Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4) (6 page)

She opened the glass door to the clinic and noticed only a couple of people sitting in the waiting room. Maggie smiled as soon as she saw Rachel was reading a magazine, completely oblivious to the world around her. After checking in at the front desk, Maggie waddled over to where Rachel was seated.

“Hey, you.”

Rachel dropped the magazine to the floor, obviously startled. “Geez, Maggie.” She started to laugh, her hand clutching her chest as bent down to grab the magazine. “You scared me.”

“Must be a really good article,” Maggie teased.

Rachel’s cheeks turned a soft pink. “It is.”

“Let me see.” Maggie snatched the magazine from Rachel. “Oh my.

Rachel raised her eyebrows and she smiled in embarrassment. “I know.”

“Okay, so are you guys, like, not, you know…anymore?” Maggie tried to ask delicately. She didn’t want to make Rachel any more uncomfortable. Granted, at this point in their friendship they should be able to talk about anything, but some topics were sort of off limits.

“Well, I mean, we have and we kind of do, but not like before. He’s just scared and worried. It’s driving me crazy, to be perfectly honest.”

“That’s normal. I remember Michael was the same way when I was pregnant with Melanie. Once he realized that not only was it awesome during pregnancy, but that it’s supposed to help a little. He was all for being a team player,” Maggie explained. She understood how Rachel was feeling. It happened to almost every couple she knew when they were going through their first pregnancy.

“That’s sort of a relief to hear. I was a little worried it was me. That maybe…”

Maggie raised her hand to stop Rachel. “Nope. It has nothing to do with that. Liam loves you and is still attracted to you. You just wait. Trust me on this. I can barely keep Michael’s hands off of me, not that I’m complaining. Why he wants anything to do with a fat cow is beyond me. Maybe it’s a pregnancy fetish. I don’t know.”

“Maggie, you’re stunning,” Rachel stated seriously as she patted her friend’s arm. “I’m the one who looks like a cow. I’m not even due until November. It’s only the end of August.”

Maggie looked at Rachel’s enormous belly. She had a point. “But you have two in there.”

“You are due at the end of next month and you look fabulous, and here I am, with nearly three months to go, and I look like I could pop them out any day.” Maggie could see Rachel’s frustration. Sometimes there was just no arguing with a woman, especially a pregnant one.

“So why are you here?” Maggie asked, shifting the conversation as she started flipping through a magazine nonchalantly. The glossy images of skinny women looking back up at her were not helping her mood.

“They wanted me to take another glucose test or something. Plus, my blood pressure was a little elevated last time I was in,” Rachel explained.

“Well, I’m sure everything is fine. Babies love to give us trouble even before they’re born. You want to grab lunch after our appointments?”

“Yes, I’m starving.” Rachel quickly covered her mouth. “See? That’s why I’m huge. It has nothing to do with me having twins. It’s me just wanting to eat everything in sight.”

“That’s the fun part of pregnancy. Trust me, once we get these kiddos out, the fun of losing the baby weight comes next.” Maggie rubbed her belly in exaggerated circles. She actually cherished this time, to be able to eat whatever she wanted. During the first couple months of pregnancy she could barely keep anything down.

A nurse entered the waiting room and called for Rachel to follow her. Maggie reached for her hand. “It’ll be okay.” Rachel nodded and followed the nurse, who wore the palest pink scrubs Maggie had ever seen.

She skimmed through another couple magazines before her name was called and she went back to a small room. She knew the drill all too well: disrobe and then wait forever for the doctor while barely covered in a paper gown. They kept these tiny rooms almost unbearably cold. Good times.

There was a knock at the door, and Maggie’s doctor entered. After meeting Rachel’s doctor, Maggie knew she had to switch. Dr. Salinger just had a soothing presence about her.

“Maggie.” Dr. Salinger immediately hugged her. She released her, quickly mounted a small rolling stool, and scooted back over to Maggie. “So how have you been feeling? Any worries, concerns?” Dr. Salinger asked, her large blue eyes scanning Maggie curiously.

