| Subject: Worth the Wait- Ch. 6 |
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Grandma JAG
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Date Posted: 23:14:45 10/26/02 Sat
In reply to:
Grandma JAG
's message, "Worth the Wait" on 22:59:22 10/26/02 Sat
Chapter 6
JAG Headquarters
15 March 2002
1600 hours
Harm paced nervously, back and forth, in his office, waiting to see the Admiral. He had put it off the whole day, and he knew he had to talk to the Admiral before they all went home for the weekend.
Tiner appeared at the door. “The Admiral can see you now, Commander.”
“Thank you, Tiner.” Harm paused at the Admiral’s door. He had rehearsed what he was going to say, but now he couldn’t remember any of it.
“Come on in, Commander. What can I do for you?” The Admiral hoped this wasn’t going to take long. He had dinner plans with Meredith.
“Well, Admiral, I would like to talk to you about something personal,” Harm looked at the Admiral as if he was talking to his father.
Here it comes, thought the Admiral. It’s about time! “Go ahead, son,” he said out loud.
“Well, sir, as you know, Mac and I have been working together for six years. We’ve had different significant others that didn’t work out, and we finally figured out that it was because we have strong feelings for each other. A couple of months ago we finally had a long talk and admitted our feelings for each other. We’ve been seeing other ever since, and frankly, sir, I’m in love with her, and she’s in love with me.” Harm felt like he had spilled it all out in one big tumbled mess of words.
The Admiral smiled. “I think that’s great, Harm! It’s about time you finally figured out what the rest of us have known all along.” He looked at Harm’s worried expression on his face. “Why don’t you look happy about it?”
“Well, sir, Mac and I both love being at JAG. We were both stupid enough to look elsewhere for our career happiness, and we both ended up back here. Our careers are important to us, but to be honest with you, I’ve waited long enough to find happiness in my personal life. I want to ask Mac to marry me.” Harm paused a moment as he looked at the Admiral’s face to see if there was any indication of worry or disapproval. Seeing none, Harm continued. “Mac and I think we can keep our private lives out of the office. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that, especially in the last two months. We would both like to continue at JAG, but we don’t know if that would create an uncomfortable position for you, sir.”
The Admiral sat at his desk for a moment, looking seriously at his senior officer who had been through so much in his life. He knew it wasn’t easy for Harm to come to him like this. “Son, have you asked Mac to marry you yet?”
“No, sir. I wanted to talk to you first,” Harm replied, starting to get worried that the Admiral was not going to approve of this relationship.
“Then what makes you so sure that she’s going to say ‘yes’?” The Admiral decided to make Harm squirm a little bit.
“Well........ sir........ I......” Harm wasn’t sure what to say.
At that point the Admiral’s face broke into a huge smile as he laughed and said, “I’m just playing with you, son, of course she’s going to say ‘yes’! As for the two of you continuing at JAG, I saw this coming and I already talked to the SecNav about it. He was so pleased at the way we handled his grandson’s case that he said he would leave the final decision up to me.”
Harm waited a moment and then held his breath as he asked, “And.....?”
The Admiral smiled as he responded, “Well, let’s see...... Bud is shipping out soon and I don’t trust Singer as far as I can throw her..... Do you think I want to train any more people for this office? I’ve got better things to do with my time! Seriously, Harm, you and Mac are the best lawyers I’ve got. I hope to give this office to you one day. You’re like a son to me! Now, get out of here and go ask that Marine to marry you...... that’s an order!”
Harm resisted the urge to go and give his CO a big hug. Instead he saluted and said, “Yes, sir! I plan to do it this weekend, sir!” With that, he turned and left the office, not seeing the huge smile on the Admiral’s face and the tears in his eyes.
Mac was waiting back in Harm’s office. “Where have you been?” she asked, as he entered the room with a big smile on his face.
“Talking to the Admiral,” Harm replied. He couldn’t stop smiling, which made Mac wonder what was going on.
“About what?” Mac asked, suspiciously.
“Oh, just clearing up some old business.” Harm started looking through some files on his desk so he wouldn’t have to look at Mac’s face. He was afraid he would burst out laughing and spoil the whole thing.
“Then why the big smile on your face?” Mac wasn’t going to let him get out of it that easily.
“Well, if you must know, he told me this joke. You see, there was this Marine who.......,” Harm started, but Mac cut him off.
