Page 41 of A Chance to Believe

‘You’ll have plenty of time once the twins are born to sort out living arrangements. There’s no point stressing yourself out moving at this point. Aren’t you comfortable at Maidens Hill?’

‘Almost too comfortable. I’m not used to being waited on.’

‘How would your obstetrician feel about you moving into a place by yourself?’

Cassie grimaced. ‘He would be unimpressed. Doctor Reece has strong opinions about women with at-risk pregnancies living alone.’

‘Then relax. It’s no burden on us. It’s not like we’re wanting the space and Parker is loving having a woman in the house. He misses my mother.’

‘I’m surprised he didn’t go with them into town.’

‘His life is here. Not even my mother could winkle him out of his niche. Mum has organised someone to come in for cleaning and she enjoys doing her own cooking now it’s only the two of them. Besides, our need is greater. None of us are skilled cooks.’

‘What would you do if Parker went on holiday?’

He groaned. ‘He goes every year during the winter when things are quiet on the farm and Jim can get away. We starve for a month.’

‘I can’t imagine Parker leaving you to starve.’

The corner of his mouth tilted. ‘He may leave us some frozen casseroles to heat. Bacon and eggs are all on us for breakfast. I usually burn the bacon and the eggs are rubbery.’

‘Even I can cook bacon and eggs. You could ask …’ She hesitated as his eyes narrowed. ‘Not that I’m likely to be around by then.’

He leaned back in the chair. ‘One brief moment of hope, shattered.’

‘You’re a bit of a drama queen, aren’t you? I can see where Kimberley gets it from.’

His mouth opened and shut again as a nurse beckoned. Cassie pushed herself to her feet and took a few steps, halting when she realised Shayne hadn’t moved. ‘Aren’t you coming?’

The leap to join her was accomplished with a smooth catlike grace, and she almost laughed at his eagerness. She compressed her lips and followed the nurse down a side corridor.

The room was a smallish treatment room, but there was a spare chair for Shayne. The nurse did all the usual checks, keying her weight and blood pressure readings into the computer before scrolling through the information on the screen. ‘Your results are back from the latest blood tests, so the doctor will see you about them after you’ve had the scan.’

Shayne looked bemused when they were hustled down the corridor to wait outside another room on a row of chairs. ‘Is this usual?’

‘The scan is extra. The other things are done every time.’

‘I’m grateful sheep don’t require so much detail.’

‘There you go, comparing me to a sheep again.’

Colour darkened his cheekbones. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think.’

‘I’m guessing it’s a sheep grazier thing.’

‘I told you I had no real insight into Courtney’s pregnancy. All I know is sheep.’

It was a strange feeling having Shayne with her for this. Being so invested. She was used to doing everything by herself. Being the one in control, though the pregnancy had often been out of her control. She’d still been the one having to make all the decisions, parse through the doctor’s advice. Would this be how it worked ongoing?

There was an odd comfort in knowing there would be backup, even if she was still making the major decisions. If she was. Shayne would want input into significant choices around his children’s lives. Their education, health, future. All of them were decisions for both parents. Something she’d have to get used to.

‘Shayne?’

He turned from examining a brochure from the table beside them, brows raised. ‘Yes?’

‘We haven’t really talked about exactly how involved you want to be with the babies.’

His silence implied far more than she expected. For once she could read his expression and the implications of that crease between his eyebrows and the turndown of his mouth sent her gut spinning.

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