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looking for, and handed Tabitha a TUMS. “Here, baby, chew on this, and I will make you some breakfast. How about some real food today, okay?”
    “Okay, Mommy,” Tabitha said, climbing down and sitting in her own chair.
    Emma quickly had pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a fresh pot of coffee brewed by the time the boys woke. She watched as the three of them began to gravitate to the coffeemaker, eager for a steaming cup of hot coffee.
    Without warning, each and every one walked over to her and kissed her on the head, saying ”Good morning,” then moving on to Tabitha, doing the same. Emma smiled as Tabitha giggled as each of them walked sleepily to their own seats, hanging their heads. “Mommy, they’re funny.”
    “Yes they are, sweetie,” she responded to her daughter, then stood. “Are any of you hungry?” It took one second for each of them to groan at the mention of food.
    “Please, Emma, have mercy. Don’t mention food,” Tucker said, moaning into his coffee cup.
    Smiling, Emma couldn’t help herself, “Okay, then I will just throw out the eggs, bacon, and pancakes,” she informed them, and then proceeded to clear the kitchen table.
    Travis grabbed her hand as she reached for the platter of hotcakes “Wait a minute. Are those your buttermilk pancakes?”
    “Yes,” she informed him sweetly.
    “On second thought, breakfast doesn’t sound too bad,” Tucker said, grabbing four pancakes. Before she knew it all three of the men had cleared the table of all food. Emma was up cleaning and clearing the dishes, as Tabitha found a comfortable seat on Tate’s lap.
    Breakfast was soon over and Emma went to reach for Tabitha, when Tate stopped her. Looking directly into Emma’s eyes, Tate asked, “Tabitha, sweetie, do you know who your daddy is?”
    Emma’s spine went ramrod straight. Oh God…not now…please, not now.
    Emma couldn’t remove her hand from Tate’s grasp and was forced to stand in that very spot, waiting for what she knew her daughter was about to say.
    “I don’t have a daddy. Mommy went to the store and picked a daddy out of a book.”
    “Really? How interesting. So tell me, Tabitha, if you could meet this daddy from the store, would you want to?” Tate said, shooting daggers into Emma.
    “Oh, yes. I would love to have a daddy. I have always wanted a daddy. Do you know who my daddy is?” Tabitha asked.
    Emma looked into Tabitha’s eyes, and it broke her heart to have her daughter praying for a daddy, when she had three of them right here in front of her. They may have missed six birthdays, but by God, she knew she could make it the last!
    Looking directly at Emma, Tate said, “You either tell her now, or I will. I will not allow this lie to exist anymore between us. She is hurting, and you’re going to fix it. Do it now!”
    Emma looked at Tucker and then Travis, who had each moved to stand around Tabitha.
    “She has a right to know, Emma, just tell her,” Travis said.
    “Do it now, ’cause I’m getting impatient, and I want the first hug,” Tucker replied as he squatted near Tabitha, rubbing her back.
    “Tabby, come sit on Momma’s lap for a minute,” Emma said as she took the seat closest to the boys. She watched as Tate released their daughter and she climbed into her lap. “Tabby, baby, Momma did something not very nice. Momma told a lie.”
    “But, Momma, you said lies were bad and I should never tell one.”
    “That’s right, and I still want you to tell the truth no matter what, but for reasons that you’re too young to understand, I lied to you. Mommy didn’t go to the store to pick out your daddy.”
    “You didn’t?”
    “No, baby, you were made in love. You were wanted even before we knew you were in my tummy. I never told your real daddies about you. They never knew you were born.”
    “I have more than one daddy?” Tabitha asked in amazement.
    Smiling, Emma replied, “Yes, baby, you have three daddies, and you are truly one special little