“Never mind. I’ve heard enough Marine jokes to last a lifetime. Classic movies and Chinese food tonight, right?”
Harm smiled at their Friday night ritual. “Right. I pick up the Chinese food and you get the movies. What are we seeing tonight?”
“I’ll surprise you,” Mac smiled as she left his office. “See you later..... Pinky!” Mac laughed as she called him the nickname Katherine Hepburn called Spencer Tracy in the movie “Adam’s Rib.” Harm hated it when she called him that. Of course, she hated it when he gave it back to her, which of course he did.
“Later.... Pinkie,” he replied, laughing. He really did need to think of a nickname for her, but so far couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t cause a karate chop to his head. Oh well, he was just having fun trying.
Later that evening
Mac’s apartment
Mac wiped the tears from her eyes as the ending credits of “An Affair to Remember” rolled across the screen. Harm was getting used to her crying at these old movies, and pulled her close to him. He was just relieved that the tears weren’t caused by him anymore!
“Hey, what are you crying for? That was a happy ending,” he teased.
“Yes, but look at what they had to go through before they could finally be happy! The dishonesty, hiding feelings from each other, making decisions for the other person without even letting them decide.......” Mac looked up at Harm and smiled. “Kind of sounds like us, huh?”
“Not anymore. No more secrets, no more hiding what we feel,” Harm looked at her reassuringly.
“Sometimes I get so frustrated at all the time we wasted! We could have been happy being together all these years, but instead we hid our feelings and played those games, and.....” Mac sat up as she vented her frustration.
Harm smiled at his love as he interrupted her. “Yes, it’s frustrating, but that’s part of who we were at the time. I believe that everything happened for a reason, to help each of us grow as a person, so that when we finally did get together, it would be at exactly the right time for us. The important thing is that we’re together now, the past is behind us, and we have a beautiful future to look forward to..... together.”
Mac looked at him teasingly and said, “And when did you get to be so philosophical?”
Harm laughed as he said, “I guess I’m finally growing up! About time, huh?” Mac laughed and nodded as she snuggled back into his chest. “There’s something about turning 40 that makes a man wonder about what he’s done with his life.”
“You’re not going to have a mid-life crisis on me, are you?” Mac jokingly asked, as she put her arms around her.
“Let’s see....... I already have my red convertible, I’ve already changed jobs until I found one I’m happy with, and I’ve already had all the women I’ll ever want or need in this lifetime, so........ nope, no mid-life crisis. Just an extremely happy almost 40-year-old. Think you can handle that?” Harm suddenly realized that he had everything he had ever dreamed of. Even though they were kidding around, he made a mental note to never forget what he just said.
“I think I can handle that. That is, if you can put up with me when I go through menopause!” Mac laughingly said.
“Thank God we’ve got a lot more time before that happens!” Harm sat up suddenly. “So, what have you got planned for tomorrow?”
“You know....... my laundry has really piled up and this apartment hasn’t been cleaned in.......... I’m ashamed to say how long it’s been. I think I just need a day to get caught up on some stuff around here. Do you mind?” Mac knew how much he loved to spend the weekends together.
“No, not at all. As much as I love spending every waking moment with you, I know that sometimes we just need some time to ourselves. I should probably do my laundry, too, but since I haven’t been up in “Sarah” for awhile, I think I’ll do that and save my laundry for another day.”
“I’ll do your laundry for you, sailor,” Mac said, seductively. “But you’ll owe me.”
“Hm..... let me think about what you might possibly want in return. How about dinner and dancing tomorrow night?” Harm was beginning to put his plan in motion. “There’s a new club on Pennsylvania Avenue down the street from the White House. Want to check it out?”
“Sure, that’ll be fun!” Mac replied with a smile. “What time?”
“I’ve heard that it fills up fast and parking is a bear, so why don’t we head over there early....... about 1730 okay?” Harm was hoping that Mac couldn’t tell that he wasn’t being entirely truthful.
“I should be done with everything by then.” Mac stood up as Harm headed to the door. “I’ll look forward to it.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he pulled her to him and gave her a long, slow kiss.
As they parted and looked into each other’s eyes, Harm cleared his throat and said, “I better get out of here before this gets out of hand,” thinking how ready he was to take this relationship to the next level.
Mac looked up at him with her big, brown eyes and said, “I know it’s hard, Harm. It’s hard for me, too. But I really think it’s the right thing to do. I promise you, it will be worth the wait.”
