Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4)

by Gloria Herrmann

  Hannah exhaled as she pulled the lilac-colored sheets back and fluffed her pillow before climbing into bed. She had a game plan for tomorrow morning. She wanted to impress Daniel with her breakfast-making skills. Hannah considered how her father might feel about this man being brought into their home, so she had decided to ask him over dinner that evening, just loud enough so that Nina could hear. She wanted to be clear that she was inviting Daniel over to eat with them. Nina had acted cold and aloof, but Hannah worried that it did bother her sister. Her father’s reaction had been indifferent; he’d grunted his response and had continued to eat his meal. He probably wasn’t thinking she had any hopes of this being the start of a relationship with Daniel. Little did either of them know, Hannah had been carrying a secret crush since the very moment she had seen him. It had nearly tore her heart to shreds when Nina went in for the kill. As Hannah muttered the last of her prayers, feeling her mind tire and her eyes grow heavy, she thanked God for this second chance.

  ***

  The bacon sizzled in the cast iron skillet on the stove, filling the kitchen with its glorious smell as she stirred huckleberries slowly into her batter. Hannah looked out the window. Even though it was early, the sun was shining brightly, and fluffy cotton ball clouds hung near the rolling hills. Today was going to be beautiful, and she felt positive that it would be, in more ways than one.

  “Did you make coffee yet?” Nina appeared, rumpled from sleep, her pale hair in a loose and untidy bun on top of her head.

  “Yeah, I just made it.” Hannah grabbed a mug out of the cupboard and filled it with the dark liquid, steam rising from it in magical circles. “Here you go,” Hannah said as she handed the mug to Nina.

  “Do we have any creamer? I don’t like it black,” Nina complained. Hannah was already grabbing the plastic container with the sweet milky mix out of the fridge. “How much longer until Daniel is here?”

  Not a thank you or anything. Why was Hannah ever surprised at her sister’s lack of manners?

  “I told him to come a little after nine.” Hannah eyed the kitchen clock mounted on the opposite wall. It was after eight.

  “So, like, what? Are you guys dating now?” Nina sipped her coffee and glared harshly at her.

  Hannah flipped the bacon and shrugged. “I don’t know about that.” She felt a sneaky smile grow on her lips. Hannah wished she could say that, but this was simply a matter of testing the waters, and she hoped that Nina would keep her distance.

  “So why would you invite him here to eat? Gosh, that’s like all he thinks about too. You guys are probably perfect for each other.”

  Her words sliced through Hannah, cutting her deep. Hannah was nearly as thin as Nina, just shorter and stockier. Nina’s build had always been a source of envy. She wished her frame was long and lean, but she had inherited a completely different makeup. Nina had height, perfect cheekbones, and long legs. She was willowy and looked as though she could conquer any runway. Her pale blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and blue eyes only magnified her beauty. Nina had always described Hannah as homely, and Hannah didn’t see herself as much better than that. Her hair was a heavy golden blonde, like a mix of wheat with sun-bleached bits from working outside. Her skin was fair but smattered with freckles. Hannah’s limbs were not willowy nor graceful, but they were strong and created for hard work. She hadn’t bothered with makeup. What was the point? She feared that masking her plainness would only make it worse somehow. Besides, when she was out milking the goats or feeding the chickens, makeup was not part of the job requirement.

  She decided not to answer Nina and started to warm the griddle for the pancakes. Nina leaned against the counter, watching her work. Hannah turned to face her and asked, “Want to help make pancakes? I can show you how to make these, if you’d like?”

  “Uh, no thanks.” Nina continued to stare silently as she drank her coffee.

  “You know, someday you are going to need to learn to cook, Nina.”

  Nina exhaled a laugh. “Why, you got plans to leave?”

  Ignoring the rude comment, Hannah let it roll off of her. “What about you? Don’t you plan to get married someday, have a family to care for?”

  “God, no. I want to leave Birch Valley, but I have no desire to play up the role of domestic goddess. No thanks.”

