She dug into her mail, appreciating the Lord and Taylor coupons and the announcement about the new pizza place opening on Main street. Perhaps she could invite Daniel to go check it out with her. She frowned as she looked at the envelope that had her name on it, written in cursive. The letters were elegant and graceful. Her heart began to beat fast and beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. It looked familiar. No, she thought, feeling frantic. It couldn’t be. There was no way James Ellis could reach her from prison. But the hand writing looked so much like all the letters she’d received in the past, prior to his prison sentence. With a guttural cry, she slit the envelope open, her eyes bulging as she saw the note.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON!
Lorelei let the note flutter to the floor. Although it wasn’t signed, she had no doubt as to who has sent it. Even though he was in prison, James Ellis had managed to contact her. This note was a veiled threat. He was daring her to show up at the parole hearing. Her entire body began to shiver uncontrollably. She didn’t have any proof that Ellis had sent the letter, but Lorelei knew with a deep certainty that her stalker was back.
**
By the time his date night with Lorelei rolled around, Daniel was excited to see Lorelei again. Over the past few weeks they had shared a second date and a third, followed by several more. They were now officially a couple. He had just gotten home from a business trip to Boston and he had missed Lorelei’s meeting at DD Studios. From what Nash had told him, she had made a great impression on everyone. It didn’t surprise him one bit. She was sweet with a wonderful sense of humor. And she loved people, even though he sensed she’d had her fair share of loneliness. And when he looked at her, Daniel wanted to hold her in his arms and take away every bad moment she’d ever had. He wanted to fill her world with joy, and in the process, he would get joy in return.
It was amazing what it did to him when Lo
relei smiled. Or when she laughed at a joke or showed she was happy. Daniel knew enough from watching his siblings fall in love that it was happening to him too. He knew some might say it was happening too fast, but Lorelei had entered his life like a bolt of lightning in a clear blue sky. He hadn’t expected his life to change so much. Or his heart.
“Where are we going? Why won’t you tell me?” Lorelei asked, squirming in the passenger seat like an overly eager child.
It was one of the things he loved about her. She appreciated surprises and the simple pleasures of life. She wasn’t stuck up or snobby. And she somehow made him feel as if he was special. The only people who had ever made him feel that way were his family members. Daniel didn’t know all that much about being in love, but he had a strong feeling it was about how a person made you feel. Lorelei made Daniel feel as if he could soar. It was the most exhilarating feeling in the world.
Daniel quickly glanced at Lorelei, then back at the road. “Be patient. Haven’t you heard good things come to those who wait?”
She made a pouty face which made him chuckle. “You look like you’re all of eight-years old,” he told her.
“I’ve never been very patient. You should see me at Christmastime,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye.
“I can’t wait,” he said, blurting out the words before he could rein them in. He didn’t want Lorelei to think he was counting on them being together long-term. He wasn’t certain if she felt that way about their relationship, and experience had taught him not to count his chickens before they’d hatched. Daniel had once thought he and his ex-girlfriend, Patsy, were on the same page until she’d dumped him. His feelings for Lorelei made his feelings for Patsy seem like child’s play. They were vaster and deeper, richer and more complex. He couldn’t for the life of him imagine ever feeling anything like this again. He prayed they were in it for the long haul.
“Me too.” Lorelei was grinning as if she couldn’t wait to spend Christmas with him.
When they pulled up to the carnival fairgrounds, Lorelei let out an excited squeal. “How did you know I love carnivals?”
“I had a hunch! I’ve loved them my whole life. I was banking on the fact that you did too.”
Daniel reached for her hand as they began walking to the entrance. He purchased rubber bracelets for them both that allowed unlimited rides at the carnival. Lorelei was acting like a little kid in a candy store. Her excitement was effusive.
Everything was lit up—the Ferris wheel, the tilt a whirl, the bumper cars and the merry-go-round, along with dozens of other rides and attractions. The smell of cotton candy hovered in the air, along with caramel apples and sizzling hot popcorn. Daniel’s mouth watered at the aromas floating in the air.
“Where should we start first?” he asked Lorelei.
“Oh, I’m so excited by all of this. I love the Ferris wheel. There’s nothing quite like looking out over the fairgrounds once you’re on the tip top.”
Daniel didn’t bother to tell Lorelei that he was afraid of heights. She was so excited about going to the very top of it. He couldn’t disappoint her, nor did he want to make himself look like a chicken. He said a quick prayer to quiet his fears. Lord, please let me get through this with a small measure of dignity. Don’t let me make a fool of myself in front of Lorelei. As they waited in line Lorelei’s excitement increased exponentially while Daniel’s jitters magnified. He took a deep breath as they held out their wrists and gained admission. The usher seated them and shut the door behind them. As Daniel sat down he winced at the rocking motion of the chair. Before he knew it they were being lifted up into the air, high above the fairgrounds.
“This is fantastic!” Lorelei shouted, spreading her arms wide. Daniel had scooted over to the side of the chair and kept telling himself to breathe. He was carefully avoiding looking down. It made him feel queasy!
“Daniel, look!” Lorelei said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “You can see the beach from here.”
Daniel took a deep breath and looked over the edge. Oh, no. Not a good idea! He felt a bit dizzy. He shot Lorelei a smile even though he felt nauseous and almost on the verge of passing out.
He felt Lorelei’s hand on his arm. “Daniel, are you okay? You look a bit…green.”
Daniel bent forward and put his head between his knees, praying the dizzy feeling would subside. “I-I’m just a little dizzy. Sadly, the Ferris wheel always makes me feel a bit…nauseous and off-kilter.”
Suddenly, he felt her gripping his arm. “Oh, Daniel. You should have told me. I never would have asked you to ride the Ferris wheel if I’d known. Why didn’t you say something?”
He felt a bit sheepish. He had been trying to make a good impression on Lorelei. What guy wanted to admit to his date that the Ferris wheel freaked him out? He had just been trying to uphold the family motto. Donahue strong! Although he’d failed miserably.
Perhaps he could try to explain it to Lorelei so she would understand. “I didn’t want to rain on your parade, because you were so thrilled to do it. And it’s important to face your fears.” He sat up in the chair, keeping his eyes closed so he wouldn’t have to see how high up they were.
“When we go around again I can flag down the usher so he can stop the ride,” she suggested, her voice sounding tender.