The older O’Brien men had planted themselves in front the calm, mirror-like lake. As they sipped beers and enjoyed the view from their canvas chairs, Liam and Daniel tried to help the young twins burn off some energy with a game of catch. Meanwhile, Patrick stoked the fire and chatted with his father and grandfather.
Rachel wished she’d brought her cell phone so she could capture the family enjoying the tranquility of nature and one another’s company. Her gaze then shifted to Maggie’s husband. Michael had his laptop out and was desperately trying to find a signal with his cell phone. She couldn’t help but think how out of place he looked. Dressed in khakis and a cream sweater, he didn’t fit into this picture of rugged O’Brien men who were dressed in jeans, thick hiking boots, and thermal or flannel shirts that hugged their broad chests.
Liam wore a deep olive-green thermal shirt under a warm brown flannel, and both colors brought out the emerald and gold tones of his eyes. His worn, soft, and comfortable-looking jeans fit well against his long legs. He oozed sexy mountain-man appeal with his unshaven jaw and slightly shaggy hair.
Shaking away those thoughts, Rachel asked Mary what else needed to be done.
“I think I’ll have Pat and Grandpa Paddy roast the hot dogs now. I’m sure everyone is getting a little hungry,” Mary replied as she hugged Melanie.
Sitting around the fire and balancing their paper plates in their laps, the family devoured their lunch. Conversation flowed as they shared old memories and made new ones. Rachel and Liam sat next to each other, and their arms occasionally brushed as they ate or talked.
“Liam, you should show Rachel that trail that leads to the other side of the lake,” Mary suggested as she started to gather up the plates after they had finished eating.
Liam turned to Rachel. “What do you think?”
“Mary, are you sure I can’t help you first?” Rachel asked, not wanting her to get stuck with all the cleanup.
“Oh no, it’s fine, dear,” Mary answered, giving Liam a slight nod.
“Well, okay then. Let me grab my gloves real quick, Liam,” Rachel said as she set off toward the RV where her luggage was stowed.
***
The ground crunched under their boots as they walked together at a steady pace to keep warm.
“This place is gorgeous. I can see why you guys all come out here,” Rachel said as they worked their way onto a small trail of flattened, worn ground. She guessed that animals heading to the lake had made it over the years.
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite places.” When Liam took Rachel’s hand, she didn’t flinch or pull back. “I’m glad you came with us.”
She smiled, enjoying the quiet as they continued to walk hand in hand alongside the lake. Up close, she could spot layers of ice she hadn’t noticed before on the water. Along the way, Liam wrapped his hands around her waist to lift her over several old, decaying logs that had fallen in their path.
“God, you’re beautiful, Rachel,” Liam sighed, his voice heavy as he leaned in closer.
Rachel stood rigid but didn’t pull back. She told herself not to worry and not to think but just to let go and be in the moment.
The kiss was gentle, not rushed or demanding. The same current that had surged between them each time they had kissed returned, but this time it spread through her slowly, as if this kiss were seeking new meaning, new promises.
Liam pulled back slowly, took her hand again, and continued to guide her on the trail. As they reached the end near a small tributary that fed into the lake, Liam took a seat on a large fallen tree. Rachel watched him gaze at the landscape as he breathed slow and easy, clearly contented. She envied his calm. She had been rattled by their kiss. Though it wasn’t as passionate and wild as their previous kisses had been, it was still wonderful, but in a way Rachel couldn’t quite understand. She tried to seem as interested as Liam was in the beauty of the scene around them while her brain struggled to work out her feelings.
“Well, we probably should get back before they send a search party,” Liam said after they shared about twenty minutes of quiet reflection.
He extended his hand to help Rachel up, and they traveled back, exchanging comfortable conversation. Finally, Rachel realized what had been different about the kiss. This walk felt just like the time they had explored Birch Valley together. She had loved spending that time with him, and now she was finally able to accept that she needed to be with Liam. The only major roadblock now was how they would handle being a couple while working together. But if she wanted a relationship with him, she knew she needed to figure out a way around that obstacle.
