Title: Christmas Blessings

Author: Deemus

For JAG Junkie Ronda, who wished for a continuation of the Answered Prayers episode, including Harm’s visit the next morning to give rides in his Corvette.

Rating: OK for general audiences


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A small spurt of snow flew from under the left rear tire of the Corvette as Harm pulled out of the churchyard headed for The Wall. It seemed to be a lonely trip he made, every Christmas Eve, and I have sometimes wondered if I should offer to go with him. Maybe that’s too presumptuous of me. I should probably just wait until he asks me to go, if he ever does.

Coates also watched as Harm drove away, her face aglow in the reflection of the lights off the snow. It had almost stopped snowing, so our trip home would probably not be too bad. I could still hear her question to Harm, “I can still stay in if I want to, right?” and see her quick kiss on his cheek. He’d looked surprised, although he should know how he attracts women! I hoped it wouldn’t be awkward, with Coates mooning over him. I don’t for a minute think he’d ever do anything inappropriate, because he’s the very model of propriety and correct behavior of an officer, but he would have to see a lot of her—as apparently I would—in the next few days.

People were starting to leave by twos and threes, waving and calling Merry Christmas to each other. Coates and I made our way over to my car, got in, and joined the line of vehicles leaving the church parking lot. A few leftover flakes swirled through the headlights and danced their way to the pavement. As we started back toward my apartment, Coates looked pensive, then said, “That service was like some of the ones I remember from when I was a kid.”

I glanced at her in sympathy. “Christmas is a hard time to be away from your family. Are they a long way from here?”

Coates made a face. “No, ma’am, at least not in miles. In mental distance, or emotional distance, or whatever you want to call it, light years away. My father is a minister in Maryland. I have an older brother somewhere, but I have no idea where. Back before my mother died, we had the usual family stuff, but since then, Daddy has been focused on his preaching, and hasn’t had time for anything else. Or anyone else. My brother got out as soon as he could, and he hasn’t been in touch since. At least, not with me. ”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “I know that when you’re serving somewhere far from home, the rest of the people in your unit make a sort of family. But you’re not even with them, so it must be extra hard.”

Coates was quiet the rest of the way back to my place. I parked the car, and we hiked up the steps, stomping the snow off our shoes as we got to my door.

“Do you want a snack or anything before bed?” I asked as we hung our coats on the coat tree in the hall.

“No thank you, ma’am. I ate enough at the party to keep me going awhile yet.”

She went off to get ready for bed. I didn’t really have a guest room, just an alcove off my room that held a bed and a small dresser. Right before Chloe arrived this year, I had found a tiny corner table at a yard sale, and squeezed it in next to the bed. It didn’t hold much, but there was room for a light and a windup clock. Chloe loved it, and with the screen blocking most of the opening into the hall, she had herself a snug little nest.

I turned on the tree lights, and sat on the couch near the fireplace. My gift from Harm sat on the felt tree skirt, as did one of the two gifts I had gotten for him. The other nestled in the branches, where the sparkles from the glitter on the paper caught the light from the tree. What a difference a year made! Last year at this time, Mic and I were celebrating together, planning our holiday and starting, as I thought, new traditions of our own.

If…everything….hadn’t happened last spring, we might even have been starting our family by now. I missed him in a way, although I had begun to realize even then that he just wasn’t the right person for me. I guess Harm was right, better that it happened before the wedding than after. I did have a “family” at JAG, but they were now with their real families, and I was alone. Well, no, not alone. Although Chloe had gone back to Vermont, I had Coates with me, and she was even more alone than I was. And Harm had promised to come by in the morning, to get his present and to take people for rides in his rebuilt—and refound—Corvette. I was luckier than lots of people, and I needed to realize that.

I was up fairly early the next morning, Maybe it was some holdover from being a kid, and wanting to run down and open presents first thing. I could remember a few Christmases like that, before things got too tense around home, and before Mom and I had to walk on tiptoes to keep my dad from blowing up. I heated water, planning to make hot chocolate as a Christmas treat. By the time the water boiled, Coates had come in, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“How much of a breakfast eater are you?” I asked her. “I can make eggs if you want, or we can have something like cinnamon toast with our hot chocolate.”

“Just cinnamon toast is fine, ma’am,” she replied. “Is that turkey breast in the fridge for dinner?”

“Yes. I’m going to see if Commander Rabb wants to eat here with us. As far as I know, he isn’t going anywhere else.”

“Does he have family around?” Coates asked. “I assume he doesn’t have a wife, or he would have taken me to his place instead of sticking you with me.”

