Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4)

by Gloria Herrmann

  ***

  Maggie

  “You want to help me change Max?” Maggie asked Melanie, who was staring down at a very cranky and stinky Max.

  “He smells, Mom.” Melanie pinched her nose close dramatically.

  “Well, yes, Mel, he’s poopie. He doesn’t mean to be such a stinker, does he?” Maggie cooed to Max. He was on the changing table kicking his legs, his face growing red as he cried, starting to demand a clean diaper. “Hang on mister.”

  “Here, Mom.” Melanie handed her the wipes and a new diaper. “He sure is cute.” Max stared at the sound of his sister’s voice. “Max likes me.”

  “Mel, he loves you. You’re his big sister, and you are such a great helper too.” Maggie smiled at her daughter, quickly changing Max then re-buttoning his onesie. She couldn’t resist kissing his naked little feet. Her heart swelled with love and joy as she spent time with her two children. She looked at her growing daughter, a beautiful young girl. She was smart, helpful, and athletic. Melanie was so many things Maggie was not. Her outgoing spirit was so much more Michael, and she had the mischief of an O’Brien. But Melanie was also uniquely her own person, and Maggie was so grateful to be her mother.

  Max was so new to the world, his needs simple, but he let them all know there was a large personality swaddled in the pale blue blanket Maggie carried to the rocking chair. This little boy, who was not even a month old, quickly had everyone wrapped around his tiny little finger, and was already ruling the Trembley house. His hair was black, and his eyes were beginning to change from slate blue to a green, an all-too-familiar green. He had the O’Brien eyes.

  Maggie didn’t know it was possible to feel this content, even with the sleepless nights and mountain of laundry begging to be done. Her heart felt as though it was had expanded to at least double its size, and she had never been happier. Her marriage was stronger than ever, they had healthy children, and their home was bursting with love.

  As she glided slowly and steadily in her chair, lulling Max into a milky slumber, she heard the phone ring. “Honey, can you bring me the phone?” Melanie ran out of the nursery to answer it.

  Returning with speed only a child can possess, she handed Maggie the phone. “It’s Aunt Rachel, Mom.”

  “Thanks, sweetie.” Maggie took the phone, cradling it against her neck, moving very little as to not disturb Max. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Maggie.”

  “What’s up, Rachel? Everything okay?” Maggie grew concerned. Rachel had recently been put on strict bed rest until the birth of her twins.

  “Just bored. I’m so sick of doing nothing,” Rachel complained.

  “You pack your bag for the hospital yet?” Maggie was trying to think of tasks Rachel could maybe occupy herself with.

  “I have packed it, repacked it, and repacked it again.”

  “Sorry. I know it sucks.”

  “So how is my precious little Max?” Rachel asked, her voice turning cheerful.

  “He’s sleeping in my arms as we speak. Hey, Halloween is coming up. I was thinking maybe I will let Michael take Mel out for trick or treating. Maybe Liam can go with them, then you and I can hang out,” Maggie offered.

  “Only if Max is coming over,” Rachel countered playfully.

  “That’s a given.” Maggie laughed. “I even got him a costume. I just couldn’t resist.”

  “Oh, really, what is he going to be, besides the most adorable little man ever?”

  “I’ll let it be a surprise. But it’s adorable,” Maggie promised.

  “Well, I’m looking forward to it. I need something to look forward to. I’m so tired of being on bed rest.”

  “You miss work?”

  “Honestly, no. I miss seeing Liam whenever I want. All I do is sleep. Like, literally, my day consists of eating and sleeping. Well, and peeing. That’s my existence at the moment. So glamorous.”

  “Just think, next month those precious little girls will be here. Then you will still be peeing a lot, and you’ll be sleep deprived. Yay!” Maggie exclaimed sarcastically.

  “Calling you was a terrible idea,” Rachel joked.

  “Hey, what are sisters for?”

  “Maggie, I really do appreciate you, you know that, right?”

  “Oh, Rachel, of course. You will get through this, and if you need anything just call me.”

