sense an instant connection. No words were really needed before Kate was pulled into the group heading for shopping while Jack was left in the company of Harm and Frank. The women ended up having to take Harm's Lexus so that they could all fit into one car. The men watched them leave before going back into the house, taking some beers from the refrigerator and settling in to watch football on the television.

Sheraton Waikiki Hotel – Honolulu, Hawaii

1259 Eastern/0759 Hawaiian

Mac strolled out of the hotel, dressed for a day at the beach. She'd selected a lime green bikini with matching wrap and carried a large beach bag with suntan lotion, a book to read and a towel in case she felt like taking a swim. The sunny weather and white, sandy beaches immediately had a positive effect on her disposition. As she walked, the problems and cares melted from her, so that by the time she found a lounge chair and settled in Mac was in vacation mode.

Laying her towel over the chair, she lathered on the lotion before laying down and picking up her book. It was a new one that she'd bought in the hotel gift shop last night on a whim. She opened it to where she had left off last night and began to read. It was almost an hour later when she turned over and worked on the tan on her back, surprised by how absorbed in the book she was. Her usual reading selections were non-fiction books on paleontology and the law. Historical fiction wasn't normally something she was interested in, but the author had such an eye for details and an engaging way of telling the story.

Mac marked her place and then turned the book over in her hands. She started with the back cover, then checked the inside flaps of the cover. She was curious about the author, but the only information on the book was a very brief paragraph on the back flip that really told her nothing. Looking inside the book, she found a handful of other titles listed under this one on the first page. She smiled, thinking maybe those would be as good as this one was and mentally reminded herself to get them too.

A slight shadow passed over her as the sun was suddenly blocked. Turning her head, Mac's heart jumped as she saw a man standing there. She had been so absorbed that she hadn't heard anyone approach.

"Excuse me, Miss. Is this chair taken?" the gentleman asked, pointing to the lounger next to her.

"No," Mac said flatly. She wasn't here looking for company and she certainly wasn't interested in some guy on the beach trying to pick her up.

"Do you mind if I leave my things there while I go for a swim?"

"That's fine. I may not be here when you come back, though."

"Not a problem," the man said as he quickly peeled off his shirt and shorts, unconsciously giving Mac a show that had her heart fluttering. The sculpted, athletic body was that of a professional athlete as were the graceful movements, she thought. He was soon wearing only a speedo and a set of goggles, before making a run to the water. Mac watched as he effortlessly broke the waves and headed out to sea, soon becoming only a dot on the water before disappearing from her view.

She turned back to the book and was soon once again lost in the story. She managed to complete a third of the remaining book before she noticed that he was walking towards the chairs, a contented smile spread across his face. Going to his lounger, he grabbed his towel and briskly ran it over his body. As he did so, his face was in profile to Mac and her eyes widened as she realized it was the man who had sat next to her on the flight.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her reaction. He had reached the same realization when he'd first seen her and wondered when she would ultimately make the connection.

"So, we seem to be seatmates once again, Miss," he said with a chuckle.

"I'm beginning to suspect you're following me," Mac replied.

"Well, I'll admit we are on an island, but I'd have to be better than Sherlock Holmes to have known you'd be sunbathing on this particular part of this specific beach at this time in the morning."

Mac had to laugh at that, as the absurdity of her insinuation took root.

"Besides, I've been coming to this beach almost daily since I moved to Hawaii," he added.

"You're not just another tourist, here for the warm sun and beautiful scenery?" Mac asked.

A look crossed the man's face, one that spoke of a deep inner sadness, before he answered her question. Mac was now starting to pay more attention to the man seated next to her, suddenly very interested in who he was.

"No, I came here to get away for a while and just never left," he told her. "Although, the scenery is very beautiful," he added, looking her in the eyes.

"Flatterer," Mac said, with a grin to take any sting out of the words.

"I'll freely admit that, Miss, if you'll tell me you name. It just feels awkward calling you Miss all the time."

"I'm Sarah MacKenzie, but my friends call me Mac."

"Mac? Why in the world would anyone call a beautiful woman like you by such an unattractive name?" the man asked.

"Well, I'm a Marine," Mac said, not really answering the question.

"Do you mind if I call you Sarah, instead?"

"No."

"Well, Sarah. I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Andrew Anderson, but everyone just calls me Andy," the man said.

"And what do you do Andy, when you're not stalking the beaches looking for women to flatter?"

"I am that famous man of leisure these days, Sarah."

"Oh, you mean you're unemployed?" Mac asked with a wide smile, her teasing tone catching them both by surprise.

"I guess you could say that, but by choice," he replied, still laughing for a moment or two. "No, I'm retired now."

"You're far too young to be retired," she protested.

"Sometimes it's not about the years," he simply said before falling silent, his eyes once again showing a sadness that hit Mac's heart like a sledgehammer. After a couple of moments, he noticed her eyes on him and seeing the look in her eyes, he desperately shoved the memories back into the box and plastered a smile on his face. "Besides, how old do you think I am, Sarah?"

Mac gave him a long appraisal before cautiously venturing her guess. "I'd say 35."

Andy laughed brightly at that, running a hand through his blonde hair. "Not even close. I turned 50 last month."

"You certainly don't look it, Andy."

"And now who's flattering whom, Sarah? Although I'll admit the grays in my hair are well hidden by the blonde," he said as he stood up and began gathering his few things together.

Mac watched him as he moved, disappointed that he was obviously leaving. She had begun to enjoy talking with him, once it became clear he wasn't trying to pick her up or something. Now, though, she found herself slightly disappointed that he hadn't tried. So, she resolved to make the first move.

"Would you have dinner with me tonight, Andy?" Mac asked tentatively.

Andy paused as he was pulling his shirt on, surprised by the invitation. Working the shirt over his head, he turned to face her.

"That sounds very nice, Sarah. How about the Beachhouse at the Moana? They've got steaks, seafood and chicken and it's just a couple of resorts over from here, so you can walk over and meet me there. Say 6ish?"

"I'll see you then, Andy."

Andy flashed her a smile as he wrapped the towel around his neck and left. A few minutes later, Mac decided to pack up and go back inside. She planned on a light lunch, followed by a run before getting ready for the evening. A little voice in the back of her head kept insisting that it was too soon to be thinking about a possible date, that Clay had barely been gone a week and that she needed time. But a larger part of her was feeling the start of something, a faint flicker of hope. She planned to carefully nurture that flicker until it could become a fire.

That flicker might have dimmed if she could have seen Andy at that moment. He had made it back to his car by a force of will, getting behind the wheel before locking the doors and breaking down. His sobs came in waves as the memories finally escaped their box and forced their way to the forefront of his mind. He didn't know where his acceptance of Sarah's invitation had come from. Ever since moving to Hawaii, he'd gone out of his way to avoid making friends.

He lived in a walled estate, where his nearest neighbors were almost a mile away in either direction. His journeys into town were to the beach for his daily exercise and to the grocery store once a week, to resupply. His trip back east was the first such since he'd left there and he'd only gone because it was business that he couldn't conduct over the internet. The only two people he saw on a regular basis were the gardener and his housekeeper, Moira. Andy, for the life of him, still couldn't explain why he'd stopped at that chair. There were several closer to the ocean that had been vacant, he hadn't had to take that chair. So why had he?

'Because it is long past time for you to stop morning us, Andrew,' came a whispered voice from his memories. 'Life is for living and it's time you started again.'