The grainy screen showed the quick flutter of two hearts, as well as oblong, round shapes that looked like full-sized babies. “There they are. It’s getting tight in there,” the nurse commented as she rolled the ultrasound wand over Rachel’s belly. She started typing numbers into a keyboard. Only the quick sound of the tapping of the keys filled the room. “I will get Dr. Salinger and be right back.”
Once the woman left, Liam reached for Rachel’s hand. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I just want everything to be okay. I always get nervous when they enter information in that darn computer and not say a word.”
“Well, I don’t think they are allowed to. Besides I’d rather Dr. Salinger tell us if anything was wrong.”
“You think there might be something wrong?” Rachel’s voice got louder, and panic seared her blue eyes.
“No, I don’t think so at all. I’m just saying…”
A soft knock interrupted Liam. He couldn’t dismiss his instant relief as Dr. Salinger opened the door and entered the room.
“Hi, guys.” Her black hair was in a tight bun on top of her head, and her overly large mouth offered them a kind smile. “How are we feeling?” She looked slowly from Liam to Rachel as she washed her hands at the small sink.
“I feel okay,” Rachel managed to say. Liam could hear her voice crack. He knew how worried she was and how miserable she was starting to become.
“Just okay? Well, let me take a look.” Dr. Salinger took a seat on the small stool near the ultrasound machine. “Did the nurse tell you what you are having yet?” she asked as she put the wand back on Rachel’s belly.
“No, not yet,” Rachel answered.
“Oh goody, I get to tell you.” Dr. Salinger gifted them both with an extra large grin. “Oh, I know what you’re having!”
Liam watched as Rachel’s eyes grew wide with anticipation. “Really?”
Dr. Salinger nodded. “Oh yeah, they’re both being very good right now and showing off.” Dr. Salinger removed the wand and started typing. In large letters on the monitor, where both Rachel and Liam could clearly see, it read, Say hello to your daughters!
Rachel turned to face Liam, tears in her eyes. He felt his eyes burn as he tried to hold back his own tears. They were having girls.
***
Rachel
Daughters. Rachel was still wrapping her mind around the fact she was going to be a mom, but now to two girls. It sort of frightened her, yet the excitement she felt was incredible. She couldn’t help but think of her mother and the not-so-cozy mother-daughter relationship they shared. Would it be like that with these girls? Rachel really had believed she was carrying boys, and she had been getting used the idea, so much so that she had even started to think of boy names. After bonding with Patrick’s boys, Finn and Connor, she just assumed she would be having boys too, but the thoughts of dresses, bows, pink, lots and lots of pretty pink, well, they put a smile on her face.
“Can you believe it?” Rachel asked again, switching the phone to her other ear.
“Oh my God, Rachel, it’s perfect. Oh, I can’t wait.” Chelsea squealed on the other end of the line.
Rachel had had to tell someone, and Liam insisted on doing something fun to tell the family. Rachel also planned on calling her mother later, but right now, she wanted to share this with her best friend.
“I know, right? I thought for sure I was having boys.”
“Even if you were, that would still be amazing. I won’t lie. I’m thrilled they’re girls.” Rachel could hear Chelsea’s happiness from over fifteen hundred miles away. “So, baby shower? When is this happening? I’m ready to shop and come up for it.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. Yes, the dreaded shower. But now she was looking forward to it, and of course seeing Chelsea. “Well, we are going to tell Liam’s family tomorrow or sometime this week. He wants to do something special to announce their gender.”
“Oh that’s fun.”
“I know, and his mom has been after me to plan this shower, so I’m thinking probably mid-October, maybe?”
“That works. Maybe I will fly up with your mom,” Chelsea suggested.
“Up to you, I was thinking maybe you could come up before and help in the girls’ room.” Just saying it out loud made it all seem more real. Rachel was going to be giving birth in less than two months to two girls.
“Have you and Liam discussed names yet?”
