A Chance to Believe by Fiona Marsden

Author:Fiona Marsden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Published: 2023-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Cassie tilted her head at the sound of a vehicle. She could have walked to the garage, but Shayne had insisted she wait at the front while he collected the Lexus.

Her new policy of trying to include Shayne in parenting things was having its first outing today. She didn’t count him feeling the babies move the other evening. Not something you could book ahead like this scan. He’d been speechless when she asked if he wanted to come. He wasn’t the type to show much emotion in the usual way, so seeing him grasping for words had been unexpectedly moving.

‘You’re sure you want me there?’ he’d asked when his voice came back.

She’d nodded, but he looked sceptical, so she sought a way to reassure him. ‘It will be good practice for co-parenting. Besides, you were interested enough when they were moving.’

His eyes darkened in memory. ‘It was amazing to feel them. I’ve handled sheep, but it’s not the same when it’s your own child.’

Cassie held back a laugh. This was a serious matter to him. ‘I don’t imagine so.’

‘Courtney never let me touch her once she realised there wasn’t a future.’

Cassie had felt a qualm at his words. ‘You wanted to?’

He must have read her meaning because he’d responded immediately. ‘Not in that way. I told you there was nothing sexual between us after that night. But she didn’t involve me with the pregnancy either. When I asked, she gave me a printout of the scan. That was amazing enough.’

She still had to ask. ‘Are you absolutely certain she wasn’t in love with you?’

‘About as certain as anyone could be about another person’s emotions. She was young and insecure. If nothing else, I think I helped her feel more secure financially. Kimberley helped her grow up.’

‘Yet she left her behind.’

‘It was part of our agreement that Kimberley stayed. It was done properly, legally, with full disclosure. She wasn’t cheated.’

‘That’s a little cruel, isn’t it?’

‘We might have compromised if Courtney had pushed, though having Kimberley helped us all when Brittany died. If she’d married locally, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but that’s not how it worked out. It made sense for Kim to stay here when her mother planned to follow the circuit in the US. She couldn’t have done that with a small child. She can have access so long as it doesn’t interfere with Kimberley’s schooling. When she met Cal, she realised that clinging to ties here wasn’t what she wanted. We’ve sent Kimberley over during the school holidays a few times, but recently it hasn’t been convenient. For them, not us.’

Cassie dragged her mind back to the present as the Lexus pulled into the drive. It had been enlightening seeing a little more clearly how Shayne managed his co-parenting with Kimberley’s mother. It was reassuring that she should be able to keep the twins with her once a custody agreement was reached and she moved out of Maidens Hill. She was getting to know more people locally, beyond the Smith family, so she could make a life here.

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