“I feel good,” Maggie answered truthfully.

“Not tired? In any kind of pain?” Dr. Salinger rose from her stool, yanking the stethoscope which hung around her neck. “Let me listen. Deep breaths,” she ordered. Maggie inhaled and exhaled. She repeated the exercise again. “Okay, sounds good.”

Dr. Salinger went over to the small sink against the wall and proceeded to wash her hands. “So, any contractions?”

“I get some of those Braxton Hicks, but for the most part it’s not too bad.”

“They might increase as we start getting a little closer to delivery. How about movement? How’s our lil guy?”

“Lil guy?” Maggie laughed. “Michael and I were just discussing this. He’s convinced it’s a boy.” Dr. Salinger immediately looked away, guilt covering her face. Instantly, Maggie knew their surprise was now no longer a surprise. They were having a little boy. Her heart leaped happily inside her chest. She had expected to be upset or feel a pang of disappointment if she learned the baby’s gender early. Life offered so few surprises. That’s why they had chosen not to know the gender, but now Maggie could concentrate on more of a theme for the nursery, and she knew Michael would be thrilled.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to slip,” Dr. Salinger apologized as she approached Maggie again.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m actually really happy and a little relieved,” Maggie said, trying to reassure her.

“I know, but you guys wanted it to be a surprise. I just ruined it.” Tears pooled in her eyes. With her black hair in its usual tight knot, her eyes stood out, watery and filled with regret.

“Dr. Salinger, please don’t feel bad. I’m even more excited now that I know our lil guy is actually a guy. It’s great news.”

“Well, I am sorry. He presented all his assets proudly in the last several ultrasounds. I have it in the charts, but I’ve been trying to so hard not to slip up.” She used her sleeve to catch a tear that rolled from her cheek.

Maggie carefully gathered her flimsy paper gown and hopped off the examine table. She gathered Dr. Salinger into a tight hug. Maggie whispered as they stood together in the quiet sterile room, with its awful beige wallpaper and bright light, “It’s the best news. Thank you.”

After getting measured and enjoying the rest of her visit with Dr. Salinger, Maggie headed for the front counter to make another appointment. She was now in the final stretch, and the visits were to be weekly until delivery. Surprised that Rachel wasn’t already in the waiting room, Maggie went in search for some of the other magazines that were spread around the different chairs and end tables. She started to grow a little concerned as she eyed the clock. She had already gone through all of her reading material by the time Rachel emerged into the waiting room.

“So, how did your appointment go?” Maggie asked her friend.

“It was fine, I guess. I had to drink this awful thick concoction. Then I had to wait and wait some more. They did a bunch of blood work and made me pee in a cup. I’m so over that. I can barely keep my balance,” Rachel said, her voice tense with frustration. “How did yours go?”

Maggie couldn’t help but smile. “Really great, actually.”

Rachel scrunched her face in confusion. “Do tell?”

“How about we grab some lunch? I know you and I are both starving.”

***

Daniel

“Do you want to come inside for some iced tea or maybe a slice of pie?” Hannah asked after they arrived at her home.

“Sure, why not?” If her pie was anything like those cookies he had last week, he’d be a fool to say no. There were things he just shouldn’t pass up. Besides, he had enjoyed their drive out to the farm. He found Hannah to actually be quite funny, good natured, and such a breath of fresh air compared to her sister.

“Great.”

Daniel hopped out of truck quickly and raced to her side to open the door, but she was already halfway out by the time he got there. “Thanks.” She smiled nervously, and Daniel could see the sunlight dance off her light spray of freckles, her eyes squinting from the brightness of the sun. Standing this close he could see she had very little makeup on, if any. Her skin looked soft, her lashes natural, not thick with black paste like Nina’s. Hannah had a simple beauty about her. Daniel had noticed it last time he’d seen her, but with Nina freshly out of his mind, he was more aware of how truly pretty Hannah was. Maybe it was the late summer sun illuminating something he had missed before, but either way, he was enjoying the view.

