Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4)

by Gloria Herrmann

  “I love you, Mr. O’Brien.”

  He looked over her, a funny expression twinkling in his emerald green eyes. “I love you too, future Mrs. O’Brien.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Liam

  “Trick or treat!” Liam could hear young voices shouting it over and over again as he made his way to the front door. They lived several miles from the heart of town, where tons of children were in costumes and begging for candy.

  “Boo!” Liam exclaimed, wearing a werewolf mask and absolutely terrifying his nephews and niece. Finn and Connor started to cry, and Melanie, after recovering from the scare, giggled.

  “Thanks, Liam,” Patrick complained as he tried to hush Finn, who was masked as the Hulk. Connor, dressed as Captain America, was being soothed by Amber.

  “Everyone, come on in. Aunt Rachel made you guys some fun treats,” Liam said, trying to ease the stress of the loud sobbing.

  “Happy Halloween, Uncle Liam,” Melanie said. She was wearing a glittery set of wings and looked to be some kind of fairy.

  “Happy Halloween to you too. You look very pretty.”

  Melanie blushed and then ran past him to find Rachel. Maggie and Michael entered, Michael carrying a newly awakened Max, who was dressed as a devil. He even had a little mustache drawn on him. His beanie had plastic horns, and he wore a little cape.

  Once everyone was inside, Rachel came out to join the children and visit with all the adults. Rachel wanted to make fun of how enormous she felt she was and was proudly wearing a pumpkin costume, her thin legs were covered in green leggings. Liam thought it was a bit much, but she looked adorable.

  “Hi, everyone. Happy Halloween.” Rachel greeted everyone. Finn and Connor ran up to her and wanted to feel the stuffing of her pumpkin costume. They kept poking her and laughing. She reached down to hug the boys, and gave them each a goody bag filled with an assortments of miniature candy bars, small toys, and suckers. Melanie stood next to Rachel, holding onto the special bag that Rachel had made for her. It also had candy, but it contained new pencils and erasers for school, and a few other odds and ends Rachel thought a six year old might enjoy.

  “Oh let me look at him.” Rachel cooed as she spotted Max. “My God, Maggie, he’s adorable. Can I?” Rachel asked, holding her arms out to hold him. Maggie smiled and happily handed her son over. “Liam, you see this little mister?” Rachel cradled Max, showering him with kisses.

  After a couple minutes, Liam said, “Well, time to gather these ghouls and terrorize the neighborhood.”

  “Uncle Liam, we’re just going trick or treating,” Melanie argued with a large grin that showed a few missing teeth. Liam wanted to say she looked like a jack-o-lantern, but thought better of it.

  “Well, same difference, kiddo. You ready to go? Remember, you have to give your uncle like at least a fifteen percent cut of your loot.”

  Melanie shook her head and suggested he just buy his own candy, since he was grown up. Everyone laughed. It was worth a shot, Liam figured. He gathered Michael, Melanie, and himself inside their car. The twins got loaded inside Patrick’s SUV, and Amber and Maggie stayed behind to keep Rachel company. Liam smiled as he backed the car out of the driveway. This time next year his two daughters would be nearly a year old and would be celebrating their very first Halloween.

  ***

  Daniel

  “You sure you don’t want to go trick or treating with your family? They are only little for so long, Daniel,” Hannah said.

  “No, I wanted us to go out, just the two of us.” Daniel wanted to spend some much-needed alone time with Hannah. He had been working a lot at the shop, and with the recent excitement of Grandpa Paddy winning the lottery, things had been chaotic, and right now he just needed to be with Hannah, alone.

  Daniel helped Hannah inside the truck. He wanted them to have a romantic dinner, then maybe go for a drive. He honestly couldn’t care less what they did or where they went, as long as they were together.

  “Italian? Mexican? What are you in the mood for?” Daniel asked as he started up the truck. It rumbled loudly and shook. He turned up the heat inside the cab. It was getting colder each night, and they would be soon expecting snow.

