Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4) (14 page)

“I also made some lemon and berry scones.”

“Well, I can’t quite say no to that offer.” Mary laughed and took a seat at the dining table.

After starting a kettle of water on the stove, Hannah joined Mary, waiting for the water to heat. “So, how are you?”

“Great, dear. I have come by to ask for your help.”

“Oh, really? Absolutely. What is it that you need?” Hannah was curious, but it didn’t matter what Mary had in mind. Hannah would gladly help.

“Cider Fest is next weekend. Maggie was going to help, but with the baby being due anytime now she isn’t so sure she even wants to go. I was hoping that perhaps you would consider helping me.”

“Oh, do you have a booth there at the festival?”

Mary nodded. “Yes, I run it to raise money for my church. We usually sell baked goodies and little homemade things. Now, I realize this is short notice…”

Hannah stopped her. “Mary, I would love to help. Do you need me to bake anything?”

The smile that appeared on Mary’s face warmed Hannah. The woman, who had not only raised a fantastic son, was an incredible baker in Birch Valley, and it would be an honor to cook with her.

Then Hannah spotted it, a tiny spark of mischief danced in Mary’s eyes. Mary looked away quickly.

“Oh, dear, I think that’s the kettle,” Mary announced.

Hannah didn’t hear a whistle coming from the kettle, and she became a tad suspicious as she watched Mary fidget in her seat. She now realized there was a reason behind this visit; it was more than Mary needing Hannah to help bake and work the booth. Something was definitely up.

Chapter Fourteen

Rachel

“Do I really have to have a baby shower? You know, that means my mother will be coming up, Chelsea too.”

“Rachel, babe, we have been through this. Yes, you told my mom and sister that you’d let them throw you one.” Liam looked at her over his newspaper.

They were in the dining room, seated across from each other in the breakfast nook. Rachel found herself barely fitting, her large pregnant belly rubbing against the oak table. She looked out the window, thankful that the weekend had arrived. School was wearing her out, but not nearly as much as Karen and Mary were with this darn baby shower. It wasn’t that Rachel was opposed to a fun little get together. She was thrilled about Chelsea coming to visit, but her mother, not so much. She had seen her a couple months ago for the wedding, and it had gone surprisingly well. It was the phone calls which had followed in the last month or so that had Rachel concerned. Her mother had insisted that the baby shower be held in California, but Rachel knew with her job and carrying twins, it was safer to have the shower here. Her mother had finally agreed and now wanted a date.

“Are you nervous about today?” Rachel fiddled with her spoon, plunging it into her bowl of oatmeal.

“What do you think?” Liam grinned happily at her. Today they were going to find out the genders of the twins Rachel was carting around inside her. “The beauty of it is that once we know, then you can plan the baby shower a little better, right?”

“I guess so.” Rachel couldn’t help be less than thrilled at having another celebration, especially so soon after having survived her impromptu wedding shower. “What’s your guess, Liam?”

He shrugged and folded the newspaper. “Hard to say. It’s really a fifty-fifty kind of gamble here, but I will be happy with either, or both. Just as long as they are healthy and look like their mother.”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel asked, “So once we know, how do we announce it to the world?”

“You mean the family?”

“Same difference.” Rachel laughed and spooned a mouthful of the blueberry oatmeal into her mouth.

“Well, do you want to do something special?”

“Like is that standard protocol, or do we just tell them once we know?”

Liam picked up his mug of coffee. “Hon, that is really up to you. I think it might be nice to announce it in some fun way, but we don’t need to go all crazy.”

“Well, guess what? Once we know, you get to decide,” Rachel teased. “Your mom mentioned something about Cider Fest this weekend. She said she we sort of have to go.”

“You’ll like it. The town basically gorges on everything
apple
. I mean, you name it, cider, pie, candy, literally a celebration of apples,” Liam explained.

“But it’s called Cider Fest, so wouldn’t it just be about cider?”

“Nope. They pull out this really neat cider press, and they make fresh cider right there. It’s, like, the best.” Rachel watched as Liam’s face lit up as he continued to describe the difference between cold and hot cider, and all the booths, live music, and overall fun to be had. It sounded like a good time and now Rachel found herself looking forward to it.

***

Liam

Liam was beyond nervous, and he wasn’t quite sure why. As they sat in the waiting room at the clinic, Rachel tapped her foot against the carpet. He could sense her anxiety. He didn’t really understand why either of them felt this way. They knew they were pregnant with twins, and they were here to figure out the gender. This should be the fun part.

“What do you think we’re having?”

“Rachel, we already went through that this morning. You asked me at lunch. I have no idea what we are having. Does it really matter?” After breakfast that morning, Rachel had been quiet on the way to the school. Then at lunch she was back at pestering him, asking what he thought, like he could magically see through her belly or had some sort of insight she didn’t.

“Gosh, what are we going to name them?” A worried expression crossed her face. Liam hated seeing Rachel this way. She was so unlike herself. This pregnancy was taking its toll on her, and on him. How were they going to be when the babies actually arrived in less than two months? Best not to borrow trouble, that’s what his mother always said, and he couldn’t think of anything truer.

A nurse with a wide smile came out and announced Rachel’s name. Liam trailed behind Rachel as she waddled behind the nurse. He wasn’t sure how much larger Rachel would grow in two more months, and he knew she was uncomfortable as it was. All of a sudden Liam realized he was quite thankful to be a man.

“It’s going to be a little cold, okay?” The nurse squirted some gel out of a clear tube onto Rachel’s enormous belly. He saw her wince.

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.

“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.