“I’m talking about co-parenting,” he continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “It will be much easier fer us to help each other if we both live under the same roof, at least fer the first year. It’s twins we’re talking about, Tiffany. You can’t do that on yer own. No one can. And I’m more than willing to help. In fact, I want to. They’re my children too, and I don’t want to miss out, so please say yes, love.”
There went my heart again. He had no idea his simple terms of endearment melted my heart, but I knew that was just the way he talked. I took a deep breath and focused as I thought about everything he said. Once again, he was right. Middle of the night feedings. Diaper changes. Colic. Daytime baths. Pediatrician visits. Car rides….
Times two!!
Everything he said made sense.
I was lucky that he wanted to be so involved. It wasn’t always like that for a lot of new mothers. I knew nothing about babies, and two of them just seemed overwhelming. For the first time, I could kind of understand how my mother must have felt. Even with my father on board, they hadn’t been able to handle two babies.
What had I been thinking?
I hadn’t, plain and simple. I simply didn’t want my children to go through life feeling unwanted. I studied the man staring back at me with the utmost sincerity, and I really started to believe I didn’t have to do that alone.
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
His eyes widened. “Yeah?”
I shook my head no, but said, “Yes.” I switched to nodding the more I thought about the whole idea of platonic cohabitation. “That makes sense. No romance, and there are plenty of bedrooms to co-parent and still have our own lives,” I said out loud, more for my benefit than his.
“Great!” He grinned wide and rubbed his large hands together. “I guess we’re doing this thing then.”
“I guess so…and sight unseen, no less.” I laughed, trying not to let it turn into hysteria. “There will be ground rules to cohabiting, you know. I have certain standards to maintain and definite deal breakers.”
“I would expect nothing less.” He winked.
I blinked. “Um, okay then. Maybe I should actually see where I’m going to be living for the next year. Lead the way, Mr. McGinnis.”
“Ye got it, lass.”
I followed Matt, watching the way his body moved, and realized I might be in trouble in the no romance department. But then another thought came to me. If we shared a house, that gave me several months to answer one burning question…
Is the father of my babies a member of the Children of the Clover?
That Friday night, I walked into Harmony’s apartment above her New Age shop for girls’ night. I was the last to arrive again, as usual. I’d never been very prompt, and especially now that I had pregnancy brain, my tardiness had gotten worse. There were times I couldn’t even remember what day it was.
“There’s our little mama,” Harm said.
I grunted. “I’m not so little anymore.” I bypassed the table and went straight to the couch, propping my feet up on her coffee table with a big sigh. “My clothes are getting too tight, and my feet are starting to swell. I’m only fifteen weeks, but with Big Foot as their father, I’m terrified to go full term.”
Zoe brought me a plate of cheese, crackers, pepperoni, fruit, celery, and blue cheese. She knew the chicken wings would give me heartburn, so she’d wisely skipped those. She handed me sparkling water in a fancy glass, and then joined me on the sofa. “Speaking of our favorite Irishman, how is it going with him helping you? I haven’t received any 911 calls from you, so I’m assuming well?”
“Helping?” I choked on my water. “That’s an understatement.” I set my plate of snacks down and wiped my mouth before adding, “The man bought us a house.”
“Wait, what?” Harm gaped at me, grabbing her beer and chicken wings as she made her way into her living room to sit in the recliner beside the couch. “You can’t drop a bomb like that and not give us the full detes, so spill it, babe.”
“Well, he didn’t buy the house exactly.” I took a bite of fruit as I rephrased what I wanted to say. “He rented it.”
“Oh, I thought you meant you two were moving in together.” Morticia laughed as she joined us with a diet cola and pizza and sat in another recliner on the other side of the couch. “Yeah, like that might happen over your dead body.”
Everyone laughed except me.
“Then I must be dying because it’s happening.” I sighed, but the only thing that died was their laughter. “I’m just not very good at articulating things lately.” I took a bite of cheese and crackers.
“But I thought you said you would only allow Matt to help you if there was no romance involved?” Zoe sipped her chardonnay, staring off in thought. “Moving in together sounds kind of romantic.”
“I know, that’s what I’m afraid of,” I admitted. “But he did have some good points. We’re going to have to start hosting our girls’ night in our shops because I can’t handle these stairs much longer. All of our homes, including Matt’s, are in upstairs apartments. The only ones who don’t live upstairs are Zoe and Chaz. So, Matt got the idea that if he rented a four-bedroom ranch, then we could each take one bedroom, leaving two to spare. That’s plenty of room, and it’s only for one year. Through the pregnancy and the first few months because there’s no way I can handle two babies by myself.”
“That actually makes sense.” Zoe nodded.
“Good for you for allowing Matt to help you.” Morti agreed. “You’re so independent, I know it’s hard for you to let someone in.”
“Not just someone…her baby daddy.” Harm wagged her eyebrows.
“And possible Children of the Clover member,” I added.
Harm’s eyes widened. “You’re still on that crazy train?”
“Children of the what?” Zoe asked.
“Yeah, I’m confused.” Morti scratched her head.
“You didn’t tell them?” I looked at Harm.
“Um, no, because the whole idea is crazy.” She held up her hands, always one to speak her mind and keep things real.
I knew she had her doubts, but I didn’t. “I found a book on this ancient cult in Harmony’s shop. I was drawn to the book because of the clover on the cover.
