“You looked a little carsick carlier. Drink this.
“And take these vitamins.”
She took the glass and did as he said.
The women stared, stunned.
Jillian turned, pretending to be concerned.
“Cordelia, you’re taking medicine? Is something wrong?”
Cordelia finished the lemonade and said calmly, “No. I’m getting ready to have a baby.”
“Have a baby?”
Everyone gaped at their backs, then started whispering.
Velma leaned toward Belinda and said quietly, “Why? Didn’t she already have three kids?”
Belinda frowned. Just last month, she’d stopped by under the guise of a home visit and walked in on a full–blown fight.
Cordelia had been furious, throwing Declan’s things out like she never wanted to see him again.
Now they looked like the picture of domestic bliss..
Natalie looked confused. “Weren’t they splitting up? What’s with the baby talk? Did she figure out some magic trick to keep him around?”
“Who knows?”
“I thought we were in for some drama.”
After a few more words with Eric, Declan and Cordelia headed into the private room.
Their old classmates, once so full of life, now looked their age.
Most of the men had gained weight, lost hair, or both.
Declan didn’t seem fazed.
For Cordelia, though, it was jarring. Just days ago, she’d been in her twenties.
In her memory, these people were young, vibrant. Seeing them now was a shock.
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“Wow, they’ve really aged,” she murmured with a sigh.
Then she snuck a peek at Declan.
Compared to them, he stood out even more.
Eric, in his 80s, was helped to his seat by his daughter. Once he was settled, lunch began.
At first, the room buzzed with polite catch–ups.
Ten minutes in, the vibe shifted–status updates, humblebrags, quiet one–upmanship.
Then a few men turned to Declan, full–on flattery.
“Back in school, Declan was top of the class. Now he’s the one who made it big.”
“Seriously, Declan owns like ten or fifteen companies? One little project from him could feed us for a year.”
Two balding men stood to toast him.
“Here’s to Declan. Come on, it’s a party-”
Declan cut them off with a polite smile. “Sorry, I’m getting ready for a baby. No alcohol.”
The room burst into laughter.
Cordelia’s face went hot, her ears burning.
She tugged at Declan’s sleeve, whispering, “Why did you have to say that out loud?”
He looked at her, deadpan. “You told those women first.”
That was just how they spoke to each other, but to Belinda, it looked like Cordelia was showing off.
Belinda clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
Some people couldn’t help teasing. “Cordelia, you’ve already got three kids. What’s there to be shy about?”
A few women glanced over, eyes full of envy,
“Cordelia, looks like you two have it good.”
“Yeah, and Declan must be something in bed. My husband can barely last five seconds.”
“Lucky you. Mine doesn’t even make it past five.”
The exchange set off a wave of muffled laughter.
The men looked deeply uncomfortable.
“Hey, hey, can we not do this in front of Mr. Olson?”
“Give us guys a little dignity, will you?”
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Chapter 17
Just then, a woman near Cordelia leaned in, her voice low and curious.
“Cordelia, be honest. How’s Declan in bed?”
Immediately, every woman nearby turned to her, their eyes wide.
They were dying to know.
So was Cordelia.
She hadn’t experienced it herself and didn’t know what to say.
To make it worse, Declan was also looking at her.
She cleared her throat and gave a tight smile.
“Um… it’s just… fine, I guess.”
The other women exchanged glances, disappointment written on their faces.
They assumed the earlier comments were just flattery.
Declan set down his glass a little harder than usual.
He turned to Cordelia with a slight frown.
“Just fine?”
Cordelia picked up her soup, hiding the grin tugging at her lips.
It served him right.
He’d always gotten under her skin, and now he could feel it too.
After all that drama, the rumors about their supposed divorce were gone.
Eric leaned over and offered her some shrimp.
“Eat more. Protein is good for you and pregnancy prep.”
Cordelia gave an awkward laugh. “Thanks, Mr. Olson.”
Deep down, she already regretted blurting that out just to rile Belinda and her group,
Now she wished she could just disappear.
Eric smiled warmly. “Back in school, I could tell Declan liked you, Cordelia.
“I’m glad you two ended up together.”
“No way,” Cordelia said without thinking.
Declan could’ve liked any girl in their class, but not her.
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“Why not?” Eric countered. “Don’t you remember senior year, when you fainted from that fear in the classroom?”
Of course, she remembered.
She’d been seriously sick. The whole class had gone to the sports meet, and no one noticed she was missing.
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