  Hannah pouted. She figured all women wanted to have families. It had always been a fantasy of hers. “So you don’t ever want kids?”

  “I have no desire to change diapers or have some sticky gross kid on me.”

  “Wow, that’s kind of sad, actually. What about a man to love and spend your life with?” Hannah almost felt as though she were grasping at straws. Her sister obviously wanted nothing to do with kids and the idea of a family repulsed her, which saddened Hannah. She had failed her mother. Perhaps if she had done more, been somehow more loving and motherly towards her sister, then maybe Nina would wouldn’t feel this lack of desire.

  “A man? I love men. That’s not the problem. It’s the husband part. See, they will expect me to do what you do. Which, Hannah, is fine for you and women like you. You guys enjoy cooking and cleaning, all that crap. Me, nope, not interested in the least.” A playful smile showed on her lips as she continued, “I have no problem role-playing, but not in the kitchen.”

  Hannah was taken aback. “What?”

  “Oh come on, don’t act surprised. I’m not a virgin, Hannah. I’m twenty-two. Everyone I know, like all my friends, none of them are virgins. You’re like the only one.” Nina laughed a little too hard.

  Was there anything wrong with wanting to wait until she found the right man, the man who would be her husband? Was it so wrong to want to have a special wedding night? Hannah didn’t think so. She wanted that happily ever after and the magic that goes with finding the right person, the kind she found in the romantic moves she loved.

  “Is that a bad thing?” Hannah asked, setting the large mixing bowl near the griddle. She ladled out some of the pink-tinged batter. It bubbled quickly and Hannah flipped it over. The smell was incredible and filling the kitchen. Nina huffed.

  “Well, kind of. I mean, I get the whole not wanting to be a slut thing, but come on. You are going to be thirty in a couple of years. Aren’t you curious?”

  Of course she was. Hannah wasn’t a nun, and she even suspected they may be curious. But what it came down to was that Hannah was sticking to her guns. There was very little in this world that a person had control over or a choice about, but this was her choice. It was a virtue she had decided to uphold early on. It wasn’t completely influenced by her mother or religion, though those were factors. It was actually the romantic notion of falling in love and being with someone she could trust, to give a gift of herself in such a complete way. Well, in her mind that was the ultimate bond. Then, there was also the fear. The fear of being pregnant, unwed, or unloved. It outweighed any curiosity.

  Hannah continued to pour batter and flip it. She removed the perfect circles off the griddle. Nina was bored and left her mug on the counter as she exited the kitchen. Hannah worked on the place settings when her father entered.

  “Good morning, Hannah. It smells lovely in here.” He took off his straw hat and went to the kitchen sink to wash up for breakfast. This was their routine—not much conversation, but a pleasant enough exchange. “So, you invited that Daniel O’Brien here to eat with us?”

  Hannah nodded. “I did. He should be here any minute.” A knock on the metal screen door indicated she was right. She set down a plate to answer it, but her father dried his hands quickly and stopped her so he could get the door instead.

  Her belly tensed up with nerves as she heard her father and Daniel approach the dining area. Her father had a smile, which was not a common sight. Daniel’s face lit up when his eyes met hers.

  “Good morning, Hannah,” Daniel politely said as he sat near her father after he had nodded for him to do so. “Wow, everything looks amazing. Oh and the smell, just wonderful. Mr. Belsky, you are incredi
bly lucky.”

  Hannah began to serve the men. Nina still had not returned from wherever she had run off to. She was probably back in bed and waiting for Daniel to leave. That suited Hannah just fine.

  “Thank you,” her father replied. Hannah served him two pancakes and went to put some on Daniel’s plate next.

  “You did too much. I would have been happy to take you to breakfast. You didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” Daniel rambled as she fetched the coffee pot.

  “Dad will tell you, I enjoy it, and this is sort of what I do.”

  Her father nodded as he applied a pad of butter to his pancakes.

