Page 39 of A Chance to Believe

‘I’m not sleeping with anyone. I just think I should be prepared. In case.’

He could see why fathers preferred to leave this stuff to the mother. ‘Have you spoken to Courtney about this?’

‘Not really. Besides, isn’t this supposed to be a father’s job, too?’

‘I suppose so. You know condoms aren’t a hundred per cent, don’t you?’

‘I’m pretty sure I could figure that one out.’ She cast him a knowing look. ‘Besides, Cassie gave me some statistics. I’m not going to do your trick and ruin my future by getting pregnant before I even finish university.’

He should feel relieved, but he knew it took more than ambitions for the future to prevent an unexpected pregnancy. ‘Do you have a plan?’

‘Cassie suggested I should go to the clinic and look at backup options.’

Thank you, Cassie.‘You know I’m going to struggle with the thought of you being sexually active. I hope you’re doing it for the right reasons.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not going to go jumping into bed with the first guy. I’m not stupid.’

‘You forget I was a young guy once. I know the pressure they can put on a girl.’

‘Ewww, Dad. It’s bad enough knowing you shagged Cassie and got her preggers. I don’t want to think about you having sex with my mum and half the district.’

‘Not half the district.’

She covered her ears. ‘Lalalalalala. Not listening.’

He laughed and scooped her into an arm hold, giving her a side hug. It had been a long time since his daughter had accepted anything more. ‘It’s my job to embarrass you.’

‘So long as you don’t do it in front of my friends. Not cool.’

‘That would be the worst.’

She screwed up her nose. ‘The WORST.’

He stopped at the door on the way out when Kimberley said something he didn’t quite catch. ‘What did you say?’

‘Cassie is nice, isn’t she?’

Nice was such an inadequate word. ‘Yes. She is.’

Chapter 8

Cassie tilted her head at the sound of a vehicle. She could have walked to the garage, but Shayne had insisted she wait at the front while he collected the Lexus.

Her new policy of trying to include Shayne in parenting things was having its first outing today. She didn’t count him feeling the babies move the other evening. Not something you could book ahead like this scan. He’d been speechless when she asked if he wanted to come. He wasn’t the type to show much emotion in the usual way, so seeing him grasping for words had been unexpectedly moving.

‘You’re sure you want me there?’ he’d asked when his voice came back.

She’d nodded, but he looked sceptical, so she sought a way to reassure him. ‘It will be good practice for co-parenting. Besides, you were interested enough when they were moving.’

His eyes darkened in memory. ‘It was amazing to feel them. I’ve handled sheep, but it’s not the same when it’s your own child.’

Cassie held back a laugh. This was a serious matter to him. ‘I don’t imagine so.’

‘Courtney never let me touch her once she realised there wasn’t a future.’

Cassie had felt a qualm at his words. ‘You wanted to?’

He must have read her meaning because he’d responded immediately. ‘Not in that way. I told you there was nothing sexual between us after that night. But she didn’t involve me with the pregnancy either. When I asked, she gave me a printout of the scan. That was amazing enough.’

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