his arms pulled her closer to him.
Maggie was thankful that their life was on the right path. They had been so close to losing their deep connection and love, they almost hadn’t made it. But now, they were enjoying their new home, which Michael had insisted they purchase, and they were decorating a nursery with muted neutral tones since they wanted the gender of the baby to be a surprise, just as it had been with Melanie. Michael still hadn’t really opened his practice in town; he had taken on a couple of clients here and there, but overall he spent the majority of his time with his family. He was able to finally relax. He’d discovered he truly loved fishing and spending time with her brothers. Maggie thanked God daily for saving her marriage, and she couldn’t wait for them to add more children to their family.
***
Michael
He watched Maggie walked back inside the house, and he turned to join the rest of the men that were seated outside. Michael was growing comfortable in their new life and wondered often why he had ever resisted the idea of moving to Birch Valley. It had been the best thing for their family. Melanie was happy and thriving, Maggie was glowing, and their marriage felt stronger than ever. When they lived in Seattle, the thought of being surrounded by her family had scared him a little. Maybe it was because his family was hardly like hers, and the constant feeling of togetherness at first seemed odd to Michael. Now he wanted his own family to feel the same way.
Michael plopped down into an empty chair. He inhaled the sweet scent of lilacs that filled the air. Beautiful trees were lined up against the fence in the back yard, their delicate flowers withered and dying. The unusually warm weather was the culprit. Michael had chatted with some associates back in Seattle. It was hot and borderline miserable. If weather was the only thing to complain about, that suited him just fine. He relished his new life; no more insanely long hours at the office, missing everyday moments, and having Maggie upset with him. He learned that simple was sometimes best, and he was getting used to the much slower pace of life in Birch Valley, but he was happy. The one thing he still missed about Seattle was coffee. He still hadn’t found anything that compared to some of his favorite coffee shops.
“It’s a little warm today,” Michael commented as he took a long, leisurely sip of his canned soda.
“It’s a wee warm, I agree. But better than rain,” Grandpa Paddy replied, raising his own drink.
“Can’t argue with you there, Grandpa Paddy.” Michael lifted his can slightly.
One thing Michael had discovered about living in the eastern side of Washington state was that the weather was temperamental. He thought Seattle had a funny weather pattern, but that was nothing compared to Birch Valley. The sun could be shining brightly one moment, pouring down buckets of rain the next, possibly even hail, and then go right back to be down right warm and balmy. So far with the beginning of summer of approaching it had mainly been warm, far hotter than Seattle, and Michael was trying to acclimate.
“Everyone ready to eat?” Mary called out from the deck. The entire family, children included, hurried toward the long table, where a platter of fried chicken sat in the middle, along with large dishes filled with several cold salads, and a basket of homemade biscuits. That was another thing Michael was grateful for; they hardly had to eat take-out now. Maggie was learning how to cook like her mother, and then with all the shared family meals, Michael was starting to consider joining the small gym in town.
***
Patrick
Patrick carried Finn out of the SUV and planted him on one of the couches in the living room, and he quickly went back outside to retrieve a sleeping Connor. Sundays always wore the kids out; all the playing and eating just tuckered them out. The boys were usually fast asleep before they
Maggie was thankful that their life was on the right path. They had been so close to losing their deep connection and love, they almost hadn’t made it. But now, they were enjoying their new home, which Michael had insisted they purchase, and they were decorating a nursery with muted neutral tones since they wanted the gender of the baby to be a surprise, just as it had been with Melanie. Michael still hadn’t really opened his practice in town; he had taken on a couple of clients here and there, but overall he spent the majority of his time with his family. He was able to finally relax. He’d discovered he truly loved fishing and spending time with her brothers. Maggie thanked God daily for saving her marriage, and she couldn’t wait for them to add more children to their family.
***
Michael
He watched Maggie walked back inside the house, and he turned to join the rest of the men that were seated outside. Michael was growing comfortable in their new life and wondered often why he had ever resisted the idea of moving to Birch Valley. It had been the best thing for their family. Melanie was happy and thriving, Maggie was glowing, and their marriage felt stronger than ever. When they lived in Seattle, the thought of being surrounded by her family had scared him a little. Maybe it was because his family was hardly like hers, and the constant feeling of togetherness at first seemed odd to Michael. Now he wanted his own family to feel the same way.
Michael plopped down into an empty chair. He inhaled the sweet scent of lilacs that filled the air. Beautiful trees were lined up against the fence in the back yard, their delicate flowers withered and dying. The unusually warm weather was the culprit. Michael had chatted with some associates back in Seattle. It was hot and borderline miserable. If weather was the only thing to complain about, that suited him just fine. He relished his new life; no more insanely long hours at the office, missing everyday moments, and having Maggie upset with him. He learned that simple was sometimes best, and he was getting used to the much slower pace of life in Birch Valley, but he was happy. The one thing he still missed about Seattle was coffee. He still hadn’t found anything that compared to some of his favorite coffee shops.
“It’s a little warm today,” Michael commented as he took a long, leisurely sip of his canned soda.
“It’s a wee warm, I agree. But better than rain,” Grandpa Paddy replied, raising his own drink.
“Can’t argue with you there, Grandpa Paddy.” Michael lifted his can slightly.
One thing Michael had discovered about living in the eastern side of Washington state was that the weather was temperamental. He thought Seattle had a funny weather pattern, but that was nothing compared to Birch Valley. The sun could be shining brightly one moment, pouring down buckets of rain the next, possibly even hail, and then go right back to be down right warm and balmy. So far with the beginning of summer of approaching it had mainly been warm, far hotter than Seattle, and Michael was trying to acclimate.
“Everyone ready to eat?” Mary called out from the deck. The entire family, children included, hurried toward the long table, where a platter of fried chicken sat in the middle, along with large dishes filled with several cold salads, and a basket of homemade biscuits. That was another thing Michael was grateful for; they hardly had to eat take-out now. Maggie was learning how to cook like her mother, and then with all the shared family meals, Michael was starting to consider joining the small gym in town.
***
Patrick
Patrick carried Finn out of the SUV and planted him on one of the couches in the living room, and he quickly went back outside to retrieve a sleeping Connor. Sundays always wore the kids out; all the playing and eating just tuckered them out. The boys were usually fast asleep before they
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