  Hannah finally joined them. Their conversation mainly consisted of Daniel chatting about different things. Her father would actually comment or laugh, but those were both things he didn’t do too often, and it was lovely seeing him so at ease with Daniel. He almost looked happy. The deep creases near his eyes and mouth were bent in happiness as he chewed his food and listened to Daniel recount another funny tale. Daniel’s stories seemed a little larger than life to Hannah, but hearing the excitement and watching how animated he got as he told them had her giggling.

  Finally, after they had all stuffed themselves well beyond their fill, her father rose from his seat and started to excuse himself. “Well, Daniel, it would seem a farmer’s work is never done. It was great sharing breakfast with you.”

  Daniel stood and extended his hand and sheepishly said, “Thank you, Mr. Belsky. If it’s okay with you, sir, I would love to take your daughter out.”

  With a curt nod, her father responded, “That would be fine, son.” He nodded again, this time at Hannah, who had remained in her spot.

  Daniel waited to sit back down until her father was out the door again, with his straw hat in hand. “Hannah, breakfast was so good.”

  “Thanks.” She eyed him cautiously, then asked, “So what’s the game plan here, mister?”

  Daniel smiled, his eyes twinkling softly. “I’d like to spend some time with you.”

  “Well, what did you have in mind?” Now she was curious. It was one thing to eat breakfast with her father, but now the two of them were going to be alone.

  He looked at her. She could practically see the gears in his brain moving as he tried to come up with an answer. “I have an idea.”

  ***

  Daniel

  The idea, well, he hoped she’d like it. It would really tell him whether or not their relationship could be pursued any further. Daniel helped Hannah into his truck but had a little difficulty jogging to his side. He was stuffed. Hannah’s breakfast had been incredible, and he’d enjoyed that her father was there, acting as a chaperone in a way. Even as much as Daniel would have loved to be alone with Hannah, he felt it was important to connect with family. He wanted to make Mr. Belsky comfortable with him taking Hannah out. Even though they were both nearly thirty, it was still the proper thing to do. People might call him old-fashioned, but that was fine by him. Daniel considered himself a gentleman, and that’s why seeing Nina had been difficult. She was looking for the typical bad boy, and Daniel was anything but that.

  He started the truck and looked over at Hannah. She smiled shyly at him as she ran her hands along her jean-clad legs. Every time they connected with a swift glance, he was moved by how simply pretty she was. She seem to sparkle in a way he didn’t quite understand.

  “So where to, Captain?”

  Daniel laughed as he headed away from the farm. “Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”

  Hannah frowned and stated firmly, “You have no idea where to go or what to do.”

  “No, well, I mean…” He found himself stumbling over his own words. He actually had no idea where to take her. Daniel could think of fun outdoorsy stuff, but was that really a first date type of thing to do? He listened to Hannah exhale loudly and was instantly swarmed by nerves. Maybe this had been a bad idea. Daniel feared that maybe Hannah was more like Nina than he realized.

  “Daniel, drive me to the grocery store,” Hannah ordered.

  She would probably try and phone for her father to come get her. How had this ended before it even started? Disappointed, he headed in the direction of the single grocery store in Birch Valley. They drove in silence and as they approached the store, Daniel broke the awkward tension. “I’m sorry. I, uh…”

  Hannah wore a confused expression as he pulled into an empty space in front of the grocery store. “What’s wrong? We needed to stop here to get stuff for our date.”

  “Date?”

  “Um, that’s what we’re on. So, let’s get what we need and head out.” Hannah unbuckled her seat belt and started to open the door.

  “Where are we headed?” Daniel asked as he prepared to get out as well.

  “We’re going fishing,” she stated matter-of-factly with huge grin on her face.

  Fishing? If he’d had a ring in his pocket, he’d probably propose to her right then and there.

  ***

  After they grabbed a couple things from the deli inside the grocery store and a couple of other odds and ends, they were on the highway headed the way Hannah had told him to go. Daniel was confused and not aware of any good fishing spots in the direction they were headed.

  “Are you sure?” Daniel asked again as they traveled further along.

  “Yes, positive. Look, there’s the road. Turn right.”

