Free Patrick's Promise (Cloverleaf #3) by Gloria Herrmann

chewed on the frozen pizza. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as a pizza from Steve-O’s, but it filled the void.
    The twins picked at the cheesy pizza and ate some of the salad. After getting the boys into the bath and into their pajamas, they finally nestled themselves on the couch and in front of the large TV. Patrick had a boy tucked on either side, each snuggled close with their fleece blankets. He was overheated; their small bodies radiated warmth, which made Patrick sweaty and a tad uncomfortable, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world.
    They sat together, the boys watching an enormous, slobbering dog on the screen getting into all sorts of shenanigans. The scene, which was playing in front of them, showed two young kids trying to give the dog a bath, which leapt out of an overly sudsy tub, practically mowing down an overwhelmed mother. Finn and Connor laughed in unison.
    “Daddy, that dog is being bad,” Connor noted, and giggled with delight.
    Finn tugged on Patrick’s shirt. “We should a get a big doggy like that one. Can we get a dog, Daddy?”
    “Yeah, we want a doggy. Can we each get a doggy?” they started to beg.
    “Guys, maybe someday,” Patrick relented, but the boys continued to assault him with pleas of wanting a pet. They shouted out possible names and even where the animal would sleep.
    Finally, Patrick was able to get them to return their attention back to the movie, but it wasn’t long before Finn asked another question. One that was far more difficult to answer.
    “Daddy, will we ever get a mommy?” Finn’s eyes were wide with curiosity. Patrick decided it was best to just redirect his son’s attention for now by insisting that he was going to miss the best part of the movie. He was grateful his son didn’t press for an answer and happily returned his gaze to the TV.
    Patrick could see their eyelids drooping as the movie continued to play. His own attention wasn’t on the troublemaking dog or the comically stressed-out family. No, his mind had wandered far away. He let out a heavy sigh. He wasn’t quite sure what to tell his sons, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep avoiding their questions. Beth knew this was going to happen eventually, she knew everything, even as she lay dying. That’s why she’d made him promise.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Amber
     
    “Amber, dear. Come over here, please,” Lynn called out.
    Amber grabbed a dishtowel and dried her hands as she headed toward the sound of her mother’s voice. The diner had finally slowed down, well, just enough to get caught up before the dinner rush hit.
    “Yes?” She had come through the swinging doors that led from the kitchen to the serving area by the front counter. She spotted her mother and smiled as she moved toward her.
    “There she is,” Lynn said. She was standing as usual with a coffee pot in hand, near the closest table to the serving counter, where three women sat. “Ladies, this is my daughter, Amber,” Lynn announced, wrapping her arm around Amber, bringing her closer. “Mary, you probably remember her. She was in Liam’s grade.”
    “Oh yes, that’s right.” Mary gave Amber a wide smile. Her hazel eyes were kind, and Amber vaguely remembered her, but it had been ages since she had seen Mary O’Brien.
    “Amber, you remember Mary O’Brien. That’s her daughter, Maggie, and that’s Liam’s fiancée, Rachel,” Lynn introduced Amber to the women.
    “Nice to meet you all,” Amber responded politely, giving them a small wave as she continued to dry her hands nervously. She couldn’t quite place Maggie’s face but knew she had been the youngest of the O’Brien children. She wouldn’t have even attended school with Amber, and as for Rachel, she was a completely new face altogether. Pretty and confident, she smiled back at Amber and extended her hand across the table.
    “Hi, I’m Rachel Montgomery.” Her tone was polite and direct, and there was a hint of