The Labor Day Bash to celebrate the end of summer turned out to be a stellar day.
Zoe had done a great job, setting up game tables, volleyball and cornhole competitions, live entertainment in the gazebo, and barbecue food trucks in the park. Vendor tents with goods for sale from the local artisans were scattered around the park.
Zoe’s parents as well as her former in-laws were in town, along with Chaz’s parents for the party, helping to keep an eye on her children. All seven of Harmony’s brothers, along with her sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and parents were there, with Harmony being the only single family member. Even Homer brought a date. Morticia’s father and his girlfriend were present, putting a damper on Morticia’s fun.
Even though Matt and I shared a house now, we’d barely moved in and weren’t even unpacked yet. We were just friends, but no one believed it, so I insisted we arrive separately for appearance’s sake.
Looking around, the park was packed. This was one of Grammy’s favorite parties. I felt so alone without her. Everyone else had family around, even Matt. His parents were back in Ireland still, but his uncle and cousins were here.
Rita and Charlie caught my eye. They sat up near the stage in the gazebo once more and hadn’t seen me yet. I’d looked at the note she’d given me at least a hundred times, still unsure of what I wanted to do. I touched the red H pin I wore every day and renewed my resolve to be the hero of my own story.
I started to head in their direction when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, it was Tabatha. Her hair was shorter than mine but still long enough to pull into a high ponytail. She folded her hands, looking down at her sneakers for a minute, and then met my gaze with regret in her eyes.
“Hi, Tiffany,” she said quietly.
“Hi, Tabatha,” I responded warily.
“How are you?”
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.
