Maggies Marriage (Cloverleaf #2) (21 page)

“Mom, I said you could come up and even help. I want you to meet Liam and his family.”

“Rachel, do you think it’s wise to be planning a wedding while pregnant, let alone with twins? Weddings are highly stressful, and you need to think more about the babies than yourself.” Evelyn’s voice was sharp; she was going to try to guilt Rachel into not marrying Liam. Rachel could sense her mother’s attack coming on, and silently prepared for battle. Why did it always have to be that way with her? Most of the time they weren’t speaking because Evelyn was too wrapped up in her own life, and when she got the sudden urge to play mommy it simply drove Rachel insane. There was no winning with her mother, but yet Rachel continued to try, even if it usually ended with her in tears.

“Seriously? I think what you are trying to do is stop us from getting married,” Rachel stated coldly.

“I don’t see why you feel like you have to rush into marrying someone you hardly know. Rachel, you really should have thought things out a little better, now look at the mess you are in.”

“There is no mess, I love him.”

Evelyn let out a loud huff. “You mean to tell me that if you hadn’t went and gotten yourself knocked up, we would be planning a wedding right now?”

Rachel considered that. She knew exactly what tactic her mother was using, and she didn’t like it one bit. She knew that the pregnancy had spurred the quick proposal, but she did love Liam. Rachel wasn’t entirely sure that she would be racing down the altar if she hadn’t ended up pregnant. She had even insisted that they wait, that marriage wasn’t a requirement in her eyes. Doubt had started to weasel its way into her mind. But something inside her shooed it away, and she had to admit the security of knowing that Liam was going to be her husband and the father to their children did feel wonderful. Of course it seemed ridiculously old fashioned when Liam had first suggested they marry, but that was Liam, that was the O’Brien way. Once she stepped back and realized that Liam wasn’t only marrying her to keep her from being an unwed mother, or the talk of Birch Valley, but because he actually loved her with all of his heart, she started letting some of her guard down. She had been fighting the very idea of such a commitment, but if Rachel was actually honest with herself, she knew that she loved him all along.

“Are you just going to ignore me?” Evelyn snapped as she became aggravated.

“We obviously don’t agree. I’m getting married, we are having twins, and so if you want to be involved, great, if not, well, that’s your call,” Rachel snipped back. She could feel anger starting to boil in her veins.

“I just can’t see you settling. There is still time to fix this, Rachel,” Evelyn cooed, reshaping her tone into something delicate and almost soothing.

Rachel shook her head, her mother was unbelievable. “And by fix, you mean…?”

“Well, you got yourself into a lot of trouble, I’m just suggesting you consider all of your options, especially some that need to be decided in a timely manner.”

“I’m sorry that you want me to even consider any options that don’t include having your grandchildren.” Rachel bit her lip hard to keep herself from crying; she could taste the metallic taste of blood.

“Do not turn this around on me. You should never have gotten involved with this man, you should have stayed here, none of this would even be happening right now, Rachel.”

“You’re right about that, none of this would be happening, and I am so thankful that I came here. Liam was exactly what was missing from my life. Now, we’re going to be having children, another thing that I never thought would ever happen in my life back in California,” Rachel spat, pausing to readjust her anger, to focus on the good in her life, before she continued, “I can see how this happening so quickly would upset you, and for that you are entitled to be upset with me. But now that I have two babies due in November, and a wedding in July, I can only hope that you can accept it and actually, just maybe, support me.”

“Rachel, your father and I have always supported you.”

“Not when it came to something that mattered. Like when I decided to move up here, you two were dead set against it. I don’t recall there being any kind of support.”

“Perhaps you forgot that check I gave you right before you left,” Evelyn quipped nastily.

The same check that she received every Christmas. It wasn’t heartfelt or thought out.

“I’m not talking about financial support when you know very well I don’t ask anything of you or Dad.” Rachel felt insulted. She could afford her own life, granted that Beemer that was sitting in her driveway was another story. Rachel wasn’t a spoiled brat, unlike her best friend Chelsea, who completely lived off of her parents’ wealth. Even her brother, Ethan, who had made his own fortune, was happy to receive “monetary love,” as he called it. Money in general made Rachel uncomfortable, it always had. People acted different whether you had a lot or a little of it; it just seemed to cause a lot of problems, and Rachel had seen it with her parents’ marriage. That was the main reason for its collapse.