  He did, and they were now on a rough stretch of road riddled with enormous pot holes and rain ruts. His truck crawled over the rough terrain, and they easily continued down the way. Hannah suddenly gave him a confident smirk. “Right there.” There it was, glittering under the sun, a small lake nestled around tall grasses. Lily pads floated near the bank and willows mixed with pines surrounded the water. A river otter’s home, which was made of sticks and debris, was clearly visible in the center of the dark water. The area was gorgeous.

  “Best kept secret, right?” Hannah asked when they starting pulling out the fishing poles and gear he always kept in the bed of the truck.

  “Yeah, how do I not know about this place?” Daniel handed her the two poles they were going to use.

  “Well, first, it’s a place where Russians hang out, so I’m pretty sure that’s one reason. Two, well, it’s the same as the first.” Hannah led Daniel to a shady spot under a weeping willow that had started turning a golden color, its long branches sweeping the ground. “This is perfect.”

  “It sure is.” He was still stunned he hadn’t known about this lake. He also could tell it was probably loaded with fish. He’d kill to take his boat out to the middle of the water. He would bet there was bass out that way.

  They sat their poles down and went back to the truck to lug an ice chest filled with the impromptu items Hannah had grabbed at the store. When they returned, Daniel watched Hannah, her golden hair flowing in the slight breeze. She was staring out at the lake with her hands on her hips and a happy smile perched on her face. She must be pretty darn proud of herself because he sure was. Never in a million years would he have guessed she’d want to go fishing. Talk about a perfect date.

  “Well, I’m not hungry yet. Why don’t we see if they’re biting?” Hannah suggested.

  “Sounds great.” Daniel started to fix up their poles. Hannah placed a hand on his arm.

  “I can do mine.” She grabbed a fat worm from the white plastic container Daniel had just opened.

  “You sure?” He eyed her curiously.

  “Yes, I can bait my own hook.” She stuck the worm quick, looping and securely it in an expert fashion. Daniel was in awe. “Ye of little faith, I told ya I could take care of mine. You better hurry.”

  Hannah raced to the edge of the shore. Daniel watched as she kicked off her shoes and went into the water. She pulled her pole back and whipped the line out far into the water. Daniel grinned. He just might believe in love at first sight.

  He soon stood next to her, launching his own line out. The sun was warm but not harsh as it sat high in the brilliant b
lue sky. Birds chirped as the two of them waited quietly.

  “I had no idea you liked fishing,” Daniel finally said as he reeled his line in.

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me and vice versa. That’s the beauty of first dates.”

  Daniel cast the line back into the water and said, “Yeah, but it’s pretty awesome you like to fish.”

  “It’s one of my favorite things to do. I can’t explain it, but just being outside and near the water, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  They discussed everything under the sun, literally. Daniel learned a lot about Hannah and found himself more enthralled by each passing second. She was nothing like he had imagined. She was perfect. They took a brief break to eat the snacks they’d purchased, and then they headed back into the water. Hannah insisted that Daniel roll up his jeans and join her.

  “Oh, I think I got one.” Hannah yanked hard. Daniel put his pole down carefully, anchoring it in the sandy shore.

  “Here, let me help.” Daniel reached for the pole, his arms circling around her. The closeness sent a spark through him. She must have felt it too, because she tensed.

  Daniel felt himself starting to lose his footing, and before he realized it, he was down in the water and soaked. He wasn’t the only one, because he apparently had brought Hannah down with him. He could hear her angelic laugh, the sun casting a near halo around her as it sat low in the now late afternoon sky. She had changed from pretty to downright beautiful in that instant. Daniel grabbed her, bringing her closer to him, and stared at her rosebud soft lips. Before Daniel’s brain could catch up to what he was doing, he kissed her. There it was. That spark that he knew existed but hadn’t felt with Nina or any other girl he’d ever kissed before. Now he knew what people meant when they said there would be fireworks. He looked into her shocked eyes as he moved away from her tender mouth. As they stayed partially submerged in the cold water, Hannah wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him. She kissed him. There it was again—that spark.