Cordy looked at the rack under the bar she’d just brought in. “Um, yes? Is something wrong with it?”
Pierce looked like he might cry. “You can’t… you can’t be lifting things. What if your belly pops and the water comes out, and that means the baby is born too soon?”
That was such a mad rush, it took Cordy a moment to process. Wait, Pierce was worried aboutthat?
She put a hand on his arm. “Buddy, it’s okay. The baby isn’t going to come early because I picked up a crate of glassware.”
“Are you sure? Because I heard?—”
Cordy shook her head to cut him off, not wanting to hear whatever a seventeen-year-old kid might have heard about childbirth. “I promise you, I am fine. The baby willnotbe born in this bar. I swear it.” She patted his arm, trying to get the worried look off his face.
“I guess,” Pierce said, sounding anything but convinced. “You should still ask me to carry any crates for you. If I’m here.”
“I promise I will. It’s very sweet of you to offer.”
Pierce perked up. “Good. Also, in case you do have the baby in the bar, I’ve been reading up on how to deliver one. There are a lot of really awesome stories about women delivering in cars. Or elevators. Or even planes!”
All of those sounded worse than having her baby in the Swing Inn, and that was a pretty awful thing to begin with. Cordy held in her sigh. “I’m glad you’re on it. Hey, you should probably head home. It’s getting late.”
“Yep.” Pierce did finger guns at her. “Don’t forget, I’m lifting all the crates from now on!”
“I won’t. Have a great night, dude.”
Cordy shook her head once Pierce was back in the kitchen. He was a great kid but a little overeager sometimes. She hoped he gave up on the idea of her delivering in the bar, although she would take him up on carrying heavy stuff for her.
She smiled down the bar as Sam Ulker, one of her favorite regulars, grabbed a seat. The Ulkers were a big family in Star Crossed Springs—Mr. Ulker, Sam’s uncle, was always in the Donut Palace when Cordy was there.
Sam raised two fingers in a hello. Cordy started pouring him a tall banquet beer before he could even ask.
“Thank you,” Sam said, taking a long sip. “Slow night tonight.”
“I don’t mind,” Cordy said. “You get some quiet to wind down.”
Sam was the town handyman and came into the Swing Inn at least once a week after work. He said nothing revived him like a cold beer poured by the prettiest girl in Star Crossed Springs. He always winked at Cordy as he said it.
She knew it was only flattery since Sam was madly in love with Janine, who ran the Star Crossed Springs Mercantile. Janine was an independent woman who vowed she’d never settle down, but Sam hadn’t lost hope, probably becauseJanine would invite him over whenever she got an itch for companionship.
Sam had told Cordy all this during his visits, including stories about the people at his jobs. He had a way of looking at the world with a wry amusement Cordy loved. He’d finish any story about Janine with “Someday that woman will marry me,” and Cordy could tell he believed it. She always replied, “I’m sure she will.”
If Cordy asked him, Sam would be her partner for the class, no questions asked. But she didn’t want to impose on him, and what would Janine think?
Maybe sheshouldask, though. She was running out of time.
“It was a rough day,” Sam said. “Had some plumbing issues over at the bed-and-breakfast to take care of.”
Cordy made a sympathetic noise. Plumbing stuff was Sam’s most hated job. “At least you have a cold beer now.”
“Served by the prettiest girl in Star Crossed Springs.” Sam winked at her as he raised his glass.
“My pleasure,” Cordy said, meaning it.
Sam set down his beer and cleared his throat. “I heard about what you put up in the Donut Palace. That ad.”
“Oh.” Cordy went still, wondering where this was going. Was Sam going to offer himself as a partner? Should she turn him down? “What about it?”
“You’ve got to be careful.” Sam wagged a finger at her. “Lot of weirdos out there who might take advantage.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Cordy said dryly. Considering no one had answered the ad, not even the weirdos wanted to take advantage of her.
