She sounded genuine, but what did I know? Clearly, I wasn’t a good judge of character. I hadn’t seen her or heard from her in over a month.

“I’m doing okay. Tired, but I’m not sick anymore.”

“Well, that’s good. Mom said you felt the babies move. That’s exciting.”

I folded my arms over my stomach. “What are we doing here, Tabatha?”

“What do you mean?” She couldn’t quite meet my eyes.

“You haven’t talked to me in five weeks, and now you’re acting like we’ve been best friends since birth.”

“I know.” She wrung her hands together. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“Why?”

She finally looked me in the eye. “Because I owe you an apology.”

“Okay, I’m listening…” I watched her cautiously, wondering if an unseen hammer was about to drop.

“You tried to make amends during lunch, and I shut you down. I’m sorry about that. I can be a bit hard-headed.” She shrugged.

“I hadn’t noticed.” I laughed, losing some of my resolve. “But thank you.”

She nodded. “Just because you’re on Grammy’s side, and I’m on Mom and Dad’s, doesn’t mean you and I can’t meet in the middle with each other. If we’re ever going to have a chance at actually being sisters, then we have to agree to disagree on who was at fault in keeping us apart. We’re adults. What kind of relationship we have going forward is up to us now.”

“I agree.” This was an easy yes.

Tabatha had been wronged as much as I had, and at this stage of my life, I was cherishing the relationships I had more than ever. I was tired of the games and giving more than I got. It was time I put myself first and started demanding that the people in my life meet me halfway.

“Good. So, where do we go from here?” She looked hopeful.

“How about we try lunch again and take it one day at a time?”

“Sounds great to me.” She glanced over at Rita and Charlie. “Well, I won’t keep you. Enjoy the party, and I look forward to lunch soon.”

“It’s a date.” I smiled as she walked away, feeling a seed of hope blossom.

That feeling was suffocated by weeds when I saw my ex-husband limping my way.

“Well, well, well, going solo today?” Bud looked around warily and then touched the neck brace he wore with an exaggerated grimace. “I see you don’t have your bodyguard around. I knew he would get sick of you.”

“A neck brace? Seriously? That’s pathetic.”

“You won’t find it pathetic in court.” He narrowed cold, dark eyes at me. “I told you this conversation wasn’t over.”

“You’re not hurt any more than you have a bad back.” I gave him a disgusted look. “You make me sick.”

“And you make me greedy, you bi⁠—”

“Easy there, laddy,” came a deep rumbling voice from behind us, “I wouldn’t want ye to fall again.”

Bud whipped around with ease, and then immediately grabbed his neck when he realized he had an audience. “Fall?” he said loudly. “More like you pushed me.”

Matt stood in a row with his cousins, Finn and Aidan, as well as what had to be his uncle, judging by the resemblance and age of him. They looked like giant sequoia trees from the redwood forest. His uncle was even bigger than he was, which I hadn’t thought possible.

The tranquil grandeur of them all was awe inspiring…

And intimidating as hell.

“Pushed ye?” Matt and his crew all let out big, hearty, booming laughs. “If I pushed ye, laddy, ye wouldn’t still be standing.”

“That’s a threat,” Bud said loudly, looking around at the spectators. “I have witnesses,” he added, glaring back at Matt.

Matt’s grin faded into a scowl. “Ye have witnesses to what a fool ye are. I’m a lover not a fighter, but ye be testing me patience, laddy.” His hands were loosely balled into fists, and his uncle cracked his knuckles, no words necessary. “I didn’t so much as lay a finger on yer weak self.”

“I’m not weak,” Bud growled out.

“Really now?” Finn’s gaze ran over the length of him.

“Hell, even I could take him,” Aidan said.

“No one’s going to take anyone,” Matt said. “Besides, he can’t prove a thing.”

“Yeah? Tell it to the judge,” Bud said with bravado even though his eyes were filled with worry. “You have no idea what I can do.”

“Aye, but ye have no idea what we can do, and there’s a whole clan of us.” Matt’s uncle spit to the side and clenched his jaw.

“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” Bud said, as he shuffled away.

“Shocker.” I watched him go, then I turned to Matt. “Seems like you’re always coming to my rescue.”

“Well, if ye had let me drive us both here, then I wouldn’t have to, lass.”

“For the millionth time, I can take care of myself.” I crossed my arms.

“I like yer lass, boy.” His uncle grinned wide. “Ye’ve chosen well.”

“Uncle Liam, this is Tiffany.” Matt gave me an apologetic look. “Tiffany, this is me Uncle Liam.”

Chosen? For what? My contribution to the Children of the Clover? I looked at all four of them, wondering if they all had clover tattoos. Not Aidan…yet, anyway.

I cleared my throat. “Nice to meet you, Liam, but Matt didn’t choose anything,” I clarified. “Because we’re not anything. Well, except soon-to-be co-parents.”

“Aye, whatever ye say, lass.” He gestured to Finn and Aidan. “Come along, lads. Let’s leave the co-parents to it.” He led the way over to the beer tent.

“Sorry about that. The name Liam means strong-willed warrior or protector. That pretty much sums up me uncle.” Matt held his hands up. “He’s beyond stubborn, but there’s no one I’d rather have by me side to defend me than me uncle.”

“Well, that’s good because I have a feeling that you’re going to need to be defended.” I sighed.