Chapter 77

The next few weeks were busy. Patrick had his first birthday, and Liam got a petting zoo for the kids in the front yard.

Rupert and Gus hated the smell of the other animals and were on edge for a few days after that. Despite that, the kids had a great time, as did the adults.

Liam spoiled his family, and this was no exception. Who doesn’t want a pony ride on their birthday?

Spring came in a hurry that year and before they knew it, Maggie was in labor again. Isaac Brett Olsen was born on May 1st at 8:38 p.m.

Weighing in at seven pounds, ten ounces, Isaac was a clone of his father and older brother. The resemblance was crazy.

The three of them together, along with Charlie, were a very handsome group of men. Maggie knew that the boys would be just like their father when they grew up, and the very thought made her crazy.

Bethany and Henry started trying for another baby. Beth and Charlie loved the prospect of lots of grandchildren and encouraged everyone as often as they could.

Makayla and Mike were going to wait. Mike had the opportunity to start up his own business and wanted to see where it went.

Isaac was a great baby and even easier than Patrick. Maggie had a nice easy summer with her boys.

The team would come over to use the weight room at their house. She didn’t have to get a sitter if they came over, and she could work with them individually. And they loved to play with the babies.

Maggie wasn’t allowed to work out with them until the middle of June. The doctor said that she should start easy and not go too fast.

She was lucky that she had stayed in good shape during her pregnancy, even in the wake of the accident, and didn’t have much weight to lose.

Maggie shocked Liam one night in July with an announcement he hadn’t expected.

“Babe, I have been thinking... I looked up some information, and I want to get my master’s degree in Administration and go for my principal’s licensure…”

“Maggie, that is wonderful! How did you want to do it?”

“Well, I can do most of the classes online, so I can just work at my desk.

“But I would like to get a nanny to come in every day for a few hours to watch the boys so I could study and go to practice. What do you think?”

Liam smiled widely at her.

“If that’s what you want to do, then let’s do it! Sign up, and get the paperwork started for the program. I will make some calls, and we can interview some people who can watch the boys, okay?”

Maggie was thrilled at his words. She jumped up and kissed him on the mouth. “Thank you! I really want this! I just wasn’t sure what your thoughts were.”

“If you are happy, I am happy. So, are you thinking of going back to work soon?”

“Oh, no, I want so much more time with the boys before I go back. Plus, Isaac is only three months old. But if I go slowly with the classes, I can do it and still stay home with the boys.

“This is a couple of years down the road at least!”

Liam nodded and kissed her hand as they finished eating their chicken stir fry. Patrick loved the steamed veggies and kept picking out the pea pods before the chicken, sitting in his highchair.

Isaac was sleeping contentedly in his bouncy chair after Liam fed him a bottle.

Maggie signed up for the classes and was so thrilled at the new adventure she was starting. Liam bought her a new laptop to work on and a leather-bound portfolio to take notes in.

He found the name of a highly recommended agency so they could interview some people for a nanny.

In the first week of August, Liam and Maggie fell in love with Tonya, a forty-something woman with incredible references and an easy-going attitude.

Tonya was from the north of England and loved working with children. Maggie knew that the reason Liam liked Tonya so much was that she reminded him of Anne.

She was willing to stay later on the days that Maggie had games so Liam could attend and even watch Samantha if Sheila needed.

Maggie bonded with her, sharing the ideas she had for the fun and educational items she had for the boys as they got older.

They got along great, and Maggie had no reservations about leaving the boys with her, even with Isaac being so young.

***

The school year started, and the family settled into a wonderful routine.

Tonya would arrive about noon, just before lunch, feed Patrick and then put both boys down for naps after some playtime so Maggie could study and then go to practice.

Tonya would get dinner started and Liam would take over when he got home from work. Tonya would wait until he changed and leave at about five.

On the days that Maggie had games, Tonya would stay until they arrived home at seven. Liam had purchased a new SUV after the accident, and Tonya used it to take the boys to the park or other outings.

She even brought the boys to a couple of the softball team’s games. Maggie and the team worked harder than ever to continue the success they had the year before.

Several teams were gunning for them, but they were still able to prevail, even though a key pitcher had graduated the year before.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Amanda and Jessi’s younger daughter, Leslie, was an exceptional pitcher, even as a freshman.

She became a huge part of the team with her sister Sara and the team felt unstoppable. And after a grueling playoff season, they won again, and Maggie won Coach of the Year for the State. Liam threw another huge party to celebrate.

Things were going so well that Liam arranged for Tonya to spend five days with the boys so they could go away for their second anniversary.

He took Maggie to an amazing all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. They had a wonderful time drinking, playing in the sand, and having incredible sex.

