Maggies Marriage (Cloverleaf #2) (23 page)

“You don’t think I don’t know it has been four years, Liam? I live with it every day, every morning I wake up, and Beth’s not there. Every time Finn or Connor look at me, I see her. Do you know what that is like?” Patrick’s stance was solid, his eyes narrowed on Maggie.

“I can’t even imagine…” Liam started as Patrick raised his hand, stopping him.

“Then don’t. Because you can’t. I wouldn’t wish that on you.” Patrick shoved past Liam and headed out of the kitchen.

The room was silent, everyone digesting what had happened. It was moments before Mary spoke. “Perhaps it’s time to call it a night. We need to give him some time to cool down.” She hugged Maggie and said, “You tried to help him, dear. But he’s just not quite ready yet.”

***

Work was unbearable. Patrick hadn’t uttered a single word to Maggie. Daniel was the translator, anything that Patrick had needed done, he sent Daniel to ask.

“Can’t he just flippin’ talk to me like a normal person?” Maggie complained as Daniel handed her a stack of invoices to file.

“Mags, he’s pissed.”

“I know, but still, it’s pretty unprofessional to act like such a jerk and give someone the silent treatment all day.” Maggie raised her voice loud enough for it to carry to Patrick’s office. She knew very well he could hear her, and she hoped he would quit being this way. Of course she felt awful, but at the same time she didn’t, she felt justified in what she was doing. Maggie wanted to bring a little love into his life, was that such an awful thing to do?

“Let it go, he’ll get over it…eventually.” Daniel gave her a lopsided smile.

Maggie rolled her eyes as Daniel started to head back to his office.

The day didn’t get any better, Patrick still wasn’t speaking to her, and she’d had about as much as she could handle. If he continued to act this way, then she didn’t know how much longer she would be working there.

The rest of the week was more of the same, Patrick ignored her and continued using Daniel as his messenger. Maggie was leaving for Seattle that weekend, and hated that things were unresolved between her and Patrick.

She was sending an email when Patrick and Daniel came in, and she looked up and smiled at both of them. “How was the job?”

“It went well, we will be there most of next week,” Daniel replied, throwing Maggie a look of caution.

“Great.” Maggie turned her gaze to Patrick, who was sorting through the wire basket that was loaded with mail. “So, Patrick, still not going to talk to me?”

She watched her brother frown as he eyed Daniel and said, “Daniel, I’ll be in my office if you need me.” He took the stack of envelopes and went to his office, shutting his door a little harder than necessary.

That was the final straw. She jumped up from her chair and stormed to Patrick’s office. Daniel trailed after her, and Maggie caught a glimpse of panic in his face. She swung his door open hard, and took an assertive stance in front of his desk.

She pointed her finger at him, anger flowing freely inside her. “This ends now. You have been rude to me all week.”

The smirk on his face made her even more upset. “Rude? I haven’t said a single thing to you until now.”

“Exactly, and that’s rude and you know it.”

“Hardly.” He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and let out a snarky laugh.

Daniel entered and stood next to Maggie. “Okay, enough, you guys, come on, let’s just calm down,” Daniel pleaded.

“He’s been a jerk all week to me, Daniel. I don’t deserve to be treated like this, like I don’t exist.” She narrowed her eyes at Patrick.

“Oh, trust me, it’s well deserved,” Patrick rebutted and matched her stare. “You had no right, Maggie. You should have come to me first.”

“You would have said no.”

“Exactly, so if you already knew my answer, why did you think it was okay to do it then?” His eyes never left hers.

Daniel let out a large huff and said, “Patrick, she didn’t mean any harm.” He turned to face Maggie and continued, “You have to see where he is coming from, Mags.”

Maggie threw her hands up in the air. “I give up, all I was trying to do was help you, Patrick.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” His voice was cold.

“I know you didn’t, you would rather mope around for the rest of your life, instead of trying to be happy.”

He raised his eyebrows, and cocked his head to the side. The muscle in jaw was ticking again. Oh boy, she had really pissed him off.

