Out of the corner of his eye, Matt saw Cassie stand and Shane rose shortly after that. Tate saw it too. Shane’s size worked against them both in that situation.

“You going to stop me?” Tate’s voice trembled a moment but steadied.

By that point several others had come out and at seeing Tate backed up against the porch railing and Shane and Matt looming over her, Nathan shoved them both aside until he reached Tate, pulling her into his arms.

“Get her things,” Nathan said calmly to Beth who turned and went to retrieve their stuff. “Come on, honey, let’s get you home. Why don’t you stay at my house tonight? I’ll even let you make me waffles tomorrow morning.”

Cassie’s hand caught Matt’s elbow and pulled him back. When he turned to her, she shook her head hard, pain clear on her face.

“What the blazes is going on? Matthew, what have you done?” Polly came out and Beth moved around her, their stuff in her arms.

Matt hated that Nathan kept his body between him and Tate as he drew her off the porch and down to the sidewalk.

“I wouldn’t have hurt her. I never…” Matt’s voice caught.

“Matt, there’s something so broken inside me. I know you wouldn’t have hurt me but look how I acted. I can’t control it. Just please, can’t you see how wrong we are?” Tate’s voice was thick with tears.

He moved toward her but Nathan shook his head and Cassie’s fingers dug into his arm.

“Why are you holding me back? I can’t let her go like this.” He looked to Cassie, begging her.

“Look at her, Matt. Leave it. Let her get herself together. Let them help her. You can’t fix her just now.” Cassie’s voice was thick with emotion.

Shane put his arm around Cassie and his cheek against her hair.

Polly looked to him and down at Tate. “Honey, please don’t go like this. This was all a silly misunderstanding. Matt wouldn’t hurt anyone, least of all you. He loves you. Let us be your family too.”

“I know he wouldn’t hurt me!” Tate cried. “Can’t you all see? I can’t even have an argument without turning into some kind of freak. There’s something so wrong with me. Just please, leave me alone.” She paused, looking at Matt sadly. Matt felt a sob building in his gut. “Get away while you can.” She turned and let Nathan guide her down the sidewalk and help her into the car.

“Tate, I love you. You’re not broken, damn it. You’re beautiful and wonderful and I’ll call you tomorrow,” Matt called out.

Anne and Beth got in the car on either side of Tate, both putting their arms around her.

Matt saw her body shake, knowing she wept. He had to lean against the railing to keep his knees from buckling as the car pulled away.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me she was abused?” Cassie asked softly.

“I don’t even know the whole story! Bits and pieces is all I’ve heard. The dad is a drunk, the mom ran off a lot. They were poor, neglected. I don’t know the extent of the situation. I know she’s got major issues around eating because of whatever the hell the dad said to her and she took the brunt of a lot of emotional crap because she’s not really his.” Matt shoved a hand through his hair and began to pace. “I shouldn’t have let her go. We could have worked it out.”

“Matt, she was on the verge of losing it. Her family will know what to do.”

“You have to help her, Cassie. Will you help her?” Matt pulled her hands into his.

She nodded. Cassie had been physically and mentally abused for several years by her ex, a man who tried to kill her twice. In the wake of a devastated medical career and no longer able to perform the complicated surgery she used to excel at, she’d become a victim’s advocate.

“I’ll try, honey. You’ve got to try and rein in your frustration when she flinches from you. It’s not about you. She already knows it’s bad, she knows it has nothing to do with you or how she feels about you.”

Polly kissed Cassie’s cheek before hugging Matt’s side. “We’ll all help her. She’s a good girl. A smart one.”

“Melanie started all this and I’m going to have a word with her about that.” Matt wanted to shake some sense into his ex. How could she have been so stupid? And how could he not have seen what a horrible person she was while they dated?

“Melanie?” Polly’s voice held warning.

He told them all about what Nathan had said and Polly was fit to be tied. “You leave that girl to me, you hear? The last thing we need is for her to spread rumors that a Chase boy threatened her. She and I will have a talk. Boycott my daughter-in-law-to-be’s shop? I think not. Not if she wants everyone to keep shopping at her father’s florist.”

Edward laughed, the tension easing on the porch.

Matt was pulling on his shoes when his phone rang. He’d left multiple messages for Tate but she’d shied away from replying. He knew from Nathan that she was all right. Mortified by her reaction at his parents’ house and trying to process everything.

He left her a voicemail telling her he’d be picking her up for the July Fourth picnic at two. He planned to hash things out with her for a few hours before they met their assorted family members at the park for food and fireworks later on.

Half expecting it to be her trying to dodge, he was surprised to see Shane’s cell on the display screen.

“Hey there,” he answered as he stood to grab his keys and head for the door.