nineteen
Cordy was done being pregnant.She was officially one day overdue, and that was one day too long.
She’d had what was supposed to be her final doctor’s appointment yesterday and asked the doctor what was wrong with her and why wasn’t this baby out? Her darling doctor had only laughed at her.
“You’re hardly overdue,” Dr. Shenoy said. “And first babies are often late. Trust me, everything is fine.”
Cordy thought Dr. Shenoy one of the nicest women she’d ever met. After that comment, Cordy was reconsidering that opinion.
“But I want to meet my baby,” Cordy wailed. “It’s beenforever.”
“Well, there are things you can do to stimulate labor. Sex, for example.”
Cordy was getting plenty of that, but still no baby. So that clearly didn’t work. She ought to tell the doctor that was complete bunk.
Yes, yes, she would, for science.
“It’s thought that the sperm helps ripen the cervix,” Dr. Shenoy said.
Oh.Cordy pulled up short. Well, that was not the kind of sex she was having and not the kind she was going to get. Not with Chance keeping all his clothes on. The bastard.
“Sorry.” Dr. Shenoy saw Cordy’s expression. “I guess that does sound a bit… unpleasant.”
The things that would happen to Cordy’s cervix when she had the baby would be way beyond unpleasant. Dr. Shenoy had said them all without batting an eye.
“It’s fine,” Cordy said. “Sperm on my cervix, huh? That will get things moving?”
“I’m only saying it might.” Dr. Shenoy patted her leg. “You’re going to hate me saying this, but be patient. Baby will come when they are ready and not before.”
It was true; Cordy did hate it. But she had smiled anyway.
So here she was, one day overdue, letting Chance drag her around Main Street and not screaming her frustration to the heavens. Cordy was showing the kind of patience a saint would envy.
“I thought we were picking up something from the Mercantile,” Cordy whined. “This isn’t the way.”
“I want to see something across the square.” Chance remained annoyingly calm in the face of her bad mood. It made her even more cranky.
“Why are the Warblers set up in the bandstand?” Cordy gestured to them. “It’s not Third Thursday.”
“Someone must be having a party.” Chance didn’t even look at where she was pointing.
“I guess so.” She peered at the park next to the square. “Yeah, those are balloons over there. A lot of them.”
Awholelot of them. Cordy had seen balloon arches before, but this was more like a balloon pavilion. And such pretty colors, dusky rose and muted blues with sage green scattered in—herfavorite colors. Her throw blanket had those colors, brightening her day each time she saw it.
Despite her mood, she smiled. Someone was going to have a fantastic party.
Chance was gently herding her toward the balloons. Cordy not so gently resisted.
“Chance, no,” she hissed. “We can’t crash their party.”
“It’s not crashing.”
She gave up and let him take her where he wanted. “Even in a small town, you can’t do this. I’m sure you’ve known these people since they came out of the womb, but we weren’t invited.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “I haven’t known this person that long. But I’m real glad they’re here now.”
“Is this someone’s birthday? Why didn’t you tell me we were going to a party?”