Just so I don’t have to wait much longer, he thought. “You will definitely be worth the wait!” he said out loud. Mac gave him one last hug and pushed him out the door.
As he started to close the door behind him, Harm realized he forgot something. Peeking his head back around the door, he said, “I love you, Sarah Mackenzie.”
Mac looked up from the couch. “I never get tired of hearing you say that.”
Harm smiled as he said, “Then I’ll never stop saying it. Goodnight........ Sweetcakes.”
Mac frowned, so he said, “Don’t like that one either? Okay, I’ll keep trying!” He smiled his flyboy grin, blew her a kiss, and closed the door.
Mac’s apartment
16 March 2002
1730 hours
Harm stood outside Mac’s door, the little black box burning a hole in his pocket. He took a deep breath before he knocked on her door. Okay, Rabb, this is it, he said to himself. Now don’t botch it up. It has to be a perfect night!
Mac opened the door, looking radiant in a simple black dress and heels, accented with the pearl necklace and earrings he had given her for Valentine’s Day. He just stood there and stared at her, not believing how lucky he was to have such a beautiful woman.
Mac interrupted his thoughts. “Harm, are you okay?”
Harm smiled as he said, “Never been better. Are you ready?”
They walked down to the car in silence as Harm kept talking to himself. Come on, Rabb, don’t make tonight seem different. Make it like any other night.
He opened the door to the corvette. There on the passenger seat was a single, yellow rose. Mac picked it up and as she smelled it, he leaned over to give her a quick kiss. “Special occasion?” she asked.
“First day of spring?,” Harm responded, smiling.
Mac shook her head. “It’s not until Wednesday.”
“Uh...... St. Patrick’s Day?” Harm tried again.
Mac shook her head again. “Not until tomorrow.”
“Well.... how about we just celebrate the fact that I still love you after two months of seeing you every night, and we haven’t had one single argument!” Harm was laughing now.
“Well, except for the nickname thing,” Mac laughed back. “But, okay, I can accept that. Except..........”
Worriedly, Harm said, “Except what?”
Mac smiled. “Every day is a special occasion with you.”
“Oh, oh, you’re getting gushy again. Hey, how about ‘gushy’ for a nickname?” Mac shot him a glance that showed how she felt about that one. “Okay, forget I said that. Let’s get going.”
The ride into the city was wonderful. It was warmer than usual for this time of year, so Harm had the top down. Mac loved the feel of her hair blowing as the car accelerated onto the freeway, even though it looked like a mess when they stopped. Lucky for me I have an easy hairstyle, she thought to herself as she got out a brush from her purse.
“The club is on the east side of the White House, so I thought maybe we could park here,” Harm said, pointing to a government employee parking lot. “My parking sticker is still good from the last investigation I did here. Are you okay to walk a few blocks in those heels?”
Mac shot him a look that said, I’m a Marine, remember? He laughed as he answered his own question. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re a Marine.”
They got out of the car and starting walking along the front of the White House. Mac was still holding the yellow rose, so Harm took her other hand in his. The sky was painted in beautiful streaks of purple, red, and orange, as the sun started to set over the Potomac River. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and their fragrance made Mac think of all the times she had walked alone, trying to get her head together after whatever relationship she had just managed to end. It seemed like she always took those walks in the spring, when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. But she did recall one other time when she had been here........
“Here we are!” Harm’s voice suddenly startled her out of her thoughts and back to the present. Mac looked up and saw that they were standing in front of, not a new jazz club, but the White House rose garden.
“What do you mean, here we are?” Mac asked, puzzled. “This isn’t a jazz club, this is still the sidewalk in front of the White House. And this is the curb........” she paused as she looked at the mischievous smile on Harm’s face.
“............Where we first met. Yes, I know.” Harm’s heart was beating faster now. He only hoped that he could keep his voice steady as he continued. “Come and sit over here for a minute, Sarah.” He led her over to a bench by the White House fence where she could see the yellow roses in bloom in the White House garden, just as they had been on that first day they met.
“I remember that day as if it was yesterday,” Harm looked deep into Mac’s eyes. “You came into my life at a time when I was still trying to find out who I was. Yes, I had just received a very distinguished medal from the President of the United States, and a promotion in the United States Navy. I had my Navy wings and I was an esteemed lawyer with the Navy JAG corps. To anyone who didn’t know me, and even to some who did, I had everything going for me. But only I knew the truth----my life was a mess!”
