April 2010
Mac hesitated before she stepped into their home office. Harm wasn't in the greatest mood lately because of his busy schedule and pressure at work, and she hadn't exactly contributed to making his mood any better. He was mad at her, he had been for days.
"Are you coming to bed?" she asked carefully. "I know it's early, but we don't have to sleep."
He barely looked up from his work. "In a while, I have things to do," he mumbled.
Okay, Harm saying no to sex wasn't a good sign, he really was mad at her. She let out a sigh, and turned defeated around and walked out of the room. She walked downstairs and slumped down on the couch, her hand found the remote and she started flipping through channels.
She hated it when they fought. Not that they had a real argument, but Harm not saying anything was so much worse than him saying something. Maybe they were due to have a fight, they had been on a honeymoon of late. Maybe this was the defining moment in their marriage, the moment that would separate the before and after. Maybe they were becoming a boring married couple, the kind they swore never to become, because they were too passionate, too crazy about each other.
She sat up straight. No! She refused to accept it. She had waited nine years to be with him, they had made a perfect baby together, had adopted two and Mattie was almost like their own too. She turned off the TV and stood. It was time to go all Marine on him. That sailor won't know what hit him, she thought as she hurried upstairs to their home office.
It was empty.
Temporarily set back, she let out a sigh and headed for their bedroom. As she walked through the door she walked straight into him, almost making her fall down from the force.
"Woah, Mac," he reached for her to steady her.
She felt defeated all of a sudden. Maybe it was his strong arms around her, sucking the force out of her. She relaxed against him, putting her arms around his waist.
"I was just coming to find you," he kissed the top of her hair.
"Really?" she lifted her head to look at him. "I'm sorry about everything. I don't want us to become a grumpy old married couple."
He laughed. "Why would we?"
"I don't know. You've been really mad at me," she released him and walked into the room. "I hate that."
"I might have overreacted a little," he followed her and slumped down on the bed, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's been crazy at work, then that pest of a neighbor keeps hitting on you right in front of me, and I find out that you lied to me about Mattie having a boyfriend. And my back is just killing me."
She sat down on the bed. "I'm sorry about Mattie and Will. I should have told you. She really wanted to wait until she knew it was serious before she told anyone."
"I know, and I overreacted," he took her hand. "I'm sorry."
She smiled. "Move," she got on the bed and made him move over on his stomach. "Where does it hurt?"
"Ouch," he said when her hands moved over his lower back. "It's probably just a muscle spasm."
"Probably," she agreed. "Are you really jealous of Harry?"
"No, he just annoys me," Harm let out a sigh. "I can't blame him for chasing after you."
"He doesn't chase me, he's just lonely, and I'm nice to him. Did you know that his wife and daughter died in a car crash five years ago, or that his son has problems after serving in Afghanistan?"
"I didn't know that," he admitted. "I'm sorry about being so grumpy. I shouldn't let work get to me like that."
"I could have been more understanding," she admitted.
"That's really good," he mumbled.
"Take your clothes off," she tugged on his shirt.
He sat up and removed his shirt, then he smiled and dragged her down on the bed. "I could give you a massage too," he suggested.
She laughed. "I bet you could."
He smiled and kissed her softly. "I'm sorry about being a grump."
"I'm sorry I kept Mattie's secret from you. I just didn't want to rob her of the chance to tell you herself, when she was ready," she ran her hand through his short hair, down his neck and down his strong muscular back.
"I just don't understand why she kept it from me," he said thoughtfully.
"It's not to hurt you, but your opinion really matters to her."
Harm nodded. "I guess," he ran his hands down her ribs and pushed her shirt up. "You're a little overdressed."
"I guess you're right," she laughed softly and pulled him in for a kiss.
Two days later Harm had almost finished dinner when the doorbell rang. He smiled and hurried for the front door, on the way there he was followed by his wife, Nathan, Claire and Matthew.
"Mattie!" he said when he opened the door and saw her standing there.
"Finally," Mattie hugged him, then moved on to her Mom and siblings. "It's so great to see you guys. Oh my God, Matthew you're getting so big."
"I'm four soon," he said proudly.
"You look great," Mac said.