  “Thanks. I’m getting sleepy again, so I’m going to nap before dinner.”

  Maggie knew that feeling all too well. Her own eyes were growing heavy, and she was envious of her tiny sleeping bundle. “Me and Max will see you this weekend, okay?”

  “I can’t wait. Love you, Maggie.”

  “Hang in there, Rachel. Love you too.”

  ***

  Michael

  “I’m home.”

  Melanie ran toward him, her chubby finger on her mouth. “Quiet, Daddy, you’ll wake Max.”

  Michael nodded. He understood all too well how difficult it was to get their little boy back to sleep. After hugging Melanie, Michael put his briefcase away and made his way to the nursery. There he saw the most beautiful image: Maggie’s eyes were closed, and Max was nestled in her arms, his little face peaceful in a delightful slumber. Maggie’s chestnut hair was scooped up into a light knot on top of her head. Several long silky strands had escaped, tempting Michael to twirl them around his fingers. His wife was tired, but still simply beautiful. He tip-toed out of the room, going back toward the kitchen.

  “Mel, want to help me make dinner?”

  “Sure.” She was such an eager helper. Melanie went to wash her hands while Michael stood in front of the pantry looking to see what he could conjure up for dinner. After grabbing a couple odds and ends, he concocted a simple meal with the help of his daughter, who truly knew her way around the kitchen.

  “Was Max good today?” Michael asked as he used a wooden spoon to stir a sauce he was heating.

  “Max is always good, Dad. He’s a baby,” Melanie explained. He knew how much his daughter adored their new addition to their family. She defended him so easily and always wanted to help with him.

  “You help change any yucky diapers?” Michael teased her. That was where Mel drew the line with her precious baby brother. She didn’t like stinky diapers, not one bit.

  Melanie shook her head. “We should potty train him soon.”

  Michael laughed. “Yeah, that’s still a ways away, sweetie. But I wish we could too. We’ll ask your mom.”

  He didn’t hear her come into the kitchen, because he was too busy making Melanie giggle, taunting her with the veggies for their salad.

  “It smells good in here.” Maggie yawned. Michael turned around, trying to quickly remove the two carrots he had in his mouth that were acting as fangs. He found he enjoyed being more silly since they moved to Birch Valley. The lack of stress had made such a huge difference for him. Things weren’t taken so seriously here in town, and everyone was friendly and kind. He regretted not moving their family here sooner. Still feeling a bit goofy, he decided to leave the thin carrot sticks lodged in his mouth and play Dracula by going for Maggie’s neck.

  Maggie squealed and tried to run from him, but allowed him to capture her far too easily. It was moments like these, completely unplanned, silly, and ridiculously unlike Michael, that he found were the best. Their life was different with Max now born, and everything felt whole. They were where they should be, no question. Michael had been content with their life back in Seattle, but never truly happy. He knew that providing for Maggie and Melanie was his first priority, but he had missed out on moments like this, the sheer abandonment of fun, laughter, and love. When Maggie had left their home in Seattle that spring, it’d rocked his world, but he was too stubborn to admit she was right. She had been all along. Maggie’s marriage to him had meant everything to her, and he just hadn’t been able to see past what he thought was important in their marriage. Michael working those insane hours, pushing to make partner, not being there for events and things that mattered
most in their lives, these were the moments he would never get back. That was part of the change in their lives, realizing that family always came first, and he now knew total happiness. His only regret was not being open to it sooner.

  ***

  Liam

  “Do you need anything, babe?”

  “To not be on bed rest anymore.” Rachel groaned.

  Liam stared at Rachel stretched out on the couch, looking every bit as bored as she sounded. The scare from only a little over week ago was enough to shake them both up. Rachel survived the baby shower, and she’d even had a little fun. She’d also mended things with her father, and that pleased Liam a great deal. Family was so important to him, and he wanted Rachel’s family to be included in their lives and the lives of their precious girls, who were due in only a few short weeks.

