My Big Phat JAG Wedding

“I know it’s, very yellow.”

“It’s not that yellow. It’s subtle. I like the lace.”

“Grams hasn’t changed it in all these years. It’s more of a faded yellow now. It used to be brighter.”

“I don’t know how your Grandfather lived with it.”

“Well she talked him into a deal. She got the bedroom and he got the bathroom. I see. I like the frosted forest green.”


“Now here’s the guest room.”
ry nry nice. The rose color is great.”

“The bathroom is rose and frosted forest green as you put it. The room next to this one is just storage.”


“Now here’s my room,” Harm says opening the door, “Just the way I left it, minus the dust.”

“Oh Harm, is that the quilt you were telling me about?”

“Yes as a matter of fact. She must have pulled it out of storage,” Harm says shutting the door.

“It’s gorgeous Harm. The room is you. I like the blue. It’s a sky blue isn’t it?”

“Yes. Listen, there is something I have to tell you.”

“What,” Mac asks concerned about the tone in his voice.

“I got a call about a little over a month ago from a very wicked woman.”

“Oh,” Mac plays along.

“She made me do things over the phone.”

“Things like what?”

“Made me have sexual relations,” Harm says using frilly words to dance around the subject.

“Harm,” Mac says in an angry tone, “Did that woman give you phone sex?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I was so captured by hemandmanding, sensuous voice. She turns me on so strong by the things she made me do, I couldn’t help myself.”

Mac wants to laugh, but she is having too much fun with this, “No Harm. TMI!”

“TMI?”

“Too much information. I did not need to hear that,” Mac threw at him.

“Are you mad at me?”

“Frankly, yes. You should have hung up. You cheated on me Harm, I could call off the wedding.”

“I think I know where to reach her, would you like to call her up and give her what to and where for?”

“No… Well I don’t know.”

“Would you rather I call her and give her an earful.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. She might enjoy it. I don’t want you to encourage this woman.”

“Ok I guess I won’t,” saved by the bell, Grams pulls the little rope in the kitchen that rings the bell in the bedroom.


The Rabb Farm.
Bellevue, PA
8:00 p.m.

Harm and Mac are holding one another as lovers and he is about to enter her when there is a loud thud on a hardwood floor coming from across the hall.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to check it out. Stay here,” says Harm as he grabs a pair of sweats, a flannel shirt, and quickly dresses.

“Not on your life,” Mac says as she gets out of bed and puts on her robe.

Harm isn’t about to argue. He grabs the bat behind the door and the flashlight off the dresser. Mac is quickly on his heels. Harm checks the two other rooms up stairs and it’s clear. He goes to Gram’s room. Harm knocks on the door. He doesn’t hear anything and the light is on so he opens the door. Grandma Sarah is on the floor with her jewelry box; she has just had a big enough stroke to paralyze one side of her body. She was putting her earrings that Harm’s dfatdfather had given her in the box. Harm rushes to her side and begins to look her over to make sure she is still alive.

“What happened Grams?”

She can’t talk very well because her speech is impaired.

“I frell, ‘arm.”

Mac runs back to their bedroom for her cell phone to call for help. Then she runs back up the stairs to the room. Harm has her lying on the bed, with her head propped up with pillows.

“Harm, can I see you for a second.”

“I don’t want to leave her.”

“It’s just a second.”

Harm follows her out into the hall.

“Harm, they might have trouble getting here because of the snow that is falling now, but they’ll try and get here as soon as they can.”

“That is unacceptable. I’ve got chains on the SUV, why don’t we take her.”

“I don’t know Harm. It’s getting heavier by the minute. I watched it while on the phone. What happened?”

“I think she’s had a stroke. I think she’s paralyzed on the left side.”

Harm is already beating himself up; Mac can see it written all over his face. He is beating himself up for not seeing the signs of Gram’s health not being good. She hid it well. He should have td hed her into bed and most of all he was beating himself up for making love with Mac when it happened. It wasn’t Mac’s fault because he had talked her into it.

“Harm, it will be ok. I’ll go call them back and tell them we’re going to take her.”

“Right. I’ll go put a bag together for her and get her ready to go.”

“How about I call and get her ready, you get our bags together so we don’t have to worry about packing up later.”


Harm goes back into the room and the air has changed. It smells like death in the room. He comes to sit with his grandmother.

“Grams, we’re going to take you to the hospital. Help can’t get here through the snow, so we’re taking my vehicle,” she nods ok. “We will be careful in the snow. Mac is going to drive. I’m going to stay with you.”


Mac comes back after calling, dressing and packing up her things.

“Harm, I’ll stay with her if you want to go finish dressing. It’s getting colder out. Oh and could you take all the bags to the car.”

“Right. I’ll be right back Grams.”


“Ok. Now I’m going to help you get ready to go, Grams,” Mac says softly so she doesn’t alarm her.

Grams nods ok and Mac finds a small suitcase for her in the closet. She puts some clothing in it for her and puts it out in the hall for Harm.

“Now I’m going to help you sit up ok,” Mac says caringly.


Harm watches Mac a minute at an angle from the doorway. He thinks about how wonderful she is, helping his grandmother get dressed to go out. Harm takes their bags out to the SUV. In the time it takes Harm to get dressed and take the bags down, Mac has dressed her in a flannel shirt, sweat slacks, and when Harm comes back up she is helping her get some socks on for her snow boots.

“Mac, I want you to drive if that’s ok.”

“Fine by me, but I’m going to need directions on how to get to the hospital.”

“Ok. Ok Grams it’s time to go.”

