Chapter Seventy Five
The Week of Thanksgiving
Harm and Mac's House
0900 EST, Wednesday
"Mom!"
"Mattie, if you scream any louder, you are going to wake up your little sister, and if she wakes up!"
It was too late. Mackenzie started wailing from her nursery. "I'm sorry Mom, I swear I will take care of her."
Just then, the house phone started ringing. "Colonel Mackenzie."
"Colonel, it's Admiral Jonas. I know I gave you the day off, but I need some advice on who to send for an investigation ASAP."
"What about?"
"There was an unauthorized transmission sent off the Patrick Henry. Your fiancé is already working the case, but since he isn't out there in the capacity as a JAG, I need to send someone. I don't want to send you, its your first holiday with the kids, and well, I don't want them to have both their parents overseas."
"How about Commander Smalls? His investigation skills have come a long way and can probably handle it on his own, but since Harm is already working the case, there is a good lead off."
"Good. I will let him know. I need you to come in for part of the day now to help clear whatever is on his plate."
"No problem sir. I will be in as soon as possible."
Mac got changed into her uniform. "Mattie, are you going to be able to keep an eye on Mackenzie while waiting for your grandparents or do you need me to take her to daycare?"
"I'll watch her."
"Okay Mattie, I am only a couple of minutes away and a phone call away in case anything happens."
"What if Dad calls?"
"Tell him I had to go into work and that I will try to catch him on IM while I am at work. I know that you are bummed that your Dad couldn't come home for your first Thanksgiving with him, but hopefully it will work out for Christmas."
"Yeah, I know Mom."
"Good."
Mac ran out the door to be greeted by Mattie's social worker. "Hi Colonel Mackenzie."
"Andie, nice to see you again. Call me Mac."
"I just wanted to come by to let you know that Mattie is officially Commander Rabb's daughter."
"Hold on, I think Mattie will want to hear it from you too."
Mac called for Mattie to bring down Mackenzie. "Hey Andie."
"Hi Mattie."
"I wanted to let you know that the petition to adopt you has finally went through. You are officially Commander Rabb's daughter."
"There is no chance that Tom can ever try to take me away again?"
"No, we terminated his parental rights. It will be up to you if you want to contact him again."
Mattie rushed over to where Mackenzie was waiting for her in her playpen. "Did you hear that Mackenzie, I am officially your older sister!" Mattie squealed.
"Thank you Andie you have made her week." Mac told her.
"I trust we can see papers crossing our desk sometime soon for Mattie to be made officially yours?"
"If that is what Mattie wants." Mac said looking at her daughters playing in the great room. "She was glad to see you here last week for her sweet sixteen."
"I was more than happy to make it. How did you manage getting a satellite uplink to the carrier?"
"I have a friend who owes Mattie's father a couple of thousands of favors."
Flashback
Mattie stood in the mirror for the last time looking over the outfit she had chosen for her sweet sixteen. Her grandmother had insisted on it being a blast. She knew that her grandmother though was trying to make up for the fact that her father couldn't be there for her.
Mac walked in the bedroom and found Mattie tugging again at the light blue dress with tears coming down her face.
"Oh Mattie. If this isn't what you want for your birthday to be, we can cancel everything and order out for pizza." Mac told her.
"No Mom, it's not that. It's everything, or nothing." Mattie told her burying her face in her pillow.
"Mattie, that doesn't help me out any."
"It's I miss my real mom, you know. I wonder if she would be happy for me today. I won't be able to dance with Dad on my birthday. I just really wish that life was different." She said touching the star necklace that her father had left for her.
Mac had touched her necklace also. "I was going to let you open your father's gift at the party, but now is as good as time as any."
Mac handed her a couple of packages. Mattie opened the first gift and found a Sweet Sixteen charm that she could add to her bracelet.
"Your father found it while we were in Italy together. He made me promise to give it to you today."
Mattie added it to her bracelet. "I love it."
Then she opened up the last gift. "I think your father wanted you to watch this on your own." Mac slipped out of the room and finished getting ready for the party.
Mattie slipped the DVD in. Harm came on. "Okay Mattie, I know you are thinking, how lame, I can't believe that Dad didn't buy me a car for my sweet 16. Trust me baby, I wish I could right now, but well, if you are watching this, you understand why I am not there right now.
Okay, let me tell you something. I know that you are probably really sad right now, even though you should be really happy because you are missing your real mom, and maybe even Tom a little. And I want to tell you baby, it is okay. I know I don't let it show, but I still miss my Dad all the time, especially on my birthday. I wonder if he would be proud of the man I am today. Sometimes I don't know. But I can tell you one thing Matts, I know that your Mom would be very proud of you. You are smart, intelligent, and you are the most caring woman I know. I love you Mattie. Happy birthday Baby."
She was getting ready to shut off the DVD when she heard him start singing Sixteen Candles. "I'm sorry I couldn't dance with you. I guess you are going to have to take me singing. It is official, I am a dork!" Harm smiled and the DVD faded out.
Mattie came walking down the stairs a couple of minutes later as Mac was telling the caterers to set up in the pool house. Mattie was smiling and Mac sent a silent thank you to Harm for once again knowing what to do for his children.
A couple of hours later, Clay had helped Harm make it possible for him to talk to Mattie via satellite video phone. It had made her the happiest girl that Mac was able to bury the hatchet with Clay for what happened to them in Iraq almost six months back.
End Flashback
"Hey Mattie, your grandmother, uncle, and Jen just pulled up. I have to go to work now. Tell them the good news. I will secure early and make it home. Behave!"
"Yes ma'am."
"I'll walk you out Andie."
"Sure."
"Mattie I will call your Dad when I get to work so that way he knows and he can celebrate with the boys on board."
"Great Mom. I will see you when you get home."
"Love you Honey."
"Love you too Mom."
Andie smiled Mattie definitely couldn't have found a better home to end up in as she watched Mattie's great grandmother walk up to her. "Mathilda Rabb!"
"Gram, it is official, I am finally a Rabb and Mom is going to pick up the change of name papers on her way home!"
"You better come give your Gram a hug before I get to work on Thanksgiving dinner."
"You're cooking! Great, Mom can cook but not as good as you."
"Mattie I heard that." Mac said.
"I know." Mattie replied.
Mac jumped in the Harm's corvette. They had talked about selling one of the cars but decided that they should keep the classic car, Mac's was already paid off, they needed the Lexus for transporting Mackenzie, Sergei had saved up enough for a reliable Civic, but Mac really wanted to get another family car to try to keep the Lexus from obtaining a ton of miles on it. She gave Trish and Frank a hug and told them that she should be back from work sometime soon.