“Well, we tossed around a few. It’s a lot harder than you would think. I mean, I try to think, do I need to name them after someone? I try to consider if it rhymes with something awful, and if they will get made fun of in school. I don’t want them to hate it either. I always sort of hated Rachel.”
“Really? I like your name.”
Rachel groaned. “I don’t. It always sounded so blah. My dad wanted something with an R to match his name, since my mom did that with Ethan. They didn’t put a whole lot of thought into it.”
“I still like it. After all, it is the name of my very best friend in the entire world.”
***
“I’m so glad Hannah helped us with these, but do you think she told Daniel?” Rachel was worried as she carried the tray of cupcakes. Inside each perfect chocolate pastry was bright pink strawberry filling.
Liam was about to open the door to his parents’ house, but he paused, answering her as they stood on the porch, “I don’t think so. She is coming tonight, right?”
Rachel nodded. “Yes, Daniel is suppose to bring her over. I really like her, Liam.”
“I think she’s wonderful for him,” Liam agreed as he took the tray of cupcakes from Rachel.
“Thanks. Are you nervous at all?” Rachel asked.
“Nah, this is the fun part. Why, are you?” Concern grew in his radiant eyes.
“Well, maybe nervous isn’t the right word. It’s more like I’m overly excited, and then I worry, what if Dr. Salinger is wrong and we’re having boys?” Rachel shrugged. “I told Maggie I worried the same for her, especially after she just went nuts with all the blue in Max’s baby room. Watch, I’ll go crazy with pink.” Rachel loved the name that Maggie and Michael had picked out—another little M name. Liam and Rachel were finding it to be more of a challenge and were planning to ask the family to help come up with some ideas tonight.
“You worry too much.” Liam bent down and kissed her.
“Isn’t that how you two got into that trouble to begin with?” someone asked in a thick Irish accent. Rachel’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as she saw Grandpa Paddy standing by the now open front door. He motioned for them to come in and winked at her as she passed him. “What treats have you brought?” Grandpa Paddy looked curiously at the tray.
“Just some cupcakes for dessert,” Liam quickly answered.
“Maybe I should sneak one then. I would hate to be too full from supper.” Grandpa Paddy went to reach for one, but Liam pulled them back.
“Best not, Grandpa Paddy, Mom will have your hide.”
“She wouldn’t need to know. Be a good lad and let your granddad have one,” Grandpa Paddy pleaded. Rachel nearly felt sorry for him and almost handed him one, but Liam shot her a reminding glance.
Rachel entwined her arm through Grandpa Paddy’s, guiding him to the living room while Liam started for the kitchen. “Maybe dinner is ready and then we can get to those cupcakes.”
Everyone was in the dining room when Rachel and Liam entered. It was loud and bursting with activity. This one of the reasons why Rachel had fallen in love with the O’Brien family. She was now a part of this, and her daughters were going to be as well. She couldn’t think of a better family to be surrounded by.
“Here, let me take those.” Mary entered in the room looking partially frazzled, but stopped long enough to plant a kiss on Liam’s cheek. She then moved to Rachel, giving her the same kiss. “How are you feeling, love?”
“Great.” Rachel kept her answers short. She was worried she would blurt everything out.
&
nbsp; “You baked cupcakes?” Mary raised an eyebrow. “This will be quite a welcome treat. Thank you, dear.”
Liam watched her. She could feel him willing her to keep quiet. Mary took the tray into the kitchen, where the rest of women were hiding out. Rachel greeted them. She was given hugs, and asked genuine questions about how she was feeling. She felt so loved and accepted by this group of women and couldn’t wait to share her exciting news. There would be more O’Brien women, girls who would learn to bake and cook with their grandmother and aunts. Rachel felt herself on the verge of tears. It was all so moving and emotional. Nine months ago she never would have thought this would be her life what her life was like, and she was so thankful it had turned out this way.
