| Subject: London Series - Part 18 B...The Christmas Gift |
Author:
Maximus
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Date Posted: 12:00:35 09/24/06 Sun
In reply to:
Maximus
's message, "London Series" on 13:06:25 09/06/06 Wed
London Series: Part 18 B
(cont’d from part 18 A)
Author: Maximus
Part 18 Title: THE CHRISTMAS GIFT
Grams House
Monday, 26 December
10:00 Hrs.
After getting up to a nice breakfast and making sure the animals were fed and watered, everyone loaded up for their trip back to D.C. They enjoyed the trip home and used the time to talk about Christmas, the house, and explain who the stewards were.
Grams was still surprised about all the people living at Harm’s home when she arrived. She was met and introduced to the Master Chief, Hazel and Kate. They each told of what their duties were. Mattie chose her new bedroom as the 2nd room south of the master suite and Grams chose the next one. Harm and the Master Chief moved the wheel chair and bags into the right rooms. Everyone spent some time in their room before dinner was to be ready at 18:00. When everyone gathered for dinner, Hazel and James went out of their way to take care of all of Mattie and Gram’s needs.
Kate explained that the door between Harm and her office was installed on Friday afternoon allowing internal movement between the two offices. The General had moved some of his personal items into his new office on Friday and he and Adora were there this morning working on it even though the offices were closed. She said that Harm’s office was still to be cleaned today after she left. She suggested he check his office in the morning. Kate told him she had drawn the personnel files for every Commander and Chief of Staff for every Joint Legal Service Center and had placed them in the home office for his study. She said the meeting of all Commanders was set up for 13 January here in D.C. per his instructions.
Hazel said James had used the van over the weekend and had helped her move everything out of her storage into her quarters. She told him that after everything was unpacked, she still needed a chair. Harm told her he had chairs in storage and asked both stewards to let him check their quarters when it was convenient to make sure everything was OK.
Sarah asked Harm to help her set up her new office before the weekend. Having the marine car was going to be a real asset as they had already found.
Fowlers Department Store
Tuesday, 27 December
11:00 Hrs
Sarah, Grams, and Mattie looked at all the dresses of the Ann Paige collection in the Bold Purplescent color. Sarah and Trish had decided on the color over the phone. Harriett and Trish had already gotten the floor length gown and Sarah had decided on that also. Grams and Mattie decided on the mid calf length. They all tried on color matching shoes and decided on which style they wanted. The clerk said the alterations would be finished and ready for a Thursday pickup. All five ladies with something in common with Harm would be dressed alike. The pictures would be something to treasure.
Sarah and Grams accompanied Mattie back to her room at Bethesda. They sat together for a while basking in the feeling of family and loving every minute of it. These three were to make or had made the Rabb name proud.
Sarah’s Office, Pentagon
Wednesday, 28 December
10:00 Hrs
Harm and Sarah had measured the distance from their home to the Pentagon and found it to be 8.1 miles. They had to pass through security stations on their way to her office. They carried the box with personal items like pictures to her office. They put the topiary in the corner that seemed so empty and put pictures on top of the file cabinets. They talked about everything in the office and the only thing missing was a small heater for under her desk to keep her legs warm. They moved the obligatory Marine Corps pictures around until she was pleased. She added the one large recruiting picture of Harm that Renee had produced. It was her all time prized favorite. She had that situated so she could see it when she looked forward. She liked the way the walls and her office looked. It looked like her.
She glanced around for things left undone and her gaze once again locked on the order form with the sticky note on it she noticed earlier. The sticky note attached said “Colonel, this is our Christmas gift to you” and she noticed that the Marine Commandant, Chief of Naval Operations and SECNAV had all signed the order. She quickly read on:
General Order 05-19214.
24 December, 2005
Discussion:
Both Marine and Naval personnel worldwide own and are displaying Nude, Semi-nude, and other unsavory pictures and/or artist renditions of females identified as members of the Naval services with emblems and partial uniforms showing. Some of these pictures and/or artist renditions have names of service members on the pictures while others are only their likeness. It has been determined that these pictures are bringing shame, dishonor, disrespect, and damage to the personnel named, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Forces.
One such Marine, Sarah Rabb, A/K/A Sarah MacKenzie, has been tried and found true and swears on her honor and without equivocation states that she has only posed or had made Family pictures, pictures in Full Dress Uniform, and work uniforms and states she never had taken or posed for any picture or artist drawing in any stage of undress. She finds these false and forged pictures repugnant, degrading, bringing shame and dishonor on her, the Marine Corps and Naval Forces and something she would never do.
Actions to be taken:
First: As of this date, any service member owning and displaying these shamefully false and forged pictures and/or artist renditions, shall burn and/or destroy them without delay. Pictures displayed after 1 January 2006 shall be grounds for a general court martial. Any picture with an unknown owner shall be removed and destroyed by those in command.
