Finding Forgiveness: Second Chance Romance/Enemies to Lovers, page 24
“I feel a little stronger after today. It was hard seeing her, and there is so much I want to say to that woman. Things I was too scared to voice back then. Maybe one day I’ll get that chance.” She reaches across the table and laces her fingers with mine. “You give me strength, Con. When I’m with you I feel invincible.”
The corners of my lips tug up, but I have nothing to do with this. It’s all her. This woman is a beacon of strength to have survived the things she did. If she wants to accredit that to me, then I’m not going to argue with her. As long as she knows she’s strong, that’s all that matters.
“How are you feeling?” I ask as we pull up outside my parents’ house.
Cassie turns her face towards me from the passenger seat and gives me a lazy smile. “Very chill. Those wines were exactly what I needed,” she says, reaching across the centre console to place her hand on my leg. “Thank you for being you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Princess. I’ll always look after you.”
“I hope you know how much I love you, Connor.”
“I do,” I say with a smile. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t prove it with both her actions and words. Sometimes the most damaged love the hardest.
Once I exit the vehicle, I round the car to her side so I can open her door and help her out.
My hand is clutched in hers as we head down the path towards the house. As we’re climbing the stairs the front door flies open and my heavily pregnant sister waddles out.
“Jazzie!” Cassie shrieks, dropping my hand and opening her arms. “What are you doing here?”
“We flew down this morning. We wanted to be here for you when you got home from court.”
“Thank you.” Once she releases my sister, she steps back. “Are you staying for the weekend?”
“Yes. Have you been drinking? You smell like alcohol.”
“Rude much. I had a couple of wines; I had a shitty day. Sue me.”
“It wasn’t an insult.”
Cass’s hands move to her hips. “You accused me of smelling like a brewery, Jacinta Bradley.”
“I did not. And as I said, I wasn’t trying to insult you. If anything, I’m jealous.”
She rubs her expanding stomach, and Cassie reaches out to do the same. “I can’t believe how big you’ve gotten.”
“Now who’s being rude? You saw me two days ago … I was the same size then.”
“No, you’re definitely bigger.”
Mason exits the house and joins us. When he drapes his arm around his wife’s shoulder, she looks up at him and pouts. “Why the sad face, babe?”
“Cassandra just called me a whale.”
I shake my head and round them, heading inside. I flick my eyes at Mason as I pass. He’s an idiot if he gets involved. I know from experience; when it comes to these two, he’ll only end up incriminating himself somehow and they’ll both turn on him.
Thankfully, Mason ended up taking my lead and followed me inside. He’s been around those two enough to know the score.
We are currently sitting out on the back deck having a beer with my dad while he cooks the barbeque. Standing, I grab the empty bottles. “You want another?”
“Please,” Mason answers.
“Dad?”
“Thanks, Son.”
I pause at the entrance to the kitchen and observe the three most important women in my life. They’re chatting and laughing as they make sides to go with the meat. As expected, Cass and Jaz are best of friends again, hence why I stay out of their little spits. They never lead anywhere, and if I’m being honest, their fights make no sense … Jaz never accused Cass of smelling like a brewery and Cass never called her a whale.
Smiling, I lean my shoulder against the archway and watch my girl in action. She’s in her element here. Growing up, she’d sit at the breakfast bar and watch my mum and sister work, but she has some skills now, which she is proudly putting to use.
She’s currently making honey and mustard dressing for the salad; I recognise the ingredients as one of the ones we learnt in culinary school.
After giving it a good mix, she lifts the bowl and holds it out in front of Jaz. “Taste this, and tell me what you think?”
My sister dips the tip of her pinkie finger in and brings it to her mouth. “Yum.” The lift that one word gives my girl chokes me up a little inside. That straightening of her posture, that small puff to her chest … but it’s the way her beautiful face lights up that gets to me most. “Taste this, Mum.”