"Thank you," Mattie turned her focus on Will, who were standing in the doorway looking uncomfortable. "Everyone, this is Will. Will, this is my Dad. My Mom. Nathan, Claire and this cutie is Matthew."
Will shook Harm's hand, then Mac's. "Hi, it's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Rabb. You have a lovely home."
"Thank you Will, and it's Harm and Sarah," Mac said and gave her husband a warning glare.
"It's nice to meet you, Will," Harm said and motioned for Will to come inside. "Please come in."
They all walked to the living room. "Dinner is ready, so let's sit down."
"How was the flight?" Mac asked as she led them to the table.
"It was fine," Mattie said as she sat down.
"It must be nice to be back home, Will?" Mac said.
"Yeah, it's great. My Mom almost didn't let me leave the house to come here," Will said as a joke. "She's a little overprotective, so I almost didn't get to go to College."
"Will's family is really nice. His Dad is retired Navy," Mattie said just as Harm came back from the kitchen with the lasagna and bread.
"He was enlisted. He decided not to reenlists and took over my grandpa's firm," Will explained.
"What does he do?" Harm wondered as he sat down.
"He's an electrician. My Mom's a nurse," Will said.
"You start with the food, Will, " Harm said.
"Thank you, sir," Will said politely.
Mattie found her Mom and Dad in the kitchen after saying goodbye to Will. He was going back to his parent's house, while Mattie would stay with her family.
"So, what do you guys think? Isn't he great?" she asked.
"He seems like a nice guy," Harm said as he closed the dishwasher.
"He really does," Mac agreed. "And I'm glad we got to meet him."
"And it's great that his parent's live so close by, we can travel together when we go home," Mattie smiled widely.
"That is great," Mac agreed. "So, how's it going? Are you doing as great as you say on the phone?"
"I really am, I promise. I didn't know that I'd love College so much. I've met so many great people, and time flies. I'm almost at the end of my second semester. Can you believe it?" Mattie let out a contented sigh. "I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to go to Harvard. I mean, my Dad never could have afforded it, so I really didn't think of it as an option, but now I'm studying at Harvard!"
"I think Frank was more than happy to pay for College, Mattie. Even if he hadn't arranged for all you kids to have college funds, we'd make sure you got to go," Harm hesitated. "But it was really important to Frank that he'd get to contribute."
"Well I don't know how to repay him, ever," Mattie hesitated. "I'm just feeling like the luckiest girl alive."
"You deserve it, Mattie," Mac pulled her in for a hug. "We're so proud of you."
"Thanks, Mom," Mattie smiled when Harm too hugged her.
"Just promise that you won't forget about us when you're a big-time surgeon, huh?" Harm teased.
"I won't," Mattie promised. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some big sister duties to take care of."
By Sunday everyone was sad to see Mattie leave. It had been an amazing weekend with all of them together again as a complete family.
"Don't go," Claire pleaded when Will and his Dad came to pick Mattie up to go to the airport."
"Sorry, I have to go, but summer is here soon and I will come stay here with you guys then," Mattie hugged her sister. "Don't be too geeky. Have some fun too."
"I will," Claire promised.
"Come here, you brat," Mattie hugged Matthew close. "Be good, okay."
"l always am," Matthew said cleverly.
Mattie hugged Nathan. "Take care of your brother and sister. And don't get any taller, okay?"
"I'm going to be as tall as Dad," Nathan said. "I love you, Mattie."
"I love you too," Mattie released him. "All of you," she hugged her Mom.
"I love you. Take care of yourself," Mac said.
Mattie nodded. "I will," then she turned to her Dad. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Mattie," Harm hugged her close.
Mattie turned to Will and his Dad. "We better get going."
"Let me take your bag," Phil, Brian's father said. "It was nice to meet you all."
"You too," Harm said and shook his hand. "Have a safe trip, Will."
"Thank you, sir," Will said politely.
Harm put his arms around Mac's shoulder as the door closed behind Mattie. "It was nice having her home."
"Yeah," Mac agreed. "Come on kids, let's get ready and go to the beach."
The kids ran off to get their things and they walked after. "We should have a sandcastle competition again. Get our revenge from last time," Harm said.
"Sure, I'm ready to take you down again," she teased.
He laughed softly. "I love you."
"I love you too," she hugged him close. "Come on, Sailor."
"Right behind you, honey."