This is a story about a young Marine Corps pilot during the era between the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. Reading the previous parts will lead to a better understanding of the plot and the characters.
*
Melissa watched as Mica walked in from the pool. His body was a nice even tan now and he was back to his prior fitness and weight after the injury to his head. They had been spending most of the time at Ceylon in the Keys. They were expecting Dawn, Billy and their three children that afternoon. The Markers were going to stay for a week. Now that Billy was retired and working for McDermott Enterprises, they could visit more often.
Melissa smiled when Mica spotted her sitting in the rocker nursing the new baby. He stood and looked down at his son, Charles Jack McDermott, he grinned as he bent down and kissed the baby on the head. He was tempted to kiss his wife's bare breast but he knew she wouldn't like it. Not while she was nursing the baby. Little Chucky was a happy baby, unlike his older sister, he very rarely cried. He waited patiently for his meals. At three months old he slept through the night without waking.
Melissa worried at first that there was something wrong with him but the pediatricians could find nothing wrong. In fact, their tests indicated that he was extremely intelligent.
Mica was already very attached to his son, not that he didn't love his little daughter, he just identified with his son. He vowed to himself that he would not favor one over the other. The college tuitions for both were already paid for at the University of Florida.
Mica and Melissa were trying to decide if Mica should have a vasectomy done. Mica was happy with two children but Melissa thought she might want one more. She wanted to keep their options open. Mica said he would love not having to worry about getting her pregnant.
Melissa giggled, "What's to worry about? I have never made you use a rubber. I don't like them. I will just use my diaphragm, unless you tell me not to."
"I know honey, sometimes it sort of spoils the spontaneity when we have to stop what we are doing while you go put the damned thing in."
"How do you think I feel when I have to tell you to stop doing something I really love. But having kids from now on should not be something spontaneous, it should be something we think carefully about and plan for well in advance. I want to get our child rearing time over with when we are still young enough to still enjoy life. I don't want to be sixty years old with kids still in grade school."
"Grade school?"
"OK, High School! OK?"
Mica chuckled, "Hey, why not Kindergarden?"
Melissa looked at him, "I guess you are planning on trading me for a new younger wife then."
"No, that never occurred to me, I have to think about that for a while. OK, no deal, you will be my one and only wife. I won't let you go looking for a young stud."
"What, I thought I would leave you with all twelve kids and find a toy boy."
"Twelve?"
"Well, Momma had six and still looks good. Right?"
"She sure does, but I notice your dad looks a little worn around the edges."
"I'm going to tell him you said that!"
"Hey, he'll agree with me."
Melissa grinned, "You are probably right, he is so happy there at the fish farm, he just grins all the time."
"Yeah! When I talked to him the other day he said the first crop of our catfish are up to about a pound in weight and the losses have been minimal. Much better than he expected."
"Hey! I think you just changed the subject on me when it was just getting interesting."
Mica smiled, "You were the one who changed the subject, we were talking about sex and the byproduct of sex, kids. Are you cleared to have vaginal intercourse again?"
"Yep!" Melissa smiled, "Dr. Joan said I am cleared to go again when I saw her this morning."
"So when were you going to tell me, next week?"
"No Sweetie, I was planning a romantic dinner tonight, then I was going to wear that new silk nightie you got me the other day."
"Think we could just skip dinner?"
"Hey, big guy, you are the boss around here, if you want me right now, all you have to do is say so."
"SO!"
"So what?"
"You said all I had to do was say 'so'. I just said it."
Melissa smiled as she took his hand and started for the bedroom. They saw Mary as they passed the kitchen. Melissa giggled and said, "Mary, Mr. Mica and I will be in conference for about a hour. We would rather not be disturbed."
Mary laughed, "Sirima is happy in the kitchen in her play pen and Chucky should sleep for an hour or better since you just fed him. Your 'Conference' should be undisturbed."
"Thank you Mary."
Mica and his beautiful wife laughed as they walked to their bedroom. Melissa put their son gently in his crib and he did not awaken.