A thought hit her. Maybe… maybe she could go to the Donut Palace and… hang out. In the Parents’ Corner like she’d been imagining. Yeah, she could try that. What was the worst that would happen? The other moms wouldn’t talk to her? After what had happened at Third Thursday, that didn’t scare her.
Quickly, she texted Chance to tell him where she was going. Otherwise, he would completely freak out if he came home and she was gone.
He treated her like a princess—or maybe a queen—because he did everything for her and never asked anything for himself. She still hadn’t seen him without his clothes, and it was starting to irritate her. Being worshiped had been nice, but now…
Don’t say you want more. You can’t have it, and you know it.
Chance texted her back in record time, the way he always did. She never got left on Read with him.Have fun, be careful.Then, two seconds later,Do you want me to drive you? It’d be safer.
That was his latest thing—she shouldn’t be driving. As if when she went into labor, she’d spontaneously explode behind the wheel. Cordy tried not to roll her eyes when he brought it up.
I’ll be fine, she wrote back.It’s the middle of the day, don’t you need to work?
I can drive you.
Cordy rolled her eyes.No, I’m driving myself. I’ll be back before dinner.
Okay,Chance replied.Can you grab some sourdough? We’re low on sandwich bread.
That made her stop and catch her breath. It was so ordinary, the kind of thing a husband would send to his wife…
She put a hand to her mouth. It was simple, but intimate. They were falling into something, but what? Friendship? It was like no friendship she’d ever had, but it wasn’t like she was good at friendship anyway.
Love? Chance had warned her about that, and he didn’t seem out of his mind to her. So, if it was, the feeling was all on her side.
Or maybe you’re hormonal.That was another excellent possibility. Emotions tended to swamp her these days. Chance had fed Iggy some bacon the other day when he thought Cordywasn’t looking, then rubbed the dog’s ears, and she’d started bawling.
That had to be it. Simple hormones making her feel too much over things that weren’t that important.
Sure,she sent back, then put the phone away before Chance could make her feel anything more.
The moment she pulled into the Donut Palace parking lot, her resolve shrank. She’d planned to sit in the Parents’ Corner and enjoy a strawberry shortcake donut. But suddenly, she wanted to turn around and go home.
Cordy laughed bitterly at herself as she played with the car keys. She’d move halfway across the world in a blink and without a plan, but she couldn’t summon the nerve to walk into a donut shop she’d been in a hundred times before.
“Stop being a coward.”
To steel her courage, she remembered everyone crowding around her to give her love and support at Third Thursday. Chance lifting her into his arms, making her feel safe.
At the very least, she had to get him some sourdough. She’d promised.
The bell over the door seemed louder than usual as it announced her arrival. But Liberty’s welcoming smile was warm as always.
Today, Liberty had her hair pulled back in two long braids and winged eyeliner that she’d drawn on with laser precision. Cordy was tempted to ask how she’d done it.
“A strawberry shortcake?” Liberty asked. “And I’ve got a fresh pot of decaf going if you’d like.”
“I’d love that, thank you. And I need some sourdough. The sandwich loaf.”
“I’ll get those for you right away.” One corner of Liberty’s mouth ticked up like she knew a secret. “I signed up for the meal train.”
“Well, if you’re bringing donuts, I can’t refuse those.”
Liberty’s mouth fell. “No, I was… I was going to bring something else. But I can bring donuts if you want.”
“Whatever you want to bring is fine. We’ll be happy with anything.” Cordy meant the donut line as a joke, but she could see how it might be rude, expecting Liberty to bring donuts. “Or you can just come hold the baby. I’m worried we might have too much food.”
“Most people will bring things you can freeze.” Liberty handed Cordy the bag with her donuts. “Some people treat it like a competition. They won’t tell you directly, but they’ll be waiting to hear what you liked best so they can crow about it.” Her gaze flicked to a cluster of older women at one of the booths. She dropped her voice. “Like those ladies.”