“No, no family nearby. His mother and stepfather live in California. And he didn’t ‘stick’ me with you. I was glad to have the company.” I really was, I realized as I said the words I hoped were welcoming. I had been disappointed that Chloe couldn’t stay longer, but it was right for her to be back with her grandparents for such a family-oriented holiday. Coates and I would be each other’s family this year.

We sat around the kitchen table chatting, both of us still in our pajamas, stirring our hot chocolate with peppermint sticks. Chloe had taught me that one, and it made the chocolate treat seem even more holiday-ish. We were on a first-name basis by then—how can you spend Christmas morning in pajamas as Colonel and Petty Officer? We were just finishing up when the phone rang.

“Mac?” came Harm’s hearty voice. “Are you two awake yet?”

“Only squids sleep late. Marines are up and taking care of business at the crack of dawn!” I retorted. “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas to you, too. When will you be ready for company, and a ride in the modern version of a horse-drawn sleigh?”

We agreed that Harm would be over within the hour. Just before he hung up the phone, he piqued my curiosity by adding, “Oh, by the way, I have a surprise for you.”

No amount of wheedling could get any hints from him, so I told him to hurry over, and Jen and I headed off to get dressed, then start planning the dinner.

By the time Harm pulled up outside my building, Jen and I had prepared the turkey for the oven. I was almost sorry now that I had bought a turkey breast, instead of a whole turkey, but the thought of weeks of sandwiches had been a bit daunting. There would still be plenty for a good meal, even with more people than planned, and we’d have stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy, too.

I heard the footsteps approaching my door, and I pulled off my apron and tossed it over a chair. I felt very Christmas-y in a white sweater and little red earrings that looked like package bows. I opened the door with a smile of welcome, then stopped short in surprise.

“Sergei!”

He gave me a smile in return, and a half bow. “I am the Christmas surprise,” he replied in answer to my raised eyebrows. “I arrived last evening, with Mr. Webb.”

“Webb is not quite how I’d picture Santa Claus,” Harm said, “but the results are good.” He looked on top of the world, and I felt a lift of my heart along with it. He had been so worried about his brother’s safety, and now he was here in the United States.

After introductions and a little friendly wrangling about precedence and privilege, it was decided that Jen should have the first ride in the Corvette. I had a few things still to do for early dinner preparations. Harm and Sergei had agreed to eat with us, not even taking much persuading. I visited with Sergei as I worked, and I was impressed again at how good his English was. He told me about his time in prison, and about what Webb had to go through to get him out.

Harm and Jen returned about twenty minutes later. Everything was under control in the kitchen, so I got my coat from the rack and followed Harm down the stairs to the car. The sun had come out, and it was warming up. The snow had melted from the trees, but it still sparkled on the unbroken stretches of the park as we drove past.

“How about putting the top down?” I asked as we swooped along.

“I think it would be a bit too chilly,” Harm answered. “Tell you what. I’ll take you for a ride in the spring, when it gets warmer. I’ll show you what this baby can really do.”

“It’s a deal,” I replied, happy at the thought of spending more time with him.

On the way back, Harm pulled into a gas station with a little convenience store. He came back out with rolls, butter, and some sparkling cider. “I wanted to contribute something to the meal,” he explained. “How about these? I looked for a pie or something, but the place just wasn’t that fancy.”

Dinner was wonderful. I put on a CD of Christmas music, and there was a crackling fire in the fireplace. Jen was really very handy in the kitchen, using her experiences as a short order cook, and between us, we turned out a very creditable feast. . The sparkling cider was a great accompaniment, and we finished off with Christmas cookies that Chloe and I had made while she was here.

All of us were stuffed, and feeling a bit sleepy, but Sergei was really struggling not to yawn. He apologized profusely, insisting it wasn’t the company, but the long trip he had just made. Harm offered to drive him home so he could get some rest, and promised to come right back.

Jen watched them leave, then turned to me with a smile. “He’s really a great guy, isn’t he, Mac?”

“Who, Sergei?” I asked, knowing that wasn’t who she meant at all.

“No, Commander Rabb. Oh, Sergei’s really nice, too, but the commander…”

The day suddenly seemed a little less perfect.

“Won’t he make a wonderful father some day?” Jen said.

I bit my lip to hold back a sudden giggle. Father? Was that what she had been thinking in connection with Harm? What a lowering thought! I’d better not tell him that. I could feel my spirits lifting, though, and the day looked brighter again. I tried not to think about why it should have bothered me, but it had.

Jen wandered off into the kitchen to work on the cleanup from dinner, but I stayed a few moments by the window. White Christmas in Washington was a rare occurrence, and I wanted to enjoy it while I could. Traces of white were still visible in the dark corners and by the edges of buildings, but the streets were now just wet with melted snow. I felt a brief sadness, wondering if the magic of the last twenty-four hours was coming to a close in the same way the snow was disappearing.