My mum gives the same reaction. “That’s delicious, Cass. Can I trouble you for the recipe, sweetie?”
The placement of her hand on her chest, and the slight glisten in her eyes as she proudly nods her head forces me to turn my face away. “I’ll write it down for you after dinner,” I hear her say as I make my way to the fridge.
It kills me to know that the slightest bit of praise can mean so much to her. I could strangle her mother for all the damage she has inflicted. Going forward, she’ll be loved, appreciated, and protected by us. I’ll make sure of it.
“Can I get you ladies a drink?” I ask as I pull three beers out of the fridge.
“We’re good, sweetie,” my mum answers.
I walk around the island and palm Cass’s arse as I pass. “Buttercup will be ready soon,” I tell them.
“Who’s Buttercup?” Jacinta asks.
“Buttercup the cow,” I reply, looking over at Cassie and winking.
When she realises where I’m going with this, a beautiful grin lights up her face, hitting me right in the chest. “I think he’s referring to the steaks on the barbeque,” she says.
“Gah,” Jacinta grumbles. “You two are weirdos.”
“Takes one to know one,” I reply like a five-year-old.
I’m looking forward to spending the weekend here with everyone, and I think it will do Cassie the world of good.
Chapter 30
Cassie
After the waiter takes our order and walks away, my attention moves back to Jacinta, where I find her giving me a strange look. “Since when do you drink peppermint tea?” she asks.
“Since forever,” I lie.
“Please, I’ve known you since I was twelve, I’ve never seen you drink any kind of tea.”
“I had a chai latte once,” I retort, screwing up my nose, because I wasn’t a fan.
“Hmm.”
We decided to meet up for brunch. I’ve taken the day off because I have an appointment I need to go to after this. Jacinta is officially on maternity leave. She’s been working the front desk at the studio for the past few months, but since she’s almost ready to pop, Mason wanted her at home.
She’s booked in for a caesarean next week since her prediction was correct. There is a giant baby growing inside her. She’s so tiny her doctor thought a C-section would be safest for both her and Bub. She had her heart set on a natural birth but opted for their recommendation in the end. I wouldn’t want to be pushing that thing out of my vagina either.
We all have a side bet going on behind Jacinta’s back. I’ve predicted the baby will weigh twelve pounds. Connor said five, Mason seven, and Jim said eight … amateurs. Blake said a hundred, bless his little heart, and Grace was closest to me, her guess being ten.
I’m sad I won’t be there to witness the birth of my niece or nephew, but I want them to be safe, so I understand. Mason will be there by her side.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I watch her squirm in her seat.
“I need to pee again … I only just went before we left home.”
“You’ve got a giant head resting on your bladder, it’s understandable.”
“My baby doesn’t have a giant head,” she growls. “It’s in perfect proportion with the rest of its—”
“Giant body,” I say, cutting her off. “I rest my case.”
“Hmm,” she hums again as her eyes slightly narrow.
By the time she waddles to the toilet and returns to the table, our drinks have arrived. She chose a fruit smoothie since she can’t have coffee.
It takes her a minute to find the best position once she’s seated. Poor thing. Side on, she’s almost as wide as she is tall. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but you get where I’m coming from.
“Feeling better?” I ask.
“Ugh. I have a constant urge to pee, and then when I go it feels like two drops come out.”
I make a face. “Sounds delightful.”
“I need this baby out … the last few weeks have been hell.” She leans in and takes a sip of her smoothie. “Mmm. How’s your tea?”
“Yummy,” I lie. It tastes like hot water that’s been stirred with a Christmas candy cane.
When our food arrives, Jacinta’s eyes are again on me. “Why did you only order vegemite toast … and why are you taking such minuscule bites and chewing for ten minutes?”
I give her the stink eye. “I’m not.”
“That is the third lie you’ve told me since we got here. What’s really going on, Cassie?”
“I’m late.”
