She shrugged. “Mom.”
“Ah, Rita.” I nodded, refusing to call her mom. “I’m coming to realize she can be quite persuasive.”
“Mom doesn’t have an agenda,” she leveled me with a hard stare, “if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Well, how would I know that?” I stared right back, locking gazes and refusing to blink first. “I really don’t know the woman at all.”
She looked away first as the waitress brought our food to the table, speaking only after the woman was gone. “You don’t know me, either.”
“And that’s the reason for this lunch.”
We took a moment to eat in silence.
“I want to get to know you, Tabatha.” I set my napkin down. “We’re sisters. Twins, for God’s sake.” My hand fluttered down over my stomach.
“I heard you were pregnant.” Her gaze briefly followed my hand before she winced and looked away. “Congratulations. You and your husband must be thrilled.”
“Thank you. No husband.”
“Boyfriend then.”
I shook my head. “No boyfriend, either, but yes. The father is very proud and surprisingly happy to be a father. I wasn’t sure he would be.”
“Being a parent is a gift.”
“So, I’m told, but I didn’t exactly have the best role models.”
“Well, I did.” She thrust her chin in the air.
I ignored the challenge and said carefully, “Now that I’m having twins of my own, I can’t imagine them not being in each other’s lives.”
She let out a harsh laugh and shook her head at me. “We weren’t in your life for lack of trying on our part.”
“I didn’t say I wanted Rita and Charlie in my life, but you are innocent in all of this. You didn’t choose to be kept any more than I chose to be given away.”
“You weren’t given away. You were taken away.” Tabatha threw up her hands. “I know you don’t want to believe this, but Eugenia didn’t keep her word and give you back like she was supposed to.”
I was already shaking my head. “Grammy wouldn’t do that.” I couldn’t go there. Because if I believed everything Tabatha and Rita were telling me, then the woman who raised me was a fraud, and I never really knew her at all. “She was the only one who has been there for me through everything I’ve gone through.”
“What you’ve gone through?” Tabatha gaped at me. “That’s a joke. You don’t have any idea what real hardship looks like.”
Her words cut through me. She didn’t know anything about me, so how could she judge me like this? I tried to put myself in her shoes and keep calm. “I heard about your husband and daughter’s tragic death. I can’t imagine what that was like. I didn’t even know you were married. But you’re not the only one who has been through shit. We all have had our battles, some more than others, but battles nonetheless.”
“I can’t do this. I told Mom I would try, but you have led a privileged life while we have struggled every day.”
“Clearly, I can’t either. This town loved Grammy, but I have been treated like a leech she had pity on. My cheating, manipulating, mentally abusive ex-husband—yes, I was married, too—only ever wanted me for my money. Still does. Other men have only ever wanted me for my looks, but those will fade in time.”
Tabatha grunted but didn’t say a word.
“Yes, Grammy took me in and loved me like her own, thank God, because my own parents didn’t want me. Do you know how that feels? No, you don’t. On top of all that, they robbed me of you, my only sibling, so don’t tell me I haven’t been through shit. And now that the only person who ever really gave a damn about me is gone, everyone is coming out of the woodwork wanting something from me. Well, I’ve had enough.”
“Good, I guess we’re finally on the same page.” She stood.
“Apparently so. I thought maybe you would be different as my twin, but I’m not about to beg anyone to want to be a part of my life.” I signaled for the check.
She opened her purse.
“Oh, don’t bother. I’m Ms. Moneybags, remember? I don’t need anything, especially not your money.” I threw down a wad of cash, willing my tears not to fall, as I stood and looped my purse over my shoulder.
Her gaze met mine, and she hesitated a moment, her mouth opening as if she wanted to say something. I saved her the trouble and turned on my heel, marching my way out the door first. Somehow her not wanting me cut deeper than the others.
Just once I had thought that maybe, just maybe, I would be enough for someone.
It was the end of July, and I was twelve weeks along. No more morning sickness, thank the Lord, but I did have on my very first pair of granny panties and maternity pants. Zoe had been right. They really weren’t that bad. My stomach had just started to thicken, and I couldn’t stand anything tight pressing on it.
“And how is my favorite patient feeling today?” Dr. Joy walked into the exam room of the practice she shared with Chaz.
“I bet you say that to all of your patients,” I grumbled, knowing I sounded like a pouting child but not being able to stop myself.
She laughed. “I see someone is experiencing pregnancy hormones.” She checked the vitals her nurse had recorded.
“And then some,” I admitted. “At least my morning sickness is gone finally. That was awful…times two!”
“Well, everything looks great on paper. We did your first sonogram at eight weeks. Now that you’re twelve weeks, I’d like to do another one.”
“Why, is something wrong?”
