| Subject: Past Sins and Compassion, the Return (Part 11) |
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Maximus
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Date Posted: 15:09:11 11/09/08 Sun
In reply to:
Maximus
's message, "Past Sins and Compassion, the Return" on 16:06:33 07/31/08 Thu
Title: Past Sins and Compassion, the Return. (Part 11)
Author: Maximus
(From part 10)
They stayed Friday and drove the area absorbing everything they could of Belleville. Later in the afternoon Sarah made a call to the CPA firm setting the client meeting for 10:00 on Tuesday September 2nd. They spent the evening cuddling and watching TV. They found a release for each other and could hardly wait until the doctor let them be together the way they needed to be.
They left early on Saturday morning mainly because the need for the children was compelling. They were more than happy to admit that they were like “married people with children.” They made the remainder of the weekend fun for everyone and went to Frank and Trish’s place for a bar-b-que and swimming on Labor Day.
Part 11
Tuesday found Harm back to work and Sarah meeting with the CPA’s and clients. She put on her program explaining that the wife would receive everything possible under the law which was frankly very little but also explained the three children were to receive the bulk of the estate. Since this was completely different than what the wife had expected, the wife challenged and the meeting was called off until 14:00 so her attorney could be present.
Sarah made the same presentation at 14:00 with the wife’s Middle Eastern looking attorney present and things came to an impasse. After he challenged, Sarah gave him copies of the court’s decision and a list of legal documents for his study. After the clients left, Sarah explained the law to the CPAs as it pertained to the wills and trusts that the other attorney had crafted. She suggested that the clients might have legal recourse against an attorney that knowingly drew up documents that did not reflect known fact about the resident alien status of the wife. She let them know that facts like that might be in her legal opinion but she would not pursue it against another attorney leaving them to deal with it if they chose to. She told them that she would file papers with the court to move the other attorney into action.
Wednesday was a red letter day as Katie boarded the bus with AJ to go to her first day of kindergarten. Sarah followed the bus finding what route it took to get back to the school. She remained in the shadows watching her daughter as Katie tried to become part of the class. The day proved to be got-wrenching as she watched Katie being happy and being under stress at different times. Katie finished the day happy but a little war weary. She had many things to tell her mom and dad when he got home. Harm listened with interest as he marveled at the happiness of his little girl.
Harm and Sarah enjoyed a quiet time after everyone was in bed as they looked over Sarah’s calendar. She was about ready to start the thermometer stage of the month watching for the starting day of her ovulation. Harm reminded her that he had been looking for something to make their wedding day special and thought he had found it. They counted the days and felt that Saturday October 4th would be the optimal day for conception to take place. They talked and both agreed that he should find if his plans could happen then.
On Thursday morning, Harm called Chaplain Tuner and explained what he wanted to do special and asked for his advice and help. Since the chaplain knew his way around the navy, he agreed to help with the details. Harm next called a jeweler he had done business with and made an appointment for Friday noon so he and Sarah could bring Harriet’s rings and have them redesigned for them. He called and confirmed the time with Sarah and explained the special wedding plans the chaplain would help him with.
At the jewelers meeting, Harm and Sarah tried to be very clear as to what they wanted the rings to look like when finished because Harm wanted Gram’s diamond added to Sarah’s ring which meant it would have one large and two smaller diamonds on it. They agreed with what the jeweler finally recommended and were told it would take a couple weeks to complete.
Sarah received a call on the following Tuesday from another CPA firm and agreed to look over their problem and make a recommendation. She liked this firm because her contact there was Evelyn Rice who was smart as a whip and Sarah could see her as a challenge. Most of her afternoons now had a work component of 4 hours since Nancy was working out great with the children.
Sarah received a call on the 9th informing her she was to attend a hearing on the 15th to hear the final disposition of inquiries made by the wife’s attorney.
She attended her OBGYN appointment on the 10th and was told things were coming along fine but was not given the green light for normal relations. She knew that they could continue as they had but being around Harm made doing without very difficult.
