1230 (12:30 p.m.) Local
The Pacific Beach Boardwalk
San Diego, California
The day couldn’t have been more beautiful if it had been woven into reality from a dream. The sky was a vibrant blue with hardly a cloud in sight, and though the heat index was pushing 90 degrees, the breeze off the ocean made the heat more than bearable. The sun shone down on those meandering down the boardwalk that rose above the sand and snaked down the Pacific coast.
The entire boardwalk was covered in decorations, banners, and signs in three colors: red, white, and blue, paying tribute to the anniversary of the day that the country became independent. Booths laden with games, children’s activities, and patriotic-themed trinkets filled both sides of the boardwalk, attracting those walking past. Most of the pedestrians were families and couples who were out celebrating the holiday.
Among the family units enjoying the festivities was a trio that was decidedly hard to miss, thanks in no small part to the considerable height of its only male member. The man was in his early forties, his quick smile and fit figure an indication of his happiness with life. The fingers of his right hand were threaded with those of one of his female companions, a tall and stunning brunette of approximately the same age. The final member of the group was a redheaded teenage girl, who, despite being wheelchair-bound, was easily keeping pace.
“Oh, look at those!” 17-year-old Mathilda Grace halted in front of a tent that was filled with shoes, her voice rising in excitement. “Mac, those flip-flops have American flags on them!”
Sarah MacKenzie released her fiancé’s hand to pick up the sandals in question. “They do, don’t they?”
“Mattie, you don’t need any more of those!” Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. (Retired), protested. “Honestly, you already can’t even see your closet floor!”
“But I don’t have any with flags on them!” Mattie turned her bright blue eyes up to him. “Come on, please?”
“They are awfully cute, Harm,” Mac commented, grinning at the ‘you’re not helping!’ expression he threw her way.
Harm sighed, knowing that, as usual, he’d been outnumbered and outvoted. With a longsuffering grumble, he pulled out his wallet, withdrew the required amount of cash, and handed it to Mattie. Her delighted smile was contagious, and he couldn’t help but return it.
~*~*~*
Ten Minutes Later
“OK, Mom. Mmhmm. Yes. All right.” Harm kept nodding into the phone, causing Mac and Mattie to giggle. Talking with Trish Burnett wasn’t really conversing; it was listening while she filled in for both sides. “I’ve got it, Mom. We’ll meet you at nine. Bye.” Harm snapped his cell shut, rubbing his ear with the other hand. “Mom and Frank said they’ll meet us here for the fireworks.”
“What about Jen?” Mattie asked.
“I’m not sure,” Harm replied. “Mac, you want to call her? My ear’s still numb.” After handing over his phone, he looked up to see a booth offering a tempting treat. “Hey, Mats, want some ice cream?”
“Do you even have to ask?” Mattie raced past him, her arms pumping the wheels of her chair.
It didn’t take long to order three cones – one vanilla and two Chocolate Fudge Chips – and it was as they were turning to leave that Harm noticed him.
A young blonde boy was standing huddled next to the ice cream booth, hugging himself as if he were cold. He appeared to be about six or seven years old, and Harm could see that his eyes were tinged with confusion.
Harm glanced around, but no adults seemed to be watching the child. Brow furrowed in concern, he quietly and carefully approached the boy, and kneeling down, brought himself to his eye level. “Hey, partner.”
The boy started, but he didn’t run. He focused on Harm, his expression unchanging. “Hi.”
“Where are your mom and dad?”
The little boy shook his head. “I… I don’t know. Me and Mom were playing at the crafts booth” – he pointed back down the boardwalk – “and then she was gone.”
“How long have you been here, buddy?”
“A little while.”
“OK. Tell you what – let’s take you to the security tent, all right? They’ll help us find your parents.”
“But you’re a stranger! I’m not supposed to go anywhere with strangers.”
Harm held back a smile at the boy’s obedience. “I know you’re not. But I think that just this once, your mom and dad will say it’s OK. I’m here to help you, I promise.”
The child nodded.
“What’s your name, buddy?”
“Stephen. What’s yours?”
“Harm.”
“That’s a funny name.”
Harm chuckled. “A lot of people tell me that.” He held out his hand. “Come on.” Stephen took his hand, and Mattie fell in next to them as they made their way back to the main stream of foot traffic.
Mattie looked up at Harm, her blue eyes slightly worried. “Think we’ll find his mother?” she mouthed. Harm nodded reassuringly.
