Harm's Way
Sorry for the long wait but I finally have a short break between books. Not really but I'm giving myself one anyway. I hope you enjoy this one C and G especially :)
Chapter 41
"Are you sure you're going to be happy with this Mac?" Harm asked. " I mean, you're sure down the track you're not going to look back on this and be sorry that you didn't have a big party?"
"I'm sure. This is a party and everyone that's important to me, that I love, will be here. Besides, we need to reserve some money here Harm. We have three kids to get back to school, two dogs and a baby on the way."
"I'm aware," Harm said, kissing her softly, but nothing is more important to me than your happiness."
"Are you sure you don't want to make this a bigger deal?"
"It makes no matter to me as long as you and the kids are there. I won't cry if the dogs have plans."
Mac giggled.
XXX
"I think Mattie and I should do it." Chloe said.
"Why do you think you would be better at putting up a sign than me."
"Because you're tall and she isn't tall. The damn sign is crooked! Anyway, what makes you think that you'd be better at it just because you're a boy?"
Josh rolled his eyes. "Go ahead Miss I know absolutely everything."
"Thanks, don't mind if I do." she said poking out her tongue as she took his place on the chair he just vacated.
"Will you two stop arguing for just a minute. We need to get this up so we can finish blowing up the balloons. The guests are gonna be here for the engagement barbecue in two hours!"
"That's right Josh!" Chloe sassed. "You don't want to ruin the party!"
"Why don't you just look at what you're doing! It's still crooked."
"Now it's not," Chloe said, sticking double sided tape on her end. "Next?"
"Balloons," Harm said, "and keep the arguing down. I want Mac to be able to rest until the party."
"You really should have organised the wedding by now," Mattie said. "Mac only has like a month to go."
"Yeah, you don't want the baby to be a bast…" Chloe added helpfully.
"Finish that sentence and you will spend the entire party standing up," Harm said.
"You know what I mean. You want to be legit don't you?"
"We're on to it Chloe."
"Okay.."
"Come on. The others will be here soon."
"We're here!" Jen said from the doorway. "I came with Bud and Harriet in the family van." She carried one twin on each hip.
"Hello, hello, where do you want the cake?" Harriet beamed.
"Shouldn't Bud be carrying that for you?" Harm asked with a grin.
"Harriet would rather I corralled the boys." Bud chuckled. "Say hello boys."
"Hello!" the chorused.
"Where's the ugly dog?" A J asked.
"In the backyard, " Josh said.
"Hey! My dog's not ugly, she's special."
"I didn't say I didn't like her," A J said, but she isn't pretty."
"Hmmphhff, " Chloe huffed. "This is not pick on Chloe day."
"The cake Harm?"
"Sorry Harriet," Harm said. He pointed at Chloe and then at the balloons. "Kitchen please, I really appreciate you doing that for us," Harm said. "I made a space in the fridge."
"Where's Mac?"
"Upstairs resting. You can go on up and see her if you like."
Harriet grinned. "You behave yourself A J. It isn't nice to call the dog names."
"But you and Daddy said she was ugly."
"You need to talk to that little boy about what comes our of our house and what stays in there." Harriet said quietly to Bud.
She took the bags that Bud had been carrying from him and ran up the stairs."
"What's with the mysterious bags?" Mattie asked.
"Who knows, some baby clothes or something probably," Bud said grabbing at his youngest son James as he made a run for the open back door.
"They came from your house and you don't know what they are?" Chloe asked.
"Don't speak to Bud like that!" You better go and wrap that mouth around some balloons.
"That is weird though." she said but she went fast and she gave Harm a wide birth as she did so.
XXX
"Don't you think it's a little strange that Harm is getting some catering people in to cook the barbecue?" Chloe asked Maddie when they were out of the adult's ear shot.
"No, they probably just want to have the chance to talk to their guests and not worry about the food."
"I guess. Oh well, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth. This is better looking food than when Harm grills."
"Yummy," Mattie giggled. "Pretend meat."
"Pretend charcoaled meat." Chloe pretended to put her fingers down her throat. "So gross."
XXX
The place was filling, mostly with people from Jag. "Do you think it's a bit odd that Rear Admiral Chegwidden isn't hear?" Josh asked Mattie.
"I thought that," she answered.
"See, I told you something was going on."
"Okay smart ass what?" Josh asked. "You have all the answers, what do you think is going on Chlo?"
"I don't know exactly. Just something, that's all." She looked over at the presents. "They got a lot of presents."
"I wonder what's in them?"
"Toasters and stuff probably."
"Boring." Mattie said.
Suddenly, Bud, wearing his uniform dinged a spoon gently on a wine glass. "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, I would like to introduce you to the man and woman of the hour, but I can't."
"Huh?" Mattie wrinkled her nose, maybe Chloe was on to something, this was weird.
"So I'll just introduce you to Harm who will explain.
Harm came out of the shadows wearing his uniform. "Hi." he said. "I want to thank you all for coming here today to help us celebrate our long overdue engagement," he said.
"Where's Mac?" Chloe asked.
Harm covered his lips with a finger. "We have a surprise. After thinking long and hard about this, and I have to apologise to our children, Mac and I have decided to go ahead and tie the knot while our friends are all here."
"What?" Mattie said.
"Wow, I never would have guessed that." Chloe said.
Josh just nodded, he was stunned.
"This is great!" Mattie said.
"Finally." Chloe agreed.
"What she said." Josh said.
"Good, cos we're about to start."
Music started to play 'All You Need Is Love' and soon Harriet walked down the stairs carrying a bouquet of pretty pink roses but Harms eyes were above her, watching as the love of his life glided down the stairs on the Admiral's arm. She was beaming, her long white gown discretely slithering over her large bump.
XXX
"Harmon Rabb, " The minister said. "Do you take Sarah Mackenzie to be your lawfully married wife?"
"I do." Harm said, gazing lovingly into Mac's eyes.
"Sarah Mackenzie, Do you take this man to be your lawfully married husband?"
"Uh…" Mac said. Her eyes suddenly wide with fear. "I, uh…"
"Mac?" Harms voice came out of him like a strangled cat.
"Sorry, I um…" Mac leaned in and whispered in his ear, not as softly as she thought. "My water just broke."
Harm's mouth dropped open.
"Ok then. " the Minister said. "We can do the quick version. Do you take this man?"
"I do."
"Good. You are now husband and wife. You may take your wife to the hospital!" The minister walked away shaking his head. "You young people...always in a rush to do everything." he muttered.
Not the end here either.
Check out my new book on Amazon, Monkey Business. It will give you a laugh, I promise :)