Chapter 30
thirty
Cordy was yanked out of sleep by her phone ringing. It was a deep, delicious sleep, the kind she was desperate for. But the phone wouldn’t stop ringing.
She’d better answer in case it was about Holden. He was supposed to leave the hospital today and enter the Shady Oaks nursing home. Although why anyone was calling her instead of Chance, she couldn’t say.
Or it could be the Saxons calling about Reed’s house.
They’d been upset when Cordy had told them she wouldn’t be moving out of Chance’s house. It had seemed for a few days things would go back to how they had been, with the Saxons freezing her out, but they’d eventually come around. Cordy suspected Hailey had pushed them to accept what was happening with good grace.
They’d all agreed to rent out Reed’s house and set aside the money for whatever Madeleine might need. “That way, Reed will still be providing for her,” Cordy had said. Thankfully, Mr. and Mrs. Saxon had agreed. But now they needed to find someone to rent the house.
Cordy grabbed her phone, resisting the urge to toss it against the wall. The number was international, but the caller ID didn’t say exactly where. Maybe Dad was trying to contact her.
“Hello?” She heaved herself up, her eyes sliding closed again. Next to her, Chance rolled over and groaned.
There was a long pause on the other end. Damn it, if Cordy had woken up to answer some telemarketer, she was going to smash the phone.
“Honey? Cordelia Grace, can you hear me?”
Cordy’s eyes flew open. “Mom?”
Chance sat up. Immediately, he put his hand on her knee, letting her know he was there. After how the call with her dad had gone, Chance must be worried.
Cordy was more than a little worried herself. Mom had no idea Cordy had even been pregnant, and she was about to get hit with an emotional tidal wave. Cordy might get hit, too, if Mom acted like Dad had. Mom hadn’t been excited about being a mom, but she might be excited about being a grandma. Who wouldn’t love Madeleine?
“Oh honey, I’m so glad to hear your voice. What’s with all the emails telling me to call you? Are you okay?”
“Um, I’m fine.” Cordy found Chance’s hand and twined her fingers in his. “I didn’t want to tell you the news over email.”
“News? What news?” Mom’s voice took a downward turn. “Don’t tell me you got married.”
Oh Lord, this was already going bad. “No, but I will in a few months.”
Chance had gotten her a ring the day after he’d proposed and made her set a date. At first, he’d wanted to head to the county clerk and get married immediately, but Cordy knew everyone would be disappointed if they didn’t have a wedding.
So they compromised—Chance got to take her to the courthouse that day and get them secretly hitched, and Cordy got him to agree to a wedding ceremony for their friends and family in three months.
Honestly, she was glad they were already married. Not that she doubted Chance’s commitment to her and Madeleine, but having it be official, even secretly, was satisfying. No matter what happened, she and Madeleine belonged to Chance, and he belonged to them.
“What?” Mom’s shriek echoed through the phone speakers. “Married to whom?”
“A man I met in the town I’m living in. Chance Kessal. He’s a cowboy. You’ll love him.”
“Where are you now, in the States? I guess I could make it back for the wedding.”
“That would be nice”—Cordy tightened her grip on Chance’s hand—“but if you can’t, I understand.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Cordy filled her lungs. “Mom, there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I had a baby.”
There was dead silence. And then, “Cordelia Grace, are you serious?”
“Yes. I had a baby.” Cordy laughed nervously. “Madeleine. I’ll show her to you if you can get on a video call.”
“My God. Is this why you’re getting married? Honey, you don’t have to do that.”
“No, no, I want to marry this guy.” Cordy looked into Chance’s eyes. “So much. I’m so in love with him.”
Chance lifted their linked hands and kissed each of Cordy’s knuckles.
“Um.” Cordy tried to focus. “But he’s not Madeleine's dad. It’s… it’s a complicated story.”
“Why didn’t you… Because I was out of touch, of course.” There was a rustling on the other end.
“I can explain, but it will take a while.”
“No,” Mom said. The rustling got louder. “Just wait until I’m there.”
“There?” Cordy glanced at Chance. “Do you mean here? You’re coming here ?”
“I’m booking a flight right now.” A keyboard clacked in the background. “I can be there in… three days. Where are you again?”