“You don’t get it, and hopefully you never will. I pray to God that you never ever go through the hell that I live through everyday. Something so awful and cruel, no one should have to bear it.”

His words penetrated her, causing her to feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, but her anger still burned. “Patrick, people die. People grieve, and then they move on. You deserve to be happy again, to love someone, to find a mother for your boys.”

“Maggie, you need to just stay out of it. Leave it alone.”

Daniel put his hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

Patrick let out an arrogant laugh. “Maggie, I didn’t do anything wrong, you started this. Daniel, you don’t need to get involved, man. She’s a big girl, she got herself into this mess, she can most certainly figure her way out.”

Maggie’s mouth dropped open. “That’s it, I’m done. I can’t deal with this anymore. There is no talking to you, you are impossible, Patrick O’Brien.” She stomped out of the office and went to get her purse. She was done trying to defend her actions, he was being unreasonable, and she needed some space.

Daniel followed her out as she was nearing the front door. “Maggie, don’t leave like this.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can work here anymore, not with him, anyway.” With that, she closed the door behind her. As she got into her car she saw Daniel looking somber as he watched her from the enormous window.

Maggie sped off. She had a plane to Seattle to catch with Michael that evening. Flying made her nervous as it was, and the irritation she felt was only going to make her more anxious. Looking back in her rearview mirror, a twinge of guilt sat in her stomach, but it was too late, she needed some space. She refused to go back and make amends with Patrick. She pressed the gas pedal down a little more, eager to get far away from Birch Valley for the first time since she had returned.

***

Liam kept his eyes on the road as he drove Michael and Maggie to airport. Maggie sat in the front seat and looked out the passenger window. Storm clouds moved in, gray and white swirls, and it matched her mood perfectly. She still felt the residual remnants of her argument with Patrick.

“Mags, you can’t really blame him for being upset,” Liam said. They had been discussing the fight during their drive to Spokane. Maggie felt alone, no one seemed to agree with her.

“Honey, you were a little out of line. Your heart was in a good place,” Michael called out from the back seat.

“So you guys think it was perfectly fine that he gave me the cold shoulder all week?”

Liam shook his head and replied, “I’m not getting involved. Do I think he needed to act like this, not really. But he’s Patrick, come on, you know how he is. And you should have thought about that.”

“Ugh, are you serious?” Maggie threw Liam a disgusted look.

“I’m not saying that you aren’t looking out for him and don’t have his best interest in mind, but Patrick’s difficult.”

Michael leaned forward to get in between the front seats. “You tried, but now it’s best to just drop it. He’ll come around, I promise.”

“I just want him to be happy like us.” Maggie reached for Michael’s hand and smiled at him.

“He was once, with Beth. I know if I lost you, I wouldn’t be so quick to replace you.” He kissed her hand and winked at her.

“It’s been almost four years though. You don’t think that’s long enough?”

“You know, it’s hard to say for someone else. I don’t know if I could ever remarry, or, who knows, I might only wait like a month or so,” Michael teased, causing Maggie to slap at him.

Liam laughed. “Yeah, hard to say when it’s the right time. But he’ll figure it out.”

“Well, I’m done trying to help.” Maggie folded her arms across her chest and pouted.

“Oh, Maggie, don’t be like that. You love him, and of course you will try helping again, maybe next time he will more receptive.” Michael tried to reassure her as he ran his hand down the length of her arm.

Liam pulled in the terminal. The traffic had been light, and there were only a few travelers outside of the airport. He parked behind a shuttle bus and popped the trunk as he went to grab the single suitcase they had packed.

“You guys have a safe flight. See you two soon.” Liam hugged Maggie tightly before giving Michael a handshake that turned into a quick hug.

“Be careful with my car,” Michael teased as he patted Liam’s shoulder.

Liam waved as he hopped back into the luxurious car and cruised slowly away from the curb, leaving Michael and Maggie behind.

Maggie could see that Liam had enjoyed driving Michael’s sleek sedan, but she appreciated him driving them to the airport, so it was an equal trade off. They would be returning to Birch Valley in a couple of days with a fully loaded moving truck. Her parents were going to watch Melanie, and Liam and Rachel even offered to take her to school the following week, Maggie was more than grateful, she wasn’t quite sure what snags they might encounter once they got to Seattle.

