12. Dan
CHAPTER 12
DAN
D an pulled up beside Leah’s apartment. He put the car in park, then sent her a quick text to let her know that he was here and ready to go.
This was going to be the first big test of their fake relationship — lunch with his parents. To try to keep things calm, he’d suggested meeting on neutral ground, in a restaurant or a café, but Leah had insisted on going to his childhood home.
“Your parents want to see me as part of the family,” she’d pointed out. “If they want us to come to their house, we should accept.”
So, here they were. Dan was nervous, although not for the reasons he’d expected to be. He had thought he’d worry about whether his parents would believe that he and Leah were dating and whether his dad would finally think that he was family-oriented enough to inherit RMA Pharmaceuticals. And sure, he was still worried about that. But more than anything, he was worried about Leah. He wanted her to feel comfortable. He wanted her to like his parents. He didn’t want her to put any unnecessary strain on herself so early in pregnancy.
Dan glanced out the window in time to see Leah emerge from her building. On this early summer day, she was wearing a pretty green sundress that brought out the color of her eyes and contrasted beautifully with her hair. As if on instinct, Dan’s gaze dropped to her stomach, but it was still as flat as ever. There were no outward signs that she was carrying their child, beyond the tiredness she’d mentioned earlier that week. Leah waved at him from the doorstep before descending to the car.
“Good morning.”
“Morning!” She slid into the seat across from him. “Are you ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. And you? How are you feeling?”
Leah grinned. “You’re going to ask me that every time I see you, aren’t you?”
Dan shrugged. “I just want to make sure everything is all right.”
“Well, I feel good. A little sleepy, but good. And I’m excited to meet your parents.”
“Remember the safe conversation topics with my dad?” Dan asked.
“The Cubs; the importance of adequate safety gear when riding a bicycle, motorcycle, or other fast mode of transportation; gardening tips; and family. Although I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to work that second one into conversation.”
“Trust me, it’ll come up.” Dan pulled onto the road and began driving the familiar route towards his parents’ home. “And if you feel sick or tired or anything at all, just tell me and we can make a quick escape.”
“No way. I feel fine — and I want to hold up my end of the bargain. You already gave me exactly what I’d hoped for.” Leah’s hand dropped to her stomach. It was a gesture that Dan had seen many times over the last week, since Leah’s pregnancy had been confirmed, and it was always accompanied by a dreamy smile that melted his heart.
As they drove, Leah turned on the radio and started singing along to the first song that came on, a country-western medley from almost a decade ago. Her voice was light, and she sang well, which surprised Dan more than it should have. It seemed that there were very few things Leah wasn’t good at.
As they left the city, he rolled down their windows and started to hum along. Despite his nerves, Leah’s good mood was catching. It was a beautiful day, the trees were leafy, the flowers were blooming, the air was fresh, and he had a gorgeous woman by his side. It was hard to imagine anything better.
Even the pull of his work wasn’t as strong as usual.
When they arrived at his parents’ house, Dan wasn’t surprised to see that both his mother and father were sitting on the porch, sipping lemonade.
“They’re trying to act casual, but they wanted to catch an early glimpse of you,” Dan told Leah as they pulled into the driveway.
“Well, I’m flattered.” She shot him a quick smile. “Shall we?”
“All right.” Even though this had been his plan all along, Dan had rather mixed feelings now that the moment had arrived. He didn’t feel good about lying to his parents or about using Leah like this. It just didn’t feel right.
Yet he also remembered the sting of his father telling him that he wasn’t ready to manage the company, when he’d already been running it for years. And Leah was okay with their deal. It was all going to be fine.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Marley.”
Somehow, while Dan had been lost in thought, Leah had already gotten out of the car and climbed up the porch. Dan hurried after her in time to see her holding out her hand to his mother.
“Please, call me Jane.” His mother enveloped Leah in a hug. “We’re just so pleased to meet you.”
“And I’m Richard,” his dad added. He didn’t hug Leah, but he did pat her on the shoulder in a gesture that Dan knew conveyed great affection. “I hear you’ve been dating my son.”
