One Last Chance

by Hollowed, Beverley

  Ally could feel her stomach lurch but she knew in her heart there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for what El had just said. She looked at Cole and the fear was clearly written across his face. She simply smiled then she turned back to El.

  “I know everything that happened today, El,” she lied. “Sorry to disappoint you. Cole and I have no secrets. And that includes the one where you stabbed him in the back for some common tart because you couldn’t stand the fact he was a success and you were nothing but a failure. And that is all you will ever be. He is worth a hundred of you and everyone in this room knows that. You will never be anything more than a bitter twisted spoiled bitch and I should hate you for how you have treated him, but I don’t. I feel sorry for you.”

  Ally stepped closer to El to make sure she heard her point loud and clear.

  “Because in the morning when we wake up,” Ally continued. “We will have our whole life to look forward to. All you will have is the world’s worst hangover and no future.”

  She turned to Cole, kissed him on the lips and smiled up at him.

  “I am ready to go now, my gorgeous husband,” she said. Cole stared at her for a moment in shock. Then the biggest smile filled his face as he grabbed her hand and headed for the exit.

  As they climbed into the awaiting car, their guests spilled out through the door, waved and cheered them goodbye.

  “Ally,” Cole said as the car pulled away from the crowd and made its way down the long gravel driveway. “I can explain.”

  Ally leaned in quickly, kissed him and then smiled up at him.

  “You don’t have to,” she said honestly. “I love you and I trust you. I know you were going to tell me. But today is our day. Tell me tomorrow.”

  Cole leaned in and kissed her harder on the lips than he was able to all day. And Ally could feel the love pouring from him.

  “I love you Mrs. Thomas,” he said breathlessly against her mouth. “I will love you forever.”

  Chapter 12

  “Why don’t you sit up and I will put some more sun cream on you,” Cole said as he sat down next to Ally on the sun lounger. “I don’t want you to get burnt.”

  “I was thinking of going inside to lay down in the shade for a while,” Ally said and wiggled her eyebrows. “You could join me?”

  “Dear God,” Cole threw his head back and laughed. “I like pregnant Ally, she is far more insatiable than regular Ally.”

  Ally got up from the sun lounger that was next to the pool and, taking Cole by the hand, she led him into the refreshing cool shade of the Villa.

  Ally couldn’t believe it when Cole told her, as they taxied down the runway almost four weeks earlier, that they were going to his villa in the south of France. Ally was surprised he had never mentioned it before, but he admitted he kept it a secret because he always planned on surprising her with a trip there.

  The villa was stunning. It was a picture perfect snow white house, with yellow roses climbing up each side of the front door, creating a perfect arch. The windows were black sash and matched the large black front door.

  Inside the house was tastefully decorated in a similar style to the house in Dublin and the apartment in London. It gave Ally a sense of comfort, almost like being at home.

  It had a large modern kitchen with a large dining room that was just off to the side through an arch way. There was a spacious living room with a big open fire place and large TV, perfect for a cosy night in. There was, of course, a gym and just across from the gym there was a games room.

  Upstairs, there were five beautifully decorated bedrooms, each one in earthy tones and colour, except for the master bedroom. It, as like the master bedrooms in London and Dublin, was all creams and dark wood. It also had French doors leading out on to a veranda that gave them a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. Ally would wake early every morning, quietly slip out onto the veranda to watch the sun rise before she would quietly slip back into bed next to Cole.

  At the back of the Villa was a beautiful pool and a hot tub. There were several wooden sun loungers spread out evenly in pairs around the pool. There was also a barbeque area with a large wooden table and eight chairs that matched the sun loungers. Everything about this Villa screamed comfort and class and Ally loved it here.

  Still holding Cole’s hand she headed for the stairs, glancing back at him a couple of times, giving him a cheeky, sexy smile as he playfully but gently slapped her bum.

