Cordy hugged him again. “I love it. And I’m going to miss you when I’m on maternity leave. Promise you’ll come visit?”
“Oh yeah.” Pierce’s posture loosened. “I’m signed up for the meal train.”
“Of course you are,” Cordy said under her breath.
“I’m bringing these high-protein breakfast bars I make when I’m bulking,” he said. “They’ve got fruit and stuff in them, they taste… okay. But I know you’ll need to keep your strength up while nursing, so I figured those would be good.”
Although his comment that they tasted okay wasn’t encouraging, it was so kind and thoughtful of him anyway. What a great kid Pierce was—and what a greathumanhe was. Cordy was genuinely blessed to know him.
“They sound great.” Her voice wobbled. She forced it to be normal. “Most people don’t think about breakfast, but it’s the most important meal of the day.”
“Dude, Iknow.” Pierce said that the way other people saidAmen.
After that, Liberty brought her a full plate of food, and then Jaycee ushered her to a seat of honor decorated with balloons and surrounded by a mountain of presents. Cordy was filled with happiness and embarrassment as she took the chair. It was too much. She didn’t like being the center of everyone’s attention, but she was incredibly touched all the same.
She oohed and ahhed over each present. Several people told stories they remembered of Reed as she opened their gifts, which were better than the gifts themselves.
It was the best afternoon of her entire life.
Justin was even there with his two daughters, Kaylynn and Hope. Kaylynn ran up to Cordy and shoved a wrapped present into her hands while Hope hung back next to her dad.
“Can you open it now?” Kaylynn begged. She bounced on her toes impatiently. “Please?”
“They picked it out together,” Justin said.
“Of course I will,” Cordy said, charmed down to her socks. What precious girls they were. “I can’t wait to see what it is. I love the wrapping paper.”
Carefully, Cordy pulled up the tape and revealed her gift. She gasped when she touched it.
It was a thick, indescribably soft blanket. Without thinking, Cordy pressed it to her cheek to feel the texture.
“Oh my goodness,” she breathed. “I love it.”
“It’s just like my blanket,” Kaylynn said. “The one I’ve had since I was a baby.”
“And mine, too,” Hope added shyly.
“Mrs. Ulker makes them,” Justin said. “Pretty much every kid in Star Crossed Springs has one.”
“And now my baby will too.” Cordy smiled at Justin. Yeah, he’d taken her job and her apartment, but he really was a nice guy. And he was genuinely trying to get his life together. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Cordy crouched down so she was eye level with the girls—thank goodness Ms. Reston had made her do so many squats. “Thank you both so much. I’m so glad my baby will have the same blanket.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Kaylynn asked.
“Kaylynn,” Justin said, “we don’t ask that.”
“No, it’s okay,” Cordy said. “I don’t know yet. I won’t know until the baby is here.”
“Really?” Hope was wide-eyed. “My mom knew I was a girl the whole time.”
Kaylynn looked up at Justin. “Did my mom know the whole time?”
Justin’s expression turned to panic. “Um, I don’t?—”
“Have you girls had cake yet?” Cordy asked. “I had two pieces, and they were delicious.”
The girls were off like a shot, Justin following as best he could.
