“Okay, Mom and Dad, your babies look great. I’ll see you back in four weeks for another sonogram. And four weeks after that you can decide if you want to know the sex.”

“Yes,” I said.

“No,” Matt said simultaneously.

Dr. Joy looked back and forth between the two of us. “Like I said, you have time to decide. In the meantime, you’ve made it through the scariest part of the pregnancy. The first trimester. Feel free to tell anyone you haven’t already.”

“In this town, everyone knows everything,” I said.

“That’s fer sure,” Matt agreed.

“Okay, well, I suggest you start planning your nursery, buying baby clothes, figuring out a schedule, etc.” Dr. Joy made some notes on her computer. “The babies will be here before you know it.”

I could feel my face pale.

“We’re on it, Doc.” Matt spoke up when it was clear I couldn’t.

Dr. Joy finished up, and Matt didn’t leave until I did. He walked me out of the exam room and through the packed waiting room, causing all eyes to focus on us. Great. Gerty and Gabby Rogers raised brows at us, while Bitsy’s hand fluttered over her stomach as if just being in my presence might cause her harm.

I sighed.

“Come on, lass.” Matt rested his hand at the small of my back as he steered me outside. “Let’s get ye out of here.”

I allowed him to lead me outside because I didn’t have the energy to put up a fight. Once we hit the parking lot, I dug in my heels as reality set back in. What was his agenda? Did he really have a clover tattoo? Had he been mad because he’d gotten caught? Had he not used protection on purpose, hoping to get me pregnant because he’d found out it was my fortieth birthday? Had his proposal been a sham to throw me off? Did he plan to fight for custody and get rid of me after they were born?

I squeezed my eyes tight and shook my head hard, trying to stop myself from spiraling. “I appreciate what you were trying to do back there, Matt, but I’m a big girl. I can handle whatever this town throws at me on my own.”

“Why when ye don’t have to? Yer not alone, Tiffany.” He looked me in the eyes with an honesty even I couldn’t deny. Or he was a really good actor. “Ye have me.”

“Look, I know we’re connected through our babies, but that’s it,” I said firmly. “There is no us.”

He ran a hand through his curls. “Aye, yer a stubborn lass.”

I thrust my finger in his face. “You should talk.”

He dropped his hands to his hips and just stared at me. Finally, he scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Okay, then. I’ll make ye a proposition. There is no us, but ye agree I can be a part of our children’s lives.”

I frowned. “We’ve already been over this. Of course you can be a part of our children’s lives. I would never deny them that.” But I would be secretly watching him like a mama bear. If he tried to take my cubs, I’d be taking care of him…permanently.

“Starting now,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts.

“What do you mean, starting now?” I eyed him carefully, taking a step back and kicking myself for it. “They’re not even here yet.”

“Sure, they are. They’re in yer belly, and ye need help whether ye like it or not.” He pointed at me.

My mouth gaped, but I couldn’t really deny what he was saying. It had been obvious at the doctor’s office that I was in over my head. I crossed my arms over my chest. “What would this proposition look like?”

He slid his hands in his jeans’ pockets. “I want to go with ye to yer doctor’s appointments. I will help ye buy all the baby clothes, supplies, and furnishings. And I will be here for ye anytime ye need to talk, rant, cry, laugh…whatever. I happen to be a great listener with plenty of nieces and nephews fer experience. Let’s just say I know a thing or two about women and babies.”

I bet he did, I thought as my suspicions about Children of the Clover came flooding back, but I thought about everything he said. He had a big family. I didn’t. He had nieces and nephews. I didn’t. He had experience. I didn’t.

I had my best friends, but they had their own busy lives. I already bothered them enough, even though they say I’m never a bother. I knew they would do anything for me, but I had to learn how to do this on my own. And the children were half Matt’s, after all.

The saying, Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, came to me.

I nodded once. “Okay, on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“No romance. We are strictly soon-to-be co-parents.”

“Deal, but I’d like to think we’re also friends.” His eyes softened.

“Friends.” I tested the word. Or frenemies? Either way, I planned to keep my eye on him which left me with only one answer, “Deal.”

Chapter Ten

That evening, after a full day of shopping all things baby with Matt, I headed to Maple Ridge Market for groceries because I had no food in my apartment. I usually ate out, but I figured that wasn’t the healthiest. Besides, I had to get used to cooking for my children. I stumbled while pushing my shopping cart over that thought.

Let’s just say men weren’t drawn to me for my culinary skills.

Grammy had a chef, housekeepers, groundskeepers, a chauffeur, and more. I never really knew what it was like to live a normal life. I was determined to bring my children up to be well-rounded, humble, kind, and self-sufficient. They needed to be able to relate to all sorts of people, and most importantly, be able to take care of themselves.

Zoe had given me tips, like shopping on the outskirts of the store for fresh, non-processed foods and a list of ingredients to buy. I traveled halfway around the store when I finally reached the health food specialty section.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw a man with a jar of honey in his hands. I thought it was Matt for a moment, but he was already at McGinny’s Pub, getting ready for the dinner crowd. I looked closer. The man was smaller than Matt and younger, but not by much. Other than that, they looked just alike.

He glanced up at me and smiled wide. “Hey, there. Yer me cousin’s fiancée, right? I’m Aidan.”

“I’m not his fiancée.”

“Wait, girlfriend then?”

“No.”

“But aren’t ye having his babies?”

“Yes.”

“Ohhh.” His eyes grew wide and then glanced briefly at my H brooch before snapping back up to mine. “Sorry, I thought I heard he proposed. I didn’t realize ye said no.”

“First of all, he didn’t propose.” I set my jaw. “He ordered me to marry him, to which I firmly let him know I can take care of myself.”

Aidan grinned wide, revealing the same set of dimples as Matt. “Aye, I can see why he likes you, lass.”

I rolled my eyes and then my gaze locked on the product in his hands. “I-Is that clover honey?”

“Absolutely. Clovers are full of antioxidants, they’re good fer the heart, and help with digestion. Matt always uses them in his recipes. He sent me here to fetch some clover honey and sprouts.”