“We better get inside, looks like might rain soon,” Michael commented, picking up the suitcase and grabbing Maggie’s hand with his other hand.

They made their way inside, past the large glass doors to a well lit, but quiet foyer. There were lines for each airline to check in, and there were only a couple of people standing patiently. Maggie loved how this airport was never overly crowded, the customer service was stellar, and it made her appreciate the small town feeling even in a city as large as Spokane. She secretly dreaded having to arrive in the congested Sea-Tac airport in a couple of hours. She wasn’t excited about going to Seattle at all, except that she didn’t have to deal with Patrick. Maggie knew that the flight to Seattle held a lot of meaning; it was the closing of a chapter in her life, in their lives. She looked up at Michael, watching his brown eyes take in the surroundings of the airport. She wondered what he was thinking about. He was quietly assessing everything, but when he turned to look at her, he flashed a broad smile.

“Just think we will be moving all of our stuff into our new home by next week,” he said as he squeezed her hand a little. That’s right, they were coming back. Maggie felt the tension that had been building melt away, she’d just needed to hear him say it. She was eager to get back to Birch Valley to start living in their new home, to start their new chapter.

Chapter Twenty

It was already dark when they landed, but the bright lights of the giant city illuminated everything. Maggie and Michael hurried to the baggage claim area and retrieved their single suitcase. Michael had called for a cab to take them to the condo, but he hadn’t really said much after they touched down. Maggie felt her nerves balling up in her gut, she knew coming back here would feel weird, but it was more than that. The last time they were here together, she and Michael fought, and she had left with no intention of returning. Now she was back.

Michael was staring out the window of the backseat of cab as rain splattered hard against the glass. Maggie sat close to him but felt like he was miles away.

“Michael, you okay?” Maggie asked quietly.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” His tone was anything but fine; it was flat and distant.

Maggie sighed and looked out her own window. The Space Needle was in the distance as they neared their old home. The rest of the ride passed in complete silence. The driver parked near the entrance to the parking complex. Michael paid the driver and grabbed their suitcase. He walked hard against the pavement of the parking garage to the elevator. His steps echoed loudly, and Maggie trailed close behind him. She still couldn’t quite understand his suddenly cold behavior.

Seeing their door made Maggie’s stomach feel ill, she hadn’t realized just how difficult this was going to be. Michael unlocked it, and they both entered. Standing side by side in their living room, they stared at their old life. Everything was still as it had been when Michael arrived in Birch Valley. Nothing had changed since Maggie had left. Everything felt foreign. The home itself felt cold and strange. Maggie became eager to start packing away any leftover memories. She wanted the house emptied and sold.

Michael reached for her and quietly said, “It’s weird being here, huh?”

Maggie agreed and nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t think it would feel like this. This used to be our home, but it doesn’t feel like it anymore.”

“I know. The sooner we pack it up and get it sold, the better. We still have to go my dad’s place, that’s going to be hard.”

“It will be, but we will get through this together.” She slipped her fingers through his, clamping her hand tight against his, giving it a tender squeeze.

***

The gray morning light filtered in through the large living room window. Maggie stood looking into the open fridge, it was completely empty.
So much for breakfast.

“Sorry, I cleaned it out when I left, I didn’t want anything to spoil. I didn’t have a whole lot in there to begin with,” Michael explained as he peeked inside the cupboards, finding them practically bare.

“Should we go out and get coffee and something to eat before we get started?” The beauty of living in the downtown district was that everything was within walking distance.

“Yeah, we’d probably better. We have our work cut out for us today.”

The outside air smelled of a mixture of raw ocean and damp city streets. Maggie sniffed the scent, it was so different than Birch Valley, but Seattle used to be home. Now she felt disconnected, like she was only a visitor to a place she had lived at for almost eight years. They walked to a small coffee shop only a couple of blocks away from the condo, the rich aroma a pleasant distraction from the air outside. Maggie inhaled it deeply, savoring the smell of roasted gourmet beans.