“I swear, Rachel, I don’t know why I even try with you.” Evelyn had apparently become bored of their fight, and was ready to depart.

“On that note, we should probably just leave the conversation here.” Rachel felt tears threatening to spill. It was rare enough to get a call from her mother. Unfortunately, most of the time they ended the same way. Rachel heard the line go dead, and that was enough for the final push. She grabbed the tissue box off her end table
. Investing some stock in this tissue company might not be such a bad idea
. Rachel let out an awkward laugh as she wiped away the tiny rivers trailing down her cheeks.

Chapter Eighteen

Maggie

Melanie hummed a tune that Maggie didn’t recognize as they walked hand in hand to the school. The early morning sun was chilly but bright. It would warm up, and the sun would cast its glorious rays on Birch Valley, and everyone would complain that spring was already becoming a little too warm for their liking. That is what the residents of Birch Valley did. There wasn’t a whole lot else to be upset about, so weather was fair game.

“It looks like it’s going to be a nice day,” Maggie said as she looked down at Melanie.

“It’s pretty.” Melanie paused and stopped right in her tracks “So when are we going to move into our new house?”

“Soon, very soon, like by next weekend I think.” Maggie felt a surge of excitement flow through her. They were closing on the house on Friday, and that was only a few short days away.

“Are we ever going back to our old home in Seattle? What are going to do with that one?”

“We are going to go there very soon and get all of our stuff, and then we are going to put the condo on the market.” Maggie smiled. It dawned on her how long it had been since she had been at the condo.

“Market? Why is it going on the market? What does that mean?” Melanie’s eyes grew curious as her brow furrowed with concern.

Maggie laughed. She probably should have simplified her answer. What six-year-old would understand what the market was, besides thinking that is was like a grocery store? “Not like a grocery store market, but it’s this…” Maggie tried to think of how to explain such an imaginably intangible, yet completely important thing.

“Oh, it’s okay, Mom. I just figured it out, you and Dad are going to sell the house.”

Maggie was quite impressed and happy to have such a bright child.

Maggie held the door open as Melanie slipped inside the school, and they both caught sight of Liam as he stood by the counter chatting with Karen.

“Good morning, you two lovely ladies,” Liam greeted them with a cheerful smile. Her brother had been beaming with happiness over the last couple weeks.

Melanie ran to Liam. “Uncle Liam,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“How’s my favorite niece in the whole world?” Liam looked down at her. Maggie watched the special interaction between them. That was one of the reasons why she wanted to come back to Birch Valley.

“Mom says we are getting our house soon.”

“I know, isn’t that so cool?” Liam looked over at Maggie and smiled.

Melanie shook her head in agreement as the bell sounded. She waved to Maggie and gave Liam one more quick hug.

Liam walked over to Maggie. “That is pretty cool about the house, you guys excited?”

“Oh yeah, we are going to go to Seattle, I think next weekend or the one following, to start packing it up and putting it up for sale.”

“What about Michael’s dad’s place?”

“I’m not sure what we are going to do with that, I haven’t wanted to bring it up to him.” Maggie frowned softly.

“I imagine it’s still pretty hard for him. Let me know when I can help move stuff. I’d better get to class, I’ll catch up with you later.” Liam jogged toward a hallway and disappeared.

Maggie stood for a moment, she thought she heard her name being called.

“Maggie.” Rachel quickly approached her, and her friend seemed to be glowing. Rachel’s eyes were bright and happy.

“Rachel, how’s it going?” Maggie hugged her.

“Great, how about you? You guys close on the house this week, right?” she asked.

“Funny, I was just talking about that with Liam. But yeah, we close this Friday.”

“That’s so wonderful, congrats! So, how are you feeling?” Rachel held her own belly as her eyes traveled to Maggie’s growing stomach.

