Dear Diary,

I had my best friend back.  I was happy even though I knew that we wouldn’t work again as closely as we had worked before.  Knowing that he was going to survive though was good enough for me.  I had the feeling though that he was trying to keep something from me but I figured that he would tell me when he was ready.  Soon, he was finally released from a series of hospitals.  Little did he know, we had a surprise for him.  Little did we know, he had a surprise for all of us.

 

 

We were sitting in Renee’s living room quietly waiting for Harm and Renee to show up.  He was going to stay over here since he would not be able to maneuver his wheelchair through his apartment.   Renee had given me the key earlier and Harriet and I set up everything that we would need for a nice little party.  We just needed the guest of honor.

 

Finally, we heard a key in the door.  It was soon opened by Harm and he walked in with the help of some crutches and Renee.  Even though we tried to surprise him by being there, he shocked us.  The doctor’s had told him that even with the regained feeling in his legs, it was likely that he would never walk again.  And yet he was.  Harriet and I went and gave him a hug. 

 

We all stood there for a few moments in amazement that he was standing but then at Renee’s comment we let him sit down. Everyone parted to let Harm get settled on the couch.  Once he was there, Bud and the Admiral walked over and shook his hand.  We all stood around talking for a while before I heard the oven timer go off.  I quickly went into the kitchen and took the last of the appetizers out of the oven.  I put the dinner in the oven to reheat it.  I knew that it would only about 20 more minutes to finish the cooking. 

 

Renee left Harm’s side long enough to get him a plate full of the appetizers that we all had brought.  She walked back and sitting close to him, they shared the food on the plate.  I noticed that neither of them seemed to mind this small display of affection.  I wondered if anyone else has noticed this.  I looked around the room and catching first Harriet’s eyes then the Admiral’s, I saw that they had indeed noticed.  Realizing the time I stood up and walked to the kitchen before Harm stopped me. 

 

“Mac, where are you going?”

 

“Dinner is finished,” I said just before the oven timer went off again causing laughter from everyone and a curious look from Renee.

 

“Don’t ask,” Harm said.  “She’s never explained it to me either.”  I just ignored him knowing that I was going to be getting payback in just a few minutes.  I took some of the food out to the table and asked Harriet to help with the rest.  She picked up the pasta dish that the Admiral brought and watched as I put the special dish on the silver platter and covered it with the silver lid. 

 

I let Harriet lead the way out of the kitchen and I followed her.  She put the dish on the table and turning around to the Admiral, she said, “Sir, that pasta looks delicious.  Did you make it yourself?”

 

“Yes, Harriet.  I did.  Bud said that you and Mac were both cooking yourselves so I thought I could do the same,” said the Admiral.

 

“Hold up,” said Harm suspiciously.  “You let Mac cook for me?  Ms. Beltway Burger Herself?”

 

“Very funny, Stickboy.  I made this just for you.”  I walked closer to him and with a flourish, I removed the lid.  He looked even more skeptical before he recognized the dish.  It was his own special, Harm’s Meatless Meatloaf.  He laughed as I winked at him.  We all laughed as we served Harm dinner and got our own.