Harm carefully picks her up and Mac goes down the steps first to guide them down safely. Mac locks up the house while Harm seats his grandmother in the SUV on one side. He buckles her in and then he climbs in on the right side, and puts on his belt. Mac gets in behind the wheel and makes sure she’s buckled in before she starts the engine.


Water Street Urgent Care
1009 Water St, Meadville, PA
10:00 p.m.

Somehow with a lot of prayers and luck, Mac pulls into the hospital parking lot. Harm gets out and takes his grandmother into the emergency room. Harm looks a little lost as Mac finishes parking the SUV.

“Sir, can I help you?”

“Yes, I think my grandmother has had a stroke. Her speech is impaired and her left side is paralyzed.”

“Come with me and we’ll get her looked at.”

Harm follows the nurse and Mac spots him and follows. He sets her down gently on a gurney.

“It’s going to be ok Grams,” Harm whispers to her before looks up at the doctor and sternly says, “Her name is Mrs. Sarah Rabb.”

“Come on Harm, let’s go to the waiting room,” Mac says softly before a nurse comes to pull them out of the way.


They find the waiting room and Mac eases Harm into a seat.

“She’s got to make it Mac. She’s got to be there. The wedding is 3 months and 3 weeks from today and I want her to be there when we get married. I don’t want to have a funeral before the wedding.”

“Harm, you have to believe she’ll be ok.”

“I know but…”

“No buts about it. She’s going to be ok. I know it. So stop beating yourself up over it.”

“How do you know?”

“I know because I have faith in the doctors doing their best. I trust that God will heal her.”

“It’s written on my face isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. Do you want me to call Mom?”

“No, not yet. We still don’t know what happened.”

“I’ll wait and call everyone in the morning.”

“Thanks Mac,” Harm reaches up and gives her a quick kiss, “I’m going to go to the chapel.”

“I’ll go get some coffee.”

Mac leaves Harm and goes to the cafeteria and she pulls out her cell and calls Harriet. There had to be someone still there at the party.


Roberts’ Residence.
Somewhere in Washington, D.C.
10:30 p.m.

“Hello?”

“Harriet, is the A.J. still there?”

“Hi Mac, you don’t sound to good. Yeah he’s here. He and Meredith were about to leave for home. Hold on.”

“A.J. here.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry to be calling you this late.”

“It’s ok. Mac, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Harm’s grandmother. We’re here at the hospital. We think she may have had a stroke. The doctors are looking at her now, Harm’s a wreck and blaming him. He’s in the chapel now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Mac. Is there anything we can do here?”

“Pray for us. I’ll be calling Harm’s mom in a few hours. He wants me to wait to call until after we hear what the doctor’s have to say.”

“Please keep us updated. Don’t worry about coming back to work on Monday. Take as much time as you need.”

“I will. Harm’s worried she won’t make it to the wedding, but I believe she will. Well I’ve got to go get some coffee. Thanks A.J.”

“Bye Mac.”


“What’s going on,” asks, a worrying Harriet.

“That was Mac. Harm’s Grandmother is in the hospital. They think she may have had a stroke. Harm’s a wreck as can be expected and she wants us to just pray for them.”

“Has Harm’s parents been notified,” asks Bud.

“Mac’s going to call them in a few hours. Harm wants her to call once they know more about Mrs. Rabb’s condition. She’s going to call and update us when there is any change.”

“I suggest we all get some sleep because it is Christmas tomorrow, we should be ready to help if they need us.”

“Right A.J.,” says Sturgis.


Water Street Urgent Care
1009 Water St, Meadville, PA
Thursday, December 25, 2003.
12:00 a.m.

Mac sips on her coffee, waiting in the waiting room for Harm to come back. He’s been in the chapel for almost 2 hours. The nurse had been into the chapel already to drop off papers for him to fill out and sign, being that he is next of kin. Finally a doctor comes out to the waiting room.

“Is there someone here for Mrs. Rabb?”

“Yes. My fiancé is her grandson.”

“Is he here?”

“No, he’s in the chapel. Is there something wrong?”

“I suppose since you’re almost family I can tell you. She did have a mild stroke, but she’s going to be fine. I’d like to keep her here a few days, just for testing and observation. I think with several months of rehabilitation she should be able to walk and speak on her own. Her speech may still be impaired but with therapy the slurs may not be as severe.”

“When can Harm go see her?”

“She’s being moved to a private room in the ICU. I believe it is room 316. I would suggest one visitor at a time fow, ow, but if you both go in, only 5 minutes at a time.”

“If one of us wants to stay with her all night, what should we do?”

“We can have a couple cots set up if you want. I’d give you a bed but we are a rather small hospital and we need them.”

“I understand. Thank you doctor. I will go find Harm and tell him.”

“Your welcome.”


Mac finds the chapel and quietly enters. She takes a seat beside Harm. He is kneeling and in prayer. He finishes his prayer and comes back on the seat to Mac.

“Any news?”

“Yes, she’s going to be fine. The doctor wants to keep her here a few nights for testing and observation say says that she’s had a mild stroke, and that with several months of treatment she should be able to walk and talk on her own. He says the slurs may still be there but they won’t be as bad. He said she’s being moved to a private room in the ICU and they’re going to set up a couple cots if you and I want to stay with her.”

Harm looks into Mac’s face, cups her face and springs his lips forward in a kiss of gratitude. He pulls back and Mac could see his face brighten as if the dark clouds have lifted and moved on.

“Can we go see her?”

“Yes, but if we both go we can only stay 5 minutes at a time. You go ahead first, she’s in 316. I’ll go call your parents.”

“Ok. It should be about 8pm yesterday there.”

“Tell Grams Merry Christmas for me.”

“I will, tell Mom and Dad Merry Christmas for me, and thanks Mac.”