***
As they approached the camp, Rachel heard lively music. Grandpa Paddy was singing an Irish folksong, his rich brogue bringing it to life. Rachel released Liam’s hand and instantly felt the loss of their connection.
“There they be. Mary almost had us call in the troops for you,” Grandpa Paddy declared before resuming his singing.
“Never mind him.” Mary shooed the old man away. “Rachel, did you enjoy the trail?”
“I did. It’s really breathtaking. This whole place is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here.” She couldn’t help but look up at Liam.
Liam smiled at his mother as he gently placed his hand on the small of Rachel’s back. “You want anything to warm you up?” he asked her.
“I started a pot of coffee if you would care for some,” Mary said.
“That would be wonderful,” Rachel answered. Even though she was warm to her toes from kissing Liam, coffee was always welcome.
With Styrofoam cups in hand, the group sat around the fire again and listened to Grandpa Paddy sing. Rachel was in awe of his spectacular voice as it took her to a different place with green, rolling hills, a cold ocean crashing violently against cliffs, and an old world that was magical and alive with heritage.
Shortly thereafter, the kids all went back to the RVs for a nap, and Rachel studied Liam’s family in fond silence. Mary was huddled close to her husband’s side with her eyes closed and a contented smile on her face. Grandpa Paddy was lost in his music, his eyes teary as he sang. Daniel was oddly quiet and almost appeared lonely, and Patrick looked deep in thought as he stared off into the distance. Maggie clutched her cup and was staring at her husband, who seemed a million miles away as he kept raising his cell phone in frustration to try to locate a signal. Liam was humming along with Grandpa Paddy with his long legs extended toward the fire. He had that familiar look on his face of overall happiness and being content.
Even without speaking, the O’Briens shared a closeness, and Rachel could feel the love and security hovering over them. She had never had any moments like this with her family, had never felt that sensation of love and effortless togetherness. She realized then that being with Liam would also mean having a place among his family. Her heart squeezed with an odd longing when he put his hand on her knee and rubbed it lightly. The connection was instant.
The afternoon quickly transformed into night, and the air was cold without the cloud cover. The family had finished a dinner of stew and homemade biscuits, Rachel was washing dishes in one of the RVs, and the children were watching a movie in the sitting area nearby. Looking at their small faces mesmerized by the dancing characters on the screen, she couldn’t help but feel domestic and maternal in this homey setting. When she imagined herself being a mother, a thought she didn’t have often, she was surprised that it didn’t frighten her but filled her with longing instead.
Maggie entered the RV with a few more used bowls, stirring Rachel from her fantasy.
“Are they being good for you?” she asked, nodding in the direction of the children as she set the dirty dishes in the sink.
“They haven’t even moved,” Rachel joked. “Apparently, that movie is riveting.”
Maggie laughed and braced herself against the counter near Rachel. “So are you enjoying yourself?” she inquired, her gaze still on the children.
“I don’t know if I have ever
had such a nice time,” Rachel said as she rinsed soap from the bowls. “It’s so relaxing out here. I’ve never been camping and had no idea what I was missing out on.”
“Yeah, I always like coming out here with the family. Now that we have Mel, I wish we were here more.”
“She’s such a sweet little girl, Maggie. She seems to be having a blast.”
“I know. That’s what makes being over on the coast so hard.” Maggie’s eyes turned sad as she looked at Rachel.
Instantly, Rachel wondered what was going on with her new friend, but she didn’t know if it was her place to ask.
“I want her to grow up with her cousins and with my parents and brothers,” Maggie said as she looked at the children again.
