Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
A nother week later, it was girls’ night at my ranch, mostly because the girls didn’t want me going anywhere. They also wouldn’t let me cook. They showed up with a sub tray, chips, fruit bowl, vegetable tray, and drinks. We brought the party to my living room and enormous sectional couch so I could put my feet up.
“I feel like such a slacker.” I sipped club soda. It was the only thing that settled my stomach.
Now that I was in the last trimester, I could only eat small amounts, so I was hungry all the time. Indigestion and heartburn were real. I barely got anything down and it came right back up. There was literally no room in my stomach from the two bear cubs squishing everything. Don’t even get me started on my bladder. Every time I stood, I had to go.
“You’re not supposed to do anything but rest, hon. Doctor’s orders, remember?” Zoe took my nearly full plate from me and set it on an end table.
“How could I forget.” I sighed.
“I’m glad you made up with your mom and sister.” Morticia sipped her diet cola. “I’d give anything to talk to my mother again. Can’t exactly talk to my father about his new girlfriend who’s my age, and I don’t have a sister.”
“You have us, babe.” Harmony patted her on the back.
“I know, and I love you girls.” Morti shrugged. “It just would be nice to have more family. Or create my own.”
“It is nice,” I said. “I have to admit, I’m getting excited for the boys to arrive. Terrified, but excited.”
“Speaking of the boys…how are things with Matt?” Zoe sipped her chardonnay, studying me carefully.
“Not good.” I stirred the straw around the lime in my club soda. “I can’t believe he moved out. Like without even talking about it. It doesn’t make sense. That’s totally out of character for him.”
“Maybe he has a good reason. You did tell him that you didn’t believe he loved you, and that whatever he had to say didn’t matter,” Morti said. “Then you asked him to stay on his half of the house and leave you alone. I’d say he took you literally.”
“Yes, but after I found out what happened, I realized I had rushed to judgement. I wrote him that letter explaining everything I couldn’t bring myself to say. How can I give that to him when he won’t take my calls?”
“Wait, he won’t answer you?” Harm asked, incredulously. “What about his responsibility for his boys?”
As much as I appreciated her defense of me, I had to be honest.
“He always texts me back and asks if something is wrong with the boys. When I say no, he has nothing else to say to me. I asked him if he would come over so we could talk. He said he was busy with something very important and had to go. He is always there for his boys, but apparently, not for me.”
“Well…” Morti started to say.
“I know, I know. It’s all my fault. He is only giving me exactly what I wanted. Except, that’s no longer what I want.”
“What exactly do you want, Tiff?” Harm asked.
“I want it all,” I threw up my hands, “but I have no idea how to get it.”
“You’ve always been resourceful, hon,” Zoe said. “I believe in you. You’ll think of something.”
“You know what?” I said. “You’re right, doll. Matthew McGinnis ordered me to marry him. Then he bulldozed his way into my life, taking over buying and decorating for the twins. He insisted on taking care of me and going to all of my doctor appointments. Then suddenly I’m supposed to know that he loves me? He never told me. He just expected me to know and then moved out when I didn’t believe him. I’m good at expressing myself. I was just afraid to. He’s not afraid to say how he feels. He’s just not very good at it.”
“Dude, what are you going to do?” Harm rubbed her hands together.
“I’m going to show him what a real proposal looks like.” I nodded.
“No way,” Morti said. “You’re actually going to propose to him?”
“I am. I’ll need a ring, lots of ribbon with a big bow, and a cute outfit…or as cute as maternity clothes can be.”
“I’ll get the ring. I have plenty of brothers with hands as big as Matt who can help me find something masculine and perfect for McShamrock.” Harm nodded.
“We have plenty of shiny silver ribbons and bows at the funeral home, so I’ve got that covered.” Morti made a note.
“And I can certainly pick out a maternity outfit you’ll look lovely in, hon,” Zoe chimed in.
“Perfect. Christmas is in two weeks,” I said, getting excited. “I plan to put a gift under the tree he can’t refuse.”
“How are you going to get him over there?” Harm asked.
“I’m not. You girls are.”
“And how are we going to do that?” Morti added.