The court hearing on September 15 confirmed everything she had discussed before and a new court document authorized how the distribution was to proceed. She was excused from the hearing but understood very well that the other attorney was going to get reamed pretty bad. Mr. Reese asked her to meet with his clients at 10:00 on Wednesday morning to explain what was going to happen and asked her to develop a plan as how the wife and mother might receive enough money to survive and keep the family home.
Since some of the distribution information would be included in her legal opinion, she spent almost all of Tuesday forming up legal ways that the 3 children could help their mother since they would receive over $ 3 million each. Her meeting the next day went well and since each child and their spouse could gift at least $11,000 to anyone each year, combined they could give her at least $ 66,000 and when added to her assets, she could do OK. They went over other ways to also help her.
They discussed when other assets could and would be sold so a time line for final distribution could be developed. Mr. Reese took charge and authorized a token payment of $500,000 to each child and the allowable $100,000 to the mother. Sarah could see that some of the asset sales were going to take time but the legal decisions had been formalized leaving only the final distributions.
The next day Mr. Reese authorized an intermediate payment of $15,000 to Sarah knowing the remainder would be due when the estate was finally put to bed. Sarah was receiving other legal work as time passed but mostly legal opinion work.
Sarah received a call on the 22nd from the court explaining that after reviewing both the forms for legal name change and adoption of AJ, the powers-to-be had determined that Harm and Sarah would solve all legal items at one time if they went thru the full adoption procedure making him a Rabb. Sarah talked with Harm at length and they decided to do it even though it would take more time, it was best for AJ. Sarah requested all new adoption forms be sent out since it had to be rewritten and after October 4th she could sign as his new mother, Sarah Rabb.
Thursday, 2 October started off normally until Harm received a call from SECNAV demanding his presence at 10:30. Harm called for his car and gathered the latest budget report since he assumed it was going to be discussed. Harm took his seat after being admitted and the SECNAV came around the desk and made a big deal out of turning on a recorder on his desk. He said many things and ranted and raved and Harm just listened and nodded his head every once in a while.
The SECNAV made him a deal he could not refuse and Harm accepted. At the appointed time, SECNAV’s aide came in and assisted as Harm received 3 stars instead of two being now advanced to Vice Admiral. SECNAV ejected the tape in the recorder and added it to 4 tapes, pictures of Sarah, and the NCIS folder with Sarah’s name on it and handed everything to Harm as was agreed upon. After it was over, Harm decided to keep his promotion as a surprise and replaced the 2 stars on his collar. He had his driver stop at the dry cleaners that sowed stripes on and left his coat to have the new gold stripes added so he could pick it up later that evening. Harm had them put the coat in a dark bag when he picked it up later to maintain the surprise.
Harm had taken Friday off and everyone was told Thursday night to be ready early to ride to Norfolk to have a day of fun at Six Flags amusement park. The faithful weekend had arrived but Sarah and Harm had kept most of the details to themselves. Frank and Trish knew the wedding was to happen but had told them they would be there for them and do what ever was needed to make it special for the children.
They took both electric vans and upon arrival, they checked into two rooms at the Marriot and then stopped thru a drive-in for food on the way to the park. After getting the tickets, everyone made their way to the first ride and AJ took over to go on the smaller rides with the girls. All four adults watched and took the time to talk together. Harm and Sarah explained the grand plan and everyone agreed to make it a surprise for the children.
Harm called the chaplain on the ship to make sure everything was going as planned and the agreed upon time was set for 10:30 hours Saturday in the same stateroom that Sarah had occupied over 5 years ago.
When they got to where the family rides were, everyone enjoyed themselves with either Harm or Sarah staying with Drew. They ate at the park and stayed till after dark so they could enjoy the fireworks. The parade was lavish and very impressive. Harm and Sarah worked together to make sure the children had fun and the evening finished nicely for everyone. Both girls were asleep and needed to be carried back to Frank and Trish’s room when it was all over. After Sarah got them dressed for bed, she tucked them in for the night and left them in Trish and Frank’s care.
