Fighting for a Second Chance (Fighting #1)

by Nikki Ash

  I get up to the second floor and hear a child crying. My skin goose bumps. Every mother knows her child’s cries. Not only is that my child’s cry but it’s a cry of pain. I pick up my pace and rush into her room. What I see breaks my heart. There are what looks like two nurses and a doctor standing over Bella while trying to hold a mask over her face. She has an IV in her arm and she is thrashing around crying. The nurse is trying to soothe her but isn’t having any luck.

  I make my way to her bed and I lock eyes with my little angel. Her eyes are red and blotchy and are filled with tears. Her cheeks are stained telling me she has been crying for a while. The doctor and nurses try to speak to me but the only thing I can focus on is getting to my baby and hugging her. I wrap her into my arms and attempt to inhale her shampoo but it doesn’t smell right. I can’t think at the moment what it smells like, though. She’s ok and that’s all that matters right now. I can feel her pulse and her heart beating, and that means she is ok.

  She sobs into my arms and I can feel her tears spilling onto my skin. I pull my face back a little trying to kiss away those tears. I rock her back and forth the best I can from next to her bed and murmur softly into her ear. “It’s ok, baby. It’s ok. Mommy is here.”

  She finally calms down and the doctor begins to explain what’s going on.

  “I can’t give you the specifics of what happened since the police and firemen haven’t come in yet but according to the EMT’s that brought your daughter in, she was in a fire.”

  I gasp at that and look back at Bella to reassess her. She looks ok. I do a mental inventory of her body parts looking for any indication she was in a fire. Her arms look ok and her face is perfect aside from the tearstains. I pull the bedding down to check her legs and everything looks ok. When I get closer and really look at her, though, I see she has soot all over her hair. I sniff her again and realize what I smelt is smoke, like what you smell when you sit around a campfire too long.

  I bring my attention back to the doctor and he continues. “When she came in she was coughing very badly. We hooked her up with a saline drip to make sure she is hydrated and when you walked in we were trying to get her to put an oxygen mask on to help the oxygen flow. We did a scan and her lungs are clear. She is very lucky, ma’am. The man who saved her covered her face with a wet wash cloth which kept the smoke from entering into her lungs.”

  I feel like I am in a dream. I have no idea where Kayla and Bella were and why they were with a man who saved Bella.

  “Thank you, doctor…”

  “Dr. Maven. Please let me know if you have any questions. I would like for your daughter to breathe into the oxygen mask as much as possible and we are going to keep her overnight to monitor her to be on the safe side.”

  He gives me a smile and I shake his hand. I sit down next to Bella and thank God she is ok. That is when I remember Kayla!

  “Um, nurse...” I look at her nametag. “Nurse Holly. Is there any way you can stay with my daughter for a few minutes? My best friend was brought in with my daughter at the same time and I have no idea how she is doing.”

  “Absolutely. I will be happy to keep Bella company while you go check on your friend.” She turns to Bella and bribes her with an iPad to play with if she can put on her oxygen mask for a few minutes. Bella gives in, of course. Because, really, what child would turn down the chance to play electronic games? I give Bella a kiss on her cheek and tell her I will be back soon.

  I head down the hall to the adult recovery wing and press the button on the elevator to go down. I need to call Bentley to thank him for getting ahold of me and to let him know where Kayla’s room is. It dings that is has arrived and as I get on, while looking down at my phone, I run into a wall and see it’s not actually a wall, just a wall of a beautifully fit man, and that man is Cooper standing in front of me. My breath catches and he looks just as confused to see me.

  “Did you come here to see Bella?”

  “Um no, I came here to see my dad, well, not see him… Wait, Bella is here in the hospital? Is she ok?”

  He visibly begins to panic and I grab a hold of his hand to calm him down. “Yes, but she is ok. I don’t really know what happened. I was actually just heading to see Kayla. This is all just so crazy. Both of them were brought in by ambulance. Bella inhaled smoke but the doctor said she is ok. They are keeping her overnight just to be sure. I haven’t had a chance to see Kayla yet so I don’t know how she is doing or what the heck happened. I guess some guy was there and saved Bella. I really need to find out who he is and thank him. The doctor said he saved her life.”

