***
Maggie
“God, I’m huge,” Maggie stated as she stood in front of the full-length mirror on her bedroom wall.
Michael wrapped his arms around her from behind and began to nuzzle her neck. “Stop. I find you to be quite gorgeous.”
“It’s all your fault, you know.” Maggie laughed. She pulled his hands to her large stomach, stretched and full. “You feel that little one? Oh, there’s a big one,” she said as the baby kicked.
“Wow. It doesn’t hurt when he kicks you?” Michael’s eyes glowed in astonishment.
“No, but how do you know it’s a boy? Could be another little girl in there,” Maggie replied, basking in the warmth of their embrace. To think earlier that year, in the beginnings of spring, they had almost lost this—this closeness, this love, this marriage.
“This pregnancy just seems different, so I’m going purely on scientific facts here. Well, and my terrible and desperate need for a son.” Michael kissed her neck, sending pleasant shivers down her spine.
“So you do care about what we’re having! You are such a liar, Michael. You’ve been telling me you don’t care.” Maggie spun around, only to be captured in her husband’s arms and to see a devilishly sexy grin on his handsome face.
“I don’t, but is it too much to hope to equal out the testosterone and estrogen in this household?” He raised a dark eyebrow, then quickly planted his mouth on hers.
She moaned into his mouth. Her husband still had the ability to make lightning travel through to her core, even if she felt like an enormous cow.
“Let me show you how gorgeous I think you are.” He pulled her tighter against him, her belly keeping them from being as close as normal. Maggie giggled. “What’s so funny?” He pressed his forehead against hers, and he stared at her like she was the most delicious thing he’d ever seen.
“This.” She bumped her belly against his naked and firm abs.
“Baby, trust me, that makes you even that much hotter.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Oh please! Now you have some weird pregnant lady fetish?”
Michael knelt down in front of her. He lifted the enormously over-sized t-shirt and kissed her belly. He whispered, “You be good in there. I’m about to show your mother how sexy I think she is.”
She swatted him playfully and scolded, “Don’t tell him that. Geez, he’ll need therapy before he’s even born.”
He looked up at her, desire shining brightly in his chocolate-colored eyes, a sinister smirk on his lips. “So you agree it’s a boy?”
***
After an incredible late morning love session with Michael, Maggie was on her way to visit her doctor. She felt complete, content, but every bit ready for this baby to be born. Only another short month—she was now on the countdown. She was eager to get the nursery finished once school started back up next week, and she would have a little more quiet time on her hands. Maggie had decided to walk to her appointment. The day was warm but pleasant, and the clinic was only a couple blocks away from home. She knew the exercise would do her some good, even though Michael was not so keen on her walking that far. He had insisted she allow him to drop her off, but he had a client in the next town over. Otherwise he would have accompanied her to do their favorite thing: listening to the baby’s heartbeat. There was always that split second of anxiety when she lay on that table, belly exposed as they rubbed the Doppler over it; that moment of fear that they wouldn’t be able to find the baby’s heartbeat; and that wave of happy relief when the fluttering sound echoed in the room.
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 cur
iously.
“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 goo
dbye. 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.
Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4) Page 6