Harm paused as Mac got a tissue from her purse to dab the tears that were forming in her eyes. Why was he doing this? she thought to herself. He was the one that said we should forget the past and look toward the future!
Harm took her hands and continued. “When I first saw you, I thought you were Diane, coming back to life........ coming back to save me from all the personal turmoil I had been going through: my father missing, my crash on the carrier, Diane being murdered...... but you weren’t Diane. And the more I got to know you, the happier I was that you weren’t. Diane would never have gone with me to Russia to find my father. Diane would not have encouraged me to go back to flying after my surgery. Diane would never have waited this long for me to commit myself to one woman. Diane did not compliment me the way you do. She and I were a lot alike: self-centered, self-absorbed, driven. What I need is someone who is the opposite: unselfish, caring, insightful. And that someone, Sarah, is you. You are all the things I’m not. That’s why we make such a good team, in the court and outside of it. It’s a partnership that I want to make permanent......... one that will last for the rest of our lives and into eternity.”
Harm reached into his pocket and took out the little black box. Mac gasped when she saw it and realized what he was about to do. Harm ignored the tourists who were continuing to walk along the sidewalk, snapping pictures of the White House rose garden. He slid off the bench onto one knee. Taking Mac’s hands in his and looking into her big brown eyes, Harm continued. “Sarah MacKenzie, I love you with all my heart and soul. You are a strong woman with a mind of your own, and also a caring, compassionate partner. There is no one else in this world for me. I know that God put us together for a reason and that He has great plans for us. Sarah, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” With that he opened the box to reveal the engagement ring that his grandmother had given him.
Mac looked at it with wonder. She knew where it must have come from, and what it represented to Harm and his family. As she looked into Harm’s sea-green eyes, looking at her with love and anticipation, she flashed back at all they had been through together. Russia, separation, deaths of significant others and family members, Harm’s accident and her almost-wedding. These are things most couples don’t see in a lifetime! He had seen her at her worst, and yet he still wanted to share his life with her. How could she possibly accept as eloquently as he had proposed?
Mac took a deep breath and prayed that something would come out of her mouth when she opened it. “All my life I have been looking for a man to complete me, to take care of me, to be everything that my father wasn’t. I have thought I was in love before, thought I found the man who could meet all of my expectations. Then I met you. You have been the most......,” Mac searched for the right words, “....... exasperating, frustrating, unnerving.......” Harm started to look worried, so Mac changed course. “........self-confident, honorable, most wonderful man I have ever known!” At that, Harm started to relax. “Harm, I don’t know why it took us so long to realize the depth of our feelings for each other, but, you’re right, there must have been a reason. And whatever that reason, we are better people for it. Because of what we have been through, we have an undeniable trust and bond that most couples spend a lifetime trying to achieve! I will never again question your love for me, or mine for you. I know that it is a love that will last a lifetime.” Mac paused as she saw tears come to Harm’s eyes. She, herself, had to fight back the tears as she continued. “Harmon Rabb, Jr., I love you more than I have a right to, and there is nothing I would rather do than be your wife!”
At that, the small crowd that had gathered around them burst into applause, and Harm and Mac found themselves in each other’s arms, totally oblivious to the people around them. Harm took Mac’s left ring finger and slipped his grandmother’s ring onto it.
“A perfect fit. I knew it would be,” Harm said, tears streaming down his face. “Grandma Sarah knew that you were the perfect woman for me. I’m sorry that it took me so long to figure it out.”
Mac put her finger to his lips. “Sh..... that doesn’t matter now. What matters is where we go from here.” She handed him a tissue.
Harm laughed as he blew his nose and wiped off his face. “Well, I did promise you dinner and dancing, so how about we continue to that new club I was telling you about?”
Mac looked at him, surprised. “You mean, there really is a new club on Pennsylvania Avenue?”
Harm looked at her, mockingly aghast. “Why, Sarah MacKenzie, soon to be Rabb, have I ever lied to you?” Mac gave him another one of her looks, to which he said, “Okay, don’t answer that. Yes, there is a new club, and it’s just a little bit farther. Shall we, Colonel?” Harm offered his arm.
“Whatever you say, Commander,” Mac replied. She slipped her arm through his and they continued down the street.
Later, as they finished their meal, Harm couldn’t take his eyes off his new fiancee, and Mac couldn’t take her eyes off her ring. She looked up to find him smiling at her.
