Chapter 52

That afternoon when they went to register Shami for school, they were told that she would need to be tested to see where she stood in readiness. The tests came back with both good and bad news. She was way above her age level in concepts and following directions, and her worldly skills were amazing, however she couldn't even recognize the simplest letters, numbers, or shapes when shown them on paper.

It was recommended to Victor and Mac that since she was still so young, that they work with her until the new school year started in the fall and then she would not be so far behind the other children in those areas. It would also give her more time to become accustomed to the United States. Mac knew that this was the last thing that she needed to convince herself that she should to stay at home with her family rather than going back to work after her maternity leave was over. At this point in her life, family was now more important than any career could be.

Once they were back in the car, she explained this decision to Victor who just smiled and said that he was fine with her choice. He would have been willing to support any decision that she had made, but this one would open the door to them having more children if they chose.

That evening they returned to the apartment exhausted from all of the running around that they had done. Mac called Harriett and said that they had intended to drop by that evening with the children, but were just too tired to go back out after dinner. She asked instead if they could come by the next evening and Harriett cheerfully agreed, she even told them all to come to dinner, that way they would have more time for the children to become acquainted.

After the twins were fed and in bed, and Shami was as well, Mac looked at Victor and told him there was another call that she needed to make. She explained that she was concerned that they hadn't heard from Clay about seeing the twins and that she wanted to find out what was going on. He agreed, also reminding her to tell Clay that they were leaving on Thursday morning to go to New Mexico for a month to visit his family.

When she got Clay on the line, Mac started by asking, "Clay, what's going on? We haven't seen or heard from you at all and I thought you wanted to see the twins?"

"Sarah I will let you know when and where I want to see my children! Stop calling to harass me!" he snapped into the phone and hung up on her.

Mac sat there staring at the phone in her hand and then with an angry grunt she put the receiver back on the base harder than normal. She got up and went to find Victor, he was in the shower. With a grin she stripped off her clothes and surprised him by joining him.

"Hey you!" he said with a smile as he took her in his arms and pulled her under the warm water with him.

"Hey yourself," she said and grabbing the shampoo started to soap up his hair.

"That isn't some of that flowery girl stuff is it?" he questioned with a mock growl.

Giving him a huffy look she put her soapy hands on her hips and demanded, "Why would you assume that a fellow Marine would have flowery girl stuff shampoo?"

"Because the last time I checked, you were not a fellow!" he told her, reaching up to gently cup her breasts that had been ample before she started nursing and were not truly impressive.

Jabbing him with her elbow she told him, "Then you can wash your own hair, jar-head!" Grabbing the bottle again she squirted some into her own hand and began to lather her hair.

With a laugh, he hugged her close and apologized for even thinking that his favorite Marine would stoop to using flowery girl stuff. She grudgingly told him that he was forgiven and they continued to tease and torment each other in the shower until the water started to run cool.

To Be Continued….