  “Well, I have an idea.”

  “Sure, what do you have in mind?” Daniel started driving in the direction of town. Overhead, the sky was a deep, rich navy blue. Stars speckled across it, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight, which also indicated it was going to be downright cold.

  Hannah instructed Daniel to go to grocery store. This scene seemed all too familiar, but he went along with it. She hurried to the deli counter and ordered several things. As they waited for their order to get filled, Daniel asked, “You don’t want to go out?”

  “We are,” Hannah replied.

  “No, like to restaurant or somewhere.”

  “Nope, you’ll see.”

  Hannah thanked the clerk behind the counter, and they set off to go back to the truck. Once inside, Daniel asked, “So where to?”

  “You really don’t know by now?” Hannah giggled.

  Daniel looked over at her, her face smiling in the darkness of the cab. He knew exactly where she wanted them to go, and this was one of the very reasons why he loved her.

  “Ah, you know now?”

  “Yes, I just feel bad. I feel like I need to take you out, like somewhere where we can sit and eat.”

  “Daniel, as long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we are. If you’d rather we sit inside somewhere, we can. I just figured you would like to go somewhere we both know we’d enjoy. Our spot,” Hannah explained.

  Their spot was gorgeous, and Daniel knew that it would always be theirs.

  ***

  Rachel

  November arrived full of rain, sleet, and wind. It was turning out to be an extremely nasty month. Rachel stood looking outside their large window, watching the angry rain relentlessly splat against the glass. It was dreary and miserable outside, but in their home it was toasty and cozy. Liam had started the fireplace and carried in enough wood to last Rachel for the day while he was at work. Rachel eyed the bright digital clock on the microwave. School would be getting out soon, and she was thankful that Liam would soon be back. She couldn’t shake the anxiety she had felt clawing away at her all day. Rachel had attempted to put it at rest by napping, but she’d found herself tossing and turning. Finally, after waging war in bed with her sleeplessness, she surrendered and got up. She heated up a can of soup and cup of tea and watched as the rain pelted the ground and bounced off their lake.

  Without warning, Rachel felt a sharp sting run through her. It came fast and made her gasp. She felt her belly tighten as another pain, this one more dull, settled deep into her back. Rachel waited for the pain to subside, but it seemed to remain, not easing its hold on her. Was this ever going to pass? Should she call someone? Questions stormed her mind, running around chaotically. She couldn’t focus and the pain was increasing, almost to the point of blinding her. Then it dawned on her. Was she in labor?

  ***

  Liam

  “So, class, can anyone tell me what the phrase ‘magnetic pull’ means?” Liam held up two giant magnets in front of his fourth grade class. The telephone inside his room buzzed. “Everyone turn to page thirty-six in your science book and read the definition.”

  Liam grabbed the phone and answered, “Mr. O’Brien’s room.”

  “Liam, sorry to interrupt your class period.” Karen paused and then explained, “Rachel just called. She said for you not to worry, but she had called your mother and is having her take her to the hospital. She thinks she might be in labor.”

  “Are you serious?” Liam felt panic and excitement surge through him.

  “She asked that you just finish class, which is like ten minutes. But, hon, I am happy to come and fill in, if you want to go,” Karen offered.

  “You don’t mind?” There was no way he was going to be able to finish class.

  He could hear the soun
d of Karen’s smile in her voice. “Of course not. It’s not every day someone becomes a father, and to twins no less.”

  “Thank you so much, Karen. I appreciate it. I’ll see you in a couple minutes.” Liam hung up and explained to the class that Ms. Karen would be coming in to watch them finish up, and that they were to be on their very best behavior. He started to gather his things, but felt completely out of sorts and scatterbrained when Karen appeared and greeted the class. Everyone adored the school secretary, who had been there since Liam was a student. She was sweet and kind, but she also meant business.

