One Last Chance

by Hollowed, Beverley

  “To Ally,” the rest of the group repeated.

  Ally sat back and began to relax and enjoy herself. She even managed to forget the silly veil and the L-plates. When the Champagne was finished, Caitlin called the waitress to order another round as when she returned, she told the group Cole had left enough money behind the counter for them to have a great night. The whole group cheered and Ally’s heart burst with pride at just how wonderful her husband to be was.

  A couple of hours had passed and despite the fact she was the only one still sober, Ally was having a ball. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so much.

  After a fit of the giggles, she decided it was time for her to head to the ladies room.

  She pushed her way through the busy Saturday night crowd until she finally made it to the quietness of the bathroom.

  She hurried into the cubicle and once she was done she returned to the vanity unit to wash her hands. She was just reapplying her lipstick when her phone beeped and she smiled, knowing it would be Cole. And she was right.

  Hey gorgeous girl, you having fun? Cx

  Ally smiled and picked up her bag and headed for the door, as she tapped in her reply into the phone.

  But as she stepped out the door, she felt like she had been hit by a brick wall.

  She began to stumble back when she could feel two strong hands grip her arms and stop her from falling.

  “I am so sorry,” she heard the words but she was too busy trying to get her bearings to take much noticed.

  “It’s was my fault,” she began to apologise but when she looked up, she could feel the blood drain from her body and her heart slam against her chest in fear. “Jason!”

  Chapter 5

  “Ally!” Jason exclaimed, sounding just as surprised to come face to face with her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, barely able to get the words out. She pulled her arm from his grasp abruptly and quickly stepped back from him until her back was against the wall.

  Her heart was now racing so rapidly in her chest, she thought it was trying to break free from inside her. She tried to focus on her breathing.

  “Are you sure you’re okay,” he reached out to touch her but she flinched and she pressed herself closer to the wall. Jason quickly dropped his hand as a look of shame spread across his face. “Oh my God, you’re scared of me. What have I done? I am so sorry.”

  “Just, please,” Ally said, raising her hands and closing her eyes. “My friends are waiting for me, just let me go.”

  “Ally, please,” he begged, as he stepped closer to her. “I am so sorry. I know there is nothing I can ever say to make what I did right but I am so sorry. Please, I know you have moved on and I understand that. But I can’t bear it if you hate me. That night… that… person… that wasn’t me.”

  Ally opened her eyes. Looked at him and her eyes locked with the same eye’s that had looked into hers that night and all she could see was sadness.

  “Ally, please.” he said sadly. “I was unwell but I have been… well I have gotten help. I swear I would never hurt you.”

  “I just want to go back to my friends,” she managed a whisper but she couldn’t move. She was terrified.

  “Okay, he said, stepping back to let her pass. Ally took a deep breath and remaining as close to the wall as she could, so she didn’t have to even touch Jason when she passed him.

  “You’re getting married then,” he said from behind her and she stopped. She wanted to run, but she knew she needed to face him once and for all if she was ever going to move past this.

  She turned slowly to face him. She looked at him confused as to how he knew she was getting married.

  “The veil,” he said, pointing to her head, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. Ally instinctively reached up and touched the veil on her head. She had completely forgot she was wearing it.

  She looked down at her sash and her L-plates, before she looked back up at Jason. “I hope you will be very happy,”

  “Thank you,” she managed to force the words out as her fear was slowly turning into anger. Anger at what he had done to her and anger at how he was making her feel right now.

  She felt weak and pathetic, something she had fought all her life to avoid feeling.

  “He is a very lucky guy,” he said, stepping closer to her, but once again she instinctively stepped back and he stopped.

  “Ally, I am not going to hurt you,” he said looking almost hurt. “Please, don’t be afraid of me.”

  “You are kidding me, right,” Ally half laughed in disbelief as anger rose inside her. She stepped forward and stared directly into his eyes. “You won’t hurt me? You tried to rape me. You have no idea what you did to me. But I have moved on and I am not letting you take my happiness. If you want me to tell you you’re forgiven, I am sorry to disappoint you. But I don’t forgive you, I hate you.”

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Caitlin’s voice came from behind Ally, making her jump with fright. Ally turned around to see Caitlin heading straight towards them with a murderous expression on her face.

  She marched straight up to Jason, positioning herself between him and Ally and stared him straight in the face.

  “Caitlin, we were just talking.” Jason said taking a step backwards.

  “You don’t talk to her,” Caitlin growled. “You don’t even look at her. If I had my way, you would be rotting in some hole in a field somewhere. Now you stay the hell away from her. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Perfectly,” Jason replied, staring Caitlin in the eye.

  “Well don’t forget it!” She snapped before she turned to Ally. “Are you okay sweetie?”

  “I’m fine,” Ally replied, her voice barely a whisper.

  “Let’s get you back to the others,” Caitlin said wrapping her arm around Ally’s shoulder. “This kind of upset is not good for you or the baby.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Jason said, this time his voice was filled with hurt and even shock.

  “That is none of your God damn business asshole,” Caitlin spat back over her shoulder.

  “Ally wait,” Jason called. “Is it… is it his?”

