After that, things wound down. There were no more presents to open, but Ruby and Chelsea wouldn’t let Cordy help clean up. Jaycee came to sit with her and compare their swollen ankles. Even though Jaycee had a few weeks to go and Cordy was overdue, Jaycee won that contest.
As Jaycee was complaining about her win, the Saxons arrived. Rob, Janet, Hailey, and her husband, Brad, all of them in a row.
Cordy stared for a moment. So they had come, after all. When she hadn’t seen them at first, she didn’t let herself dwell on their absence, too determined to enjoy herself.
Mrs. Saxon had a small white box in her hands. She wasn’t smiling, but her expression was open, almost pleading.
Cordy got up and went to them. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
She couldn’t even care that they were late. They were still here.
Mrs. Saxon patted her arm. It wasn’t quite a hug, but it was the start ofsomething.“I brought Reed’s christening gown. Hailey told me you’d like to use it. I only ask that you return it to me so Hailey can use it for her kids.”
“Of course.” Cordy put her hand over Mrs. Saxon’s and gave a gentle squeeze.
Both Mr. Saxon and Hailey seemed to release a silent sigh of relief. The lingering tension finally cracked and fell away.
“You should get some food,” Cordy said. “It’s all delicious. And the cake, too… the cake is wonderful.”
“Quite the turnout,” Mr. Saxon said in an attempt at heartiness.
“Yeah.” Hailey subtly nodded to Ruby. “I’m sorry we couldn’t get here sooner.”
“Oh, we’re still going.” Cordy gestured to the Warblers, who were playing a remarkable cover of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” as two women tried to recreate the dance.
Hailey grabbed her dad’s arm. “Let’s get some food before it’s all gone.”
That left Cordy and Mrs. Saxon all alone.
Cordy didn’t wait to let the silence get weird. “I’ll need your help planning the christening. I’ve never been to one before.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Saxon pulled back. “You’ll be here that long? I thought… Reed always said you’d leave as soon as the baby was born. Is your stay with Chance not…temporary?”
She said that last as if it were fine china that might break under too much pressure.
“Reed and I didn’t have a chance to discuss that.” Cordy swallowed down a sudden knot of grief. There was so much they didn’t have time to talk about. “I’m planning on staying… well, for a while.”
Having never stayed anywhere for too long, Cordy wasn’t sure how to say she might stay permanently.
Did people just admit that?I’m staying forever?She had no idea.
The Chance question was tricky, too. They hadn’t talked about what came next. Surely, Chance was tiring of their arrangement. It was everything he’d never wanted.
“Staying with Chance is temporary,” Cordy said firmly. She gentled her tone. “I’d like to move into Reed’s house, if possible. It would be good for the baby to grow up in her dad’s house.”
Cordy had no idea if that was true—her dad had never had his own house—but it sounded right.
The lawyer had told her the last time they talked that it would be best if Cordy and the Saxons could come to an agreement without going to court. The lawyer would help draw up the legal paperwork to make official whatever compromise they worked out. Cordy hoped the Saxons would agree that was best.
“Of course.” Mrs. Saxon had the same expression as when she told Cordy and Reed they ought to get married. “A child needs stability. And family around them.” She cut a glance to Chance, who was standing with Quint. “Some families are more stable than others.”
Cordy stiffened. How dare this woman imply Chance was some kind of lowlife? He’d stepped up for her when no one elsehad and kept stepping up. He and his brothers. Cordy would always be grateful for their kind of stability.
But before she could spit out her anger, she bit her tongue. “They’ve been very good to me,” she said quietly.Better than you have.
“Well, yes.” Mrs. Saxon had the decency to look embarrassed. “I’m sure they have. But Reed’s house is all ready for you. I have a key, and I’ve been going in twice a week to clean and dust. I used to do it for Reed, so I just kept it up.”
That was… Was that normal? Cordy didn’t think so. She couldn’t imagine her mother letting herself into Cordy’s place. Mom preferred to meet somewhere more interesting than an apartment.