Harm and AJ were talking when Sarah returned to their room:
(S) AJ, take the bed over by the couch so we don’t wake you up when we are up different times during the night to feed and take care of Drew.
This was the first time they had shared a bedroom with AJ and Drew out of necessity and it seemed a bit strange at first. AJ took his turn at the bathroom and wore his robe over his night clothing and seemed completely at ease around them. They realized again that he was sharing a bathroom upstairs with the girls all the time and Harriet had taught him well.
Sarah was very careful while feeding Drew to be discrete and stay covered. AJ asked questions about breastfeeding and she answered carefully and completely. She realized that she had always been very careful as to not do it publicly and embarrass him and by the questions, guessed Harriet had never hid it from him. She explained how and why she had chosen to bring her milk in to feed Drew, with Harm’s approval. He asked to hold Drew after she finished so she could start her shower. Harm kept a watchful eye on his two boys but was not really concerned because AJ tended to Drew during evenings many times while Sarah and Harm did the dishes. These two would later be forever bonded together.
Everyone was bathed and dressed early the next morning and attended the motels morning buffet. After being well fed, it was back to the rooms to dress in their nicer clothes for their trip to the ship.
Both vans cleared the gates to the base with little problem, since the stickers had the stars in the blue band, and were directed where to park on the dock close to the ship. They all gathered by the gang plank and made sure the diaper bag and other essentials were accounted for before starting the walk.
They were met by a young Lt JG who introduced himself and asked them to follow him. He led them carefully thru passageways and over knee knockers to finally arrive at the prescribed state room. The padre was already there and Harm spent a minute getting Drew and the girls settled on the lower rack. Everyone introduced themselves and talked until the ships Captain arrived. After introductions and hand shakes, the padre took over and started the service. He talked of love, hope and fidelity. He told of the sanctity of marriage and the importance of one man and one woman choosing to abide together in love and joy. He asked if they had made the decision to wed and when they answered in the affirmative, he proceeded to let them repeat their vows to themselves and the other.
He asked for the rings which were supplied by Frank and Trish. He placed them in a silver goblet filled with holy water and blessed them. He removed each ring carefully and dried it with white linen, covered them and left them there. He asked Harm to proceed and he removed the ring for Sarah and recited the ring pledge and helped slip it on her finger. Sarah was next to make her pledge and slid the ring on Harm’s hand. The padre finished with the prayer of supplication and thanksgiving and pronounced them man and wife. Harm took Sarah in his arms for a tender kiss when instructed. The padre introduced them to the ship’s Captain and everyone as Vice Admiral and Mrs. Harmon Rabb, Jr. to which the Captain kissed the bride and shook hands with Harm. He took one pace back and snapped a smart salute to both, receiving a salute from Harm and their thanks. He turned and signed their marriage license as a witness. Before leaving, he congratulated Harm on his upcoming retirement and announced that he had arranged to have the Lt.JG give Frank, Trish and the children a tour of the ship as Harm and Sarah took care of things in the stateroom. He told the Lt.JG to assist everyone to assemble in Cabin A in Admiral’s country at 12:00 for cutting the cake. Everyone congratulated Sarah and Harm before leaving.
When the last person left, Harm closed the hatch and propped the chair up against it.
(S) You are just full of surprises today. You got your 3rd star and didn’t tell me. Vice Admiral Harmon Rabb, Junior, I really like it. What’s the catch?
(H) Let’s not worry about that now. We have some really big plans to take care of.
(S) Well, help me out of this dress so we can re-live old times.
And they did. They pulled the mattress off the bottom rack and covered it with a sheet from the metal locker. Their joining was so much better than 5 years ago because love now lived where lust had before. The timing could not have been better and this had been her first since her D&C. They did everything Dr. Truman had told them to do and took extra time to increase the odds. After two times, they started to redress and talk:
(S) Isn’t it unusual to receive the third star within less than 3 years?
(H) Yes, but it came with strings.
(S) What strings.
(H) SECNAV made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and he announced my retirement yesterday while we were gone with a final outdate of October 31. That is just a few days from now.