“You guys all seem very close, despite the fact you don’t live here. I can’t get over how neat your family is,” Rachel said. “My family is nothing like yours. In fact, I got into this argument with my mother last night. Keep in mind, Maggie, her and I, like, never speak. She only sends me a text message here and there, okay?” Rachel swallowed before she began to relive the conversation with Evelyn. “So I get this call from her, and she isn’t calling to check in on her daughter who moved fifteen hundred miles away, so I assume something must be wrong.”
Maggie looked concerned. “How sad. So you two aren’t very close, then, I take it?”
“Nope. She has always been kind of hands-off with me and my brother. My father isn’t much better, to be honest,” Rachel explained. “Anyway, she calls, and I finally get her to tell me the reason behind her call. She had lunch with my best friend’s mom, and I guess she mentioned to my mother that I was dating someone up here.”
Maggie’s eyes grew wide. “Liam?”
“See, I had told my friend about him, and obviously, as you know, we have some sort of thing we are trying to really figure out, but that’s a whole other ball of wax,” Rachel rambled, drying her hands on a dish towel. “So I used to be in a relationship my mother thought was absolutely perfect, only it was far from it. Well, she accuses me of ruining that relationship, and well, she just got so nasty,” Rachel said, feeling the hurt from last night return.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Rachel.” Maggie rubbed Rachel’s arm soothingly. “Why doesn’t your mom support your reason for not being with that guy?”
“I could give you a hundred reasons why that woman never supports me, but you see, he’s a doctor, like my dad, and also a pretty big scumbag, as it turned out. She just wants me to marry and have kids and play in the same ridiculous social circle she’s in,” Rachel confessed.
Maggie frowned. “Yeah, I can’t say my mom is like that. I mean, she always tries to see the good in everyone, but I know she has my back no matter what,” she said as she led Rachel to the couch. “See, I get so lonely in Seattle. Michael is constantly working. He says it’s for our future, but it’s frustrating.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed his phone is kind of glued to him,” Rachel said carefully.
“I know. I wish he would be more present and realize that him being here with us is far more important than work. I want the memories we’re making here to be good ones,” Maggie explained. “So Michael has been talking about wanting more children, which would be great, I guess, but I feel like a single mom half the time as it is. I can’t see the sense in bringing another baby into the mix right now.”
“Have you guys thought about moving back here? Maybe a slower pace would be good for Michael,” Rachel said, smoothing a wrinkle on her jeans.
“We have tossed the idea around, but he’s so damned focused on making partner at the firm he’s at,” she whispered, glancing over at the children. She clearly didn’t want them to hear her frustration.
“You know, it’s funny, because here I am, from a pretty large city myself, and I came to this teeny tiny town not knowing what to expect. I was worried I couldn’t adapt. But let me tell you, it has slowed me down in ways that were so unexpected, and I find I’m actually pretty happy here.”
Maggie smiled. “I’m glad you moved here, and if we ever do move back, it’s comforting to know I have a great new friend in Birch Valley.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I miss certain things about living in the city, but it is different here. If I ever get married and have kids, I’d want to raise them in a place like this,” Rachel said.
“That’s how I feel, and now that Melanie is getting older, I want her to grow up here. I think what’s hard is that Michael doesn’t quite see this place like I do. He was born and raised in Seattle, so the small-town thing is only something he sees when he visits, you know?”
“You can’t blame him for wanting more kids. Look how beautiful your daughter is.” Rachel looked at the young girl falling asleep next to her cousins.
Maggie sighed. “I know, and Michael is a good dad. He loves her like crazy. But I just feel so stuck.”
“What do you do when Melanie is in school?” Rachel asked, leaning her tired head on her hand as she propped herself up on the couch.
“Well, I used to work, but once I got pregnant, I stayed home. I keep busy for the most part, and I help out at her school a lot.”
“Do you have any friends there?”
“Sort of. I know that sounds silly, but mainly, they’re the wives of Michael’s colleagues or some moms from the school. I left pretty much everyone I knew when I moved over there.” Maggie sighed.