November came with a buildup of the holidays. Liam’s family really liked Thanksgiving. William especially liked the turkey and pies but hated the shopping as Liza got up so early to hit the sales.

Maggie was so glad that the semester was almost over. She was so run down that she even fell asleep at the dinner table one night while having a conversation with Liam.

He was starting to worry when one Saturday she slept in until after ten.

She assured him she was okay, and she was just fighting something off, but even she was starting to become a little concerned at her exhaustion.

That same day, Maggie got a phone call from Makayla. She was almost hysterical, and Maggie could barely understand her between the sobs.

“Hi, Mak, how’s it going?”

“Mags... birth control mix-up... pregnant... not ready for... what am I going to do?”

Maggie tried to process what she said and was completely stumped.

“Sweetie, take a deep breath. I don't understand what you are saying! Take a minute and try again.”

Maggie heard her taking a few deep breaths and then started her story again.

“I saw on the news a few days ago that the birth control pills that I am on had a recall. There was a mix-up in the plant and thousands of people got the sugar pills, not the actual pill.

“I have been feeling weird and checked and my pills were on the recall list. I called the number, and they advised me to contact my doctor right away. So I did and I’m pregnant!”

“Congratulations! That is great! I know it might not be the right time—”

“Right time? We were going to wait another year so Mike could open his own office! Now he can't! And we already put money into the legalities!”

Makayla started sobbing again, and Maggie had to tell her that everything would be okay. They talked for a few more minutes, then Abigail woke from her nap and Makayla took her to the park.

After hanging up, Maggie told Liam what happened, and he offered to call Mike and see if he could help with the legal parts and ease some of Makayla’s anxiety.

Maggie panicked as Liam left the room and all but ran to her computer and did a search to see what Makayla was talking about.

She read the news story and felt her stomach lurch. Her birth control pills were the same brand as in the story. She fetched the box from the bathroom and triple-checked them, breathing rapidly.

They had been using them to make sure that they could decide when they wanted to get pregnant again. And they wanted to wait and enjoy the two they had.

She was near tears as she tried to remember the last time she had a period, when Patrick came running in with Liam carrying Isaac, laughing and chasing him.

He set his youngest down in front of the toy box when he noticed his wife sitting in a daze, with a stunned look on her face.

“Darling, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She handed him the box and pointed to the article on the screen. Liam read the article and looked at the box in his hand and back again then looked at his wife.

“This is a joke, right?”

“I’m pregnant, Liam. Look how tired I have been!”

“But... I don’t... when—”

“My last period was at the end of September, Liam,” she whispered to him.

Liam was stunned. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes!” she heard him say, and he grabbed his wallet off the counter and ran to the garage.

She heard a car start up and leave as she turned and watched her boys play in disbelief.

How could this happen? They did everything right this time and God was conspiring against them.

She was in the exact same spot when Liam returned with a grocery bag and thrust it at her. He picked up Isaac and Patrick and followed her upstairs, setting them to play on the floor in their room.

Maggie went into the bathroom, opened the bag, and found two boxes of pregnancy tests, each with two inside.

She opened everything up, peed on each one, recapped them, and set them on the counter to wait.

Liam came in when he heard her washing her hands. He sat beside her on the fluffy rug, holding her hand and kissing her head. He set the timer on his phone for three minutes, and they waited.

“The upside is that we make really cute kids,” he said, rubbing her back.

“Yeah, but can we handle another one already? Can I handle another one? I’m scared, Liam!”

Liam sighed and pulled her closer to him. “Maggie, you are an amazing mom! The boys love you deeply, and so do I. I know you will do great with one more…

“I’m scared too, Maggie. Three kids under the age of three, it’s a lot to process. I get it, but we can do this, darling!”

She nodded as the tears fell from her eyes, and she impatiently wiped them away.

“What if I get fat and can’t get my body back this time? What if you don’t find me attractive anymore? And our relationship falls apart, and you go sleep with—”

“Hey, hey, stop! Maggie, I love you. You are the most beautiful woman in the entire world. I don’t care if you gain a hundred pounds and your hair falls out.

“You will always be the one for me! Forever! I will never cheat on you, and I promise to love you always.”

Before she could say anything in response, the timer on Liam’s phone went off. He reached up and turned it off as she took a deep breath, already knowing what she was going to see.

He helped her off the floor and kissed her as they turned and looked at the line of pregnancy tests on the counter. Maggie’s eyes scanned each of the four tests. They displayed a positive result.

“Well, darling, I guess you are calling the doctor on Monday.”

Maggie nodded as she stayed in his arms, listening to their boys yell and play in the other room.