Chapter Six

Hannah

What a strange turn of events, sitting there in her family’s dining room with Daniel O’Brien, laughing until their sides hurt. She sure hadn’t seen her afternoon going in this direction, especially after her car practically blew up on her, leaving her stranded and helpless. Hannah hadn’t been quite sure where else to go for assistance, but after chatting with Daniel last week, she knew one thing: he was friendly and seemed like someone who could help.

“Stop. Ah, you’re killing me, Hannah.” Daniel wiped the corners of his eyes. Those eyes, she just couldn’t stop looking into them. Their piercing green color, the joy and the goodness, they all seemed to draw her in.

She could understand why her sister had thought he was attractive. Daniel was handsome, and he had a light beard which enhanced his gorgeous and happy smile. The sound of his laugh, genuine and full, was almost like music to her. It was a real laugh and she loved it. Daniel had a jovial personality, which Hannah had noticed when Daniel and Patrick had first come to the farm to do work for her father. She had been immediately interested, but then Nina swooped in, as she always did, and captured him. Was it wrong that she had been saying a silent prayer that they had run into Nina today? Hannah just hoped that Daniel wanting to hang out for a bit wasn’t in retaliation for his wounded pride from her sister being caught with another guy.

“No, you’re the funny one.” On her plate, Hannah moved around a piece of leftover crust from the blueberry pie she had served them.

“Okay, let’s face it. We’re both funny as hell.”

She hardly considered herself comical. She just liked telling stories and people usually laughed. She had figured it was because she was annoying; Nina constantly reminded her that she was. Daniel was the first person who said he thought she was actually funny, and it made her feel special somehow. That was not a feeling she was used to.

“I better head out. I really enjoyed that pie. Don’t tell my mom, but I think you could give her a run for her money,” Daniel teased as he started to rise from his chair. He grabbed the spotless plate and started for the kitchen.

“Oh here, let me take that,” Hannah said quickly.

“Nope, my mom raised me the right way. If you cooked it, the least I could do is take the dish to the sink.” He quickly took the dish into the kitchen and returned.

Hannah’s heart sank a little. She missed her mom. Hannah could bet she would have enjoyed meeting Daniel. He would have made her laugh as well.

“You okay, Hannah?” Daniel asked softly, concern darkening the green of his eyes.

“Sorry, was just thinking about my mom,” she admitted. “She’s been gone a long time, but it’s still hard sometimes.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean anything…”

Hannah stopped him. “Oh, it’s okay. It wasn’t what you said.”

“Still, I’m sure it has to be hard.” He frowned with sympathy, but she could see he really didn’t understand what the loss of a parent was like. She didn’t wish that on anyone.

They stood there quietly, both lost in their own thoughts for a brief moment. Daniel suddenly spoke, “Well, I better head home. Thanks again for the slice of pie and the conversation.”

“Thanks again for the ride, and sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all. I really enjoyed myself.” They were both being polite, as if a sudden change had swept over them, neither knowing how to properly say goodbye. Maybe neither of them really wanted to.

“I had a great time visiting with you too. I’m sorry again about Nina.” Hannah felt terribly guilty that her heart was singing with joy. It was a confusing mixture of feelings.

“Not a big deal. We weren’t even dating or anything.” She could see Daniel trying to play off his hurt.

Hannah watched his gaze drop to the wooden floor. He was hesitating, something lingering on his tongue. Hannah could tell a lot about people. She just had this uncanny ability to read them. Nina had been the one who had always gotten all the attention, and maybe Hannah had developed her ability by watching people and not being noticed.

“Hannah…”

“Yeah?” She waited as she saw him battle inside his own mind.