  By the time they reached the door of the bedroom, Cole was almost bursting with anticipation. He quickly pulled his shirt over his head and then reached out and pulled Ally into his embrace.

  As his mouth claimed her, he reached down for the knot on her sarong and pulled it open, letting it drop to the floor.

  Next his hands moved to the string on her baby pink bikini top, opening first the back string and then the neck one, he slowly slipped it from her and let it fall to the floor.

  Stepping back slightly so he could take in every inch of her perfect body, he slowly traced his fingertips up her side, along the curve of her breast and finally down her breast to her swollen, erect nipple. Slowly he circled around her nipple, smiling as it grew even harder beneath his touch and her breath caught in her chest.

  Suddenly, he dropped his mouth to her breast and she cried out in pleasure. She reached up and weaving her fingers through his hair she pulled him closer to her.

  “Oh God,” Cole groaned against her breast. “I need to be inside you, now!”

  Ally reached for his swimming shorts and slipped her hands inside, pushing them down over his backside and freeing his rock hard length. He pulled her closer to him. She could feel his cock pressed against her stomach and it sent desire running through her like a freight train.

  Cole dropped his hands to her bikini bottoms and hooked his fingers inside then, dropping to his knees in front of her, he slid the bikini bottoms down her legs as he pressed his mouth against her stomach.

  He flicked his eyes up to meet hers before he trailed soft kisses from her stomach to her hip and down to her inner thigh.

  Ally cried out as he slipped his hands between her legs and he caressed her wet folds. Then slipping his fingers between them until he found her throbbing clit, circling it with the pad of his thumb as she cried out once again in pleasure.

  “I NEED YOU NOW!” She cried as she grabbed his hair tighter and threw her head back.

  In one clean movement, he was standing up again and picking her up off her feet. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his waist, as he carried her to the bed.

  When he reached the bed, he laid her down carefully before he climbed above her.

  “I love you, Mrs. Thomas,” he whispered against her neck before working his way with kisses to her mouth and claiming it.

  As he kissed her, he slipped his legs in between hers as the swollen head of his cock found her opening. Breaking his mouth from hers, he stared down into her eyes and slowly eased himself into her and stilled.

  Then, giving her a half smile, he withdrew from her and slammed back inside her hard, making her cry out.

  Ally wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer to her as she tilted her hips up to meet his thrusts.

  “That’s it baby,” he growled against her mouth as he pushed into her deeper and deeper. “God I can never get enough of your body, Christ I adore you.”

  “Mmmm,” Ally sighed as she closed her eyes and allowed her body to feel every touch, sending her higher and higher.

  “Look at me, Ally,” he said breathlessly as he never missed a beat and his paced quickened.

  Ally flicked her eyes open and stared up at Cole. He smiled back down at her.

  Ally could feel her orgasm building in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to close her eyes again but instead, she held his as he moved inside her harder and deeper.

  Ally was close and she knew Cole was to. She slipped her hand down to his backside and pushed him into her further and it made he
r cry out.

  “OH GOD!” Ally cried out as her orgasm tore through her body. “COLE YES! YES!”

  “OH FUCK YES!” Cole groaned as he pushed into her one more time and exploded inside her.

  They laid together for a few minutes, sweating and breathless, neither attempted to move.

  Finally, Cole lifted his head and stared down into Ally’s face and smiled.

  “Hey gorgeous girl,” he grinned down at her.

  “Hey yourself,” she smiled back as he leaned down and kissed her before he withdrew himself from her and rolled on to his side so he was lying next to her on the bed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he brushed the damp strands of hair back from her face.

  “I am perfect,” she replied happily. Suddenly her expression changed and Cole instantly panicked.

  “What is it?” he asked in concern.

  “I’m not sure,” Ally replied looking up at Cole with a funny grin on her face. “Give me your hand.”

  Cole held out his hand, Ally quickly took it and placed it on her stomach.

  “What’s wrong?” Cole asked sitting up on the bed but not moving his hand.

