Free Maggies Marriage (Cloverleaf #2) by Gloria Herrmann Page B

all week, and when he had called she’d given the phone over to Melanie. Maggie didn’t have a whole lot to say to him, but she didn’t want to deny Michael or Melanie their time. Michael had made himself quite clear that he was unhappy that Maggie had already enrolled their daughter in school. He was more than a little upset, to say the least.
    “I haven’t really talked to him, why?”
    “I don’t know, we were just curious how things were going,” Liam continued. “I know Mel is settling in nicely at school, and we were sort of curious about what your plans were.”
    “My plans?”
    Daniel chimed in, “Yeah, like do you think you might need a job?”
    “Well, eventually, I suppose. I don’t really know what’s going to happen.” Her voice was turning shaky. Earlier, her mind had been working out the details of her new life, but she knew at some point decisions were going to have to be made.
    Patrick spoke next. “Maggie, we wanted to see if you would be interested in possibly coming to work down at the shop.”
    “What happened to your receptionist?” They had her attention now. At first she thought her brothers were just meddling, but they were actually trying to throw her a lifeline.
    “She’s moving to Spokane, I guess she met some guy out there or something,” Daniel answered. “What’s for dinner by the way? I’m starved. Did Mom say when she was going to be back?”
    “No, she didn’t say, she’s with her book club ladies. I was thinking of making spaghetti. You good with that?” Maggie offered as she started to set out the fixings for dinner.
    Daniel nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
    “So do you think you might be interested?” Patrick asked.
    “Maybe, I mean I can work up until the baby is born for sure. I’d be happy to help you out. At the least until you find a replacement.”
    “Great, we would appreciate the help for sure. I remember when you used to help out down there when we were teenagers, so it’ll be a piece of cake.” Patrick seemed happy that Maggie was agreeing to work there.
    “I actually appreciate you guys offering the position to me, I have been kind of going a little nuts here. There isn’t a whole lot for me to do while Mel is at school.”
    “Well, that’s perfect, we’re helping you, and you’re helping us. Everyone wins,” Daniel said as he stretched and rose from his chair.
    Maggie started dinner as Daniel and Patrick got up to leave. “I’ll let you guys know when it’s ready. Patrick, are you sticking around for dinner?”
    “Yeah, the boys love spaghetti.” Patrick smiled as he followed Daniel.
    Liam remained at the table. “Do you need any help with dinner?”
    “Um, you can help with the salad I guess, and maybe open these dang jars of sauce.” Maggie was straining as tried to twist the lid off. She smacked the bottom of the jar, but to no avail. Liam got up and took the jar from her, and her gentle giant of a brother took the lid off with ease. “Thanks.”
    “So that’s pretty neat about the job, right?”
    “Yeah, it’s sweet of you guys to think of me. I guess I just feel like that might make this whole thing with Michael real.” Maggie could feel her voice catching on the lump forming in her throat.
    “I know, it’s weird having Mel go to school here. I see her in the halls, and she comes by my class sometimes on her way to recess. It’s great and sort of how I had always hoped it would be, but I’ve got to admit it’s a little strange,” he said.
    Maggie nodded. “Dropping her off at school the first couple of days was really hard. You know, when we are here it just feels like when we used to come and visit, except now she has her own room.”
    “What are you and Michael going to do?”
    “I think time is really the only answer for now. He’s welcome to come here. I want him to be in our lives. I still love him, Liam,” Maggie said. She could feel hot tears burning in her eyes.
    Liam scooped her