One Last Chance

by Hollowed, Beverley

  Chapter 15

  Ally stepped out of the lift and thought for a moment. Where the hell could she go? She knew no one in London. It was getting dark and she knew there was a bunch of paps outside the building that were just waiting to pounce. She really hadn’t thought this through at all.

  Stupid, stupid girl, she scolded herself.

  She turned around and pressed the button to call the lift again. After a couple of seconds, the doors pinged open. She stood for a moment and thought. She just wasn’t ready to go back up. She sighed as she stepped back and let the doors slide shut once again. She just stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do next. She turned and looked out through the glass doors of the building, but she knew going out there too would be a big mistake.

  Then she turned and saw the door man, who was sitting behind a highly polished, black marbled reception desk, watching Ally with a look of interest. He smiled at her when her eyes met his. Ally smiled back but she knew she was now blushing.

  “Are you okay Mrs. Thomas,” the elderly man asked getting up from his chair and walking towards Ally. He was dressed in a simple black suit, white shirt and grey tie. He had a name badge pinned to his jacket with the name Frank printed on it.

  “I… um…” Ally said as, much to her horror, her eyes filled up with tears and quickly broke free. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand. “Damn these pregnancy hormones.”

  “Please, won’t you come into my little office and sit down for a while,” he said taking Ally by the arm. “You don’t want to go out there to those gutter trash and you look like you could use a little alone time.”

  He led her into his office where there was a small cosy, navy coloured, armchair with a little table next to it. Across from the chair was a counter with a small sink, a microwave oven and an electric kettle with some mugs on it. Beneath the counter was a small fridge.

  He directed Ally to the armchair, as he turned and switched on the kettle and made Ally a cup of tea without saying a word, while Ally softly cried in the arm chair.

  “Sugar?” He asked as he placed the cup of tea down on the table next to the armchair. Ally just shook her head.

  He then placed a plate of biscuits on the table next to the chair also.

  “Thank you,” she sniffed feeling very foolish as she finally let her eyes meet his.

  “Would you like to talk about it, my dear?” The elderly man asked as he sat down on a stool in front of Ally. “You know, sometimes it can help to talk to a stranger.”

  Ally just shook her head again and sipped her tea as she blinked away the tears.

  “Maybe you just need a little bit of peace and quiet then,” the man said standing up and heading for the door. “You stay here as long as you need to my lovely. You are in no hurry.”

  Ally smiled up at the man before he disappeared out the door and back to his post at reception.

  Ally wasn’t sure how long she was sitting there, staring into space, a million thoughts running around her head, when she heard a quiet knock on the door of the little room.

  She looked up and saw Cole peeking through the small gap in the door looking worried and nervous all at once.

  Ally could feel the tears quickly fill her eyes once again as Cole immediately pushed the door open and hurried inside, dropping to his knees before her.

  “Don’t cry my gorgeous girl,” he whispered as he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips then brushed the tears from her face. “Talk to me. Tell me how to make it better.”

  “Stop shutting me out,” Ally said with a sad sob. “I know you are trying to do everything so I don’t have to, but you are pushing me out. Cole you forget, you were already his father. But this is very new to me. I need you to give me the chance to get to know him too. I am supposed to be his mother. But right now I am just another stranger to him.”

  “I’m so sorry I made you feel like that,” Cole said as he softly stroked her face. “I just didn’t want you to feel you were getting stuck with him and I didn’t want to you get tired or feel worn out and regret taking him.”

  “Cole I’m going to get tired,” Ally gently laughed. “And I am going to feel worn out. That what’s having a baby does. But I will never regret taking him. I just need a chance to get to know him. And he needs to get to know me.”

  “I’m sorry, Ally,” Cole said once again. “This is all very new to me too. I love you so much. And I love him. I want us to be a family. Just me, you, Ben and Little Bean. I just don’t want anything to go wrong.”