Second: The office of the Judge Advocate General is hereby ordered to bring Court Martial action against any service member found making the display.
Third: The only pictures and/or artist renditions that may be displayed of Sarah Rabb and other female members named below shall be those in a valid service uniform or other pictures that have been approved and validated by the service member or member of her immediate family.
Followed by signatures of the Marine Commandant, CNO and SECNAV and a list of several females displayed.
Sarah let out a sigh of relief knowing this should rid the service of something that was a constant source of personal shame for her since she had not been able to have these smut pictures removed. She recoiled just knowing that someone might believe she would dishonor the Corps and herself in such a way. She knew they had been terrible for Harm to see even though he knew she did not have them taken. She handed the order to Harm and started to cry.
Harm gathered her unto him and held her.
(S) God, I hope this nightmare is finally over. Knowing that every Marine and Sailor that ever looked at those pictures thought I was a slut and did not have the moral integrity to be a Marine has just about killed me. Just looking in the eyes of my “Golden Net” troops knowing that they thought I was that slut hanging in their locker was difficult.
(H) That woman that looks like you, wanted to be what you are and even had your name put on her pictures. She doesn’t have what it takes and never will. She evidently doesn’t understand a damn thing about things like Honor, Loyalty, Fidelity, and Code and has even lost respect for herself. She doesn’t even start to understand the blood you have shed to be and to remain a Marine.
Is it enough that your friends and I understand what those things mean to you and what they have made you ?
(S) Yes. Your love has been my anchor for so long. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
(H) To Hell and Back babe. To Hell and Back.
After a long embrace, and regaining her composure, she went and locked the door and they gave her office the royal initiation. These memories would bring smiles when she needed them. After completely enjoying their fun activity, they knew her office would be a more friendly place for them in the future.
Harm’s Office
14:00 Hrs.
Harm and Sarah entered the office area and bull pen that had been their working home for so many years and walked freely into the office that had been a place of dread at times. Harm moved all the pictures off of the wall that he would look at most of the time and moved them to other walls. They both inspected the new door and went into Kate’s office and checked it over. They made sure the deadbolt lock had a handle and lock only on Harm’s side.
In a sudden flash of insecurity, Sarah needed to be told that Harm wasn’t sexually interested in Kate since they could now be together without anyone knowing. He assured her that she owned his heart forever. Harm held her as he acknowledged that everyone could see that Kate was a sexy lady but reminded her that they had both learned to be with her almost 24/7 and he thought of her as a sister or daughter. He assured her that Kate would never violate the trust they had placed in her by doing something improper.
After locking the doors, he shoved everything off his desk and sat her up on it. He undressed her one item at a time while she was doing the same to him. They made love on the desk and enjoyed the afterglow there. He assured her that the office would never be the same and invited her here for a repeat anytime his assurances at home were not enough. He rubbed her tummy and felt the change that was taking place in his wife.
When they finally redressed, he asked her to sit in his chair as he hung pictures. It was going to be their wall. It had their wedding picture in the very center with others radiating out in all directions. Pictures from Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, the hospital, aircraft carriers, him in an F-14, in F-18, the biplane, them with Mattie and others. All pictures showed one or both of them in a working and devoted atmosphere. It was a mini-history of their 9 years together. Everything he needed to be reminded of why he was here, he could see and remind himself of daily. With the office properly christened with their love, he was ready for what the New Year had to bring.
They stopped by Bud’s office and put a sticky note on his computer asking him to call everyone for a total staff call at 14:00 on Tuesday 3 January 2006. Since this was Sarah’s old office, she kissed him and reviewed all the pain and misunderstandings they lived through while being honorable officers here in these offices. They swore to help others that might be dealing with those same problems.
They measured the distance from his office to home and found it to be 2.1 miles. Upon arrival, they asked what more was needed for their stewards and Kate. The stewards opened their quarters and they looked every thing over. Hazel’s personal TV was not working properly and Sarah had one from her storage that she could use. James needed 2 wall storage units to help hold his books and records. Harm and James took the van and loaded every thing else from Harm’s storage and brought it to the garage. They moved the storage units into James’ room. James asked if it would be OK if he purchased a car so he and Hazel would be able to get around without needing to use the Limo. Harm took him to the garage and showed him where his parking area would be whenever he wanted to get it. James told him his chauffeur’s license testing time was scheduled for 26 January. Harm told him he would arrange the defensive driving course before that. Harm reminded him that they would need the Limo for Sarah and Harriett’s doctor appointment tomorrow.