“Well, he already surprised me the other day when I wasn’t home but putting up a tree and hanging lights outside. I have Grammy’s old angel she used to put on our tree every year. This will be my first Christmas without her. I feel like if I put the angel up, a piece of her will be with me. When the time is right, tell him I plan to put the angel on the top of the tree myself because I don’t want to bother him. That will get him there. And when he arrives, he’ll find me in his stocking.”
“What if he says no?” Zoe asked gently.
“That’s not an option.” I shook my head. “I can’t live without him, even if he might be part of some crazy clover cult. I’ll show him he doesn’t need that or anything else because I am enough.”
“Damn straight you are, babe. We all are.” Harm raised a glass. “To us.”
We all said “Cheers,” and took a sip of our drinks, then got to work on Mission Shamrock.
The next two weeks flew by.
The girls pulled off their parts of the plan perfectly. Harmony’s oldest brother owned a jewelry store and was a regular at McGinny’s Pub. He could tell just by looking at Matt’s hands what size his ring finger was. He ordered a traditional Claddagh Ring in solid gold. It featured a design of two hands holding a heart, topped with a crown. The ring symbolized love from the heart, friendship from the lands, and loyalty from the crown.
It was perfect.
Next, Morticia found the perfect smooth and silky, shiny gold ribbon and bows from the supply closet at Smith’s Funeral Home. They made many floral arrangements, depending on the type of service their clients wanted. I ignored the fact that the arrangements were usually made for the dearly departed, and chose to imagine they were now serving the dearly beloved.
I could live with that.
Finally, Zoe found the most stunning white maternity dress I had ever seen. I didn’t even know they made something like this, and I knew fashion. It had silky fabric, a plunging neckline, long flowy sleeves, and hugged my belly just enough to be flattering and make me look less like I was wearing a tent.
The part I loved the most was the matching satin slippers with fuzzy white accents.
Everything was set. Matt had taken a trip back to Ireland to celebrate the holiday early with his family, but he was due home this morning. His uncle was picking him up at the airport. In typical small-town fashion, the citizens all knew about the plan at this point, and they highly approved, even if my methods were unorthodox.
The mayor joked he would expect nothing less from me.
Meanwhile, I was so nervous. I got ready, slipping the ring and the letter in a hidden pocket in my dress. The girls cleaned my place, set classical mood music, lit the fireplace, dimmed the lights, and set out sparkling grape juice and strawberries.
“You look beautiful.” Zoe blinked back tears.
“Are you sure?” I bit my bottom lip.
“You’re always beautiful, Tiff.” Morti gave me her rare Mona Lisa smile.
“Thank you, ladies, so much. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“It’s time, babe,” Harm said.
“Oh, God.” I swallowed hard.
“You’ll be fine. You’ve got this.” Zoe hugged me followed by the other two.
“I’ll text you when Matt is on his way.” Harm led the way out the door, and then they were gone.
I couldn’t sit still, so I stood and paced. My stomach twinged, and I rubbed the spot, crooning softly to my babies. It was so strange to me how I already felt like a mother after thirty-two weeks. They hadn’t even been born, yet I felt like I already knew them and loved them unconditionally.
I now realized my mother had given me to my grandmother because she would do anything for her children. She thought she was doing what was best for me. I also now knew my grandmother had done the same in her own way, as wrong as that may be.
I’d learned to forgive and let go of the past.
It was freeing.
I was working on letting go of what Bud had done to me, and proposing to Matt was the first step. He was everything that Bud wasn’t, and I deserved to be happy. No more being afraid. No more hiding behind walls. No more denying my feelings.
I was in love with Matthew McGinnis, and it was time he knew.
The doorknob at the front door jiggled, and I jumped. He was here. Smoothing a hand down the front of my dress, I rushed over to greet him. Opening the door, I smiled wide…but then my smile vanished.
“Bud?” I’d never seen him so unkempt and disheveled. “What are you doing here? You know what, I don’t care. The answer is no. Get out.” I started to shut the door, but he stuck his foot in the way and barged in.
“You ruined my life, you bitch.” His face twisted with rage. “I want what’s mine. Give me money, or I’ll make you pay like you have me.” He took a menacing step toward me. “I can’t go to jail. I would never survive.”
