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Her h was as weary as it was familiar “I just worry about you, that’s all”

And BAM! the uilt cannon landed a direct shot

Deep inhale Deep exhale She mentally closed the door on her annoyance “I know, and I’m sorry I make you worry”

“So help ement that came out of nowhere”

The truth hovered on the tip of Clover’s tongue, but she’d promised no one would know And if her mom knew, so would all of Sparksville—plus the truth wouldn’t do any good but make her mom worry even ue ree, but they were family and that meant a lot to both of them

“It happened kind of fast” Not a lie And not exactly the truth, either, Khway p???ax`xn Moronic water buffalo, indeed But Clover drew the line at outright lying to her mother

“I’d say so,” herhim?”

“It was kind of a ind thing, you knohush-hush until we knew for sure it was the real deal” Her palms were sweaty and hershe’d never listed life of crioal

“And you’re ready to get married already?”

There it was, her s-like-a-norht out the reflexive snarl in Clover

“When you know, you know,” she said, her voice as sweet as high fructose corn syrup “Isn’t that what you always said about Dad?”

Her mom let out a surprised chuckle before the natural staidness settled back into her tone “May you live long enough for your oords to be thrown back at you”

“I know it seems crazy”

“Love often does—especially when it comes at you out of the blue”

That unexpected understanding fro Clover rarely, if ever, clearly comprehended left her momentarily speechless