I pulled myself away, and went in to help Jen finish straightening the kitchen. There was enough turkey left for a couple of sandwiches, but not the weeks’ worth that I had feared might be the case. When we were done, I went to my DVD rack and pulled out a copy of the old standard, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“Want to watch with me?” I asked Jen.

“I’ve never seen that one,” she admitted. “My favorite Christmas movie is ‘Home Alone.’”

“This one is so classic that it’s a cliché. If you haven’t seen it, you should at least pretend you have!”

Jen looked doubtful. “Okay. Are you and the Commander planning to watch it?”

As if on cue, there was a quick knock at the door, and Harm came in. “My favorite Christmas movie!” he exclaimed as he saw the DVD I was holding. He was carrying two gaily-wrapped gifts, one quite large and the other a small, jewelry-sized box. He put both of them under the tree without comment.

Jen chuckled. “I guess I’m outvoted. Should I assume we don’t want any popcorn after so big a dinner?”

I put the DVD into the player, and the three of us settled in on the couch to watch. I noticed Jen glanced at us several times, and soon she gave a not-very-convincing yawn.

“I’m pretty tired, too,” she told us. “I think I’ll head in and read a bit, then maybe catch a short nap. Turkey always makes me sleepy.” She got up and disappeared into my room.

Harm relaxed a bit, and I sort of hoped he might do the standard guy movie stretch and end up with his arm around me, but no such luck. Still, the warmth of the fire and the fragrance of the Christmas tree made me feel happy and content. Maybe we were just friends, sharing a Christmas afternoon with a classic movie; maybe we were on our way to something more, when the time was right.

When the movie ended, and I’d returned the DVD to its case, Harm pointed to the gifts under the tree. “Time for presents. I think I’m still a little kid at Christmas time, because I’ve been looking at those ever since I got here.”

I laughed, and brought the gifts to the couch, pausing to pop another Christmas music CD into the player. I handed him his two, and I took my three. “Which one shall I open first?” I asked him.

“Oh, do the one I brought the other night. It’s probably not a big surprise.”

It wasn’t a surprise, but it was welcome: a bottle of my favorite perfume, something that he gave me almost every Christmas. Harm looked at his two gifts, and chose the larger one. He unwrapped a warm, forest green sweater, and held it up against his chest.

“This looks great, and feels warm!” he said. “Thank you!”

“I think you look wonderful in green. It matches your eyes,” I said. Harm raised his eyebrows at me, but said nothing.

I opened the larger of the two remaining gifts, and found a cowl-neck sweater in gorgeous burnt-orange. “What a beautiful color, and it’s so soft!” I exclaimed. “How do I rate so many presents this year?”

“I wanted to thank you for helping me out with Coates.”

“I’m glad to help out, you know that.”

“It also gave me an excuse to get you another present.”

“You need an excuse?” I asked in a teasing way.

“I hope not,” he said, gazing at me intently, “but I didn’t want to take chances too soon.”

Too soon? Too soon for what, I wondered. This sounded promising, and I felt my spirits rise even further. I covered my confusion by pointing to his remaining gift. “Open your other one.”

This one lightened the atmosphere, as it was a bumper sticker reading, “MY OTHER RIDE IS A TOMCAT.” He got a good chuckle out of that one, and promised to put it on the Lexus.

“I probably should have gotten one that said a Corvette,” I said.

“No, this one is better,” he said. “Anyone can have a Corvette, or at least say they have one, but a Tomcat is different. Where did you get this?”

“I had to go to Annapolis for a deposition a couple weeks ago. They have a great little gift shop!”

Harm burst out laughing. “That they do! Open your other one!”

I opened the small box, and found a cute little earrings and pendant set with airplanes on them. Trust Harm to find something like that!

“If you don’t look too closely, they’re a little like Tomcats,” Harm pointed out. “I must have gone to that same gift shop!”

“And now some poor little girl whose Daddy flies planes doesn’t have this lovely set!” I teased. Impulsively, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Harm. I’ll think of you whenever I wear them.”

Harm flashed his wide smile, the one that always weakens my knees a bit. We picked up the wrappings and threw them out, then settled back on the couch to listen to the music. A solo violin was playing Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” and the rich sound seemed to wrap around me like a warm velvet cloak. What a wonderful Christmas this had been! I briefly debated talking with Harm about where all this was going, and what were the next steps, but I decided against it. That conversation could be saved for another day. He had slipped his arm around me, and given me a gentle hug, and that was all the communication I needed at the moment. I sensed there would be opportunities, lots of them, to put all of this in words. Right now, I would just count my Christmas blessings.

The End