Father Time's Gift

“Well, to start I need the complete guest list and an accurate address list so that we can send the announcements when the time comes. Then we can put together a room block for their guests. Oh and the date of the event.”

“Block? Is that like renting a whole floor? April 16, 2004.”

“Something like that. We try to keep the wedding guests and party together so that everything is organized from the start and none of them have to come from 6 different hotels.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea then. I’ll fax you the list right now. I’ve been working on who should sleep where.”

“Great, that will help this process go by faster. I’ll hold on.”

Harriet goes into the den and faxes the list to Tabby. She also faxes over the pingping arrangements list.

“Ok, I sent them. There are 42 people listed.”

“Oop, my machine’s picking it up now. Ok so, I will set aside a block of, according to this eighteen rooms. Nine doubles, with one Queen bed and a sofa, seven suites with three 3 Queen beds per suite, and one Honeymoon suite with one Queen bed. The last room on the block is mine. I’ve got my daughter coming to stay for spring break from school and she’s my helper. So you just worry about having the 42 guests giving you their money.”

“Oh, how old is your daughter?”

“She’s eleven going on twenty one.”

“I’ve got a boy and he’s 4 going on driving me nuts sometimes.”

“Well, I’m sure they’re going to have fun at the parks this spring break.”

“What should I do if they decide to move the wedding date?”

“Juste mee me a call A.S.A.P. and I will fix everything. Once you return to me the Letter of Agreement, the date cannot be changed.”

“Oh I see.”


“Now I am assuming that you received the planning kit.”

“Yes and I am delicately trying to get things from Mac to you to start planning. They’ve decided on the colors for the wedding will be Navy blue and Marine green. I have to take a picture of the swatches and email it to you. Oh hang on, I have another call.”


Harriet hits her flash button, as Bud comes in looking for coffee.

“Hello?”

“Harriet, we need a favor.”

“Oh hi Mac. I’m on the other line with the wedding planner. What can I do for you?”

“Change the wedding date to April 14th. We still want 2004 though.”

“Why are you changing it to two days earlier? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, we are. It’s a… I heard it was good luck to get married on a Wednesday. And this wa can can send in our last separate tax returns before going on our honeymoon.”

“Ok, I’ll update the rest of the guests and let the planner know.”

“Thanks Harriet, you are the best.”


She hits flash again and goes back to Tabby.

“Tabby, that was Mac. She’s changed the date to April 14th, 2004. Will that be a problem?”

“No, no problem. I have it up on my screen. I can change it now. Done. Now the guest accommodations, you have to guarantee a minimum number of roightights. We start with 4 nights for guests. The wedding guests pay for their own rooms at the Walt Disney d Red Resort Hotel at a discounted rate. I will be sending a sign up sheet for any guests that want dual parks tickets for Epcot and Walt Disney World and have them delivered to their rooms at the hotel. Childcare is available, and in-room baby-sitting.”

“I think that will be great.”

“I will send out a photographer and videographer package for the couple to look at. I won’t have the Disney name on it so we can keep it a secret.

“Good, greah deh dear, another call. Han,” n,” flash button over.

“Hey Harriet, Harm here. I wanted to let you know we are going to have another small ceremony after the wedding, but before the reception.”

“Oh, what kind of ceremony?”

“Wedding of the colors. It’s something Mac suggested and I like the idea. I think it’s about family traditions. Anyway, I’m sure Mac will get back to you on that. I just wanted to call and give you a heads up for the planner.”

“Ok Harm. I’ll see what we can do.”

“Thanks Harriet, you’re the best.”

“Your welcome Harm,” flash over to Tabby...


“Sorry about that. That was Harm. He says Mac have an idea. They want to have a small ceremony after the wedding before the reception.”

“Ok, what kind of ceremony?”

“He said something about a wedding of colors… I have no idea what that means.”

“Fortunately, I do. It’s an old clan cm ofm of marrying the families together. The wedding ceremony is for God, family, and friends. The wedding of the colors is binding the families, or I should say binding of the clans.”

“Whoo, I’m glad you knew about it. Harm said Mac will probably get back to me on that.”

“Just for now we’ll host that at our wedding pavilion.”

“Where will the wedding be?”

“That my dear is up to the Fairy Godmother,” Tabby laughs, “Just kidding. I’ll have to see what is avale ale and get back to you.”

“All right. I have to go start lunch. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have more news. Oh wyou you send the invitations, make sure to put on it to keep the location a secret.”

“Sure, we don’t want anyone spoiling this. I’ll be waiting for your call. It was nice talking to you Harriet.”

“You too Tabby.”


MacKenzie-Rabb Apartment.
2909 P St NW, Washington. D.C.
Wednesday, April 16th 2003.
5:30 am.

“Hey Harm. Just think. A year from today we’ll be going on our honeymoon…”

“Yeah, speaking of honeymoon… Where do you want to go? Just give me a few hints.”

“Hmmm. I’ll get back to you later.”

“I’ve got Chaplain Turner on board. He just needs to get the details from Harriet.”

“I can’t believe she’s got us a place and already got the deposit in. She says it looks great and it’s not going to cost us a thing.”

“That’s our Harriet.”

“What do we have left to get to Harriet?”

“Flowers? No, I think we’re good. I mean Harriet’s handling everything so far. We’ve done our colors, flowers, got the minister, and the place for the wedding and reception. I guess all we have to do is plan our honeymoon and wait.”

