“The clothes today have come a long way. You should have seen the ugly outfits I wore when I was pregnant with Lexi sixteen years ago. I wore the same for Troy thirteen years ago, but thank goodness, I got new ones for Bobby six years ago, and even newer ones for Katy three years ago. I would pass them on, but trust me, you won’t want them. Not to mention, I have curves, while you look like a fitness model.”

“Not for long at this rate,” I muttered, feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. A first for me. “I’m sick of talking about me. What’s going on with you all?”

“Well, planning the Labor Day Bash is stressful enough. I don’t want to let the mayor down since he believed in me enough to choose me to plan this big event. And now Bitsy’s back and already married.” Zoe took a sip of her chardonnay. “On top of that, my mother and former mother-in-law are pushing me to start wedding planning.”

“I love Wilma and Lilabelle.” I grinned, thinking of them and their crazy antics. “At least you know they care.” I thought of my own family who said they cared, but I couldn’t even fathom that my grandmother had lied to me. She had been my everything.

If it was true, why hadn’t she told me?

“I wish they didn’t care quite so much. Thank goodness Chaz’s mother, Roz, isn’t interfering.”

“Yet.” I scoffed.

My ex-husband’s mother had been a nightmare when we got married. That should have been my first red flag. She hadn’t liked me then and liked me even less now. She had tried to take over and make the wedding hers because I had taken away her baby boy. I’d gladly given him back after our divorce, but he hadn’t moved on without me.

I’d always been a sucker for pretty things. He was still gorgeous, but no other woman was dumb enough to support his sorry ass. Mommy Dearest was tickled pink to have him to herself, which was yet another thing Bud hated me for.

His mother drove him nuts.

“I don’t even have a boyfriend, and my mother is driving me insane.” Harmony took another sip of her beer. “I can’t imagine what she’ll be like if I ever get engaged.” She shuddered.

“Good luck with finding a single decent man in this town.” Morticia poured more diet cola for herself.

“Right?” Harm shook her head. “I’d settle for single at this point. Trust me, I’m not picky. I just want someone to do life with. I mean you girls are great, but I get lonely. I’d love to have someone to cuddle up with and watch a movie or whatever.”

“Get a cat,” I said. “In my experience men are overrated. Only good for one thing, and you don’t need a wedding to get that.”

“You’ve just had bad luck, Tiff.” Zoe looked pensive. “Maybe if you gave Matt⁠—”

“Let me stop you right there, doll. That ship sailed when he made it clear I wasn’t good enough for his family because I’m divorced.”

“You’re right, Tiff.” I could tell the frustration was getting to Harm. “I don’t need a wedding, but at this point, I can’t even get a date night. I know I have a strong personality, but if I didn’t know better, I would say the men in this town are avoiding me.”

“Don’t feel bad.” Morti snorted. “On the rare occasion I get asked out on a date, I make a fool of myself. I am horrible at flirting and don’t know how to talk to men, period.” She shrugged. “My widowed father, on the other hand, has more game than I do. He is still dating a woman half his age. Samantha. At least he’s not hiding her from me anymore.”

“You both can do it. You just have to put yourself out there to get more comfortable around the opposite sex.” Zoe always tried to see the silver lining.

“That’s true, doll,” I agreed, looking at Morti especially. “The only time you go out is with us.”

“I interact with men.” Morti smoothed back a strand of black hair that had escaped her usual bun. “In fact, I just did this morning in that thriller book club I’m in.”

“Cyber flirting doesn’t count, Morti.” Harm ran a frustrated hand through her red spiked hair. “Especially when you use an alias.”

“Safety first,” Morti replied weakly.

We all just stared at her.

“Oh, I know you’re right.” She huffed out a breath. “It’s just hard. The real me is boring and a little freaky, or so I’m told. It’s just easier online. I really want children, and I’m running out of time.”

“You don’t need a wedding for that, either.” I patted my tummy.

“I know that. I just never pictured myself as a single mother.” She shrugged. “Although, I’m not sure I can even have children.”

“Medical advancements have come such a long way.” Zoe squeezed Morti’s hand. “Don’t give up hope.”

“I know, you’re right. I just sometimes feel like my life is passing me by, and I’m going to end up with nothing to show for it.”

“Well, this has turned into one downer of an evening.” Harmony pouted.

“Then I’d say it’s time we turned things right side up.” Zoe put on classic rock music and started to dance.

“Now you’re talking.” Harm jumped up and joined her.

Morti rolled her eyes when they grabbed her hands and pulled her to the dance floor, but she didn’t protest as much as normal. I laughed and joined them…

Then, ten minutes later, I wet my pants and burst into tears.

The next day I walked into Peace, Love, and Harmony. The shop was filled with New Age trinkets, incense burning candles, and old books.

Harmony stood behind the counter, getting her cash register drawer ready for the day. She wore her “Where’s the Beef” t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. Her auburn hair was extra gelled and spiked this morning. She looked up when I walked through the door, and the bell above it chimed.

Her face lit up, but almost as quickly, she sobered. “Tiff, what are you doing here? Don’t get me wrong, babe, I’m thrilled to see you. Just making sure you’re okay. Should I call McShamrock?”

“Definitely not.”

“Well, you don’t look so good, and he’s the closest thing to family you’ve got.” She picked up her phone, looking ready to dial someone. Anyone.

“I’m fine, Harm, really. I’m just restless. Anxious almost. That’s why I’m here.” I looked around her shop. “What can you give me to help?”

“Oh, well, that’s normal.”

“How would you know?”

“Are you kidding? I have seven brothers with several sisters-in-law, and too many nieces and nephews to count.”

“True.” I took a deep breath.

“That’s it. Just keep taking deep breaths while I find you something.” She looked over her supplies. “Okay, so first of all, I have some lavender essential oil to help calm and relax you. Mix a few drops with some witch hazel and some distilled water then spray it on your pillow to help you sleep. I can mix it into a small roller bottle for you and you can apply it directly to your wrists as needed. You can also put some in a diffuser to fill whatever room you’re in with its scent.”

“That sounds wonderful. I know I’ll be up all the time once the twins are born, but I’m up all the time now having to pee. Not to mention, my thoughts are keeping me awake at night. Is this nature’s way of preparing me for what’s to come?”

Harmony laughed, holding up the lavender. “From what I’ve heard, yes, in part, but I can tell you, this will help ease your symptoms for sure.”

“Thank you. You’re a goddess. Zoe might know about babies, but she doesn’t know anything about homeopathic remedies. That’s why I came to you. Please, help me, doll. Give me more.”

Harm tapped her short fingernails on the counter. “I’ve got it!” She went to a shelf behind her and pulled out an egg-sized crystal. “I have this blue celestite geode crystal, which is a rock that’s cut in half, and it’s crystalized on the inside.”