Bethesda Hospital
Thursday, 29 December
11:00 Hrs
Harm, Sarah and Harriett exited the Limo on the drive thru circle in front of the hospital and James took it to the stand-off point. They proceeded to the office of Dr. Sally Truman for their 11:00 appointment. Sarah was called back first for the examination. When finished, she explained the surrogacy of Harriett and told her she was waiting outside with Harm. Sally sent Sarah to her office and went out and asked Harm and Harriett to come in. She left Harm with Sarah and took Harriett in for her exam. When Harriett was finished, she was also sent to the doctor’s office.
A minute later Sally came in carrying both ladies charts and sonograms. After making sure that everyone was comfortable, she announced that both ladies appear to be carrying twins. She noted that it did not seem a problem with Harriett since she had already had twins but said Sarah was a different matter. She told Sarah and Harm that she was going to change her medication again and was going to enforce a no lift beyond 10 pound rule for the foreseeable future. She was abrupt and instilled the fear of God in both of them. She said she was afraid the scar tissue might not support two babies. Sarah and Harm promised to follow instructions. When they offered to abstain, the doctor encouraged them to stay active to keep Sarah and everyone happy and satisfied. The doctor commented about Harriett starting to show and noted that she was glowing. Dr. Truman scheduled Sarah’s next appointment for two weeks and scheduled both of them for one month on 31 January.
They went to room 218 and found Mattie busy trying to learn the word processor on her new laptop. Sarah took a seat next to her to find what the problem was. When the machine would not do what Mattie wanted it to do, Sarah showed her by touching the right key and moving the curser to the right place. Mattie tried it a couple of times and was pleased. Sarah understood she was having problems because of the lack of books and explanations. She told her she would bring her a book she had that would help make sense of it. Mattie turned and grabbed her in an embrace that told volumes. They held on to each other strongly without a word, Mattie kissed her when she eased away and noticed the tears in Sarah’s eyes. “Mom, I don’t want to make you cry.”
(S) Its OK. It’s only because I love you. I am so glad that Harm fought for you. I am so proud you let me be your mom.
(M) We are a pair, aren’t we.
(S) In what way?
(M) We both love Harm but in different ways. I am so lucky you came into his life for good. I could not complete his life the way you do. Please tell me I am allowed to love you like I did my mother.
(S) Yes you can. You are now part of my life forever. Do you hear me-Forever. Just like with Harm, no half way measures. I love you.
(M) I love you too, Mom.
Harriett and Harm had witnessed what had happened and stood in silence. As Sarah stood to leave, Harm came and hugged Mattie and thanked her. She winked at him to let him know she understood. Harriett hugged Mattie and said “You are my kind of people. Thank you.”
Harm told Mattie he would come for her Saturday at 09:00 for the New Years Eve party and he said they had permission to keep her over the weekend. He asked her to bring her med kit. Everyone said their goodbye’s and left for the Limo.
On the way home, they stopped by Fowlers and picked up the three dresses and shoes for Saturday.
Washington Airport
18:30 hrs
Harm, Sarah and Grams met Frank and Trish at the airport with hugs and kisses. Harm led them to the waiting Limo and they were off to the new house. Harm thanked Frank for helping out with the house and told them how perfect it was for them. Trish told Sarah she brought the dress and shoes and was prepared. Upon arrival, they unloaded the bags into the room next to the master suite. Hazel was waiting with a small buffet to make sure everyone was well taken care of. Everyone sat around talking about the past and discussed what the future looked like. It was the closest thing to a family meeting as they had ever had.
Washington D.C
Friday, 30 December
19:00 Hrs
The day had been busy as most of the furniture and other goods from storage were moved into rooms of the house needing them. Most of the personal items like pictures and other keepsakes were moved into the “baby’s room” for now. The bassinet, dressing table, and crib looked so small in that big room. Harm and Sarah could only dream of things to come.
Frank and Trish arrived back to the house after spending the whole day walking around seeing the sights in this great tourist town. Hazel helped them with leftovers from dinner and Harm gave them time to tell what they had enjoyed during the day. It was good to see them enjoying themselves.
Harm and Sarah put on warm clothing and made their way around the block where they lived. It was their first attempt to walk this winter and they found it too dangerous for Sarah to continue. They would not risk her falling on the ice and snow. They would need to add a treadmill to the list of items required to keep Sarah safe and strong.
128 Olive Lane
New Years Eve Day
Saturday, 31 December
09:45 Hrs
When Harm and Sarah arrived at Bethesda, Mattie was ready to leave.
Sarah checked her medical bag and made sure everything required was there. Mattie was feeling good and was looking forward to spending a couple of days in her new home.