  “You get on outta here. Good luck, and have your mother call me.” Karen ushered him out his door. He got into his truck, started it up, and realized, this was it, his daughters were coming into the world. He was officially going to be a dad, something he didn’t know he wanted until Rachel had told him she was pregnant. Ever since then, the desire to meet the little people growing inside his wife had grown. Liam was thrilled. He sped to the hospital, which was only a few blocks down the road. Time to meet his girls.

  ***

  Okay, so babies didn’t just arrive in a matter of minutes. No, they take their sweet time. Liam had figured that by the time he’d arrived at the hospital it wouldn’t be long before his girls arrived. He couldn’t be more wrong. Rachel agonized through hours and hours of intense labor, and it wasn’t until the next day in the early morning hours that they welcomed two healthy and very pink baby girls.

  It had been two days, and now he and Rachel were staying in a balloon and flower-filled room. Ethan, Rachel’s brother, had the most incredible gifts sent to her. The family had each spent time helping them get through the process of labor. They brought snacks, gifts, and their support.

  “God, they are so beautiful.” Liam cradled one of his daughters. Rachel held the other, and they just stared at their creations.

  “I can’t stop looking at their faces and their tiny fingers.” Rachel started to get weepy again. They both had cried. In fact, everyone who had visited them became a little teary eyed. Liam supposed that happened when you hold an angel in your arms, something so precious, that smelled of heaven and life.

  “They look just like you, Rachel,” Liam stated. These girls were gorgeous, with perfect rosebud lips. They had Rachel’s cute, slightly upturned nose, but their hair was a whole different matter. Each baby had a wild crown of red hair, so vibrant and fiery. Liam hoped it wasn’t a sign of their tempers. The crimson color helped Rachel and Liam determine their names fairly easily, and once they said them out loud, it was as though those names had always been the perfect names. Rose and Ruby O’Brien, two nearly eight-pound girls. They were identical in almost every sense, except Ruby had a tiny birthmark on her rear, the size of a thumbprint. His mother noticed it right away and said that God had done that, that it was His thumbprint. Either way, Liam found it to be adorable, and had kissed the birthmark several times.

  “We did it, babe,” Rachel whispered to him.

  Liam rose carefully, not wanting to disturb the sleeping beauty in his arms. He went to the side of the hospital bed and said, “No, you did this. You carried these princesses inside you, you protected them, and then you bravely gave birth. I didn’t think it was possible, but I love you even more.”

  “Oh, Liam, I’m so happy. I never truly realized how much I needed them and you in my life. This is all I could ever ask for.”

  He leaned down and kissed her.

  Their newborns were a reflection of their passion and love, two tiny souls that now made them into a family. Liam smiled down at the sleeping and swaddled precious little beings. Not only did Rachel have his heart, but now so did their daughters.

  ***

  Mary

  “The bird is almost done and then we can start getting everyone ready to be seated,” Mary announced as she basted the golden turkey in her over.

  Today was Thanksgiving, and she couldn’t be happier or more thankful. Their home was bustling with activity. All of her grandchildren were there. Melanie was playing blocks with Finn and Connor, and there was little Max, sporting the famed O’Brien eyes and handsome black Irish features of his grandfathers and Uncle Patrick. Rose and Ruby, the cutest set of red-headed babies, were already showing a hint of the emerald O’Brien green in their newborn eyes. And there was Dylan, not her grandson by blood, but simply by love.

  All of her children were there, happily partnered with the best people. Even she couldn’t have found them better matches.

  Liam, her easygoing son, was the one who never took life too seriously or engaged in confrontation. Then Rachel came into her son’s life, turning it upside down. It had been almost comical, seeing the two deny their feelings, when everyone could plainly see how much fire blazed between the two of them. It took another shake up to finally get them to see reason, Mary had prayed hard for them, and her prayers had been heard. Rachel was now an incredible daughter-in-law, Mary knew she would be the moment she’d met her. What she hadn’t known was what an amazing wife and mother Rachel would become.

