Merry Little Cluster Fudge (The Price of Love #3.5)

7. Chapter Seven

chapter seven

. . .

Olivia

I smiled as I watched Patricia chase Case and Cara through the sand, her laughter mingling with their excited squeals.

"She's really something, isn't she?" I said, giving Carter's hand a squeeze.

He grunted in response, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Patricia waved at us, her cheeks flushed from exertion. "I'm gonna take a little break, if that's okay!" she called out, already making her way towards us.

I patted the space next to me, inviting her to join us. She plopped down, sending a small spray of sand onto our towel.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry," she fretted, trying to brush it off.

"Don't worry about it," I assured her. "Sand gets everywhere anyway. How about some water?"

As I handed her a bottle, I noticed the slight tremor in her hands. Oh, no. Is she nervous?

Patricia took a long swig of water, her eyes fixed on the kids, who were still playing in the surf. "So, let me see if I've got this straight," she said, her brow wrinkling. "Case and Cara are yours and Carter's, right?"

I nodded, smiling. "That's right. The little troublemakers over there building that lopsided sandcastle? That's Lucas and Mia—they're Meghan, Marco, and Wick's twins."

Patricia's eyes widened. "Oh! Are they... biological?"

Carter opened his mouth to reply. I sensed the impending sarcasm and gave him a warning nudge. "Spitting image of Marco, don't you think?" I said, helpfully.

"I suppose so," Patricia remarked, still gazing at the kids. "And the older girl helping them, that's Lilah, right? Emmett and Callie's daughter?"

"You got it," I said. "She's such a little mother hen. Always looking out for the younger ones."

Patricia nodded, her eyes softening as she watched Lilah patiently show Lucas how to pack sand into his bucket. "It's lovely how close they all are. Like one big, happy family."

I laughed. "Definitely. Sometimes I'm surprised the guys haven't banded together and bought some sort of compound for us all yet."

Carter raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't give them any ideas, Liv. You know Emmett would jump at the chance."

I grinned, imagining Emmett enthusiastically explaining his plans to Carter and demanding he draw up elaborate blueprints.

Patricia giggled and seemed to relax. "It sounds like you all have quite the dynamic."

"Oh, we do," I agreed, watching as Cara toddled over to us, her little face scrunched up in concentration as she carried a handful of seashells. God, I love this crazy, beautiful family of ours.

"Mommy, look!" Cara thrust her sandy hands towards me, shells clattering to the ground. "I found treasures!"

“Wow, baby, these are beautiful!” Cara beamed at me before asking Carter to help her find more.

I turned to Patricia, curiosity piqued. "So tell me about yourself. Are you from Columbus?"

Patricia nodded her head, smiling wistfully. "Born and raised. Grew up in a big family, actually. Five siblings, if you can believe it."

"Wow, that must have been chaotic," I said, thinking of our own rowdy bunch.

"It was. But now we're all spread out across the country. We only manage to get together about once a year these days."

I nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy. "That sounds tough. Do you have any kids of your own?"

A shadow crossed Patricia's face, and I immediately regretted asking. "No, I... I never had the chance. Had to have a hysterectomy when I was pretty young."

"Oh, Patricia, I'm so sorry," I said softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "I can't imagine how devastating that was."

She gave me a sad smile. "It was, for a long time. But you learn to adapt, you know?"

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. "I do know, actually. I... I struggled with fertility for a while before we had Case and Cara."

She grimaced sympathetically. "It's a special kind of heartbreak, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I whispered, memories of tearful nights flooding back. "But look at us now, surrounded by all these kids."

Patricia laughed, and her face brightened. "They're wonderful. You're so lucky."

"We are," I said, watching as Carter followed a demanding Cara along the shore. "And hey, it looks like you might be joining our crazy family too."

Patricia blushed and glanced over her shoulder at Thomas, Emmett, and Meghan. "Oh, I don't know about that. It's still early days."

I nudged her playfully. "Trust me, once you're in, there's no escaping the Price-Friedman-Rossi-Cassidy clan."

She chuckled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Both."