| Subject: Re: How We Became Us C3/9 |
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fananicfan
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Date Posted: 22:10:59 05/01/07 Tue
In reply to:
fananicfan
's message, "How We Became Us - story after Custody in the series" on 22:53:25 04/29/07 Sun
Here it is - wedding day.
CHAPTER THREE – Wedding Day
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Chapel at Annapolis
Bride's Room
Two hours prior to the wedding
Jennifer had arrived early at Mac's hotel to bring the wedding dress that had been purposely left behind yesterday so that Harm wouldn't see it when he and Mac had loaded the car. Jennifer hadn't left Mac's room yet when the room phone rang. The limousine had arrived, so Jennifer joined Chloe and Mac in the limo ride to the chapel. After dropping off the ladies at the academy, the driver was to turn around and pick up Harm and Mattie from the hotel. The newlyweds would arrive back at the hotel via the limousine for the reception, thus leaving Harm's rental car at the hotel as a means of escaping to start their honeymoon.
Capri Hotel - Mac's room
One and a half hours prior to wedding
With Mac at the chapel, Harm could change in Mac's hotel room. He went to get the key from his parents and to leave Mattie and her dress with them while he changed clothes. Soon after Harm had left for Mac's room, Frank excused himself to 'go check on the limousine'. Actually, Frank really went to check on Harm.
Frank knocked firmly against the door with the hand not holding a glass. Harm had worn an undershirt, so changing wouldn't take very long. He answered the door, already wearing his white pants and the uniform top, although it was still unbuttoned.
"Frank?" Harm questioned.
"Drink this."
"What is it?"
"Bourbon, straight up."
"I'm okay, Frank."
"Sure you are...right now...but in a couple of hours, when you see that beautiful woman walking towards you in her gown, you'll be glad you took the edge off."
Harm took the glass, but didn't drink from it. Instead, he set it on the table near the door. "Actually, I'm glad you stopped by. I want to ask you a question." After looking down to make sure that he'd matched up the first button to the correct button hole, Harm looked directly at Frank. "How does Mom really feel about Mattie?"
"Harm, you should ask her."
"I asked you because you've always told me the truth, even when I didn't want to hear it." Harm knew that he had Frank's attention so, as he continued to button his uniform, he began to pace. He was going to say things that were hard for him to admit and he couldn't look Frank in the eye until he'd gotten it out. "Don't get me wrong. I don't think that my mother's lied to me, but in her attempts not to hurt me, she hasn't always been as straightforward as you've been. Do you remember the conversation that you and I had the day you were marrying my mother? I'd been acting out for months, and the wedding day had finally arrived and I was full speed ahead on trying to stop it. I remember that you got down on my level and looked me in the eye. I don't remember the whole conversation, but I do recall two things you said. 'Harm, the first thing you need to know is that causing a scene today isn't going to get me to leave, but it will hurt your mother. I know that you love her and you don't want to do that.' You were right. The other thing you said that day was about my dad, and I definitely didn't want to hear it, but it was the first time that anyone had ever said it. 'I know that I'm not your dad and I know that your mother loved him very much, but he's gone. I know that you want him to be out there somewhere, but I don't think that's possible. If I thought that he were out there, I'd get him back for you and your mother, because I love you both and I want you to be happy.' So, Frank, I need to know. How does my mother feel about Mattie?"
Frank was a little shocked to hear Harm talk about that day as if he'd learned a life lesson. "It isn't Mattie. It's her age. She isn't sure what to say or do with a teenager. When a grandchild enters the picture, one usually gets to know them as they grow, whether that's by babysitting or pictures. I think she feels a little robbed of baby clothes shopping. I think she's also worried that she's never going to get to see a child that looks like you and, therefore, your father. She's moved on, Harm, but she hasn't forgotten what she had with him."
Harm had finished buttoning his whites. He reached out and patted Frank's shoulder. "You see, I knew you'd have the answer. Maybe you can explain to her how a man can love a child who isn't his. I should have said it a long time ago, but it's taken me longer than most to get to a place where I recognize what you did for me. I know that I didn't always listen, but I learned a lot of things from you, Frank. Today, I want to say thanks." Frank was filled with emotion, and embraced Harm in a father and son style hug. The brief hug broken, Harm spotted the glass of bourbon on the table. "You sure about this?" Harm asked while raising the glass.
"I haven’t lied to you yet. I wouldn't advise more than one, but when you see your bride walking down the aisle towards you, you'll get butterflies, and it'll be good if they're a little stunned."
Harm downed the shot before the two men left Mac's room. Frank had a glassy look in his eyes, and his wife wondered what had happened, but he waved off her question before she could ask in a way that only people who really know each other can communicate.
The room phone rang moments after the men entered the room. The limousine was here for him, Mattie, Mac's uncle and his parents. The party met in the lobby and was soon on their way to the chapel.
Chapel at Annapolis
Forty-five minutes before the wedding
Bride's room
Once Mac had dressed and Harriet had attached Mac's veil, Mac began to pace. She said that it was so that she wouldn't wrinkle her dress, but no one believed that story. Today, she was a bride, and nerves were permitted.