  I stop rambling and look at Cooper. He looks very pale, like he’s sick. “Cooper… are you ok?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Cooper

  I can feel my heart shatter. I mean, I can actually feel the pieces falling apart as Liz tells me our daughter was brought to the hospital. I don’t even know this little girl but I can feel it in my heart and in my bones when she tells me about what happened. To think I could have lost her before I even got to know her. What was I thinking taking time to consider whether or not I should be in her life? I am her father. It’s not her damn fault I was raised in a shitty situation. That little girl deserves the world and she deserves for her father to be in her life. I have so much to make up for.

  “…I guess some guy was there and saved Bella. I really need to find out who he is and thank him. The doctor said he saved her life.”

  I suddenly feel sick when I hear Liz speak these words. What are the odds that my dad’s cause of death is the same reason my daughter was brought into the hospital? Something is definitely off. It’s all way too much of a coincidence.

  She stops talking and looks at me closely and then asks if I am ok. I clear my throat. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m ok. If you are going to see Kayla who is with Bella?”

  Liz straightens up and I realize I just asked that too harshly. She probably thinks I am judging her. I back track before she flips out. “I am just asking because I can go stay with her if you want. I mean, if it’s ok… you know, while you go make sure Kayla is ok.”

  Her body relaxes and she gives me a small smile but it isn’t her usual happy one. It’s got a sad tilt to it.

  “I would like that Cooper but…” She stops for a second to consider what she’s going to say next and then sighs loudly. I can tell she’s exhausted so I don’t give her a chance to explain. I get it. I might be Bella’s dad but she doesn’t even know me.

  “You don’t have to finish your sentence. I completely get it. She doesn’t know me. Seeing me would only confuse her. It’s ok. I am really glad she is ok. I was actually meaning to call you. I have thought about everything the last few days and I would really like to be a part of yours and Bella’s life; if it’s still on the table that is.”

  She gives me a soft smile and suddenly her body is pressed up against mine. She is hugging me tightly with her arms wrapped around my waist and I can feel her quietly sobbing against my chest and I can’t even begin to imagine how emotional she must be. I put my arms around her back and rub circles to try to soothe her just letting her cry it out.

  After a few minutes I feel her calm down and then she backs up and gives me a shy smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I am glad you want to be a part of our life. That makes me very happy. I better go check on Kayla.”

  Her phone rings from her back pocket and after looking to see who it is, she answers the call. “Hey Hayley! I am so glad you called… yes, we are at the hospital now but Bella and Kayla are in different wards… great, thank you so much… ok, bye.”

  She turns to me and looks a little calmer. “That was Hayley. Bentley called her and told her we are here. She is going to come and stay with Kayla tonight so I can be with Bella.”

  “That’s good. I have only known Hayley for a few months from the gym but she seems really nice. She’s a good asset to the gym.”

  “I can’t believe she’s been working with you the last few mont
hs and I had no idea you are the Cooper that goes with Cooper Fight Team.” She chuckles softly.

  “Yeah, it’s crazy. Do you mind if I join you in visiting Kayla? I think Bentley is in there with her.”

  I need to get to the bottom of all this and since Kayla was there I am hoping she will help me get some answers. Luckily, Liz agrees to me joining.

  We get to Kayla’s room and I see Bentley sitting by the side of her bed holding her hand. Kayla’s eyes are closed and I can’t help but think the worst. She must hear us approach because she opens her eyes and starts crying, and although she looks devastated at least she is alive and ok enough to cry. Liz runs over to Kayla and gives her a hug. They both cry for a few minutes and then calm down.