Mac then caught up, having ended her phone conversation. “Harm, what’s going on?”
Harm quickly explained the situation, and Mac’s face darkened with concern. She took his free hand without a word, and the group continued down the boardwalk in search of the security tent.
~*~*~*
Five Minutes Later
Event Security Center
“Can you tell me what your mom was wearing, Sweetie?” A short, black-haired security officer sat down next to Stephen, holding a legal pad and pen.
“Um… a purple shirt. And a ball cap.”
“With jeans?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can you tell me your last name?”
Stephen did, also answering some other basic questions – where he lived, his phone number, etc. “Are… are you gonna find her?”
“Of course we are, Sweetie. Just sit tight right there, OK?”
After Stephen’s nod, the officer stood and made her way over to where Harm and Mac were standing by the tent’s entrance. “We’ve got enough to begin a prelim search for his mother,” she informed them. “She’s most likely still in the vicinity, no doubt panicking. You’re welcome to stay here and wait with him if you’d like.”
“Actually, we were wondering if we could be of assistance,” Mac told her. “I work with the U.S. Navy’s Joint Legal Service Center, and my fiancé recently retired from the service. We both have experience in foot searches, and we’d be glad to help in any way we can.”
“You’re a naval officer?” The short woman seemed genuinely surprised.
“Marine,” Mac corrected, so quickly that Harm had to fight back a grin.
“Well, we could definitely use the extra pairs of legs. Let me jot down the description for you.” She hurried toward the back of the tent.
Harm turned to Mattie, who was waiting patiently outside. “Hey, Mattie, could you do us a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Would you sit with Stephen until we find his mother? He needs someone to stay with him so he knows he isn’t alone.”
Mattie nodded. “OK.”
The security officer approached again, handing Harm and Mac copies of Stephen’s mother’s description. After quickly memorizing it, Harm pocketed his sheet of paper, then leaned down to kiss Mattie’s forehead. “Thanks, Mats. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“You’re welcome.” Mattie paused as Harm and Mac turned to go, then said, “Guys?” Both faced her. “Good luck.”
~*~*~*
“So you’re Stephen, huh?” Mattie wheeled up to the table, positioning her chair next to the young boy.
“Yeah.” Stephen twisted in his chair to look at her. “Harm’s your dad, right?”
Mattie grinned. “Pretty much. My name’s Mattie.”
Stephen nodded his head, his eyes travelling over her wheelchair. “I’m sorry you have to use that.”
Mattie offered him a sad smile. “I am, too, believe me.”
Stephen didn’t say anything more on the subject, returning to the coloring book he’d been given. Mattie sat and simply watched him for a while, marveling at the younger child’s lack of panic. While he seemed worried, he wasn’t crying or screaming; truth be told, he had much more self-control than she’d had at his age, she admitted to herself.
A few minutes passed. Then, as Stephen was reaching for a blue crayon, he glanced up at the U.S. Navy seal on Mattie’s T-shirt. “My dad’s in the Navy.” His eyes held a spark of pride.
“Really?” Mattie asked. “Harm was, too.”
“What did he do?”
“He was a pilot for a while. Do you know what a Tomcat looks like?” At Stephen’s nod, she said, “Well, that’s what he flew. Then he was a lawyer. Still is, actually.” Mattie paused. “How about your dad?”
“He’s on a ship in the middle of the Me- Med -”
“Mediterranean?”
“Yeah, that sea. He’s a doctor.” Stephen gave a small grin. “He gives people shots.”
“How long has he been gone?”
“Since before my birthday.”
“When is that?”
“August 1st.”
Nearly a year, Mattie realized. She swallowed hard, gazing at the little boy in front of her. She wasn’t the only one whose father had missed a lot of her childhood.
“He calls me every week,” Stephen continued, unaware of the impact his words had had on his companion. “He says that he misses me, but that he needs to be over there because that’s his job.”
“I’ll bet you miss him a lot, too, don’t you?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Ma ttie sat silent for a moment before she inquired, “When’s he coming home?”
“In two days.” Stephen stopped coloring then, his eyes misting up. “And I’m not gonna be able to see him.”
“Yes you are, honey.” Mattie reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder.
“Not if they can’t find my mom!” Stephen reached up to swipe at the tears rolling down his cheeks. “She’ll have to go get him without me, and I won’t get to see my daddy when he gets back!” Laying his little arms down on the table, he buried his head in them and began to cry.