  “I’m not sure,” Ally said but this time she smiled wider. Just as she did, Cole could feel something beneath his hand, like a tiny flutter. “Did you feel that?”

  “I did,” Cole said with a big grin. “Is… is that the baby?”

  “It is,” Ally nodded. “I thought I felt it last night but I wasn’t sure. But now I know it is.”

  “Oh my God!” Cole exclaimed, excitedly. Once again they both felt the tiny flutter and Cole’s smile widened. “This is amazing. That’s our baby.”

  He leaned in and kissed Ally on the lips and then pulled back slightly. He gave her the biggest smile.

  “I love you so much, Ally,” he said as he kissed her once more. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Ally laughed.

  “For being you,” he replied honestly. “For making me the happiest man alive.”

  Suddenly, Cole’s phone rang from the bedside table, where he had left it when he got changed for his swim earlier. Ally looked at the phone and then at Cole, but he didn’t even blink.

  “Aren’t you going to get that?” Ally asked.

  “Nope,” Cole replied simply.

  “But it might be important,” Ally continued.

  “The only thing important to me right now,” he said looking her straight in the eyes. “Is here on this bed with me right now. Nothing else in this world matters.”

  They spent the rest of the afternoon, lounging beside the pool. Ally couldn’t help but smile at the fact, Cole placed his hand on her tummy every chance he could. Ally’s heart tugged a little with the look of disappointment on his face when the baby didn’t move again.

  His phone rang several more times, but each time he just let it go to voicemail. Ally smiled to herself. She knew he was determined to let her see nothing came before her and the baby.

  As the sun set, they strolled down to a little bistro about a ten minute walk from the Villa.

  Carlos, the waiter that looked after them every time they went to the bistro, greeted them warmly and showed them to their table.

  As always, he was full of compliments for Ally and as always she would blush. And as always Cole would try not to react, but Ally could clearly see that he was not happy with this waiter’s words.

  “You know, he is only being nice,” Ally reassured him when the waiter had left them alone. “You have nothing to be jealous of.”

  “I’m not jealous” Cole pouted and Ally couldn’t help but laugh. Before he could say anything else his phone rang once again.

  “Oh for the love of God,” Ally exclaimed. “Answer the damn phone already. It’s been ringing off the hook all afternoon.”

  Cole looked at her for a moment then sighed before he pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and pressed accept.

  “Hello,” he said as he reached across the table and took Ally’s hand. “Hi Mom… She is great thanks… Yes, she has a tiny bump now…”

  Ally smiled as she looked down at her tiny bump and ran her hand over it. She looked back at Cole, but when she saw the look on his face, her heart began to race. She knew something was very wrong.

  “When?” Cole said as his eyes met Ally’s and her heart sank further. “Do they know how? Where was he? Is he okay? This is a disaster… I will talk to Ally… Yes I will call you back in an hour…Thanks Mom… You too.”

  “What’s wrong?” Ally asked once Cole hung up the phone. Her heart was hammering so hard, she could hear it in her ears.

  “It’s Steph,” Cole said staring straight at Ally, the blood completely drained from his face. “She is dead.”

  Chapter 13

  Cole’s jet touched down in London just after 10 p.m. that evening. He had called Nick, had him arrange everything and asked him to meet them at the airport.

  He looked over at Ally and sighed. She was miles away and had barely said two words on the flight home. In fact she had barely said two words since he told her the news at the bistro.

  He could still see her face when he told her what had happened.

  “What do you mean Steph is dead?” She had asked in complete disbelief. “When? How?”

  “She was found in her apartment this morning,” Cole explained and swallowed hard before he continued. “She overdosed. She had been dead for over a day when they found her.”

  “Where was Ben?” Ally asked. But before Cole could answer, the look on his face told her everything she needed to know and her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. “He was alone with her, wasn’t he?”

  Cole simply nodded his head and closed his eyes as the thought of the little boy, screaming from hunger for god knows how long, was too much to bear.