  “Oh God, Liz. I am so sorry. I don’t even know what happened. After you left, Bella asked for ten minutes more in bed so of course I gave in because I’m a softy. I went back to my room and decided to browse the online classifieds to see if there is anybody looking to hire a physical therapist. I must have dozed off because the next thing I know the fire alarm was going off. I immediately ran to Bella’s room to check on her and to see what was going on but when I stepped into the hallway the whole apartment was filled with smoke. I ran to Bella’s room but it was empty. I started freaking out. I checked her closet, under her bed. I screamed her name several times. That was when I started to choke on the smoke but I swear to you, I kept looking. I went to the bathroom to see if she was in there and I couldn’t find her anywhere. By then I heard the fire sirens so I knew they would be there soon but I kept looking. I started to panic and ran to the kitchen. The smoke was just too much and I blacked out. She could have died and it would have been my fault. I will completely understand if you hate me. I hate myself. I just don’t know what happened. Nothing was on. It doesn’t make any sense. Anyways, the next thing I knew I was in the ambulance and they were giving me oxygen. I told them there was a little girl in there and they said she was already out. I thought maybe she got herself out but the EMT said some guy got her out. I don’t know whom, though, maybe a neighbor. I am just so thankful she got out.”

  “It’s ok, Kayla. I could never be mad at you. Yes, things could have ended badly but thankfully they didn’t. I know you would give your life for Bella. I am just so glad you are both ok.”

  As they are talking there’s a knock on the door and in walks a police officer and two fire fighters. Hopefully we will get some answers from them because right now I have some crazy thoughts going on in my head and to be honest I don’t even want to say what I am thinking.

  “Hello, ma’am. I am officer Jim Kelley and these two gentlemen are the ones who showed up to your home to put out the fire. This gentleman, here.” He points to the guy on the right “pulled you from the fire.” They both give a small nod and smile. “I am glad to see you are ok. Is it ok to speak to you in front of everyone?”

  Kayla says yes and informs the officer that Liz is Bella’s mom and they all live together.

  “Unfortunately everything in the home was destroyed from the fire. After assessing the situation we have determined that the cause of the fire was intentionally started from arsine. We were able to pull up the footage of the security cameras and we have a shot of a guy entering your apartment and leaving, and then entering again. The first time he enters he is carrying a small can of gasoline. What’s weird though is that he is also the man who saved your daughter.”

  As he says this he glances over at Liz hoping she can help him figure out the confusion. He hands her a grainy looking picture and she gasps loudly dropping to her knees. She looks up at me with such confusion in her eyes and I already know who she is looking at in that photo. I can feel it in my bones.

  She puts her hand out and I take the photo looking at it closely, and I can tell immediately it’s my father. There’s no reason for him to be anywhere near where Liz lives.

  “The man in this photo is Marc Cooper. This is my father.”

  The police officer must know what Liz, Kayla, and Bentley don’t know yet, that my dad is dead, because he looks at me with a look of sympathy and simply nods his head.

  Liz stands up and I can see the fire in her eyes. Mama bear is pulling out her claws. The problem is the man she plans to go after for answers is in the morgue.

  “Cooper” she spits out. “Where is your dad at? I want to know what the hell happened. Why was he at my apartment? Why did he torch it and then save my daughter? I don’t even know what to think right now. I need to find him.”

  She waits a beat and then continues. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine! You want to save the man who could have killed Kayla and OUR daughter? Fine! I will find him my damn self.”

  As she goes to leave, I grab ahold of her arm and spin her around to face me.

  “He’s dead, Liz. My dad is dead.”

  * * *

  Liz

  Dead. His dad is dead. The man who torched my home, destroyed everything in it, and nearly killed my daughter and best friend, to turn around and save my daughter, is dead.

  I back up against the bed and sit down on the edge in shock. I don’t even know what to think or how to feel at this point. This is just one big cluster-fuck. He looks at me with tears in his eyes and I don’t know whether they are in mourning over his father or the fact that his father almost killed his daughter.

  “Did your dad know about Bella?”