Rachel managed to focus on her food as she danced around several pregnancy questions. She took this time to really evaluate the O’Brien family. They all had become so dear and special to her. Michael made Melanie giggle quite a bit. He was such an amazing father to that precious little girl. Maggie looked uncomfortable and just ready to be done with her pregnancy. Daniel and Hannah seemed lost in their own little world. Patrick and Amber weren’t much different, except how motherly Amber acted toward the twins, and her own teenage boy seem to fit right in. Everyone always seem to fit right in with the O’Brien family. They had accepted her and made her one of them long before she accepted the fact she was terribly head over heels in love with Liam. Mary was quick to clear the table, as their plates weren’t fully emptied, which resulted in a chorus of complaints. Rachel was a little a confused by her anxiousness.
Mary returned to the table with the tray of cupcakes, wasting no time passing them out. Hannah glanced over at Rachel but acted completely casual. She eagerly accepted a cupcake when Mary handed her one.
“Well, my son just told me how important these cupcakes were,” Mary began to explain. Everyone started to examine their cupcake carefully, inspecting it with a seriousness Rachel didn’t quite expect. She looked over at Liam. He blushed. Here he was, so worried she was going to spill the beans.
Liam stood up, gently holding a cupcake in his hand. “Everyone, inside this cupcake is something special. We went to our ultrasound appointment the other day, and we now know what Rachel and I are having. Please bite into your cupcake now,” Liam instructed the family. Everyone’s shocked faces were suddenly full of cupcake as they dove into the pastries. The sounds of delight, squeals of happiness and congratulations, caused tears to flow from Rachel. To see how joyful everyone was, to feel that amount of love, was overpowering and incredible.
Mary went to Rachel, taking her into her plump arms. “I’m so happy for you both. See, Rachel, I told you that you were a blessing to this family.” She squeezed her again.
“Better get to buying everything in pink,” Maggie called to Rachel from across the table.
After the dust settled from the news the men all departed, leaving the women alone.
“Have you guys thought of names?” Maggie inquired, leaning back in her chair, rubbing her large belly.
“It’s not so easy,” Rachel answered and subconsciously found herself rubbing her own belly.
“Told you. Everyone thinks it is, but there is so much to consider, right?”
“Absolutely. Liam has some ideas, but I want some that are cute and classic.” Rachel had been considering so many names since the ultrasound. She turned her attention to Hannah, who sat quietly among the ladies. “Hannah, thanks again for helping me out. The cupcakes were amazing, by the way. You and Mary really need to open a bakery.”
“Wait, you knew?” Maggie tossed a look at Hannah then back at Rachel.
They both nodded, and Rachel answered, “You didn’t think I could bake something that good, did you?”
“I suppose you’re right. They were really good.” Maggie laughed.
“I’m just so happy. I will be having a grandson next week, and then two granddaughters in a little over a month.” Mary’s eyes shone with joy, tears peeking out from them. “We need to plan that shower soon.”
“You’ll be proud of me, Mary. I was just telling Chelsea that I thought maybe early or mid October.”
“Oh, good. You will need to call your mother. We need to start planning.”
“Maggie, are you getting nervous? I mean, we’re talking like any day now, right?” Rachel asked and searched Maggie’s face.
“I’m ready to meet Max. We have everything ready to go. We just need him now.”
“We can’t wait to meet that precious little guy,” Amber said with longing in her eyes. Rachel knew from talking to Liam that Patrick was planning on proposing, but that had been discussed a couple weeks ago and hadn’t been mentioned since. Had something changed?
“I can’t wait to start a family, it just seems so wonderful. You both are gorgeous,” Hannah spoke up. She too had longing in her eyes.
“Thank you, that means so much. I feel like a fat cow.” Maggie groaned and then spoke directly to her belly. “Anytime, Max, anytime.”
Rachel could relate to feeling large and unattractive. She appreciated Hannah’s compliments, but that didn’t stop her from hating her changing body. It wasn’t that she was vain, and it wasn’t even the stretch marks which mapped her body that bothered her. It was the weight of the two princesses inside her and feeling as large as a castle to house them.
“Max needs to stay inside until after Cider Fest,” Mary reminded Maggie.