“Star Crossed Springs. It’s in Northern California.”
More keyboard clacking. “Oh wow, you’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Mom, you’re in Mongolia! I couldn’t reach you for months.” Cordy adjusted her fingers in Chance’s. “You’re going to come right away?”
“Of course. I’d have been there sooner if I’d known. My baby had a baby! I’m a grandma!”
It was so different from how Dad had been—and what Cordy had needed all this time—that it made her tear up.
“Thank you, Mom. Dad… Dad wasn’t as excited.”
“I’ll talk to him and set him straight. Don’t you worry about it—he’ll be the best grandpa once I’m done with him.”
This was so unlike her mom that Cordy didn’t know what to say. What had happened to You can only count on yourself? Don’t own things, or they’ll own you?
It turned out that becoming a grandparent changed a person. Cordy might wish her mom had been different when she was growing up, but that would be useless. At least Mom would be there for Madeleine, and wasn’t that what raising a kid was all about—making sure their life was better than yours?
“That would be great, Mom. We can’t wait to see you both.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet this little girl! Don’t send me any pictures; I want to be surprised when I see her.” Mom added as an afterthought, “Oh, and meeting your fiancé. That’ll be nice. All right, darling, I need to run if I want to get a ride to the airport in time. Love you, see you soon!”
Cordy stared at the phone after the call ended, hardly believing what had happened. Chance was still holding her hand.
“She’s coming. Now,” Cordy said. “She’s excited to be a grandma.”
Chance kissed her hand again, sensing the mixed emotions in her because he read her too well. “Sometimes people can be shit parents but amazing grandparents.”
“They weren’t shit,” Cordy said instinctively.
Chance only raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, maybe they could have done better. But I think they’ll be good grandparents.”
Chance kissed her forehead. “I’m glad, baby. Once they see her, they’ll immediately fall in love.”
He was so sure because he was so in love with Madeleine himself. Cordy wasn’t surprised by how devoted he was to Madeleine, but when she thought about his past as a one-night-stand king, it was funny.
No more nights at the Swing Inn or Red Dog for him, though. Speaking of that…
“You’re okay taking care of her this afternoon?” Cordy asked.
“Yep, we’ll be great. Got the car seat installed in the truck, her playmat in the back seat, and we’ll be in the office doing paperwork most of the time.”
“I never thought cowboys had to do paperwork.”
“Ranchers do.” His hands slipped under her pajama shirt. “You’ll be okay today?”
Cordy was heading back to the Swing Inn to do an afternoon shift for the first time since Madeleine had been born. As she suspected, Justin couldn’t do everything she could, and Glenn was desperate for help. Cordy had agreed as long as she was promoted to manager and only worked day shifts. Glenn needed her back so badly he’d given in without arguing.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Honestly, I’ve missed it. You and Madeleine are great, but I like seeing other people too.” She guided his hand to where she ached for him. “And the best part is, I’ll get to come home to you. How long do you think she’ll sleep?”
“Long enough.” Chance eased her back, covering her with his big body. He kissed the side of her neck, driving her wild.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Cordy whispered. She opened her thighs, urging him against?—
Madeleine let out an unholy wail. Iggy barked in response and kept barking.
Cordy looked toward the ceiling, frustration knotting her body. Chance sighed and set his forehead against her collarbone.
“I guess that’s how long she’ll sleep,” he said.
“She has killer timing.”
“Emphasis on the killer.” He lifted his head and smiled. “She’s lucky she’s so cute, ’cause she’s one hell of a cockblocker.”
Iggy started scratching at the door.
“We hear her,” Cordy called. “We’re coming.”
Chance helped her up out of bed, then opened the door. Iggy came bounding in, reproach on his face. The angel is crying, and you’re not helping!
“I’m going, buddy.” Chance rubbed Iggy’s head. “Good job looking after her.”
Cordy took a moment to stretch, knowing Madeleine would be fine with Chance. Sure enough, her cries cut off as soon as he opened the nursery door.
She could hear Chance talking to the baby, soft words of love. Her heart melted. God, he loved both of them so much. They were so lucky to have him.
Of course, he would say he was lucky to have them .
They were both right, which was why their unusual little family was absolutely perfect.