Page 28 of A Chance to Believe

Despite her bluntness, or perhaps because of it, Cassie was drawn to the other woman. ‘We met last year and things got a little complicated.’

‘Shayne is used to complicated.’

She wondered if it would annoy him, but he just smiled and headed up the stairs, swinging his legs over the gate at the top, one at a time. Cassie supposed everyone knew of his history, with Kimberley being the obvious result. They’d be thinking he’d done it again. ‘It wasn’t his fault.’

‘It never is,’ Becca sighed. ‘Though in my case, at least this time it was me. Last time, it was too young, too stupid.’

Cassie looked at the kids in the pool. Kimberley was there with a small girl on her hip, talking to some other children, which meant Ben must have come and gone. ‘You have older children?’

‘Twins, so I can sympathise. They’re twelve.’

She didn’t look old enough. It would be rude to ask, but Cassie figured Becca had answered the question with her ‘too young’ comment. ‘What about this pregnancy?’

‘A single. Another boy, so Grace will be pleased.’

‘Is that your daughter?’

The woman laughed. ‘Hells no. My mother-in-law. She had a bit of a thing about sons. Dawn was crowing about your twins and Grace was pleased to reveal we’re having a boy. Numbers still even at three grandchildren each. The boy obsession must be a Taite thing.’ Her mouth twisted. ‘A squattocracy thing.’

Cassie wondered at the edge of bitterness in that last comment. She wasn’t sure if the Longs would count as squattocracy in the other woman’s eyes. They’d been part of the wave of fresh blood into the newly formed colony of Queensland, encouraged by the increased opportunity for gaining a freehold selection in the 1860s once they realised not everyone would make a fortune in the gold rush. Land selection had been opposed by the squatters afraid of having their leases covering vast swathes of country broken up, so maybe not squattocracy in the Long’s case.

The Maiden’s had bought their land freehold a couple of decades earlier, according to Dawn. But they’d been sheep, and the Taites’ were apparently cattle, their landholdings on the eastern side of town where the rainfall was higher.

Becca seemed to have recovered from her momentary dip into some past grievance and was calling directions to her children.

Following her gaze, Cassie picked out a brown-headed boy who had the look of his mother and a tall streak with vibrant red hair hanging in wet ringlets she must have got from her red-headed father. Doctor Cavanaugh must tower over his diminutive wife. The other three must belong to Jordan.

‘Is your husband here?’

‘He and Jordan were supposed to be in charge of the barbeque, but Morgan had to go up to the hospital. Hopefully Shayne is helping cut up the steak Jordan brought in and taking over the barbeque or we’ll never get fed.’ She must have seen Cassie’s confusion. ‘The Taites kill their own meat.’

‘Celie is his wife, is that right?’

‘She’s the one with the hair explosion and the kid on her hip in the middle of the pool.’ She grinned. ‘She had enough problems during the drought keeping the curls under control, but with the wet weather and humidity, it’s a losing battle.’

Cassie stroked her own straightened locks. ‘I used to have a friend who was always envious of my curls. She wouldn’t believe they’re more trouble than they’re worth.’

‘Me and Celie in a nutshell. I couldn’t get a curl to stay in my hair no matter how I tried. Now I’m grateful. I don’t have the time to look after unmanageable hair. Gabby’s is hard enough to keep decent.’

For the second time that day, Cassie wondered if she was overly obsessed with her hair. It was hard to manage, but with twin babies to care for, she might not have the time to spend every morning maintaining her sophisticated style.

‘You’re a nurse, according to Shayne.’ That had to be an advantage with a baby. Though Becca also had two older children.

‘Kind of. More practice manager with a touch of nursing. Morgan insisted on me taking a break once I reached thirty-five weeks. He’s enjoying my pregnancy more than I am. He wasn’t around for the twins. How is Shayne coping with second time fatherhood? It’s been a long time since Kimberley was a baby.’

How was he coping? She hadn’t really shared anything with him, apart from that first day. The basic information about the complications. She’d gone to see the obstetrician in Bialga by herself both times. Next week she’d be having a scan at the local clinic. She scoped out the yard, spotting him over by the barbeque with Jordan. Would he have liked to come with her, or at least been told of the status?

When she’d told him where she was going, he’d been stolidly uncommunicative. If she’d invited him to come, would he have been keen? She flicked her glance back to Becca. ‘I don’t really know. We haven’t talked much. He’s been busy. It’s not like it’s his first child and he was around when Kim was born.’

A conviction came to her he would have wanted to come, but he was giving her space as he’d promised. Rest and recuperation to keep the babies safe. No stress. Maybe he hadn’t had it with Courtney either, if their relationship had remained detached. Not the usual intimacies of feeling the babies move, sharing ideas for names. Had he chosen Kimberley’s name, or had Courtney made the choice?

She hadn’t even thought about names. Real names. In her mind, she’d called them B1 and B2. With all the uncertainty, she’d struggled to remain disengaged, afraid of a bad outcome.

A prickle at her nape made her search again for Shayne. He was flipping steaks on the barbeque while Jordan tossed sausages onto the grill plate.

Had he been looking? As she watched, his head turned and he sent her a reassuring half smile. Yes. Priority number one would be giving Shayne more opportunities to be a part of the pregnancy. If he refused, at least she would know she’d done her part.

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