  “We are a family,” Ally reassured him. “Things will get tough, and I will get tired and cranky. That’s what happens to pregnant women. But it doesn’t mean I don’t love you or I don’t love Ben. Because I do.”

  “I promise to stop pushing you out,” Cole said before he leaned in and kissed her one more time, then stood up and reached out his hand for hers. “Now, are you going to come home with me, we have a sad little boy upstairs that misses his mommy and daddy.”

  Ally smiled as she took his hand and stood up from the armchair. He opened the door and lead Ally outside, back towards the elevator.

  As they emerged from the little room, Ally smiled brightly at the man sitting behind the reception desk.

  “Thank you for the tea Frank,” Ally said as her smile widened. “And for being so kind.”

  “Any time Mrs. Thomas,” he replied with a friendly grin.

  Cole pressed the call button for the lift and the doors opened immediately. They both stepped inside and the doors closed behind them. As they rode up in the lift, Ally quickly reached for Cole’s hand and pressed it to her stomach.

  “Can you feel that?” She asked looking up into Cole’s face and smiling brightly.

  “I can indeed,” Cole replied and quickly kissed Ally on the forehead. Then he leaned down and kissed her belly and the baby kicked once again. “Okay, okay, I promise I won’t upset your mother again.”

  When they got back to the apartment, Ben was fast asleep in Nick’s arms. He was standing staring out over the gorgeous view of London. He turned when he heard Cole and Ally coming back into the apartment.

  “Looks like we have ourselves a new baby sitter here,” Ally said with a giggle and then laughed hard when she saw the look of panic on Nick’s face. “Relax, I’m just kidding.”

  “I don’t know,” Cole added surprising both Ally and Nick. “I think it kind of suits him.”

  Ally laughed even harder as she walked towards Nick and carefully took Ben from his arms.

  “I will save you,” she whispered to Nick as she took the little boy from him. “I am and going to go try to settle him down in his cot.”

  She turned and looked at Cole and he gave her a huge smile. She returned his smile and gave him wink before she made her way towards the bedroom.

  Cole watched her as she walked down the hallway. It was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. The woman he loved, cradling their sleeping baby, knowing she was carrying their other child inside her.

  He left her alone for about twenty minutes before he couldn’t resist any longer and he followed her to the room.

  He found her sitting on the edge of the bed peering into the crib, watching a sleeping Ben.

  “Are you okay?” He whispered.

  “I’m just great,” she said looking up at him and smiling. A look of pure contentment on her face. “He really is perfect, isn’t he?”

  “You both are,” Cole replied as he sat down next to Ally on the bed. “You three mean everything to me Ally. I love you all so much.”

  “We love you too,” Ally said looking up at Cole from under her long eye lashes.

  “I was thinking,” Cole said, looking suddenly serious. “Maybe we should head home to Dublin in the morning.”

  “Why so soon?” Ally asked surprised with what he had said.

  “We have no privacy here,” Cole explained. “And to be honest I am worried. I’m worried about your safety here. T
he paps are relentless, we just don’t seem to have that same problem in Dublin. Over there we have more freedom to just live our lives. We can take Ben for a walk without worrying about some asshole with a camera appearing from nowhere and taking a picture of us and getting so close it puts you both in danger. That is what I want for us.”

  “Okay,” Ally nodded. “I am happy to go home if that is what you want. I only care about being with you. I don’t care where that may be.”

  “That sounds perfect to me,” Cole said with a big grin as he leaned in and kissed her.

  They both sat in silence for a while, watching Ben sleep, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Finally, Ally could feel her eyes grow heavier and she knew she needed to sleep. She headed for the bathroom to remove her make-up and brushed her teeth before she made her way to the wardrobe, where she stripped off her clothes and pulled on her nightdress.

  “Are you coming to bed?” She asked Cole as she walked to the head of the bed. She pulled the covers back and slipped beneath them.

  “I just want to sort out one or two things first,” Cole said as he stood up and walked over to Ally, leaning down, he kissed her on the lips. “I won’t be long.”