“You could look at me now and then, you know,” Harm teased. “After all, I’m the one you’re marrying.”
Mac looked shocked as his words suddenly sunk in. “It’s..... it’s just that this ring is so beautiful, and so meaningful. How could your grandmother give it up?”
“Gramps had given her a new ring for their 50th wedding anniversary, and they both agreed that I should give it to the woman I love, to keep it in the family.” Harm paused and thought carefully before asking, “Do you need time to let all of this sink in, or should we talk about when this historic event is to take place?”
Mac smiled. “Harm, I’ve been thinking of nothing else ever since that night in your apartment when you told me you loved me. The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned!”
Harm looked relieved. “Well, we should probably talk about what kind of wedding we’d like to have, and where. That might influence the date. I know you’ve said that you didn’t like big church weddings, so we could go for something small in a park, or on the beach, or.......”
Mac interrupted him. “Actually........ I was thinking more like the Academy chapel.” Harm couldn’t hide his shocked reaction. Mac laughed as she continued, “There are so many people who have been waiting for this to happen, I don’t think a small, intimate setting is going to cut it. I know how much the Academy means to you..... I think it would be extra special for us to get married there.”
Harm shook his head and said, “As much as I think I know you, you are still full of surprises. I don’t know, Mac, the Academy chapel books up far in advance. How about if we drive up there tomorrow and check it out? We could catch the last service at 1100 and then talk to Chaplain McMahon and see what the calendar looks like.”
Mac smiled at her new fiancé. “I think that would be great. Now, how about dancing with your soon-to-be wife?”
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” grinned Harm.
Naval Academy Chapel
Annapolis, Maryland
17 March 2002
1100 hours
Mac walked beside Harm into the Naval Academy chapel, amazed at what she saw. As they slipped into a pew toward the back, Mac looked at the ornately decorated altar, with the sterling silver cup and plate of communion bread, the pipes of the organ filling the wall behind. The stained glass windows lined the side walls of the chapel, each one depicting a different sea hero from the past. On the ceiling over the choir loft in the rear of the chapel was a painting of the votive ship. Harm grabbed her hand as she gaped in wonder at the gorgeous building.
As the service drew to a close, the whole congregation joined together in the singing of the “Navy Hymn”, a tradition at the close of every service. Mac thought she had never heard anything so beautiful. As the people filed out of the chapel, Harm turned to Mac and asked, “Well, what do you think?”
Mac replied, with wonder, “I’m...... I’m overwhelmed! This is such a magnificent place, Harm. I can’t imagine getting married to you anywhere but here. What do you think the wait time is?”
“I don’t know, but here’s the man to ask.” Harm stood to address the chaplain coming toward them. “Chaplain McMahon, I don’t know if you remember me......,” Harm started.
“Midshipman Rabb, I believe,” Chaplain McMahon replied.
Harm looked surprised. “I can’t believe that you remember me after all these years, Chaplain.”
“Well let me see. There was the time you and Midshipman Turner had all the cadets in your squadron cough every time I said the word ‘sin’ in a sermon, the time you dropped the whole tray of juice during communion, not to mention the times you fell asleep, and snored no less!”
“Oh, you must have me mixed up with someone else. I would never do such things!” Harm laughed. “How are you, Chaplain?” He extended his hand to receive a firm handshake.
“Oh, getting older, Commander, getting older. What brings you up our way? Not a JAG investigation, I hope?” Chaplain McMahon made it clear he had kept up with Harm’s career.
“No, not business today, sir. I’m here on a personal visit. I would like for you to meet my fiancee, Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie,” Harm acknowledged Mac standing next to him.
“A pleasure to meet you, Colonel,” said Chaplain McMahon. “Any woman who manages to get this man to make a commitment deserves a medal in my book!”
Mac laughed as she said, “I think he’s a trophy in itself, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Harm has told me so much about you.”
“Well, I’m guessing that maybe you want me to check the calendar and see when this facility is available for an upcoming wedding. Am I right?” Chaplain McMahon looked at the two of them, so obviously perfect for each other.
“Yes, sir, I know there is usually a long waiting list, but we thought we would take our chances and see what was available,” Harm replied, silently praying that the wait wasn’t a year or more.
“Well, it just so happens that I had a phone call this morning with a cancellation. It seems that the young woman decided she wasn’t cut out to be a Navy wife and called off the wedding.” The Chaplain chuckled. “I’m just glad she decided that before the wedding. Anyway, I called everyone on the waiting list, and no one wanted the date.”