“Mom, I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Well, I will be praying he just stays put until after this weekend.”
Maggie rolled her eyes as the others laughed. She spoke to her belly again, “You hear that, Max? Grams says to stay put. No coming until after her precious apple extravaganza.” More giggles erupted from Amber, Hannah, and even Mary.
It was just so comfortable, sitting at the table enjoying laughs like this with them. Rachel hoped that Amber and Hannah would become members of the family as well. They already felt like sisters to her, and she knew they loved the O’Brien men they had been saddled with. As she said a silent prayer, Rachel caught Maggie looking her way. They must have been thinking the very same thing, and they gave each other a knowing smile.
Chapter Fifteen
Daniel
To say he was nervous was an understatement. He toyed with the ring in his pocket. Cider Fest was in full swing, and the city park was decorated with large apple-shaped garlands mounted on various posts. Twinkling white and red lights were strung in the trees, and booths were lined up in neat rows. A band played music as the residents of Birch Valley sampled various baked goods, visited with neighbors, and children ran through some of the fallen leaves. Cider Fest had started early in the morning, and he should know. He had been there when the sun was barely up, helping his mother set up the church booth she ran, selling baked goods to raise money for several of their programs. But now the sun was setting below the apricot and lavender sky, and the air was turning chilly, making it the perfect the time to sip on some warm cider.
Daniel was walking to the booth he had helped set up earlier. It was almost time. He wanted to wait until the lights in the trees were glowing more. He wanted this to be perfect, because she was perfect. When he arrived at the small white-tented booth, Daniel’s mother smiled at him, giving him an encouraging nod. Hannah was busy sorting out what baked items they hadn’t sold. Maggie sat in a canvas chair looking miserable, as Max had not decided to come yet. Rachel and Liam were standing only feet away, arms entwined and swaying to the beat of the live music. Patrick and Amber sat on a large quilt on the grass, Finn and Connor cuddled in their laps. Dylan was nearby chatting with friends, looking every bit a Birch Valley teenager. Michael and Melanie were returning back to the booth, ice cream cones in hand and enormous grins on their faces. Grandpa Paddy and his father sat in canvas chairs staring out at all the activity. Everyone was here, and Daniel couldn’t think of better time or place to ask Hannah to join their family. He stood and watched her for a moment, trying
to hush the sick twirling inside his guts. She fit in so perfectly, but it was more than that. He had never felt this way about someone before. Hannah had become his everything in such a short time. There were no words to truly describe the feelings in his heart, but he was sure going to give it a try.
***
Hannah
She inhaled the rich scents of apples, apple cider, apple pies, apple everything. The spicy fragrance of cinnamon clung to the light breeze, drifting throughout the park. Hannah loved every minute of it. The lights flickering in the trees looked almost like fireflies, delicate and simply romantic. The flurry of activity was finally winding down, and Hannah was exhausted but couldn’t recall having a better time. The day, as hectic as it was, had been shared with some of the best people—the O’Brien family.
Hannah had been under that tent since dawn, bumping into Maggie, Mary, Rachel, and Amber. The small quarters had afforded them a chance to bond even more. She had never laughed so much in her life, well, except when she was with Daniel. He had been scarce most of the day, helping take care of the children with Michael, Liam, and Patrick. When she saw him twirling the little twin boys around in the grass, carrying Melanie on his shoulders to see the magician who had performed earlier, Hannah realized he was a natural father and it made maternal needs stir inside of her.
“Hannah.” Daniel’s voice was low as he approached. He ran his hand over his beard nervously.
“Hey, you’re back. You having fun?” Hannah reached up and kissed him on his cheek. He blushed instantly. She loved that about him. He wore his emotions so clearly on his face.
Mary hovered nearby. Hannah could feel her eyes on them, and Maggie was looking over at them. In fact, all the O’Briens were looking at them through the early evening darkness. Hannah grew concerned. The lighting was terrible, but she could tell Daniel was fiddling with something. He seemed different, nervous or on edge.
Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4) Page 15