“Would you like to go out sometime? I mean, I know it’s got to be kind of weird, considering everything, and…” Daniel rambled, not meeting her eyes.

Hannah grabbed his hand. She was shocked at her own bravery when she replied, “I’d love to.”

***

Daniel

Giddiness—yes that’s the word he would use to describe how he felt at that moment. As Daniel drove back into town, he felt downright giddy. He’d had no idea this afternoon would have changed so much, but it had. Spending the afternoon eating some of the best blueberry pie he had ever tasted, laughing so hard with someone who wasn’t one of his siblings, was just so unexpected. Hannah turned out to be everything Nina wasn’t. She was genuine, kind, and incredibly funny. Her eyes would twinkle as she laughed and giggled, and she’d even snorted once, which, oddly enough, he found to be quite adorable. His only regret was not remembering that her mother had passed away. He’d felt like the biggest idiot when he was going on about his mom. Daniel couldn’t imagine losing her. She was one of the most important people in his life. Mary was the glue that held their family together, and she made the best muffins and pot roast in Birch Valley. Daniel loved her with all his heart, and if Hannah felt anything like he did about his mother, that poor girl must have been devastated when her own mother passed. But even with Daniel making mention of moms, Hannah had still been kind to him, so much so she agreed to go out with him. What had spurred him to ask, he still wasn’t certain. It just felt right, not forced or complicated. After their chat that afternoon, he already had some ideas as to where he wanted to take her. Dating Hannah would hopefully prove to be a great deal easier than his attempts in dating Nina. God, what had he been thinking?
That was the problem,
he could almost hear his mother say,
you hadn’t been thinking.
Instead, he went off on purely shallow desire, and the fact that this hot girl actually wanted to go somewhere with him sort of blew his mind. He had been overlooked for so long, and it felt nice to be noticed. But considering how awful everything had gone, especially after he had brought her home for dinner with his family, he knew he didn’t want a repeat of that night. That had been a royal disaster. His mother was kind enough to discuss it with him as he had his breakfast that morning. Now, she hadn’t been trying to sway Daniel from Nina, but she’d simply pointed out the facts. He knew it in his heart. It was just hard hearing it from his family, especially his mother.

Daniel pulled into the driveway and shut off his truck. Once inside the house, he was welcomed with the wonderful scents which only his mother could conjure. Well, maybe Hannah could too. He couldn’t help but think of her and how she would act if invited into their home, into his mother’s kitchen.

“Daniel, you’re home. I was getting a little worried,” Mary exclaimed as Daniel entered the kitchen. His mother was removing a tray from the oven. The distinct smell of toasted nuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, and banana hovered low in the air. Those golden little mounds of perfection were his mother’s famous banana nut muffins.

“Those smell amazing, Mom.” Daniel would steal one, but he knew the roof of his mouth would pay dearly.

“Thanks, dear. I felt the need to bake.” She smiled up at him as she sat the tray on a cooling rack on the counter. “So Patrick came by a couple of hours ago to pick up the twins. He’d mentioned you helped Hannah. Something about car trouble?”

“Yeah, she needed a lift home.” Daniel knew where this was headed. Maybe he should chance eating the scorching hot muffin.

“Well, that’s nice of you, dear. I was just curious as to why you were getting back so late.”

“I wasn’t with Nina, Mom.” Daniel knew that’s what she was after. It was clear she was relieved.

“Good.”

“Mom, we talked this morning. I know your feelings about her. I agree with you. She’s not the right one for me.” Daniel decided to go for a muffin, but his mother beat him to it. She carefully grabbed a large one and sat it on a saucer.

“Butter?” she asked. He nodded as his mother quickly slid a pad of butter into the slit she had made in the muffin. “Be careful, it’s hot.”

“Thanks.” The sweetness hit his mouth first, the flavors exploding all at once. Why wouldn’t his mother sell these magnificent muffins? “So good,” Daniel commented, his mouth full.