(S) Was this what you wanted?
(H) Not really but it was the right thing to do and I am tired of fighting with him. You don’t really want to know what the details were.
(S) I do too. If it affects you, it affects me and our family. O my God, was I part of it?
(H) Our marriage has caused the SECNAV embarrassment because we are a couple that the local papers love to write about. He sees this as a possible time bomb waiting to go off. He offered me the third star if I would retire and hopefully move away from the DC area.
(S) He was upset with all the press we get as a couple? Is he jealous of us?
(H) Not really. He says our marriage exposes him and me to possible mortal embarrassment if your past is ever found out. After I told him earlier that we were becoming an item, he detailed Gibbs to check out all possible stories about you.
Gibbs interviewed General Davis and he selected your old picture out of many as the marine blow-job queen he wrote the chapter about. Gibbs watched a copy of your sex tape and found the name of the producer and director and interviewed both. They both identified your picture as the woman on the tape and explained what different kinds of sex you did. They verified that they paid you $50,000 cash which adds prostitution to the list. Gibb’s file on you stated that he had known you were the woman screwing the guy in 1997 after all body art on military people was being crossed against all porn movies and tapes. SECNAV also brought up your adultery while you were still married to Chris and the perjury you committed during the trial but was never punished for.
(S) This is blackmail. He can’t get away with this.
(H) I don’t believe he meant it that way. After I agreed to the deal, he gave me an envelope with the original tape of our conversation, and all of the taped interviews of people and the official file Gibbs had on you at NCIS. I received all of the originals leaving no traces anywhere and the tape of our conversation in his office would be proof of what we agreed to.
(S) So you get to retire as a three star as long as you take me away from DC so no one finds out anything.
(H) I would rather think of it as a wedding gift of much more money in my retirement check every month and when coupled with yours, adds up to enough so we can do exactly what we want to do…when we want to. Since we have Gram’s farm and house now, we can enjoy life and concentrate on loving our children in Belleview.
(S) God, I am so sorry Harm. You must really hate me right now for destroying your future in the Navy.
(H) On the contrary, nothing between us has changed at all. All he did was become the one to name my retirement date which is OK with me because I’m ready to give it up. You told me about your past months ago and I understood then as I do now. You are the greatest mother that will ever be and I love you for it. I love you, Mrs. Rabb.
(S) Promise me you will not hate me for this later. Your happiness is important to me.
(H) I promise because I love you so much. Now we better get a move on if we want any cake.
They made their way up to Admiral’s country and cabin A. The ship’s Captain, XO and others were telling Frank, Trish and the children all about the ship and what being at sea was all about. Harm and Sarah cut the cake and everyone sat and enjoyed themselves talking. Harm thanked the Captain and crew for their kindness for letting them get married aboard ship and waved to everyone as they left.
The trip back to DC felt different for so many reasons. Sarah continued to feel terrible about everything and AJ talked almost non-stop about what he had seen of the ship. Little Drew seemed totally unaffected by everything and Sarah could see that unconditional love made everything OK. She returned her loving attention back to Harm and his day became so much better immediately. They stopped for dinner on the lower edge of DC before going on home. Frank and Trish both carried a sleeping little girl in as Harm carried Drew in and put him in his crib for the night.
Harm and Sarah sat with AJ, Frank and Trish and told them of his upcoming retirement and the promotion he had received. Many questions were asked and everyone found that the future was going to be full of change for everyone.
Later, Harm and Sarah lay intertwined talking about everything all at once. Harm’s parents, marriage, the children, adoption, retirement, Belleview, school, legal work, estates, and finally…….babies. They kissed and held each other tight knowing that even though things were changing quickly, the stuff that really matters remained intact.
Two people so totally in love and in tuned with each other which had what they had, could enjoy life with freedom to love and be loved. No apologies were necessary while trying to make the lives of everyone they knew better. Even though times might test everyone’s resolve at times, the future never looked better for everyone in the large Rabb circle of family and friends.
finis.
Semper Fi
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