Those years hadn’t been bad, Michael decided. He, his triplet siblings and their big brother, Garrett, had been granted great adoptive parents. They had good lives in their chosen professions, with friends and family all around. The woman who’d deserted her babies so long ago obviously hadn’t wanted anything more to do with them, so why wouldn’t Garrett leave it alone?

She didn’t want them, and they didn’t want her. Simple as that.

“It wouldn’t hurt to search,” Garrett said.

“We’ve had great parents,” Michael said stubbornly. “We don’t need any more family.”

“Sometimes I don’t think you need the family you have,” Garrett snapped. “You sit there in your cold-as-ice apartment without even a dog to-”

“Are we talking about finding our birth mother or are we talking of my private life?” Michael’s voice was as harsh as his brother’s, and it was Garrett’s turn to sigh.

“So you won’t help?”

“I’ve already told you I’m not interested. And anyway, I don’t see how I can.”

“With your resources… Mike, you’ve been a cop. You have Maitland Maternity’s network behind you, and you know Megan will support us. You have contacts everywhere, and money’s hardly a problem. Look, come to dinner on Saturday night and we’ll talk about it.”

“There’s already Camille and Jake’s wedding celebration on Sunday. I don’t need any more family events this weekend.”

“Yeah, and I’ll bet you intend to stick around for the party after the wedding. Just like you did after Lana’s. Look, Mike, this is just us. Shelby’s cooking, and Lana and Dylan will bring the baby.”

Domesticity was closing in. Michael’s resolve firmed. “No way!”

“If you’re not there, you’ll be the only one of the Lord kids who’s not.”

“Tell Dylan to take my place, then. The family’s changing. Now Lana’s married-well, things aren’t the same. We don’t need each other as much.”