“So, how’s Hannah?” Her hazel eyes sparkled and a funny grin appeared on her face. Well, that was quick. Daniel started to laugh as Mary O’Brien did what she did best—keep tabs on her children.

***

Hannah

She watched the tiny cluster of bubbles swirl down the drain. The citrus smell of the dish soap was strong but wonderful. This was Hannah’s favorite part of the day, after dinner, when everyone had slipped away to different parts of the house. She was left to the quiet of her kitchen, her mother’s kitchen. God, how she missed her. Could things have ended differently if they’d sought help earlier? Maybe, or perhaps it was simply God’s plan.

Cancer. A sick and dirty word, foreign to their Russian ears when they’d finally gone to see a doctor. The man in the starched white coat, with the thick rimmed glasses and sullen expression, had said it was too far along to fight. The Belsky family rode home together that evening, quiet. Their lives were about to be forever changed, and Hannah had only been fourteen years old. As she lay in her bed that night, she could hear her mother and father crying through the wall. Her tears soaked her own pillow, and she didn’t know just how much worse things were about to get. Nina had been young but old enough to understand. She was the favorite, the beautifully majestic child, with pale blonde hair and icy blue eyes. Hannah loved her sister, but there had always been a divide between them. That gap had only widened more after her mother passed away only two months later. They were prepared, but Hannah knew no one could be truly ready to see their mother waste away into virtually skin and bones, the sick smell of death hovering in the air. Hannah had been raised to know how to run a home. She’d learned cooking, cleaning, and mending, all while being homeschooled. Nina was naturally lazy and had no desire to learn any of those vital skills. Hannah would find herself not only taking the place of her mother, but having to try and raise her wild sister. Nina lashed out and hated Hannah, especially when Hannah would try to make Nina do anything, whether it be cooking or cleaning. Nina wanted to escape. Hell, they all did. Their father was never the same after their mother died, and he hadn’t exactly been the warmest man to begin with. They knew he loved them, but he was denied sons, and it was under her mother’s watch and insistence that he showed their daughters any affection. Hannah felt as though she had simply become a maid, cook, nanny, and runner of the household. She had never felt like she was his daughter. He did show more kindness to her sister. Perhaps he knew she was actually the weaker of the two, that she needed more love.

Hannah wiped away a lone tear. It had been almost fourteen years. Fourteen years of putting herself last, years spent just watching quietly and just being expected to keep the house. Hannah never experienced fun in the traditional sense, but Nina had enough for the both of them. So when she’d sat in their dining room with the charming Daniel O’Brien, their time together blindsided her. He made her feel like she was in one of those classic romance movies; the ones she liked to watch when she was alone. She knew nothing of dating, yet when Daniel asked her out she quickly jumped at the chance. What had she been thinking?

Hannah was lost in her thoughts as the warm water ran over her hands, rinsing the clean dish she held. Nina appeared at her side.

“So what was today all about?” Nina leaned against the counter, her eyes burning with a quiet rage.

“What do you mean?”

“Having Daniel get gas and seeing me. Geez, Hannah.” Nina rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed.

Hannah sighed. Leave it to her sister to try and twist things, somehow making Hannah think it was her fault, when it was Nina’s all along. Typical behavior. Nina always tried to toss the blame onto someone else, whether it be Hannah or a farmhand—literally anyone but herself.

“Well, why’d you do it?” Nina pestered more firmly, her hands on her hips and a little more aggression in her voice.

“I didn’t do anything. He needed gas. Nina, there’s only one gas station in town,” Hannah explained with patience. She could feel her own temper starting to take hold.

“You didn’t need to break the car, for starters.”

Hannah laughed hard at the absurdity of her sister’s remark. “Are you serious?”

“It’s your fault, Hannah. If he wasn’t having to give you a ride home, he wouldn’t have seen me.” The look on Nina’s face, like she actually believed she was telling the truth, blew Hannah’s mind.