“Oh my God,” she says with a mouth full of bacon and eggs. The sight makes my queasy stomach recoil. “You think you’re PG?” I lift one shoulder. “Have you taken a test?”
“I have an appointment at the doctor after this.”
“What time?”
I glance down at my phone. “Just over an hour.”
She shovels more food into her mouth before placing down her cutlery and pushing herself up to stand. “There’s a pharmacy a few stores down. Let’s go.”
“I’ll just wait until I see the doctor.”
Despite how shitty I’m feeling, I’m not confident. I’ve been off the pill for months, and every time my period comes, I end up in tears. I’m afraid those pills my mother gave me have broken something inside.
I haven’t even told Connor I’ve gone off my birth control. I could see how desperately he wanted to have a child with me, so I thought I’d surprise him, but as the months passed and my hope diminished, I kept quiet.
Jacinta picks up a piece of toast off her plate and takes a huge-arse bite before pointing it at me. “Listen here, you,” she growls. “I shared my moment with you, and now you need to return the favour.”
We end up back at her apartment and follow the same routine as we did with Jacinta’s test, only this time in opposite places. Once I pee on the stick, we take a seat on the side of the bath. I was nervous last time, but that pales in comparison to how I’m feeling right now. My stomach is churning and I have peppermint-flavoured bile sitting in the back of my throat.
When the timer goes off on her phone, I spring to my feet … it takes Jazzie a little longer to rise. I stare down at the stick sitting on the countertop, but I’m petrified to pick it up. I don’t think I can bear another disappointment.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” she snaps, swiping it up. When she raises her hands in the air and squeals, “You’re preggo, biatch,” it takes a moment for those words to sink in.
As soon as they do, I throw my arms around her and cry. We jump up and down a few times, but then Jacinta suddenly stills. I feel it before I see it. “Eww, did you just pee on my foot?”
“No, I think my water broke.”
Oh crap.
I kick off my shoes, because gross, and lead her into her bedroom. Once I’ve managed to lay her down, I spring into action. I’m unusually calm, maybe because this isn’t my first rodeo. When I re-enter the room with a stack of clean towels in my hands, she looks over at me confused. “What are you doing?”
“Preparing for the birth. Do you have a heat lamp?”
“A what?”
“A heat lamp to keep the baby warm. The towels are so I can wipe all the gunk off it once it’s born.”
“First of all, have you lost your ever-loving mind? Secondly, you are not delivering my baby.”
“I have experience,” I proclaim, rolling my eyes.
“With piglets,” she yells. “I’m having a human baby … and did you forget about its giant head?”
I throw my hands in the air. “Oh, so you’re finally admitting it has a giant head?”
“Pass me my phone,” she roars.
“Why?”
“So I can call an ambulance and my husband.”
“I can do that.”
“You need to pack my bag.”
“You haven’t done that yet?” I screech.
“No! I thought I had another week to prepare. Obviously, this kid has other plans.”
I dash towards their walk-in robe to grab a suitcase. I come out a few minutes later with a cute top and a pair of matching heels. “What about these.”
“That top no longer fits, and I’m going to the hospital to have a baby, if you even think of packing those shoes, I’m going to spear your eyeball with the heel.”
I gasp. “Bitchy much.”
“Just pack me some comfy clothes, tights, tees, a few hoodies. Oh, and in my top drawer, you’ll need to grab my Yummy Mummy pyjamas.”
“Yummy Mummy?”
“Mason bought them for me. He had them custom-made because he’s been calling me that since I fell pregnant. He’ll be upset if I don’t wear them.”
“Ooookay then,” I say with sarcasm as I cross the room. And she had the hide to call me and Connor weirdos because he named the cow we were eating.
Thankfully, we all made it to the hospital in time. Well, Grace and Jim didn’t. They are currently on a flight. They weren’t supposed to arrive until the weekend, but since the baby had other plans, they’re now scrambling to get here.