“Why?” asked Mac, curious as to why someone would give up a chance like that.
“No one felt that they could pull together a big wedding in that short amount of time,” answered the chaplain.
“How short of an amount of time are we talking about?” asked Harm.
“Five weeks from today, Sunday, April 21,” replied the chaplain. “If you think you can plan your wedding in that amount of time, you’re welcome to it. Otherwise, the next opening is June 14..........” That’s not so bad, Harm thought.”............. 2003,” finished Chaplain McMahon.
“Mac?” Harm turned to Mac, who was standing there with a stunned look on her face. “What do you think? Can we put this thing together in five weeks?”
“Harm, I don’t know. The invitations are supposed to go out a month in advance and we still have to get them printed. Then we have to find a place for the reception, call a caterer, arrange for flowers, I have to get a dress, music...... I don’t know!” Mac was almost in tears as she thought about everything that had to be done. It was just too overwhelming!
“Maybe I can help with some of that,” replied Chaplain McMahon. “First of all, the Academy print shop can do the invitations for you within the week, and they’re open today. Also, this couple had the officer’s club booked for the reception, so I’m sure that date has not been taken yet. They’re open today, too. We can talk to the organist while you’re here about music, and we have an Academy florist, as well. I’m afraid I can’t help you with your dress, however.”
Harm took one look at the panic in Mac’s eyes and knew that he was getting close to that point where she shuts down and backs away. “Chaplain, we just got engaged last night, and I think we’re still getting used to the idea. Maybe we should just look for a church in D.C. and plan this for later in the year.”
Mac’s eyes softened as she looked at her future husband who knew her so well. “Harm, it’s okay. I....... I just need a little time to think.”
Chaplain McMahon knew exactly what was happening. He’d seen it before. “Tell you what, Sarah. Harm and I have a lot of catching up to do, so we’ll just go back here in my office and give you some time alone. Feel free to walk around the grounds outside and take your time digesting all this information. It’s a lot to take in at one time. Oh, and it might not be a bad idea to ask the Man upstairs what you should do.” The Chaplain pointed up and smiled.
“Thank you, Chaplain,” Mac said, as she gave a reassuring look to Harm. I can’t make him think I’m backing out of this, she thought.
As the Chaplain and Harm went back to his office, Mac sat in the front pew, looking at the altar in front of her. “Please, God,” she prayed. “I don’t want to make another mistake. I know that Harm is the only one for me, but I don’t want to rush into this. Please give me a sign as to what to do.” Suddenly she felt called to go outside through the side door. She wasn’t sure what she would find as she pushed the heavy door open. The bright noonday sunlight blinded her at first, and as she stepped outside, she realized that there was a courtyard with beautiful flowers and benches on which to sit. Mac sat down and marveled at all the flowers in bloom. Each flower looked the same, but on closer inspection, Mac saw that they each had their own qualities that made them different from the rest. She got up from the bench and walked along the path, looking at the daffodils, tulips, and lilies, among the rest of the flowers that she didn’t know the names of, but were beautiful none-the-less. As she rounded the corner, she saw one of the most beautiful rosebushes she had ever seen. The color of each flower was a pale pink, almost white, with a darker pink around the edges of each petal. It was a huge rosebush, the biggest she had ever seen. It dwarfed everything around it.
But, what was that? Mac looked closer, and in the middle of this huge rosebush was another rosebush struggling to grow up through the stems and buds of the larger bush. It must be a ‘volunteer’, Mac thought, one whose seed had been blown into the middle of the larger bush. It was determined to make it, to grow despite being choked out by something bigger. Mac looked closer and saw that this tiny rosebush had two single buds coming from one stem starting to open. Mac gasped as she saw what color they were---yellow. It was then that she knew what she needed to do.
Practically running back into the chapel, Mac hurried into the chaplain’s office. She could hear the chaplain and Harm laughing over some remembrance of Harm’s Academy days. Both men stopped, however, when she walked into the room. Harm looked at her face, expectantly, but waited for her to speak.
“Well,” Mac said, out of breath, “what are you doing just sitting here?” We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to get a wedding together in five weeks!”
With that, Harm jumped out of his seat and lifted Mac into the air, twirling them both into a circle.
“I’ll call the print shop and the officer’s club and let them know you’re coming,” laughed the chaplain as he picked up the phone.
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