Part 31 

Do not archive disclaimers in part 1

I didn’t realize how short this part was.  Sorry.

 

Dear Diary,

I’ll never forget that day or where I was.  I was at Harriet’s and I was holding Little AJ when the phone rang.  I didn’t say anything after the first greeting.  I was too stunned.  I’ve said it before how it is amazing that a few little words can change everything.  This time though, I worried that it wouldn’t turn out as well…

 

 

Harriet insisted on having us all over for Christmas Eve to make up for canceling Thanksgiving.  I went over early to watch Little AJ and to try to take my mind off of something.  It worked for a while until my cell phone rang.  I listened to the caller then sat lost in thought until Harriet walked into the living room.

 

“Mac?  Are you okay?”

 

“What?  Oh Harriet, I’m sorry.  I guess I let my mind wander.”

 

“I hope everything is alright,” she asked concerned.

 

“Me too,” I replied honestly.

 

“You know that I will be glad to listen if you ever need to talk about anything,” Harriet reminded me as she picked up Little AJ.

 

“I know.  I might take you up on that but I think that I need to talk to someone else first.”

 

Harriet nodded and dropped the subject.  I was almost positive that she thought that I broke up with ‘that guy.’  I saw no reason to correct her assumption.  Right then, the doorbell rang and Harriet went to answer it leaving me to my thoughts again. 

 

Young AJ ran back in to the living room followed by Renee and Harm whose arms were loaded with packages. 

 

“Hey, Mac.  How ya doing?” asked Harm.

 

“Oh, I’m doing fine,” I said as I shook off my contemplative mood.  I tried to have a good time that night.  I noticed several times though that AJ worriedly looked in my direction when everyone else was watching Little AJ opening his gifts.  We hadn’t had a chance to speak after he arrived and I doubted that we could any time alone before the end of the party.  I was planning on driving over to AJ’s after picking up Jingo at my place and I knew that we had to talk before the night was over.  I ruefully thought that at least this way I would be the one doing the surprising.