Rachel didn’t know what to add. She had left Chelsea, her only true friend at the time, and that had been difficult. She had then found that making friends in Birch Valley didn’t go quite how she thought it would. She could relate to Maggie’s loneliness somewhat, but now instead of wanting to form friendships, the gears inside her had shifted, and something she’d had no intention of wanting now stood in her sights front and center. She now wanted a relationship, possibly marriage and maybe even children.
“I understand being lonely. I miss my friend Chelsea. She is so unlike anyone I have ever met, and we grew up together, so she knows me pretty damn well,” Rachel said. “She is actually coming up next week to visit. I haven’t seen her since I moved.”
“That’s so neat.”
“Yeah, she’s thinking of staying through spring break. Maybe you can come back over and meet her.”
“That would be nice. I’m pretty sure me and Mel will be back here for spring break.”
The two women talked for a little longer until a soft knock interrupted them.
Liam’s tall figure stood in the doorway. “Hey, ladies,” he said. “Everyone is heading to bed.”
Maggie glanced at her watch. They’d been chatting for a couple hours. Funny how time could disappear when you were locked in a great conversation with a new friend.
“I better tuck these kids in. Is Patrick coming for the twins, or does he want them just to stay in here?” Maggie asked.
“Let me check.” Liam vanished.
“Here, let me help you,” Rachel offered as she turned off the TV and pulled out some blankets for the children.
Michael appeared a moment later. “Getting the kids tucked in? Patrick said to leave the boys in here tonight.”
“Yeah, that works. Sorry, Rachel and I lost track of time,” Maggie explained as she hefted up one of the twins onto the double bed.
Michael lifted the second child. “No, it’s fine. Everyone just sat around and decided to turn in. Your mom said we need to get up early to try and see those moose,” he whispered.
Maggie turned to Rachel. “Oh, I hope we see some tomorrow. Have you ever seen one?”
“No, and to be completely honest, I’m a little scared,” Rachel admitted.
“Well, I’m sure my brother won’t leave your side, so you’ll be fine,” Maggie teased.
Rachel smiled at the thought and said good night as she exited the RV.
***
She found Liam waiting for her.
“You want to sit outside for a little bit before we turn in?” he asked as he ushered her to an
empty chair.
“Sure.”
The clear sky was dazzling with its studded blanket of stars. The temperature was dropping, causing Rachel to shiver and bundle her jacket tighter around her.
“It’s really something out here. You never see the stars like this in California,” she commented, staring up at the sky.
“Light pollution. Just think, if you didn’t have all those streetlamps and lights everywhere, you could see these stars there.”
“Yeah, but I’ve got to admit, I kind of like all the lights. It can be so dark when I’m driving at night around here,” Rachel said. “This makes it more special, having to find a secluded spot like this to see the stars,” she added in a quieter voice.
Liam’s mouth contorted into the sexy grin she’d come to love. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
Rachel began to feel a little nervous. They were alone, the lights were turned off inside the RVs, and only the moon and campfire cast shadows around them.
“Rachel, can we talk?” Liam said cautiously.
“About what?” She was suddenly alert.
“About what’s happening between us.”
Rachel wasn’t entirely sure she was ready to discuss this topic. The guilt and shame of sleeping with him had since washed away, but she hadn’t quite managed to fully own the feelings that had replaced them yet.
“Rachel, when I’m with you—”
“I know,” Rachel said. “I get it. I’m just having some difficulty figuring out how I can make this work with my position and yours.”
“What is there to figure out?” he asked, turning his eyes to her.
“Like what if this doesn’t work out? What about our jobs?”
“I think it will work out. I have never felt anything like this before. Have you?” Liam asked as he took her hand.
“No. That’s what scares me so much. I’ve been so mad at myself.”
“For what?” Liam begged as he rubbed his thumb against the top of her hand soothingly.
Loving Liam (Cloverleaf #1) Page 24