Chapter
15
December
21st
1999
Nell
had been in Washington for less than three days, and she was already
feeling overwhelmed.
First,
the apartment Lt-Colonel Petit was leaving needed some furniture, and
since she had been living on base, in full furnished apartments, all
her career, she had to buy at least a bed, a sofa and a bookcase.
That meant a trip to the furniture store. Without a car.
Then,
a visit to her new office had revealed that none of her new collegues
were
aware she was coming.
And her training
course hadn't been planned. She was starting in a few weeks, and she
had no idea what her job would entitle. Luckily her green card and
immigration papers were in order.
And
finally, Harm had invited her to dinner that night, and then to the
JAG Christmas party the following day.
Not
to mention going back France to spend the holidays with her family
then going back to Washington soon after that.
Her
pregnancy was going well, thankfully, but she had been getting
increasingly tired this past week, as well as jet-lagged, and when
she was tired, she was cranky.
She
had high hopes for this dinner with Harm to be simple, and without
drama.
Harm
on the other hand, had been getting increasingly nervous about
introducing Nell to his coworkers and friends. How do you introduce
the mother of your unborn child ? My companion ? My
friend ? And should he mention the baby ?
He
also had made a decision, and he was hoping Nell would be on board
with it. But he was very anxious about it.
So
when he opened the door, none of them were not feeling their best.
« Hey ! »
« Hey
Nell. How are you ? »
« Tired
mostly. It's been a rough couple of days. » She then proceeded
to tell him about all the worries she'd had lately. Harm set them up
with a nice dinner and her mood lifted.
« Nell...
I've been thinking... Did I tell you about my dad ? »
« Yes,
some. He went MIA during the Vietnam war, right ? »
« Yes.
He was a Naval Aviator and he disappeared on Christmas eve 1969. I
was six years old. »
« I'm
sorry. It must have been hard growing up without your father. »
« Very.
I... I realized that if anything happens to me, you will find
yourself all alone. You won't qualify for death benefits, or inherit
what I own. That's why I thought... »
Harm
took a little box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a ring.
« I
thought we should get married. It would be a security for you and our
baby. »
Nell
put down her fork and shook her head.
« Harm !
No woman wants to hear she should marry for security. If you want to
convince me to tie the knot, you'll have to find something else ! »
Harm
opened his mouth, closed it, looked at the ring and back at Nell.
« Nell... »
She
waited patiently while he was trying to think of something.
« I
want to be there for you and the baby. »
« You
can be there even if we're not married. Try again. »
Harm
stayed silent for a minute. « Would you make a family with
me ? »
Nell's
eyes filled. « See, that wasn't so hard. »
« So,
you're saying... yes ? »
« Yes.
I'll make a family with you. »
Harm
smiled and put the ring on Nell's finger. It was a square cut diamond
set between by two triangle cut sapphires.
« Oh,
Harm, it's beautiful ! »
« You
like it ? »
«A
lot. And now I know what nickname our baby is going to have. »
« A
nickname ? »
« We
can't just call him 'the baby'. So, what do you think of 'Baby
Blue' ? »
Harm
put his hand on Nell's womb. « Yeah, sounds good. Hello Baby
Blue ! »
She
had a cry of surprise and put her hand over Harm's.
« What ? »
« He
moved ! I felt the baby move ! »
« Oh.
I didn't. »
« I'm
sorry. He's so tiny. I promise you'll feel him too. »
« You're
past three months, right ? »
« Yes,
I'm in my fifteenth week. Beginning of the fourth month. »
« I
had an idea for a boy's name. What do you think about calling him
Harmon ? »
« Like
you. »
« And
like my father. I'm Harmon Junior. He would be Harmon the third. »
« Well,
that's a big name for a little boy. Counter-offer, counselor :
Harmon as a middle name, with another first name. Deal ? »
« That
would be an acceptable offer. Did you have something in mind ? »
« Well,
I like Elliot. And Bosco too. And Falco. And for a girl ? Do you
have an idea ? »
« I
like Gabrielle. »
« Gabrielle...
I hadn't thought about it. Gaby... I like it. Gabrielle Alice. My
mother's name is Alice. What do you think ? »
« Gabrielle
Alice. It's on the list. And I like Elliot. Elliot Harmon, yeah. »
« Well,
it's a good start. »
« Tomorrow,
at the party, do you want to tell everyone about Baby Blue ? »
« If
you don't mind, I'd rather not. You're going to tell them about our
engagement, maybe... keep it one news at a time ? I'm not
showing yet, so we can tell them when I come back after the holidays,
what do you think ? »
« If
that's what you want, okay. »
« Thanks.
I had to tell my squadron way too early for my taste, plus it will
give your colleagues a second occasion to rejoice with us. »
« All
right. »
« I
appreciate it. We can do a baby party in the spring if you want. »
« I
don't know about that... »
Harm
linked his fingers with Nell's over her belly. « We're going to
make a good family. »
*****
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