Page 48 of A Chance to Believe

Cassie remained quiet, not really contributing much, but at least she was eating. She looked way healthier than when she’d arrived all those weeks ago. He doubted she was sleeping well at this point in the pregnancy, but the shadows around her eyes were hardly noticeable.

He dragged his attention back to Tess who was looking at him expectantly.

‘How do you see this working? Cassie said she’s looking for a place in town.’

‘To be honest, I’d like her to stay here with the twins, whatever happens between us. I want to be a full-time father.’ He was conscious of Cassie’s alert posture, her fork held halfway to her mouth. She wouldn’t expect him to be so honest with a stranger, but Tess was her family. He needed to have her on side. Besides, he liked her.

‘I told you I wouldn’t be ridiculous about access.’

Tess shook her head. ‘He’s right, you know. It will be better for the kids to live with both parents. It will be tricky when they’re young because if you’re feeding them, they won’t be able to come and stay for more than an hour or two at a time.’

He saw Cassie’s fingers tighten around the fork. ‘I know all this. It’s more complicated than simply living here. Especially if I am only a visitor.’

‘It worked with Kimberley’s mother.’

Tess tilted her head to one side. ‘You’ve done this before?’

‘Cassie didn’t tell you?’

She sniffed. ‘Why would she? It’s not my business.’

‘Courtney had her own rooms.’

‘There you go. He won’t even ask you to sleep with him if you don’t want to.’

Colour swept up Cassie’s face, matching the heat in his own.

‘Oh,’ said Tess with a smirk. ‘I see.’

He was almost relieved to pick up his empty plate and mug and exit the room. Almost. He could see Tess being a brilliant advocate for his hopes. He could also see Cassie’s embarrassment at her bluntness in front of him. Better to leave them alone to talk about it.

He could hear his mother in the hall and he had a suspicion she was going to be interfering. In the nicest possible way.

She was standing at the foot of the stairs with a notebook and pen.

‘There you are. Parker said you were busy.’

‘I was finishing up my lunch.’

‘Good. You can come with me to the master suite. I have some ideas about converting the sitting room into a nursery.’

He felt a prickle up his spine as Cassie’s voice came from behind him.

‘What nursery?’

His mother beamed. ‘Excellent. I’d like your input too, Cassie. You’ll be spending time in the room, so it would be good to have some ideas. Shayne rarely worries much about decoration.’

‘Why would I be involved in a nursery upstairs here? I’ll be setting up my place in town.’

If Cassie thought she could put his mother offside, she was going to learn fast.

‘The babies will be spending time here, so they’ll need a room.’

Cassie fixed him with a fierce stare. ‘Wouldn’t they be downstairs in the annex?’

‘That wouldn’t be convenient in the long term. Especially if you aren’t planning on being around when I have custody.’

He didn’t really want to have this conversation with an audience, but his mother was already distracted.

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