  Rachel was now being closely monitored. The only time she was allowed to leave the house was to go in for stress tests to make sure the girls were doing okay. The girls. Liam loved the sound of that. They still were undecided on their actual names, as they couldn’t seem to agree on just the right ones. Rachel finally told Liam they were going to wait until the girls were born, then after they looked at them, they would choose then. Liam thought that was actually a good plan and was anxious for their arrival, but he wasn’t nearly as eager as Rachel was.

  “Not much longer until the girls are here, then you will be begging for bed rest. Gosh, we are going to be so exhausted,” Liam stated as he sat down on the couch, lifting Rachel’s legs and placing them on his lap. He started to massage her calves, causing her to moan softly.

  “You’re right. I’m just so bored. I’m used to doing stuff and living, you know?”

  “I do, but every time you start ‘living’ you get all dizzy and your blood pressure raises. So, no living,” Liam teased, working his hands up and down her leg muscles, wrapping them around her thin ankles.

  “I think that whole ‘not living’ thing could become a problem, don’t you?” Rachel laughed. God, he loved that sound.

  “You know what I mean,” he said.

  Rachel stared at him with an intense longing for a moment. They had both learned just how easily life could change, and that they were so bound to one another. They had known they loved each other, but that frightful experience revealed just how much, and now their love just continued to grow.

  Liam held her gaze, falling more in love with her right then. “I love you, you know.”

  Rachel smiled. “I love you more.”

  ***

  Rachel

  How did she, of all people, get so lucky? To find a guy as great and loving as Liam, it was beyond her. She looked over at him, his sandy brown hair still a tad too long. His strong jaw was outlined in a light beard he insisted was part of his autumn ritual, but she knew he really just hated shaving. But his eyes were what she loved most, those brilliant green eyes which had burned into her so deeply the first time she gazed into them. Eyes she prayed their daughters would inherit.

  Liam and her had been through quite a bit in such a short time. Even though they still had only known each other since the start of the year, a little over ten months, they had grown to love each other in ways Rachel was convinced was only for cheesy romance movies. It was the typical case of girl meets boy, girl gets angry with boy, then boy makes the most incredible love to her, then boy creates a ton of unexpected emotions in girl that she can’t quite cope with, then girl learns she does love boy more than she ever thought possible, then girl learns she is having twins, then boy and girl get married under a shower of fireworks. Okay, so it wasn’t the typical case, but it was their love story. It was one that had been met with frustration, annoyance, pure desire, and ultimately, had the best happily ever after.

  Now if she could just survive the last few weeks of this bed rest, she would be okay. Liam had been waiting on her, not allowing her to do much of anything, and it was driving her crazy. He had sent his mother over while he was at work, and his father, and even Grandpa Paddy, had come over to keep her company. She actually enjoyed visiting with him a great deal, and Grandpa Paddy would even allow her to get up and make them both tea. The stories he would share with Rachel had her laughing, crying, and falling even more in love with this truly remarkable family. As Rachel rubbed her belly, feeling a Braxton Hicks contraction and one of their girls pounding against her womb, she couldn’t help but think how lucky these precious babies were going to be. They would know a love far greater than she did growing up. They would have a family here in Birch Valley that would shower them with affection, support, and pure unconditional love. These sweet little babies would also have the newly developed love from their grandparents in Newport Beach, and they would be spoiled without a doubt. Then there was their Aunt Chelsea, who was beyond excited for their arrival, and already had made so many plans for them, including their first trip to Disneyland, their first time seeing the ocean, where they would build their first sandcastle. Chelsea also stressed that she wanted to be there for when the time of boys and fashion became important in their lives. Rachel couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of Chelsea of all people giving romantic advice, but her best friend had been right about Liam. Rachel may have been blind to it all or just too darn stubborn to realize that it was possible to fall for someone so quickly. She would love Liam for the rest of her life, and Chelsea was partially to thank for that.

  ***

  Daniel

  “God, their coffee is so good.” Hannah sighed as she set down her jumbo mug. They were seated inside the new coffee shop, Birch Valley Brew. It was cozy, the lighting low and romantic, and today there were only a few other customers seated at the various tables. The shop had an eclectic feel to it, with hodgepodge decor and mismatched chairs. The scent of espresso hung heavy in the air.