  Maggie, Mary’s only daughter, was the one who was also so strong and independent. She was the one who’d needed to spread her wings and leave Birch Valley, only to find that home is truly where the heart is. Mary adored Michael and could see how much he loved her daughter, and their beautiful children. He just needed a little guidance. Mary had prayed a great deal for them. Their marriage had endured a great deal of pain, but ultimately Mary’s prayers had been heard as well.

  Patrick, her oldest son, was the man who had experienced something even she hadn’t. Becoming a widower, with two brand new babies, had broken him, and her as well. Mary and all of the family had prayed for him to find happiness once again. Those prayers were also heard. It took another, who shared the same grief, to reach her boy. Amber was an incredible light that was able to brighten even the darkest corners of her son. Mary would always treasure her for bringing her son back to life.

  Daniel, her sweetest boy, was the one child that was most like her. His kind and gentle nature always had separated him from the others. She had seen the sadness and loneliness take a hold of Daniel when each of his siblings had found their special someone. Mary’s heart ached for him, knowing that he deserved a good woman. In his desire just to find someone to love, he’d almost wound up with the wrong woman. But again, Mary had prayed, and her prayers had been heard. Now, Hannah, a woman worthy of her son’s love, was going to be joining the family. Hannah reminded Mary of herself, and she knew that Daniel, her special boy, would always be loved and taken care of.

  “Anything I can do to help?” Hannah asked, breaking into Mary’s thoughts.

  Mary smiled at her. The sweet girl didn’t realize she had already done more than enough. “You can take these yams to the table, dear.”

  The family gathered around the old kitchen table, marred from the many meals that had been shared. They all clasped their hands in prayer as they sat surrounding the delicious feast on the beautifully decorated table. Mary sat down and looked at the people who surrounded her. Her husband, though growing grayer, was as handsome as when they first met, and he had given her all these precious children. Grandpa Paddy was always one to make mischief, but it was his lively spirit that filled this house, and Mary would always love him dearly, no matter how much he tried to get under her skin.

  Liam, Maggie, Patrick, and Daniel were her very reason for living, for being the best mother she could be. She had moments of doubt, when she thought that perhaps she had failed them in some way, but seeing them now, all happy in their lives, she realized she did one thing right: she loved them with all of her being.

  ***

  Daniel

  “God, I’m stuffed. I can barely move,” Daniel stated as he and Hannah walked to his truck, each carrying an armload of Tupperware filled with leftovers.

  “But it was incredible. I have never experienced a Thanksgiving like that. We never really celebrated it.”

  Daniel took the
containers from Hannah and loaded them inside the truck. They each managed to get inside, and sat for a moment. “Turkey coma setting in?” Daniel teased.

  “Actually, I have a surprise for you.” Hannah’s voice was nervous. She seemed unsure.

  “Okay…”

  “Take us to our spot,” Hannah ordered softly.

  Daniel started the truck, wondering if something were wrong. Fear started to breed inside him. Maybe Hannah had changed her mind about him. Had he done something to upset her? Daniel couldn’t think. She’d seemed fine during dinner, perhaps a little quiet, but that was normal when there were so many O’Briens grouped together. Daniel felt his worry grow. It festered into an enormous monster within him. Hannah was silent during the drive, looking outside her window. He couldn’t imagine she would break things off, not on Thanksgiving. They arrived at their spot. The gravel road had been freshly laid, which Daniel thought was odd.

  He continued to cruise slowly up the way. Then, as he neared the water, he saw it. Daniel’s mind spun. He glanced over at Hannah. Her hand covered the smile she had obviously been trying to hide the entire car ride.

  They both hopped out of the truck’s cab quickly. Daniel grabbed her hand, and they walked toward a wooden sign with large and bold letters which read: Sold. The sign had been planted near a large tree, a few feet from the shore. Metallic balloons were floating and bouncing against the slight breeze.