There was a knock at the door, and Mac was halfway to it before Harriet cut her off. "A bride doesn't answer her own door." Mac nodded and resumed pacing. Mac couldn't hear the person at the door, but she didn't have to play guessing games because Harriet moved to let the person into the room. It was Mattie.
Mattie's arrival signaled to all that Harm had also arrived. After Mattie had changed into her dress, the conversation in the bride's room went quickly from complimenting Mattie on how lovely she looked in her dress to talking about Harm.
Twenty-five minutes before the wedding
Bride's room
A knock on the door had everyone except Mac looking at their watch. "I still have twenty-four minutes and thirty-two seconds until my wedding starts."
Mac couldn't believe it. During the planning, she hadn't used the term 'my' wedding once, but she just had. For the first time, she believed that her wedding to Harm was going to happen.
The visitor at the door was Harm's mother. Mac swallowed hard, hoping that she wasn't here to stop the wedding. Trish asked for a moment with Mac and Mattie. The three of them went to the dressing area. "I know that you don't have much time left before you marry my son, so I'll be brief. When we left the hotel, Frank was upset. He'd been talking to Harm, and I thought the worst."
Mac was trying to pay attention, but she was getting married in a few minutes, and she really didn't care if Harm and Frank had had a fight or not.
"After we arrived here, I asked Frank what had happened. He said that he'd talked to Harm many times in the past as a father, but for the first and, perhaps only time that it would ever happen, today, they'd had a father and son talk." Trish was starting to tear up. "Frank says that Harm loves the two of you very much. He also says that you two are perfect for him because he's a better man with the two of you in his life." Trish looked directly into Mattie's eyes. "I know that yesterday was uncomfortable for you, but it's a bit hard for a mother who was expecting to someday have a grandbaby to be introduced to her beautiful, almost grown-up granddaughter. I hope that you'll forgive me."
"I don't remember my grandparents, so I probably didn't know what to do either," Mattie replied.
"Thank you," Trish said before giving Mattie a big hug. To keep the tears from putting streaks in her makeup, she took a tissue out of her purse and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Trish turned to Mac. "Do you love my son?'
"Yes, ma'am, very much."
"Then I wish you the very best. Have you gone over your checklist yet? You know, something old, new, borrowed, blue and a lucky sixpence in your shoe?"
"No, ma'am"
"Call me Trish, dear. We're going to be family shortly. The dress serves as something new, and I hope that you can use a couple of things that I brought." Trish reached into her purse and pulled out a square box. "This should cover the old, borrowed, blue and sixpence." Mac opened the box and stared at the contents. "I'm afraid that I lost the original box years ago. Harm Sr. saved for months to buy that necklace for me. He gave it to me for our anniversary the year that he was shot down. It might sound silly, but if you wear it when you marry our son, it'll allow him to be here somehow." The tissue was back up at her eyes again, and she was dabbing at her eyes with it.
Mac took the platinum chain out of the box and let the heart shaped pendant drop while admiring the sapphires embedded in the face. Dangling from the center of the heart was a one carat diamond. In the bottom of the box was a silver dime.
Trish had regained her poise and spoke again. "I loved sapphires, and he said that he loved me so it was the perfect gift. I was crying, so I don't think it was the real reason, but my Harm said that the diamond was so that Tom wouldn't think that he was cheap. The silver dime is the one that I had in my shoe on my wedding day. Harm's grandmother, Sarah, gave it to me. She couldn't be here today. She said that the trip was too much, but I was to be sure that you got the dime that she'd used on her wedding day as well." Trish reached inside her purse to get Mac a tissue this tme.
Mac continued to dab at her tears with the tissue, hoping not to ruin her makeup as Trish put the necklace on her. Trish hugged Mac. Pulling out of the embrace, Trish said, "You're a beautiful bride, and my son is a very lucky man. Now, I'd better get to my seat so this wedding can start."
Mac said "thank you," and Trish left the room as Harriet entered. It was time to double check Mac's hair, makeup, veil, well - everything. While Harriet completed her inspection, Mattie told Mac how beautiful she looked. After Harriet completed her once over, Mac slipped off a shoe and slipped the dime inside. She slipped the shoe back on and embraced Mattie. She couldn't express it at the moment, but she hoped that, one day, Mattie would find a man like Harm and be as happy as she was at this moment. As the two generations hugged, they could hear the faint strains of the organ as the prelude music began filling the chapel. Harriet immediately went into wedding planner mode upon hearing the music, lining up the bridesmaids and giving last minute instructions as she did so.
Mac stood looking at herself in the mirror in front of her. She didn't feel or look very much like a Marine today. She brushed the front of her satin dress with her palms. Today, she looked and felt like a woman, a very lucky woman. Harriet's voice broke through her thoughts. "It's time," Harriet said from the doorway behind her.
"I'm ready," Mac said as she turned to follow Harriet out of the dressing area and the bride’s room.