Mason is with Jacinta in the operating theatre, Connor is sitting in a chair with his head buried in his hands, Blake is beside him, swinging his little legs back and forth and playing his Nintendo Switch like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I’m pacing like a crazy woman. I swear I’ve worn a path in the vinyl floor.
One, because I’m worried about my BFF who is currently having her guts sliced open, and two, I have yet to tell my fiancé about the pregnancy test I took earlier. I feel like we invaded their wedding with our surprise proposal, I don’t want to crash the birth of their baby as well.
An eternity passes before Mason enters the small room where we are waiting. We get a start when the door comes flying open. “I have a daughter,” he announces with tears brimming in his eyes.
I fling myself into his arms. “Oh my God,” I screech. “Congratulations. Do we have a name?”
“Emmy-Lou.”
Once I release him, my hand flies to my chest. Oh, my heart.
Connor stands and crosses the short space to shake his hand, and Blake abandons his video game to hug his dad’s leg. “I have a little sister?”
Mason bends down to ruffle his hair. “Yeah, bud.”
“Yes,” Blake says, punching the air.
“She’s going to need you to look after her. Do you think you can do that for me?”
“Yes!”
“Me two,” Connor adds.
“Me three,” I say.
This little girl is going to be so loved.
Grace and Jim arrived before we were finally able to see Jazzie and Emmy-Lou, and wow, what an incredibly emotional moment that was. I think we all shed a tear or two. Maybe I shed a few more than that, but I’m going to blame my pregnancy hormones for my overly emotional state.
Connor and I do the right thing and let the grandparents and Blake have first cuddles. It’s a struggle because I just want to squish my beautiful niece’s fleshy cheeks.
When our turn finally arrives, I step aside and let Connor have first dibs. The way his face lights up as he looks down at her with so much love in his eyes has my ovaries disintegrating in an instant, poof. It feels like a bittersweet moment, because I know our first child would have gotten that same adoring reaction if that moment hadn’t been robbed from us. It has my heart flip-flopping in my chest.
He’s going to be the best daddy, and I’m already counting my blessings that it’s him I get to do this with. Our baby is going to be a Maloney from birth, and will be showered with all the love by these amazingly kind and good people.
“Do we have a weight yet?” I ask.
“Eleven pounds, three ounces,” Mason answers proudly.
I extend my arm, holding my palm face up. “Pay up, bitches,” I say, wiggling my fingers.
“Pay up for what?” Jacinta asks suspiciously.
“We had a side bet on how much your giant baby would weigh.” I curl my fingers over into an arch and blow hot air along my nails before rubbing them against my shirt, all smug-like. “Of course, I won,” I boast.
When her eyes narrow, I smile.
I take a seat beside my baby daddy and glance down at my chubby, giant niece. She has the sweetest little face, and she is so cute I could gobble her up.
Connor’s eyes move from Emmy-Lou to me. “Have you given any more thought to what I asked?”
“Huh?”
He leans in and kisses his niece’s forehead before whispering, “Going off the pill.”
“Oh, that.”
“I don’t want to put pressure on you, but we need to have our own little one of these, Princess,” Connor says, looking over at me with so much hope in his eyes I can’t hold it in anymore.
My hand caresses my stomach and I grin. “About that.”
Chapter 31
Cassie
Three years later …
The nerves set in when Connor pulls into a parking space and shuts down the engine. I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks.
“Yes.” I need to, so I can truly move on. The last three years have been crazy busy. Not just with our wedding—which we had on the farm in Mudgee—I’ve also popped out three babies in that time.
Our twins were born seven months after Emmy-Lou, and when I went back for my six-week examination, I found out I was pregnant again. Oops. My gynaecologist wasn’t impressed, but I simply said to her, “You’ve seen my husband, right?” She couldn’t exactly argue with me after that. I’ve always struggled to keep my hands off him, but seeing him dote on our children is as addictive as crack cocaine.