“I have.” Leah smiled her usual sweet smile. “You raised a good one.”
“We certainly tried.” Richard cast a look at Dan. “Although I sometimes worry he’s lost his way.”
Dan waited for Leah to jump to his defense, but she took a different approach.
“Sometimes, losing your way for a little while brings you someplace wonderful you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I always thought I’d meet that special someone in college or just after, but I didn’t. I felt lost. And then I met Dan — and now I’m glad that I waited.”
Dan’s heart squeezed. Leah’s words were so kind, so romantic, that he almost wished they were true. A glance at Richard showed that he was equally touched by what Leah had said.
“Well. It really is a pleasure to meet you.” Richard patted Leah’s shoulder again. “Please, come in. We’ve prepared a nice lunch for you. Dan said you’re a vegetarian.”
“I am.”
“Well, I hope you like fresh pasta with garden-grown vegetables…” As Richard led Leah inside, Jane threaded an arm through her son’s.
“I like her.”
“You just met her, Mom.”
“I know, I know. But sometimes, you just know how you feel about a person.”
Inside, the table was already set. Dishes of salad and pasta waited in the center of the table, as did a platter of fresh garlic bread. Everything smelled delicious.
“Please, help yourself,” Jane urged, handing Leah a spoon.
“I will. Did you grow these vegetables in your garden, Richard? Dan told me you like to garden.”
“I did, and I do. Are you a gardener?”
“I wish. I live in a small apartment without a yard. But I do have a miniature herb garden on my windowsill.”
“Well, I’ll have to send you home with some vegetables. The zucchinis and tomatoes are just perfect at this time of year.”
Dan was starting to relax as they all dished up full plates and began to eat. Leah and Richard chatted a little more about the garden, though Leah seemed to be asking real questions instead of the ones Dan had given her. But then, halfway through the meal, it all came to a head.
“So, Leah. Dan hasn’t told us much about your story. How did the two of you meet, anyway?”
“We met… let’s see, about ten years ago? But we weren’t anywhere near a relationship then. I was working in the research department, and we didn’t talk much. Although I’ll admit that I always had a bit of a crush on him.” Leah blushed as if it underscored the point, and Dan wondered if she was able to do that on cue. “Then, about six months ago, we were working late on a project, just the two of us, and…” She trailed off, grinning. “The rest is history.”
Richard smiled. “Are you close to your family?”
“Dad, you don’t really need to interrogate her,” Dan jumped in. But Leah shook her head.
“I don’t mind. We’re all getting to know each other. Yes, of course. I’m very close with my parents. They live in Madison, but I try to visit them at least once a month, and they come down here fairly often as well. I’m an only child, so I spent a lot of time with my parents growing up. Speaking of which, I have to ask. What was Dan like as a child?”
Dan was impressed at how effortlessly Leah had answered the question and pivoted to one of her own.
“He was like a tiny sponge.” Richard smiled a little distantly. “He learned so much, so quickly. I’d mention something in front of him, about fishing or drug interactions — or anything — and he’d remember it and bring it up a few weeks later. He was fascinated by my job and always wanted to know more about it. But he was also a trickster. He would prank us and his sister all the time, usually in cute and funny ways. Once he tied all our shoelaces together, though, which was a mess.”
Leah chuckled along with Richard. “I can imagine him doing that. Both the pranks and the love of learning. I still see that in him now.”
“The love of learning, not the pranks, I hope,” Jane put in.
“Well…” Leah wobbled her hand from side to side, making both of Dan’s parents laugh. Then her expression grew more serious. “The love of learning, I mean. He always tries to do things in a better way — and to do right by people. From the ones he loves most to the employees at RMA, I can tell he cares a lot.”
Dan held up a hand. “If you see that I care about people and try to do right by them, it’s also because of you. You’ve made me better, Leah. At times, I’ve been too wrapped up in work and profits to think about anything else, but you’ve shown me that some things are more important than a job.”