  He then walked to the door of the bedroom and switched off the light. He looked back to Ally, who was already out cold, before he quietly closed the door behind him.

  Cole headed to his office, sat down at his desk and started to make a few calls. He wanted everything sorted before they returned home to Dublin.

  He called Nan and told her they were coming home which made the old lady very happy. She was so excited about meeting Ben.

  He then called Nathan, who happened to be at Caitlin’s house. She asked to speak to Cole.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked her, sensing from the tone of her voice it was not something good.

  “It’s Jason,” she sighed. “He was at the garage looking for Ally. Sid told him where to go and warned him if he came anywhere near her again he would kill him.”

  “That son of a bitch,” Cole growled in anger. “If he comes anywhere near her, I will kill him myself.”

  “He said he just wanted to say he was sorry for what happened the night of her hen’s party,” Caitlin continued. “Sid told him, he would make sure she got the message and told him to stay the hell away from her.”

  “He is dead!” Cole exclaimed. “

  “Cole,” Caitlin said. “You can’t do anything stupid. He has been warned. And you know what has happened now, and I know you will make sure she is safe. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks, Caitlin,” Cole said. “He will get nowhere near her again. Just do me a favour. Don’t tell her what happened. I don’t want her worrying about this. She knows she needs to be cautious of him so that’s enough.”

  “Okay,” she replied before she said her goodbyes.

  It was almost midnight when Cole finally climbed into bed. He slipped his arms around Ally and pulled her closer to him. As he lay there, he thought about Jason and his stomach heaved. He couldn’t bear the thought of Ally ever being hurt again and he would rather die than let that happen.

  He thought back to the night of Ally’s hen’s party. He remembered how broken and pitiful she looked sitting on the ground in the pouring rain. He remembered the fear inside him when he heard her talking to Jason on his phone.

  He recalled the fear in her voice, and it still made him so angry.

  He swore to himself, she would never know that fear again. He would need to talk to Nick before they got back to Dublin.

  He needed to know, no matter what else happened, Ally was safe. He would then take care of the rest. Whatever that may be.

  Chapter 16

  “We are home,” Ally whispered to a sleeping Ben, as they pulled into the driveway of the house in Dublin. She glanced over at Cole and smiled. She was relieved to be back in Dublin. Everything just seemed so much easier here. And she knew Cole was a lot happier here too.

  Also, she missed her Nan and Pop and of course her girls. And she was dying for everyone to meet Ben.

  As they climbed out of the car, Rosie appeared at the door and Ally hurried up to greet her. She hugged the old lady tightly. She had missed her as much as she missed everyone else.

  “Look at you!” Rosie exclaimed. “You are getting a wee bump.” Rosie placed her hand on Ally’s stomach before she added. “Babies are such a blessing.”

  “Well, I feel very blessed indeed,” Ally replied and then she turned as she heard Cole coming up the steps behind her. She then turned back to Rosie and said. “Rosie, I would love for you to meet Ben.”

  Cole turned the car seat around for Rosie to see the sleeping Ben.

  “Oh my goodness!” Rosie exclaimed excitedly. “Sure isn’t he just perfect. The poor little mite. It’s a very good thing you are both doing. He is a lucky little boy.”

  “Thank you Rosie,” Cole said, beaming with pure happiness.

  “Now let’s get you in and settled,” Rosie said turning to Ally and linking her arm. “You must be famished after your trip. I have lunch ready for you both.”

  As they walked into the kitchen, Ben began to wake and cry.

  “Is he hungry too?” Rosie laughed.

  “He is due his bottle and we were told we could start him on some solid foods too,” Ally replied as she slipped her jacket off then reached down and unfastened Ben’s straps from his car seat and lifted him out.

  “I picked up some baby food when I popped down to the store earlier,” Rosie said as she walked to the cupboard. “I think sunshine orange would be a good one to start him on. I know my nephew’s wee one loves it.”