Fifteen minutes before the wedding
Groom's room
Bud and the rest of his groomsmen were already in the room when Harm had arrived thirty minutes ago. Bud seemed to be as nervous as when he'd married Harriet, and his habit of announcing the time every two minutes was starting to take a toll on Harm's nerves. Harm wasn't nervous. He was just ready to get married, and he knew that he was marrying the right woman, so there was no reason to be nervous. A knock on the door caused Bud to almost jump out of his skin.
It was Chaplain Turner, wanting a few moments with the groom before performing the ceremony. After Chaplain Turner finished speaking with Harm, he asked Mac's uncle to follow him. It was time for people to start taking their places.
Five minutes before the wedding
Groom's room
Bud looked at Harm. “Are you ready, sir? It’s time.”
“Bud, today you’re my best man. Do you think you could call me Harm?”
“I’ll try…Harm.”
“Let’s go, Bud.” Harm and his groomsmen moved from the room to take their places.
Bridal party
Same time
The processional had begun. Her wedding had begun. As Harriet moved forward in front of them, Matt looked at his niece.
"Sarah, you look beautiful."
"Thank you."
"Do you love him?"
“With all my heart.”
"Then get ready. You're about to make your big entrance."
Harm stood in front of the altar with Bud at his side. Harriet was walking towards them, the last one before Mac. Harm had thought that he'd be nervous once the ceremony had actually started, but he was absolutely calm.
When the first notes of the wedding march were heard, Harm unwittingly began to hold his breath as he watched eagerly for Mac to appear. Mac and her uncle, arm in arm, came into view. They stopped momentarily under the arch that marked the entrance to the sanctuary, per instructions from Harriet at the rehearsal, for dramatic effect and to allow the photographer to get one clean shot.
Harm's eyes looked at the woman who was about to walk towards him. He let out the breath that he'd been holding. He took in another breath, letting it out slowly as he looked at his bride. She was wearing a shining gown, probably satin. It had a scoop neck with three-quarter length sleeves. It was the dress from his dream of their marriage that he'd pictured many times. He tried to breathe normally as Mac walked towards him. Her hair was down, framing her face. No veil covered her face. Instead, she had something in her hair to which the veil was attached, and the material flowed down her back from it. Mac took another step closer and, just as Frank had predicted, the butterflies began to flap wildly in his stomach. She took another step closer, and he struggled to breathe. The diamond and sapphire necklace that was hanging around Mac's neck sparkled in the candlelight as she took another step closer. The necklace looked familiar to him. It was the necklace that his mother had worn every day for many months after his father had been shot down. The momentary distraction of remembering the necklace's origin allowed him to regain his composure and, just in time, because Mac was only a step away.
Mac relinquished her uncle's arm and moved her bouquet to her left hand. Her uncle kissed her cheek and reached for her wrist. He moved her hand to Harm’s now extended hand.
Harm’s eyes hadn't left his bride's, so when Chaplain Turner’s spoke, it startled him. Harm and Mac turned towards the altar to listen.
Chaplain Turner began “We are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The state of matrimony should not be taken lightly…” He spoke about love and the institution of marriage for a few minutes before he said, “If there is anyone who knows of a reason that these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Chaplain Turner continued after a brief pause that would allow someone to object if they desired. "Do you, Harmon Rabb, Junior, take Sarah MacKenzie to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.”
“Then repeat after me. I, Harmon, take you, Sarah, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love." Harm repeated each vow with sincerity in his eyes and a smile on his lips. "I will cherish our union and I will love you more each day than I did the day before. ... I will be your partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as in sorrow. ... I promise to love you unconditionally, and to honor and respect you for as long as we both shall live."
“Do you, Sarah MacKenzie, take Harmon Rabb, Junior to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“Then repeat after me. I, Sarah, take you, Harmon, to be my husband.” Mac repeated his words until she’d completed the same vows that Harm had taken.
“These two have chosen to exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other."
"Harmon, place the ring on her finger and say these words. I give this ring to you as a symbol of my constant faith and devotion." Harm slipped the gold band with three small diamonds onto her finger and repeated the words previously spoken.
"Sarah, place the ring on his finger and say these words. I give this ring to you as a symbol of my constant faith and devotion." Mac slipped the plain gold band onto Harm's finger, and her voice was shaky as she repeated the words that echoed in her head.
"I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
“A collective sigh could be heard as the bride and groom’s lips came together in a sweet and traditional kiss.
The formal wedding turned military as the newly wedded couple exited the chapel. The command “Officers, draw, swords" was uttered by Lt. Commander Roberts. As Harm had done for him, Bud continued to issue the orders. "Arch swords. ... Blades to the wind. ... Presenting for the first time in public, Captain and Mrs. Harmon Rabb, Junior." Bud even duplicated Harm’s performance by including the “Go Navy” swat to Mac's rump. Bud had considered not doing the swat at the end because, when Harm had done it to the new Mrs. Roberts, the new Mrs. Roberts hadn’t outranked him and wasn't a Marine who could do him bodily harm. Bud, at the last minute, hoped that Colonel MacKenzie would understand the tradition and not make him pay for it later. Bud needn't have worried, because the Marine wasn’t present today, only the woman who was in love and having the most wonderful day of her life.
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