After arriving at home, Mattie made her way to the elevator and up to the room she had chosen. She looked over every piece of furniture, blanket, bed spread and towel in her room and bathroom. She found her favorite dolls over on the window ledge. She could see that Harm and Sarah had taken special care to put them there. Sarah knocked on her door and brought in the gown. Mattie loved it and insisted on trying it on and Sarah helped her with it. It looked so good on her. Sarah helped her take it off and she hung it in her closet along with other neat clothes they had bought for her. Mattie knocked her ring with Sarah’s to remind her of their kindredship. Sarah helped Mattie select a sweater and jeans and waited while she changed. Sarah brought her down to Harm looking like a savvy teenager.
Harm drove to the main gate of the housing development and dropped off a list of everyone expected to attend the party tonight so they could be admitted. Copies of a small hand-out map to the house was included for everyone.
Sarah checked on Grams and asked her to join Mattie, Trish, and her for girl talk. They had a chance to ask many questions of Grams to fill in what they had not known about Harm and his father. Mattie enjoyed being included in the lives of these special people.
New Years Party
21:00 Hrs
The Master Chief and Hazel had planned the food and drink service to provide for everyone. Chairs and couches had been collected from different rooms to have enough for a comfortable casual atmosphere. Harm and Sarah had arranged two extra hi-lights for the evening.
They hired a Harpist from the philharmonic to play for the evening starting at 21:00 and had placed her in the corner of the living room where it connected to the dining room. She played mostly classical and past favorites and always attracted a crowd.
Harm hired Chief Randy Davis to bring his traveling photo service to the party. His wife, Tammy, had set up the processing part in the Library and could quickly process the digital images onto the plaques as Randy took the portraits. He was set up close to the entrance and would take 3 formal pictures of all couples as they arrived. They could choose which one was to be mounted from the single of him, single of her or the couple picture. He would present everyone with their picture, on a wooden plaque with their names and titles on it at midnight, as a gift from Harm and Sarah.
Randy used the early time to take single pictures of everyone in the home. He started with both stewards in full dress uniforms and then in the formal tuxedo wear they were in for the evening. He followed with a group picture of all the Rabb ladies in purplescent. Harriett joined in also when she arrived. He took pictures of every combination he could think of. Frank and Trish made a nice couple. One of the most impressive was of Harm, Sarah, Mattie, Trish and Grams as the different Rabb generations. Randy’s wife had them mounted and displayed together on easels before the other guests started to arrive. One picture that Harm valued was of his Sarah with Harriett. Two ladies that were to have a profound effect on his future.
As this party was meant to greet in the New Year, people started to arrive at 22:00. By 23:00, most invited guests had arrived. Everyone sat about and enjoyed the company of old friends. The vestiges of rank and station were not too evident since it was black tie and it made things a bit more comfortable. Kate and Jerry Smith made a cute couple and her purplescent gown matched the Rabb ladies. A.J. with his previous wife Marcela and Tom Boone with Teresa Coulter were the surprises of the evening. Several copies of one picture with Harm, Sarah, Mattie, Kate, Hazel, and James were made and each received one. It would be interesting to find where they would be displayed, if at all.
As midnight approached, Harm stood to thank everyone for coming and wished everyone a Happy New Year. He gathered Sarah and Mattie to him and made his comments.
(H) For us, 2005 has been a year that started with our lives in disarray. Decisions made by others forced Sarah and I to make major decisions that will affect our lives forever. We have been blessed with the inclusion of Matilda Grace in our lives. She has been a source of inspiration to us as we watched her fight to regain her health. We have been told that we are going to be parents of more than one child and we can’t wait. Maybe some of you that have been through parenthood could be our good council as we start the journey. Thank you for the house warming gifts for the baby’s room.
(S) We want to thank every one of you that have contributed to making our lives what they will be in 2006. We know that without friends like you, our life would not be as rich as it is. Thanks for caring about us. Your pictures have been completed and Randy will bring them in a moment. Here is hoping that 2006 will be a blessing to us all. Thank you for sharing this time with us.
As the ball fell on television and the New Year began, couples and good friends kissed and shook hands. 2006 was ready to begin. It will have it’s own joys and sorrows but as they say, that is for another story.
As we leave the scene with everyone happy and thankful for the year just past, we feel the pangs of pain for seeing something pass that will never come again. Love torn between misunderstandings, jealousy, and pain has been replaced by love shared by two that now always take the other’s feelings into consideration before decisions are made. Instead of two people going their own way and looking out for themselves, a couple was now thinking with one mind for the good of their family. All of this, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. They had taken the time to absorb each other and were no longer 2 people but one combined heart. They were learning how to care for and protect it. They had found their lives having meaning because of each other and the faith they shared. They were now creating lives.
Tomorrow was definitely going to be a day to be lived to the fullest by the Rabb family.
The End…. and….. The Beginning.
Semper Fi.
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