  Cole stood at the door and watched the two women talk between themselves and he smiled.

  “Well it would seem I am surplus to requirements in here,” he laughed. “I have a couple of quick calls to make. Then I will be straight back to join you all for lunch.”

  Cole turned and headed off towards his office leaving the two woman alone with the baby.

  “The rest of the baby things will be here this afternoon,” Rosie said as she placed the small bowl of baby food down in front of Ally. Ally looked at her in desperation. “You need my help?”

  Ally just nodded and smiled. Rosie showed Ally how to get Ben to take his food, which was only a few spoonful’s any way and soon she was doing it like a pro. By the time Cole came back, Ben was nestled into Ally and holding her finger tightly, while she gave him his bottle. He was wide awake and staring up happily into Ally’s face.

  “I think someone has fallen in love with his mom,” Cole said as he took the seat next to Ally and leaned in and kissed them both on the cheek.

  “I think he is more in love with his bottle,” Ally laughed.

  Rosie placed their lunch down on the table as Ally finished giving Ben his bottle.

  “Let me take the little man while you eat,” Rosie said as she lifted Ben from Ally’s arms. “I will burp him and change his nappy.”

  Then she made her way out of the kitchen and left Cole and Ally by themselves.

  “Is everything okay?” Ally asked Cole once they were alone.

  “Of course gorgeous girl,” Cole said as he smiled at Ally reassuringly. “What makes you ask that question?”

  “Because you have been very quiet all day,” Ally replied staring straight into Cole’s eyes. “I know you, and I know something is on your mind.”

  “I’m not worried about anything,” Cole lied. Ally didn’t reply for a moment. Instead she just looked at him.

  “Fine!” Was all she said as she stood up abruptly and went to walk away from the table, but Cole quickly caught her by the hand.

  “Ally, I…” he began to say but she quickly yanked her hand free.

  “Don’t Ally me!” She snapped back. “You promised there would be no more lying, no more secrets. But you are hiding something from me and you are lying to me right now. It is written all over your face. So you don’t want to tell me. I
t’s fine. I am done talking.”

  She turned on her heels and headed for the kitchen door.

  “It’s Jason,” he blurted out with a big sigh. Ally stopped dead in her tracks, she could feel the blood drain from her whole body.

  “What about him?” She asked, her voice barely a whisper as she turned back to Cole, the colour drained from her face.

  “He went to the garage looking for you,” Cole explained and his heart almost broke at the look of sheer terror that filled Ally’s face. He was straight up on his feet and by her side in seconds. “Sid warned him to keep away. He said he just wanted to say sorry to you. But he has been warned. And I promise he will never get near you again. Ally, please don’t worry about him. I promise I will keep you safe.”

  “Why can’t he just leave me alone?” Ally said looking up into Cole’s face with her two big sad eyes.

  “You listen to me, Ally Thomas,” Cole said taking her by the arms and turning her completely around so she was looking up into his face fully. “You have nothing to fear, I will kill him before I will let him put a hand on you again. I promise you that.”

  “Okay,” Ally replied and forced a smile on her face. “I think I will go and see how Rosie is getting on. I’m not really hungry now anyway.”

  Cole watched her as she walked down the hallway, turned and headed up the stairs. It was hard for him to see her looking so despondent. He sighed as he promised himself he would deal with this Jason once and for all.

  ***********************************

  They settled into a routine with Ben very quickly. When Cole returned to work, Ally got her own little routine with Ben each day. But Nick was always close by and Ally had to admit, she felt so much safer knowing he was there when Cole wasn’t about.

  Ally also got it into her head she wanted to get the nursery painted. On the following Friday, when she finally got Ben to settle down for a nap in the crib in her and Cole’s room, she plugged in the baby monitor and changed into old leggings and a t-shirt. She grabbed the receiver of the baby monitor and headed for the room that was to be both babies nursery.