  “I know. But this cookie is like the best thing ever.” Daniel held up a half-eaten double chocolate chip cookie.

  Hannah scowled at him. “Is that so?”

  Daniel swallowed and answered cautiously, “Well, I mean…”

  Then Hannah erupted into a loud giggle. “Sorry, I couldn’t keep up the angry act.”

  Daniel was confused and didn’t quit follow. “Huh?”

  “I made those cookies.” She pointed at what was left of the delicious cookie.

  “Wait, what?”

  “Yeah, I started selling them some of my stuff. I even convinced your mother to sell some of her amazing muffins too.”

  “Whoa, how did you manage that?”

  “Manage what? Selling the cookies?” Hannah asked as she sipped from her enormous mug.

  “Managed to get my mom to sell her muffins. Rachel tried convincing her. Hell, we all have,” Daniel explained as he brushed off the crumbs on his shirt.

  “I think because her and I are sort of the same. We bake for the simple joy of it.”

  “Hmm, I think it’s more than that. Amber bakes. She is like you and Mom, and she couldn’t get Mom to sell them even at Herrick’s.”

  “Well…okay, you caught me.” Hannah smiled coyly at him. “I told her it was to raise money for our wedding and to buy a home we could fill with lots of grandchildren for her.”

  Daniel laughed. “So that’s how you did it? Clever girl.” He stretched over and kissed her quickly on the cheek, making a rush of pink color her face.

  ***

  Hannah

  Sitting there with him, feeling comfortable and content, Hannah wouldn’t have imagined this happening only a few short months ago. Life was funny like that. You think you are on a path, certain that direction is the one you are meant to travel. Hannah’s had been a lonely one, and she figured that was what life had decided for her. Then Daniel O’Brien, in all his jovial goofiness, had stumbled into her life, but it was a different route that life intended for them to take before it allowed them to travel on the same road together.

  To think that Daniel had briefly dated her sister, Nina, and to watch her not appreciate the kind and ge
ntle man that he was, was not a huge surprise. The shocker was finding herself dating Daniel and falling hopelessly in love with him in only a matter of moments, but perhaps that was because she had loved him from the second he stepped foot on their farm. He had become her best friend, a man who stirred many wild and new sensations inside her, and someone that would protect her with all of his being. She was now engaged to this man, who made her laugh and kissed the daylights out of her. Hannah was eager to be his wife in every sense.

  Hannah, a fan of all things romantic, was now experiencing a real life romance, something far better than anything she could read about in her books or watch in her favorite movies. As everything was righting itself in her life, her sister had returned home with a different view and appreciation for her family and Birch Valley. Nina had even started to take a few community college classes, and it was doing her a world of good. Her father seemed happier than he had in years, mostly thanks to Daniel, who was spending time with him, helping him around the farm, and even taking him fishing, just the two of them.

  Hannah stared at him as he drank his coffee. Daniel looked around the coffee shop, unaware that she was devouring his handsome face with her eyes, drinking him in. She was savoring every morsel of Daniel, his casual kindness, how his face was always full of life, and the smile he readily gave out to anyone he crossed paths with. Hannah leaned in closer to him, smelling the spicy hints of his aftershave, feeling the softness of the green sweater he wore rub against her cheek. She sighed. He was special, and he was all hers.

  Some might say that she was wrong, and possibly foolish to believe that life can could resemble a magical fairy tale, but here she was, living proof that fairy tales do happen, and happily-ever-afters did exist. They just so happened to be simple. There was no grand castle, yet, but she could picture them living on a beautiful piece of land in Birch Valley. Nor was Daniel riding on a white steed to sweep Hannah off her feet or driving a great pumpkin carriage to carry her off to a ball, but his truck, which was always covered in mud, was just fine. No, this wasn’t what a lot of people would consider a traditional fairy tale. It was just two people who loved to fish and loved each other with all their hearts, and wasn’t true love the best kind of fairy tale?