I stumbled back a few steps. “I didn’t do anything to you. You did it to yourself. Trying to burn down my spa. Stealing from Matt and trying to burn down his pub. What is wrong with you? You’re not acting like yourself.” He’d made bad decisions in the past, like starting a business that failed, and then losing a fortune gambling, but this time he looked different. “Are you high?”
“Shut up.” He shoved me until my back hit the wall, and I gasped.
“You’re hurting me.” I carefully covered my stomach with my hands. “What do you want?”
“Money and your car keys. Give me my share, and I’ll leave the country. You’ll never see me again.”
“Yer damn right she won’t, because ye won’t be around to see anything, laddy.” Matt’s voice was deep and deadly.
Bud whirled around to face Matt, and I slipped away from the wall and dialed 911. His eyes were crazy and glazed over as he stared down Matt. “You’re not so tough. You’re all talk. A big, dumb primate. I box.” He held up his fists.
“I bite.” Matt snapped his teeth.
Bud’s fists slipped. “You’re a gold digger.”
Matt sneered, baring his teeth. “Yer as fake as yer bad back.”
Sirens wailed in the distance, and Bud made a run for the door.
Matt grabbed him by the jacket, and Bud turned around then punched Matt in the chest hard. “Self-defense, laddy. Thank ye fer that.” Matt chuckled deeply, his grin coming slow and sweet. “Time to go night-night. Lights out.” With one blow to Bud’s face that didn’t even look that hard, Bud tumbled to the floor in an unconscious heap just as Officer Pickles arrived.
The next hour was spent arresting Bud and his girlfriend, who was dumb enough to have stayed in the getaway car out front. Matt and I both gave our statements, and finally, the police left. My nerves were shot.
Bud has always been a nuisance, but he’d never been dangerous. He had to be addicted to drugs. That explained why he was so desperate for money this time. I was just glad that part of my life was finally over, and I refused to let my past dictate my future.
I would not let Bud win.
“This is not how I had planned on tonight going.” I looked down at my wrinkled outfit and messed-up hairdo. No matter what it took, I was going to salvage this night.
Matt looked at me as if just now recognizing how I was dressed. His gaze ran around the room, pausing on the sparkling grape juice and strawberries. He looked back at me. “Wow, that’s quite a dress fer hanging an angel on a tree.”
“I have plans tonight…after.”
His brow puckered and then narrowed. “I see. With anyone I know?”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of him.” I winked. “He’s a legend.”
His eyes widened. “Tiffany, what is this?”
I started to lower myself to one knee and thought better of it.
Matt grabbed my arm before I could fall.
“Matthew McGinnis, you are the most stubborn man I know.” I still held onto his arms.
He arched a brow. “I believe the proper thing to say is thank ye .”
“Let me finish, Sasquatch.”
He kept his lips zipped, but they tipped up slightly at the corners. My heart fluttered, and I cleared my throat. I needed to get this out. This man, who’d grown to be so important to me in such a small amount of time needed to hear what was in my heart.
“You are also the kindest, most gentle and understanding man I know.”
“I try.” He shrugged, and I swear I saw a wee bit of pink tinting his face.
I distracted the butterflies in my stomach by sliding my hands down his rock-solid arms and weaving my fingers with his. I glanced down at how perfectly they fit together.
We were a perfect fit.
My gaze drifted up until my eyes met his. Swallowing the ball of nerves suddenly lodged in my throat, I said, “I’m sorry for everything I said in the hospital. I didn’t mean it.”
His gaze softened. “I know.”
My eyes sprang wide. “You do?”
He nodded.
“Do you know I love you, too?”
“I have fer a while.” His thumbs stroked the backs of my hands, and his gentle smile warmed every part of me.
I blinked. “Well, this was easier than I thought.” My own smile grew bigger as excitement for our future took hold. “I changed my mind. I want it all.”
“I was counting on that.” His eyes twinkled with mischief and love, and I couldn’t hold myself back any longer.
“Matthew Michael McGinnis, will you marry me?”
“No.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “No?”
“I can’t say yes right?—”
And just like that my water broke.