  “The social services contacted Mom,” he finally continued when he regained him composure. “Steph had never taken my name off the birth certificate. I am still officially Ben’s father. I am his next of kin. And it would seem Steph’s family want nothing to do with him. They are saying he is my problem now.”

  “Then we need to go home,” Ally said, standing up immediately and picking up her bag.

  “Ally, we are on our honeymoon,” Cole replied surprised by her reaction. “And I am not his father, not really.”

  “Cole, I know you,” she said still standing next to the table. “You will not be able to relax here, knowing he needs you. And Cole, right now, he really does need you. We have no choice, we have to go home.”

  “But Ally, I don’t think I should get involved,” he replied much to Ally’s surprise.

  “Cole, Ben needs you!” Ally exclaimed and stared at him in amazement. But he didn’t reply. His eyes dropped to the table as he picked up his glass of water and took a sip.

  “Fine!” She said as she picked her wrap up of the back of the chair. Then to Cole’s surprise she turned and headed for the exit.

  “Ally wait,” Cole called out as he hurried out after her. The waiter, who was on his way to take their order looked at them in confusion but Cole didn’t pause to explain. Instead he tried to catch up with Ally, who was now, at top speed, heading back in the direction of the Villa. “Ally slow down, please, talk to me.”

  “There is nothing to talk about Cole,” Ally said not even pausing briefly. “That little boy needs someone there for him. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. But don’t ask me to stay here and do nothing.”

  “Ally wait,” Cole cried.

  “No you wait!” She snapped as she stopped abruptly and spun around to face him. “I have been the kid no one wanted and it really sucks. He is a baby and he has no one.”

  “You really want to go back,” Cole said, looking Ally straight in the eye. “You aren’t just saying what you think I want you to say.”

  “Cole, he needs you,” she replied honestly then added. “He needs us.”

  “Cole,” Ally said, pulling him from his thoughts. “We are here, it�
�s time to go.”

  Cole looked up and saw Nick standing at the door of the jet. He nodded to Cole then smiled at Ally before he disappeared back down the steps.

  Ally undid her seatbelt and picked up her jacket and handbag as Cole slipped on his jacket. He reached for her hand and when he took hold of it, she looked up and smiled warmly at him. It was the reassurance he needed.

  “Are you ready?” He asked her and she nodded. So, still holding her hand, Cole started toward the exit and down the steps. He stepped back to let Ally into the car before he climbed in behind her.

  “What did you find out?” Cole asked Nick as they drove out of the small airport. “Where is Ben now?”

  “He is in Great Ormond Street,” Nick replied over his shoulder. “They said he was a little dehydrated but other than that he was perfectly healthy. They are going to keep him for the night and then Social Services will take him into their care in the morning.”

  Ally looked over at Cole and her heart broke. She could see how upset he was even though he was trying his best to hide it from her.

  “Can we see him tonight?” Cole asked as he reached for Ally’s hand.

  “They said it would be okay,” Nick nodded. “Given you are still legally his father.”

  Cole simply nodded.

  It was a little after 10:30 p.m. when they reached the hospital.

  Nick dropped Cole and Ally at the front door while he went to park the car. Cole led Ally to the reception desk, where they were directed where they needed to go to find Ben.

  They took the lift to the third floor and followed the directions they were given at reception. When they reached the right place, they gave their name to one of the nurses who said she would go find the doctor looking after Ben.

  “Mr. Thomas?” A young doctor dressed in scrubs and a white coat said when she emerged from an office behind Cole and Ally.

  “Yes,” Cole answered turning around to face her. “But please, call me Cole. And this is my wife Ally.”

  The doctor shook both of their hands.

  “I’m Sarah Knight,” she smiled. “I am Ben’s doctor. He is sleeping now. He was very distressed when he came in. He was dehydrated and his bottom was very sore from being left in a soiled nappy for an extended period of time. But other than that he is doing ok.”