Fighting back tears of compassion, Mattie rolled closer to him. Leaning over, she wrapped her arms around Stephen’s small body and tried her best to reassure him. “It’s going to be OK, Stephen. Harm, Mac, and the guards will find her.”
“B-but what if they don’t?”
“They will. Stephen, do you know what a promise is?”
“Yeah,” he answered, still sniffling.
“I promise you they’re going to find her and that you’ll get to see your dad. It’ll all work out.”
Stephen raised his head to look at her with his red-rimmed eyes. “Pinky promise?”
Mattie extended her baby finger to wrap it around his. “Pinky promise.” She dug into her pocket for the hanky Trish had made for her and handed it to Stephen, who promptly blew his nose. “Now, let’s see about getting that lilypad green for the frog, OK?” she suggested, pointing to his coloring book. He nodded eagerly, grabbing for the green crayon.
~*~*~*
Thirty Minutes Later
Harm momentarily stopped scanning the crowd around him to grab the cell phone that was ringing on his hip. “Rabb.”
“Any luck yet?” Mac’s voice came over the line.
“None so far.” Harm resumed sweeping his eyes over the mass of people. “Where are you?”
“Near the hot dog booth. I saw one woman I thought was her, but she didn’t have a hat.” Mac sighed.
“It’s OK, Mac. With so many people looking, it won’t take much longer. I’m going to call Offi -” Harm’s sentence was cut off as his gaze landed on a tall woman in front of him. She was weaving through the crowd, as if searching for someone, wearing a purple shirt with jeans – and a blue baseball cap. Harm broke into a run. “Mac, I think I just found her.”
~*~*~*
Six Minutes Later
Event Security Center
Mattie and Stephen were both intensely focused on coloring a king’s castle when a young woman burst into the tent. “Stephen!”
The little boy dropped his crayon, launching out of his chair. “Mommy!” He ran to her as fast as his little legs could carry him, leaping into her arms.
His mother held him in a crushing grip, tears running down her face. “Oh, thank God,” she breathed, her voice cracking.
Mattie watched the reunion between mother and son, her heart swelling with relief. She glanced up to see Harm duck into the tent, a triumphant smile on his face. Their eyes met, and he gave her a wink. She grinned and gave him a thumbs-up sign. “Where did you find her?” she asked as he approached.
“At the opposite end of the boardwalk. She thought he might’ve been headed to see the magic show.”
“But he stayed in one spot, just like he was supposed to.” Mattie shook her head, her gaze returning to Stephen. “I’ll bet his dad taught him that.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s Navy, too.” Mattie swallowed. “He’s been deployed in the Med since last August.”
Harm instantly sobered, following Mattie’s line of sight to the young boy. “Do they know when he’s coming home?”
Mattie nodded. “Day after tomorrow. Stephen was terrified that you all wouldn’t find his mom, and she’d have to go meet his dad without him.”
“Wow.”
“I know.” Mattie sighed, leaning against Harm. “I hope this doesn’t sound selfish, but I’m glad you retired. I hated those TAD assignments.”
“I know, Mats. That’s not selfish.” He ran his fingers through her red curls. “That’s being honest. And you know what?” She raised her questioning eyes to his. “I’m glad, too.”
~*~ *~ *
2015 (8:15 p.m.) Local
“I don’t know about you guys,” Harm commented, “but I’m bushed.” He, Mac, and Mattie were spread out on a blanket in the sand, awaiting Frank, Trish, and Jennifer’s arrival before the fireworks.
“Wuss,” Mattie teased, shifting into a more comfortable position. “But, yeah, me too.” She rotated her head to look at Mac. “How’re you doing?”
“Just fine,” Mac replied, resting her head on Harm’s shoulder.
“Not feeling sick at all?”
“Nope.” Earlier that evening, Mac had astounded Harm and Mattie, plus an entire audience, by finishing second in the hot-dog-eating contest. Harm had suggested she enter as a joke, and to his shock, she’d agreed to it. Far be it from her to pass up a challenge. “In fact, I think I could go for another ice cream cone.”
“Well, that’s good to hear, ma’am, ‘cause I come bearing gifts,” said a voice behind them. All three turned to see Jennifer Coates standing behind them, attempting to hold four cones of Neapolitan without getting any on her jeans. “Happy 4th!”
The other three quickly relieved her of her load, and she plunked down next to Mattie. “So, what all did you do today?”
- Fin –