The ambiance was trendy and modern, the customers were a blend of uptight looking professionals en route to their downtown offices, and hipsters wearing thick reading glasses and scarves and beanies, even though the temp was warm. Maggie, who once dressed sharp and just as chic as everyone in that room, now felt utterly out of place, like a fish out of water. She was no longer a Seattleite.

“What do you want to order?” Michael asked, interrupting her observations as she was taking in the scene.

“Probably just a mocha, and maybe a scone or muffin, if they have it,” Maggie answered, tucking her hands into her jeans as they waited in line. She felt her body bopping to the pop music that was a little too loud, especially for this early in the morning.

Michael looked all around as well. Maggie wondered if he was missing Seattle; it was all he had ever known. These were his stomping grounds, this was where they met and started their life together. Maggie felt a shred of guilt that she didn’t feel a little regret in leaving. She was anxious to pack up the house and get home.

As the line moved efficiently, they placed their order and found a table next to a large window with an expensive view.

Holding onto her large paper cup, letting the warmth travel through her hands, Maggie sipped the hot drink and let out an appreciative sigh.

“Good, isn’t it?” Michael asked, his eyes still not quite connecting with hers.

“So good. Michael, what’s going on with you? You’ve been so quiet since we got here.” Maggie held onto her cup as she waited for his answer.

He shrugged, the muscles in his strong arms bulged with the casual movement. Michael was wearing a Seattle Mariner t-shirt that a little snug against his broad chest and shoulders, and the bold, blue color looked great against his naturally tanned skin.

“Come on, something’s up, what is it?” Maggie reached across the tiny table for his hand.

Michael’s fingers played lightly against the supple skin of her palm as he answered, “I don’t know, it’s so weird being here. A part of me misses it, to be honest. But, at the same time, there are almost too many memories.”

Maggie frowned sympathetically. “I know. You know, we can always come here to visit.”

“What would be the point? There isn’t anything really here for us now.”

Maggie shook her head, she knew this wasn’t easy for him. “That’s not true, I’m sure we will need to come and catch a Mariner game at some point.” Michael laughed unexpectedly, it warmed Maggie to see him smile.

***

They had been working on packing up their belongings for most of the day, sorting things that would need to be donated. How did they accumulate so much stuff in such a tiny place? Michael carried another box and lined it up against the wall with the others that were to go into the moving truck. Maggie sat on the couch to take a break, she was beyond exhausted, and her body had no problem telling her it was time to take a rest. They worked great as a team; together they tackled the living room first, clearing a side for all the boxes to go to Birch Valley, and a separate area for donations. Melanie’s room was a little painful, sorting through toys, clothing, and her art projects. So many memories flooded Maggie, thinking about the last eight years was hard. There were happy times throughout those years, but for the most part Maggie had felt lost and alone, that she didn’t even know her husband. He wasn’t the same person who now stood only a few feet away from her. Michael had changed so much over the course of time; things were different, he was now more like the man she had first fallen head over heels in love with.

Michael stretched, raising his long arms over his head before he asked, “Are you getting hungry yet? I was thinking maybe we could order a pizza or get a little fresh air and walk to somewhere, see what we find.”

“That sounds good, I could use a break from here.” Maggie got off the couch and walked toward Michael. She looped her arms around his torso, her cheek flat against his chest, and she inhaled his scent. He wrapped her up in his arms, laying his head on top of hers. Maggie felt content for the first time since arriving. “I love you.”

***

Maggie laughed so hard she almost choked on a thick noodle from the delicious pasta that filled the large bowl in front of her. She reached for the glass of lemon water to wash away the culprit, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She hadn’t laughed that hard with Michael in a long time, and it felt great.

Earlier they had walked in search of food and remembered a little hole-in-the-wall Italian place that they had always wanted to try, but never did. The food was amazing, the flavorful sauce and the aroma of garlic with hints of basil wafted through the air. The tables had red and white checkered table cloths, with jarred candles in the center, casting a lovely glow. The restaurant was cozy, soft music played in the background, the decor was traditional old country Italian, and yet there was a modern flare. The giant cans of olive oil neatly lined up on the shelves on the walls reflected the candlelight and soft track lights on the ceiling.