“I’ve noticed Harriet going around with a clip board lately. She’s been taking money and checks. You don’t think there’s another pool going,” asks Mac as she gets dressed to go make breakfast.

“I don’t know. Have you asked around?”

“I asked Bud and he wouldn’t tell me.”

“I know, I cornered Bud and got the same answer. He said that Harriet might rip off his good leg if he told me.”

“I don’t know, but I do know that I don’t like it. Harm, I just remembered we have to choose the wedding party. Harriet is already my Maid of Honor.”

“I know; I just have to choose. I mean between Bud, Sturgis, Keeter, Admiral Chegwidden, and Admiral Boone… How can I pick a Best Man?”

“Easy… Your best man is Serg Har Harm looks at Mac eyes wide with shock… “Oh don’t tell me, you forgot your own half brother?”

“Yeah, I did. I have got to call him.”

“Oh not now. How many do you think we should have as bridesmaids and groomsmen?”

“How many do you want,” Harm asks dialing up his brother. It’s about 12 almost 1pm Moscow time.

“How about 3 a piece? So far I’ve got Harriet as Maid of honor, Chloe and Meredith and I’m going to ask Bobbi today.”

“Hello,” Harm hears on the other line.”

“Sergei, it’s Harm.”

“Hey brother. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I can think of no better person that I want to be my best man.”

“Your mom said you’d be calling soon. Harm, I’d be honored. I’ll get started on getting the paperwork ready. When is it?”

“April 14th.”

“Where is it?”

“Don’t know yet. Our friend, and Mac’s Maid of Honor, Harriet is taking care of that.”

“Oh. I will call when I get things clear.”

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do on this end.”

“I would appreciate that very much. Well, I am honored that you asked me and I accept. Congrats and I have to go now. Oh and Harm one more thing, give my half-sister-in-law-to-be a Russian greeting.”

“Sergei… I will. Bye.”


“Well, what did he say?”

“He accepted and said to give you this…”

Harm pulls Mac up from her seat. He cups her head with his hands and gives her a kiss on each cheek and a big hug.


Capitol Hill
Washington D.C.
12:00 pm.

“Thank you for meeting me for lunch.”

“Sure Mac, what can I do for you?”

“Be a bridesmaid at my wedding?”

“Mac, I’d be honored. Where and when?”

“I still don’t know where but it will be April 14th.”

“You don’t know where your wedding is? Isn’t that a little strange? I mean I know Sturgis told me Harriet was organizing it, but shouldn’t you know by now?”

“You’re right, but I’ve been so busy with work, I’ll have to ask later.”


JAG H.Q.
Falls Church, VA.
Friday, April 25th, 2003
7:20 am.

Comes in a little later but she’s still on time. She puts her coat up and gets to work. She spots Harriet crossing the bullpen to her desk.

“Oh morning Lieutenant. I was wondering. Where is the wedding being held?”

“Oh it’s somewhere really nice. I can’t tell you because it’s a surprise.”

“Harriet, I need to know by the end of the day where the wedding is.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

“Only if I had more time,” Harriet thinks to herself as she pulls out the Letter of Agreement outlining their space, hotel rooms, policies, and procedures relating to their wedding event. She rushes in with a stack of papers.


“Mac. These need to be signed right away.”

Mac signs all but one.

“Wait. What is this? A contract…”

“Mac, just please sign it. It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just from the planner.”

“Harriet, you know I have to read this.”

“Just trust me Colonel. Please.”

“That trust is wearing thin. Just don’t make me regret this,” Mac says as she signs it anyway.

“Thank you Mac. I know this is going to make you and Harm very happy.”

“I hope so. Just don’t let Harm read it either. Just ell him I said to sign it. If he tries to read it tell him he won’t get my special dessert tonight if he does.”

Harriet laughs, “Okay.”

“One down one to go,” Harriet thinks as she heads Com Commander Rabb’s office.

She knocks softly and he bade her to enter as he opens his briefcase.

“Morning Commander.”

“Morning Lieutenant. What can I do for you?”

“Well Mac wants you sign this and if you don’t read it, you’ll get her special dessert tonight.”

Harm coughs and smiles.

“Fine,” Harm says as he signs it, “By the way, was Sergei on the guest list?”

“Yes, sir. I took care of that, just in case.”

“Thanks.”


Harriet seals the agreement, the reservation forms, the advance ticket order forms, and a money order for all the tickets in an envelope. She addresses it and decides to send it at lunch.


Chegwidden Residence
McLean, VA.
Wednesday, May 14th, 2003
6:00 pm.

A.J. is going through his mail and he sees a big white envelope. He flips it over and opens it with his letter opener. He opens the card and moves the tissue paper.

“You are cordially invited to the wedding celebration of Sarah Macie tie to Harmon Rabb, Jr. in April on the fourteenth day of our Lord, two-thousand and four. Ceremony to start promptly at 2:00 pm in the Magic Kingdom,” he reads.

When Harriet had come to him about tickets to Walt Disney World, he thought she was half kidding, but now he wondered how Harm and Mac could afford such a wedding. Harriet had kept her plans from him as well. He dials up Harriet’s number.

“Roberts… What have you done,” he demands as Harriet answers.

“What do you mean sir?”

“How are Harm and Mac going to afford a Disney Wedding?”

“They aren’t sir. I won them a wedding through a contest.”

“You mean to tell me they are getting a free wedding, from Disney?”

“Yes sir. And we need it to be kept a secret from them. I’m on the other line with Harm’s father. We’re arranging to get us all to Orlando.”

“It’s going to be one hell of a surprise.”