“Pretty good actually, morning sickness is gone, and now we feel the baby moving more.”

“Wow, how awesome. I’m still getting sick, I feel exhausted, I find myself napping any chance I get.”

“Totally normal. Besides, you are having twins, so you get double the pleasure of the pregnancy experience.” Maggie laughed as she teased Rachel.

“Ha Ha, very funny. But I couldn’t be happier. Liam is being so wonderful, no surprise there, of course. He comes over and helps with dinner, half the time I can’t eat it, but just him being there is great.” Rachel’s gaze seemed distant and far away.

“Well, I’m glad. And it will get better, I promise. You will feel human again, but by the end of it you will be more than ready for these babies to come.”

“Ah, there is so much to do. I’m starting to plan the wedding. I want you and Mary to come dress shopping with me. Not sure what I will fit into by Fourth of July. I’m already growing out of my favorite jeans.” Rachel pouted.

“All part of the joy of pregnancy.” Maggie snapped her maternity pants, showing Rachel the elastic waist of the jeans she was wearing.

“Wait, what? Those are maternity pants? They are so flippin’ cute and look like real jeans.” Her eyes grew wide in surprise.

Maggie nodded. “And they are super comfy. Like literally almost as good as yoga pants.”

“We need to go shopping soon.”

“Sounds like fun, there are some really great stores in Spokane. Let’s try to go soon,” Maggie suggested.

“For sure. Well, I’d better get back to work.” Rachel gave Maggie another hug. Maggie was so glad that Rachel was going to be her sister-in-law. Maggie adored Rachel. They were not only becoming close friends, but there was almost a sisterly connection, as neither of them had a sister, only brothers. There was something special about having a sister. At least, that was what Maggie had always assumed, and she knew that there was something special about Rachel.

***

Friday morning arrived swiftly, and Maggie woke up feeling tired, just plain tired. She had tossed and turned the night before, which hadn’t allowed her to get much sleep, and she had been plagued by weird and strange dreams the entire night. Michael didn’t move an inch, and she envied his sound sleep every time she looked over at him. Maggie let out a frustrated breath and removed herself from the bed. She shuffled to the kitchen, where she quickly prepared some much needed caffeine. She stood, watching it drip too slowly for her liking into the glass coffee pot. The rich and seductive aroma teased her. Maggie heard footsteps behind her, and then the warm arms of Michael encircled her waist. He nuzzled her neck and whispered, “Good morning.” He left a trail of kisses along the side of her throat. Normally it would completely turn her on, but not that morning. She was cranky.

“Morning.” Her tone was flat.

Michael backed off, looking a little confused and disappointed. “Didn’t sleep well?”

“Nope. I tossed and turned all night.” Maggie’s hand was on her hip, and she stared at the coffee pot, which still didn’t have enough brown, precious liquid to fill her mug.
Good grief, did it normally take that long to make coffee?

“I’m sorry, hon. I will take Mel to school this morning, maybe you should try to go back to bed,” he offered as he leaned casually against one of the counters, his arms crossed over his chest, concern in his soulful brown eyes. Seeing him standing there almost changed her mood. The man was a pleasure to look at. But even her husband’s good looks couldn’t change her mood.

“Nah, I can’t. I need to go to work for a little while, and then we have the signing later with Cheryl.”

“Well, I will still take Mel.” Michael moved toward her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Even when you are terribly cranky, you are still very sexy.” Maggie playfully slapped at him as he strolled off laughing to get Melanie up and ready for school.

After she packed Melanie’s lunch and sent her daughter and Michael off with a decent breakfast, Maggie showered and got ready for her day. She felt a little better after letting the hot water beat hard against her shoulders and back. When she emerged dressed in maternity slacks—which were a charcoal gray—and a flowing, turquoise-colored blouse, she felt almost normal. Her hair, however, was threatening to make her day a disaster. It had grown wavier over the last couple months; the same thing had happened when she was pregnant with Melanie. But it was becoming unmanageable, so a ponytail was the remedy for the day.

She walked back into the kitchen and contemplated a second cup of coffee to help correct the last remains of her sour mood. Maybe another cup would also hopefully help defeat her sleep deprivation.

