Page 37 of A Chance to Believe

She propped herself in a half sitting position against a pile of pillows, adjusting the covers to her hips and lifted the shirt again. Toeing off his boots, he scrambled onto the bed beside her, his knees touching her hip and waist. He could see silvery stretch marks on her sides now, clear against the gold of her skin. He hesitated, and she took his left hand and laid it at the top of her belly. The swift dual kick brushed his palm. His other hand she placed low on the farther side and for a moment, nothing happened.

He sent her a questioning glance, and she smiled. ‘Be patient.’

A featherlight shift of movement greeted him, and he adjusted his position. It came again at the same time as a kick against his left. ‘We’ve got a footballer and a dancer, I’m guessing.’

Her brows drew together. ‘Would you mind?’

‘About what?’

‘Most men would prefer them to be footballers.’

‘I’m not a footballer myself. I played a little polocrosse when I was younger, but once I became a father, I didn’t have the time. Besides, I don’t think parents should push kids into doing things they don’t have an inclination towards.’

‘Did you mind giving it up?’

‘I missed the mateship more than the game itself.’

‘Funny, I thought you’d be a rodeo type.’

He shook his head. ‘That was Courtney. It was a coincidence that there was a polocrosse tournament in town at the same time as a rodeo in Bialga.’

‘She wasn’t a local?’

‘No. I’d met her at a party at university and she came across to the tournament and we hooked up. It was only meant to be a one-night thing from my point of view. I had plans and none of them included marriage and kids. Not at that time.’ He was older and wiser now. Settling down had become very appealing lately, since his time with Cassie in Brisbane. He should have called her. Now she’d think it was all about the babies.

‘Did you always want to be a farmer?’

He shifted into a more comfortable position, keeping one hand on her belly, not wanting to lose the connection. It gave him a moment to think about how he would answer. ‘I wanted to be a farmer, but I wasn’t sure about being a grazier. Sheep didn’t interest me in bulk, that was more Ben’s interest. I was intrigued by the breeding side of things. It’s why I went into coloured sheep and goats and the alpacas. We work together on breeding for the finer wool, but otherwise, he’s totally in control of that side of things.’

‘And you’re totally in control of your side of things.’

‘I enjoy being in control.’

‘I’m sorry I mucked things up for you.’

He looked up from the ripples on her belly, meeting her eyes. ‘I don’t think things are mucked up. It certainly wasn’t your responsibility. We did all the right things.’ He sucked in a breath. ‘I think things are working out fine.’

There was a tremor under his fingers that couldn’t be accounted for by the movement of the two babies. Cassie was chewing on her bottom lip, a glossy sheen to her eyes.

‘It’s working out fine, Cassie. I’m happy we’re having the babies.’

A solitary tear trickled down beside her nose and he pulled out a handkerchief and mopped it up. ‘What’s wrong?’

She tucked the shirt down over her belly and dragged up the covers. He shifted his butt so she could tug them from under him.

‘I was so unsure about doing the right thing. I thought you’d want me to contact you, because I’d want to know, but then I wondered if you’d prefer if I didn’t.’ She laughed shakily. ‘That was before I knew about Kimberley.’

‘Then you know that whatever the circumstances, I’d want to be a part of my children’s lives.’

‘It was a relief when Kimberley told me you didn’t marry her mother. I was afraid you’d come over all noble and insist on marriage once you knew I was pregnant.’

He eyed her resolute expression. ‘It was never likely to happen with Courtney, whatever the situation. We weren’t a good match. Out of curiosity, why wouldn’t you want that?’

‘I keep telling you, I’m not interested in marriage and I don’t need financial support.’

‘I can appreciate that. Things are less cut and dried these days. No-one’s reputation is ruined with out-of-wedlock children. Would you marry someday if the right person came along?’

Her fingers were tying knots in the sheet on her lap, twisting the fine cotton around and around. ‘I doubt it. It’s not something I can see myself doing.’ She grimaced. ‘I like my privacy and I enjoy being independent.’

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