Cordy thought about it. “They were probably playing a joke, and you boys fell for it.”
Realization was dawning on Chance’s face. “They did laugh a lot when they did those exercises.”
“They were… at your expense.” Cordy couldn’t hold in her own laughter anymore. “Who was it? I want to meet these girls. I bet they grew up to be amazing.”
“What are you two laughing about?” Ms. Reston asked as she came over to inspect their work. “Nice swaddle,” she told Chance.
“Thanks. I’m thinking of adding some duct tape next time to make it extra secure.” He shook his swaddled doll, testing the blanket’s hold. “But maybe I’ve got it.”
“I know you’re joking about the tape,” she said repressively. “The swaddle is… good. It’s a good swaddle.”
“Well, thank you, ma’am,” Chance drawled. “I’ve been practicing.”
Ms. Reston pressed her lips together. Cordy braced for the teacher to give Chance another lecture about being serious, which didn’t seem entirely fair. Chance was honestly beingwonderful and yes, he made a lot of jokes, but Cordy liked that. He knew when she was getting wound up and would make her laugh to get her to come back down. It was almost uncanny how good he was at sensing her mood.
Cordy couldn’t imagine doing this class with anyone else. Chance had been the right choice, even though she’d thought he’d be completely wrong.
“I can tell.” Ms. Reston’s praise came reluctantly. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure about you when you started.”
“Me?” Chance pointed to himself. “Because I’m a rancher?”
“It’s not that.” Ms. Reston sniffed. “It’s the joking. Men who only want to make jokes rarely do well in a labor class. And definitely not in the labor room.” She pinned them both with her stare. “None of this is a joke.”
Cordy didn’t think it was. But there was room for laughter, surely? It didn’t have to all be frowns and everything super serious. When Chance made her laugh, it helped. She felt like she could actually do this when he pointed out the humor in it.
“I know that, ma’am.” Chance was quietly sober.
“Yes, well”—Ms. Reston cleared her throat—“I know that you’ll do fine. The men who come in here ready to make everyone laugh, they do it to get attention. They’re not good partners because they can’t share the spotlight. The entire focus of the birth needs to be on the mother, and they can’t do it.” Ms. Reston put her hand on Chance’s shoulder. “But you proved me wrong. Even if you are a cut-up, you’re incredibly supportive of Cordy. You’ll be a wonderful partner for her. Just don’t tell any cow-birthing stories in the delivery room.”
“What if she wants me to?”
Cordy realized her eyes were stinging because Ms. Reston was right. Cordy was so lucky Chance had answered her ad.
Cordy sniffed, getting her emotions under control. “I’ll tell you if I want any ranch stories,” she told him. “But I might be kind of distracted.”
He took her hand, squeezed it. “I know. But I’ll be there the whole time.”
“Perfect.” Ms. Reston clapped her hands like that settled it, and moved on to the next couple.
“The ad said you wouldn’t have to be present at the birth,” Cordy said huskily. “So don’t feel you have to say yes.”
The frown that crossed his face was thunderous. ‘“Are you kidding me? And leave you all alone? Didn’t you hear her talking about everything that could go wrong? Who’s going to be there for you if something terrible happens? These doctors, they don’t always listen to women.”
It was true, but hearing it come from Chance’s mouth was something. It looked like he had been listening.
“Everything should be fine,” she said. “Most births are.”
“Well, I can’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong.” His face was pale.
“I don’t want to think about it,” she confessed. “I’ll be too scared if I do.”
“You won’t. But you let me think about it then. I’ll worry for you. And I’ll make the doctors listen.”
“Thanks.” Cordy tugged at the blanket wrapped around the doll, wondering what had just happened.
All of this was supposed to be temporary. But somehow, they’d slipped into something that was starting to feel… permanent? Kind of? At least it seemed that way, not that she had any experience with permanency. Chance himself was positively allergic to it.
She ought to tell him about Reed’s house and let him know she would move out once she got that sorted out. That wouldmake things between them more familiar. Yes, they’d still be friends, but the benefits part would end.