“God, this food is so good.” Maggie slurped another noodle, feeling a little splash of sauce hit her chin. Michael noticed it too; he gingerly used his thumb to remove it and put it in his mouth. Just seeing him do that sprouted all sorts of tingly feelings; she knew what his mouth was capable of.

“You ready to go home?” His eyes were dark like coal under the shadow of the low lighting, but his gaze held unmistakable desire.

“Eat your food, if you are good, we can order dessert,” Maggie playfully scolded.

He gave her a sexy grin, and his voice, utterly seductive, said, “I’d rather have you for dessert.”

Maggie laughed again; her sides actually were starting to hurt now. All night he had been joking and endearing, it reminded her so much of when they were dating. Maggie could feel herself falling in love with him all over again.

***

After dinner last night, they went home and had dessert, which certainly didn’t involve food. Michael and Maggie woke up early, grabbed a coffee, and packed up the remaining items. The local charity center had already come to accept the donations. They had accomplished a great deal, and it wasn’t even noon yet. The game plan for that beautifully warm Sunday was to grab the moving truck, drive over to Michael’s dad’s home, and then meet the hired loaders by five that evening.

The sun bounced off the glass skyscrapers in downtown Seattle as they took a cab to the moving truck rental lot just outside of the city to pick up, what seemed to Maggie, a truck that was way to large for the task at hand. Michael assured her they would fill it. She knew she needed to trust him. She was just more concerned about him driving it through the tight and narrow streets of Seattle. She was sure they could fill it, her worry was more about side-swiping cars when they actually had to drive the beast.

The drive through Seattle to where Michael’s dad’s house was terrified Maggie. With the sharp turns and the narrow passages, she found herself gripping the dash and holding her breath. Michael begged her to relax, he seemed completely at ease behind the wheel of the monstrous truck. Maggie let out a large breath as relief flooded her when she saw his father’s home. Michael parked along the curb in front of the home and turned off the truck. He grew quiet and stared at the house.

Maggie reached over and put her hand on his thigh, she patted him softly and said, “It’ll be okay.” She could imagine what thoughts were spiraling out of control in his mind.

Michael hadn’t mentioned his father’s death since coming to Birch Valley, it was as though he was escaping all that had troubled him in Seattle. Now his left over emotions had bubbled to the surface.

He gave her a tight lipped smile. “I know, thanks, babe.”

Maggie was happy they were closer, and that she could be his pillar of strength. When his father had passed early in the spring, their marriage was cracked and just about ruined, and as disconnected as they had been, she tried to be a loving support for him. She wanted to hold him up during his vulnerable time of sorrow, but that wasn’t how it played out. They fought, and she left shortly after the funeral, thinking that their marriage was over.

Michael got out of the truck and came around to open her door and help her out. She felt like she was exiting a monster truck, the tires were enormous, heck, the entire truck was gargantuan. They walked hand-in-hand along the stairs leading to a large double front door. Michael fished the keys from his pocket, slid them into the locked door easily, and opened it.

The entrance was just as Maggie remembered, with a dark slate stone floor. The house displayed wealth and taste, but it was empty of light and life. She had only been to the house a few times. Maggie never recalled it feeling warm or comfortable, it was so different than her parents’ home. It was the type of place where you sat straight on the couch, no slouching or actually cozying up, and you certainly didn’t put your glass down for fear of leaving a ring on the fine wooden tables. It was not a house for children; the interior was decorated with rare artifacts, at least they seemed that way to Maggie. Tall vases of varied sizes were everywhere, sculptures and art strategically placed in perfect lighting for proper viewing. This was more of a museum than a home to raise a son in. But it was Michael’s childhood home. The wooden and stucco shell held all of his memories growing up, and she knew from what he had told her most of them weren’t very happy.

Maggie rubbed Michael’s lower back as they stood in muted breath taking in the residence. She could sense the tension in his body as she asked, “You okay?”