  He shakes his head no. “After I found out you came to see me I confronted him and we got into a huge fight. I told him I was disowning him and I quit the gym. I hadn’t even found out about Bella myself, yet. He blamed you for me leaving the gym. The only thing I can think of is when you left to go to your interview he went in to torch your place. He must not have known you lived with Kayla and have a daughter. Once he realized somebody was in there he must have gone back to save her. Only he didn’t realize Kayla was in there or maybe he couldn’t make it back in. He died from a heart attack caused by smoke inhalation. I am so sorry Liz. This is exactly why I didn’t want to be in a relationship or have kids. My life is so fucked up. This is why I told you, you deserve more.”

  Bentley walks over to Cooper, gives him a hug, and tells him he’s sorry for his loss. “I know you two didn’t get along but I never thought he was capable of this.”

  Cooper doesn’t say anything. I can’t even imagine how he feels right now knowing his father is the one who put our daughter in danger and then saved her.

  I walk over to try to comfort him. I place my hands on his forearms and his flinches at my touch. “I am sorry for your loss. Your father shouldn’t have done what he did but I am grateful he made the right choice in the end to save Bella.”

  He takes a step back away from me and looks at me with a resigned face. “It’s probably for the best we didn’t tell Bella I am her father. Neither of you need this in your life. I’m not good for you. I’m sorry.”

  And he walks out the door without turning back. I repeat the words he said in my head.

  I’m not good for you. I’m sorry

  Those words hit me like a dagger to my heart. I have waited for five years for this man hoping to one day find him, and without even discussing it with me; he makes the decision for the both of us to walk out of my life once again. I clutch my hands to my heart in a pointless attempt to ease the pain. I close my eyes to keep the tears I feel threatening to come out at bay.

  The police officer and fire fighters let us know the report will be available later today to pick up for the renters insurance company and then excuse themselves.

  I look over at Kayla and Bentley and I start to cry. Kayla waves me over and I climb into bed with her. I cry for Cooper and for the loss of his father. I cry for Kayla and what she went through worried sick about my daughter and almost dying trying to save her. I cry for my daughter who was almost killed by her grandfather whom she will never meet. I cry for the man that I care about who doesn’t think he is worthy of love. When I am all cried out I wipe my eyes and sit u
p moving back to the bottom of the bed.

  I look at Kayla and ask “Now what?”

  She sighs heavily. “It will be ok, Liz. We will figure it out. We always do.”

  And I know in that moment that as long as I have Kayla by my side we will figure it out.

  Bentley clears his throat and we both look over to him. I completely forgot he was even in the room. He gives us a small smile and says, “Why don’t you go back to Bella and I will stay here with Kayla. When they are both ready to be discharged tomorrow you girls can come stay at my place. You’ve met Caleb. He lives there with me but he’s usually working or at the gym. We have a guest bedroom and although it isn’t huge we can get a small bed for Bella and it will give you a place to sleep until you figure things out.”

  I am so choked up by his generosity I just nod my head.

  Luckily, Kayla speaks up and thanks Bentley for the both of us. I give Kayla and Bentley a hug, and then I head back to Bella’s room for the night. I run into Hayley on my way out but I have a feeling she won’t be needed after all.

  Both, Bella and Kayla, are discharged first thing in the morning and we head right over to Bentley and Caleb’s place. It is a decent size apartment in the heart of downtown Las Vegas.

  We walk in and I am thankful Bella is old enough to know better than to touch stuff because this apartment is definitely not kid friendly. Bella immediately goes to the couch to find the controller while pouting that there probably won’t be anything good to watch, when Bentley points her in the direction of a stack of movies. The stack is almost as tall as her and she squeals in delight as she starts naming every Disney movie known to man. I smile at Bentley and thank him.

  “Don’t thank me. Coop came by last night after you left, and when he found out you guys were coming to stay here he went out and bought all that. There are also clothes for you, Kayla, and Bella in the room. He wasn’t sure of your sizes so he had to guess. He said the receipts are in the bags in case you have to exchange anything. There are some toiletries in the bathroom and he also bought toys and a bed and sheets for Bella. It’s all in the guest room as well. He bought all types of groceries, which are in the fridge and pantry since all we had was water and beer. He said if you need anything else to let me know and he will make sure to handle it.”