Dan had meant to say something to that effect to help convince Richard that it was time to give him full control of RMA. He’d even practiced what he’d wanted to say and how he could lie convincingly. But now, as he actually said the words, he realized that they were true. Leah had made him a better person. She had shown him that there were more important things in life than his job — and that she was one of them.
The realization almost bowled Dan over. If he had to choose between working or spending time with Leah, he would choose to spend time with Leah almost every time. He cared about her, very deeply. And now that she was carrying their child, his affection for her had only grown.
It should have been scary, knowing that his career might be in danger, but it wasn’t. He felt a strange kind of happiness. Was this what his father had been getting at all along?
Yet the realization of how much Leah mattered was tempered by something else. Even if he cared about Leah a lot, he still wasn’t the man she needed. Running a company still took a lot of time and energy. And Dan knew that if he were with Leah, she would become the center of his universe. His work, which he’d dedicated his life to, would fall away in comparison to her. He couldn’t let that happen.
Plus, Leah was pregnant. He was already going to become a father. The last thing he needed was to complicate either of their lives any further.
“That’s wonderful.” Richard beamed at Leah, then at Dan. “I’m so happy to hear you say that. I think you’ve been really good for him, Leah.”
“We’ve been good for each other.” Leah caught Dan’s eyes and held his gaze for a long moment. In that instant, Dan felt a connection between them, a connection he could no longer deny — but which he couldn’t act on, either. It was bittersweet. Yet he knew they still needed to do what they’d come here for.
“And speaking of being good for each other…” Dan reached for Leah’s hand across the table. “We have some news. Would you like to tell it?”
Leah nodded. Her cheeks were noticeably pink. “I know it might seem a little soon, but it just felt right… I’m pregnant.”
In unison, Richard and Jane’s mouths fell open. Then they were both on their feet, pulling Leah and Dan into a hug.
“This is wonderful news!” Jane exclaimed.
“We are so happy for you,” Richard added.
They stepped apart. Richard was smiling, and Jane looked a little teary with happiness.
She took Leah’s hand. “Leah, we are so happy to meet you — and to hear that we have a grandchild on the way. Please, from now on, think of yourself as a part of this family. You can always call me, for any reason, all right?”
Richard, meanwhile, had turned to clap Dan on the shoulder.
“Son. You’re going to be a father.”
“I am.”
“Do you understand what this means?” Richard asked. “It means it’s time to focus on the things in your life that are most important. And those things are almost never a late meeting or a long business trip or an extra hour of work. Those things are the woman you love and your child.”
“I understand.” Dan nodded.
“Good man.”
After the initial excitement, they sat back down to continue their lunch. Jane was full of questions for Leah about how she was feeling and when she was due. Richard seemed more than content to just listen to the conversation.
Dan did his best to listen and participate, but he was distracted. He’d never thought he’d find anyone or anything he cared about as much as his work, yet now he had. Leah. A part of him almost wished this whole afternoon was real. If Leah were really his girlfriend…
But those kinds of thoughts were dangerous. Dan knew that being in a relationship with Leah would never work. It was better that they were friends and co-parents for now. Maybe, in a few years, things could be different, but not now. Dan was at a pivotal moment in his career, at the verge of taking over the company. He was good at his work. He wasn’t good for Leah.
In the car on the way home, Leah was smiling and in a good mood. “I think that went well.”
“I think so too. My parents liked you a lot.”
“And they seemed okay with the pregnancy.”
“ Okay ?” Dan chuckled. “My mom practically danced with joy. And my dad was clearly thrilled too.”
“How are you feeling about the pregnancy?” Leah bit her lip. “It’s been a week now.”
Dan opened his mouth, then hesitated. The truth was that he felt surprisingly emotional at the thought of Leah carrying their baby — and a baby they’d conceived during a night of passion, at that. Yet he knew he shouldn’t say that.
“I’m glad it’s all going well.” It didn’t quite answer the question, and Dan could see that Leah was a little suspicious, but she didn’t push. For that, Dan was glad.
He was confused enough about how he felt without having to talk about it. Joy about becoming a father and affection for Leah mixed with worries about his career and concern that he was getting too attached to a woman who might not always be a part of his life. It was troubling.