At the high school football Stadium
I look across the stand and see him, God he looks great, and time has been good to him. From the uniform I see he is still in the Navy. His temple is gray and is that a mustache I see. Oh my, it is. I can't believe he grew one. I never thought that Harmon Rabb would ever grow one of those.
I watch him for a few minutes trying to figure out whom he is watching on the practice field. It would be par for the course for one of Harm's sons to be out there.
What the hell, I might as well go and talk with him. I know that it has been, what? Over twenty years since we last parted ways.
"Hello Harm." I say as place my hand on his shoulder to keep him from standing up. Still all proper, that is good to see.
"Hi there." he replies back in shock.
"I thought I saw you sitting here and I just decided to come over and say hi."
"I'm glad you did, like to have a seat. If you're here to pick up someone from practice, " He said pointing to the field, "They always run long. The coach is a stickler that practice goes till it is time to leave and then every one of the kids must shower and clean up after that."
"Must be ex-navy then."
We both laugh; the tension of meeting again seems to slowly fade away. I look at his face and wonder what he is thinking, more importantly what does he think of me. I mean life has been good but a couple of kids and my figure was never the same.
"Which ones are yours?"
"The quarterback and the two wide receivers. Trey is a junior and Tommy and Zach are freshman."
"So you have just three boys?"
"No, I have a daughter, Diane, she is in her first year at the academy and a younger son, and he's in the 1st grade. Ben snuck in on us."
I laugh with him as I picture his face when his wife told him that she was pregnant again after so long, I wonder how they do it, five kids. "Bet that took you for a loop?"
"Sure did but we wouldn’t trade him for anything. He is his mother's son though. The rest I corrupted with the navy but I was told that this one was hers and hers alone."
I look at him and the gleam in his eyes as he thinks about his kids, I wish that it was for ours but we never got there. I can't believe he is the father of five either. I follow his gaze to the field where I find my son, James, he is the spitting image of his father and against my better judgment I let him play football.
He asks, "Which one are you here for?"
"Number 25, the strong safety. The one the quarter back is torturing."
"And the one that 88 keeps outrunning. My son and number 87 is the other one."
"Well then I am glad that our sons are on the same team then."
"Yes, I guess it is. When did you move back to DC?"
"Just a few weeks ago. I just got settled and got the kids back into school. I have a younger daughter, she is a freshman too."
"Had'em back to back then?"
"Better than every other year."
"My wife's idea, I just was there."
I want to hit him as he gives me that grin, the grin I fell in love with so long ago. I see that he is still married by the ring on his hand, I wonder of he notices that mine is missing. Has been for some time.
We continue to sit and watch as the coach finishes with some cool down drills. I watch as the quarterback and the two wide receivers Harm pointed out as his wave at him as they run off the field. My son joshing with new made friends doesn’t even acknowledge me.
"So are you going to come to all of the games?"
"I'm going to try but relocating and getting back on track must come first."
"Well the parents get season tickets, two of them unless you request more. I also know that your daughter being a student gets in free."
"You come to all of the games then?" I asked surprised.
"I made a promise to my kids, no matter what that I would make as many games as I could. So far I haven’t missed any. I plan on keeping it that way too."
He never breaks a promise either, I should know. "That’s great, I wish that my ex was that dedicated to his children." I say before I think. My anger at him coming through at the way he behaves around his kids. All they and I ever wanted was some attention.
"I'm sorry."
"Why should you be?"
He shrugs and cocks his head, "Don't know, just seem the thing to say."
I smile back at him, "Thanks."
The silence hangs there, time a void we can't cross back over. he stands and offers his hand to help me up. We head down the stairs to where the club house to wait for the boys.
"If there is anything you should ever need, we're listed in the phone book."
"I appreciate that Harm, I really do."
The sounds of excited kids come from the open door of the club house, I turn to him, "It was good to see you again Harm. maybe we can get together some time to go over old times."
"You never know. Since our boys are on the same team, we will be seeing more of each other. A get together sounds like fun."
I was about to reply when I hear, "Hey mom. I thought I said I would catch a ride with one of the guys."
It is all I can do to keep from cringing at the disapproving tone of my oldest. "Well I was in the neighborhood and I just decided to pick you up."
My son gives me a disapproving look that matches his mood at his mother picking him up.
"Hey dad, I am so glad you could make it. I know that they don’t let the JAG out often anymore."
Harm smiles at his oldest son as he joins us standing there. a second later the other two sons join us. "Wanted to see my sons for the afternoon, so I pleaded my case to my staff and they were nice enough to let me have the afternoon off."
"Cool." One of the younger ones says.
I catch my son looking at the exchange between Harm and his sons. The feelings crossing his face of sadness over his own father ignoring him and then the anger of the same followed by envy.
"Hey dad, this is James, just joined the team."
"I know, his mother here is an old friend of mine."
The three of them turn to look at me, they all smile their fathers smile.
"Nice to meet you, now if you'll excuse us, I need to get going and get dinner for James here and pick up his sister from band practice."
"It was good to see you again Renee."
"You too Harm.
The boys say good bye to each other and I lead my unhappy son towards the car.
As I have often wondered since Harm left me and pledged his feelings towards Mac does she realize just how lucky she really is.
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