“Good morning, love,” Mary’s sweet voice called out from the dining table.

“Morning, Mom,” Maggie answered as she filled her mug again, adding a little extra sugar.

“So, today is the day, you and Michael must be so excited.” Mary raised her teacup and nibbled on a buttered scone.

Maggie yawned and said, “Yes, we are.”

“Why are you so tired, dear, did you not sleep well?” Mary’s furrowed in concern.

“No, didn’t sleep well at all, but hopefully, with a little help from my old friend coffee here, I will be able to make it through the day,” Maggie said as she raised her mug. She took a hearty sip and enjoyed the slight burn as the coffee traveled down her throat.

“Oh, you poor thing, you need your rest. Well, tonight your father and I plan on taking Melanie out to that new movie she’s been wanting to see.” A flicker of mischief sparkled in her eyes, and Maggie grew curious. Her mother was a terrible fibber, and could hardly contain herself when it came to a secret. Mary’s eyes always gave her away. Maggie didn’t have any desire to investigate further. If there was something up, she was sure she’d find out soon enough.

“Well, I’d better get down to the shop.” Maggie downed the last bit of coffee, and placed her dirty mug in the sink. Maggie hugged her mother and gave Mary a small peck on her soft, wrinkled cheek. “Have a good day, Mom.”

“You too, sweetheart.” Mary patted Maggie’s lower back as she pulled away to leave.

***

Maggie could hear Patrick, Daniel, and Michael laughing as they sat in Patrick’s office. She was finishing some last minute things when her husband had arrived earlier. Soon they were going to sign the papers on their new home. She gathered her purse and walked to Patrick’s door and peeked in. The three men all looked comfortable. It was great to hear Patrick’s laugh and to see him smile. The only thing missing from the picture was Liam; when the guys all got together, they were loud. Maggie already knew that Michael had plans to make the finished basement in their home a man cave so he and her brothers could have a safe haven just for them. Maggie didn’t mind, she loved being around her brothers, regardless of how rowdy and crazy they got. She was thankful that they were getting closer with Michael. Liam had always been kind and got along great with her husband. Patrick was a little slow to warm up, and especially after Maggie had left Seattle earlier that spring, he grew cold toward Michael in order to protect her. Daniel was easygoing like Liam, but didn’t share as much stuff in common with Michael, but they were finding they actually did have a great deal of similar interests. Maggie just wanted to make sure Michael felt comfortable, especially with them starting their lives in Birch Valley.

“You ready to go, Michael?” Maggie asked as she poked her head through the door.

“Sure,” he answered. He stood up from the chair across from Patrick’s desk and told the guys that they needed to get together for a poker game soon. They all agreed and wished them well with the signing.

Once outside of the building, Michael opened Maggie’s door and waited for her to slip in before closing it. Michael got in the driver’s side and started the car, the gentle purr of the engine humming quietly as he drove them toward the realtor’s office.

“You excited?” Michael reached over and squeezed her left knee.

“Well, of course, but it’s just so much money.”

“It is, but we’ll be here for the rest of our lives, and that makes it worth it. Making you happy, us being together, totally worth every last cent.” He flashed her the perfectly charming Trembley smile that made her go weak at the knees every time.

“Do you know how sweet you are?”

“Not really, just as long as you think I’m sweet, that’s all I care about.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. He sure was laying it on thick today. She couldn’t help laughing out loud. She tried to stifle it as she covered her mouth with her hand, but why try?

“Why are you laughing at me?” Michael’s smile only teased her more.

“Ah, what am I going to do with you, Michael Trembley?” Maggie asked.

“Love me.” He winked and gave her a slanted, lazy grin. The sex appeal that easily oozed from Michael drove her crazy. He knew exactly what her buttons were and how to push to them, and she could tell he enjoyed every second of it.

***

“Sign right here, Maggie.” Cheryl pointed to a line that was marked with a sticky note. Maggie could feel her hand cramp as she tried gripping the pen tighter, sweat causing it to slip, she had already signed and initialed her name so many times the whole process was becoming a blur.