  “YES!” Ally screamed as she turned back to face Jason. “I am carrying Cole’s baby. Who else’s would it be?”

  “Mine,” he said, much to Ally surprise.

  “Oh please,” Caitlin said. “Get a grip.”

  “I want to know,” Jason replied, his tone now more demanding. “It’s my right.”

  “No it’s not,” Caitlin snapped in anger. “She is marrying Cole and she is carrying his baby and as for you, well you can go to hell!”

  Without saying another word, she turned around and lead Ally back out towards where the others were waiting.

  “Where the hell did you two get to?” Hannah asked, quickly when she saw her friends return. Then she saw the expression on Ally’s face and panic rose insider her. “What’s wrong? What happened? Why did you rush off after Ally?”

  “Jason,” Caitlin replied, looking straight at Hannah.

  “Did he hurt you?” Hannah asked, turning to Ally and taking hold of her by the arms.

  Ally could only shake her head in response. She was struggling hard not to cry in front of everyone else. She closed her eyes and the memory of him on top of her that night came crashing into her head and her stomach heaved.

  “What’s happened?” Laura asked, suddenly next to Ally. “Ally sweet heart are you okay?”

  “I just want to go home,” Ally said quietly as she choked back a sob. She wanted to go home and she wanted Cole. She had never wanted him more than she did right in that moment. She closed her eyes and fought back the tears.

  “I’ve got you gorgeous girl,” Cole’s voice softly filled her ears as she could feel his arms slip around her and draw her closer to him.

  Ally eyes opened and relief washed over her as she saw Cole’s face barely inches from hers.

  “What are you doing
here?” Ally said as she could hold the tears back no longer.

  “You called me,” he said and she looked at him in confusion. “You must have hit redial and I heard you talking to that scumbag. Nathan rang Caitlin to go check on you and we headed straight here. We were only in a pub around the corner.”

  “Cole, I’m sorry… I…” she said but before she could get the words out he wrapped her tightly in his arms and held her close to him. “I just walked out of the bathroom and he was there.”

  “It’s okay gorgeous girl,” Cole sighed, trying hard to keep the anger he was feeling at bay. “I am here now.”

  He released Ally from his embrace and held her at arm’s length.

  “I need to you to stay here with Caitlin and Hannah,” he said, looking into her eyes and giving her a reassuring smile.

  “Where are you going?” Ally asked but she already knew the answer.

  “I will be right back I promise,” he reassured her.

  “No wait,” Ally said, grabbing hold of his arm. “I don’t want you in any trouble.”

  “I won’t get into any trouble,” he said with a smile. “I promise.”

  Ally stood helplessly as she watched Cole head off in the direction of the bathroom, followed closely my Nathan and Nick.

  “Ally,” she heard from behind her. She turned and saw Gus standing there staring at her. “Why didn’t you tell me what he did to you?”

  “What who did?” Laura asked moving closer to Ally once again. Ally looked from Gus to Sid who was now standing behind Gus. She could feel the blood drain from her face as Laura continued to push. “What is going on?”

  “Ally, why didn’t you go to the police?” Gus demanded. He was clearly very angry and Ally cringed “You need to report this to the police immediately.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Laura asked looking at Gus impatiently but Gus just stared at Ally.

  Ally’s eyes darted from Gus to the direction Cole had disappeared as her heart pounded rapidly in her chest.

  “Ally,” Gus said, drawing her attention back to him. Ally could take it no more. She looked around the group and all eyes were on her. Now, they would all know what had happened. “Ally, you can’t let him get away with this. He tried to rape you.”

  “Oh my god!” Laura exclaimed as her hand flew to her mouth.

  “ENOUGH!” Ally screamed unable to listen to anymore. “Just…stop.”

  Before anyone could say a word, she grabbed her bag from the table and quickly headed towards the door. When she stepped out into the chilly March night, it was raining heavy.

  She thought for a moment what to do. She saw a taxi coming towards her and she tried to wave it down. But it just whizzed past and she knew in this rain it would be impossible to get a taxi now.

  She began to walk, unsure really where she was going. All she knew was she couldn’t be there with everyone looking at her, knowing what Jason had tried to do. Knowing how weak she was.

  As she walked, she sobbed uncontrollably as the rain pelted against her woollen dress, which was not completely soaked as was her hair.

  She stumbled in her Louboutin’s and nearly fell. Once she had regained her balance, she reached down and slipped off her shoes one at a time. As she did, she wobbled again and this time she landed on her backside right in the middle of a huge puddle.

  She sat there in the middle of the street, in the dark and the pouring rain, her face buried in her hands as she cried.

  ***************************************

  When Cole came out of the bathrooms, he was angry. He had missed Jason and he was not happy. Then when he discovered Ally had left the pub, he flipped out. He couldn’t believe they all had let her leave alone.

  He pulled his phone out and phoned Liam to see if she had called him to come and take her home. She hadn’t. Liam said he had just pulled into the car park when Cole told him he was on his way out.

  When Cole got to the car, he climbed in next to Liam. Liam said he had just come up the road and hadn’t seen anyone, so they decided to drive in the other direction.

  Cole could feel the wave of dread wash over him. The same one he had the morning he arrived at her apartment the morning after Christmas and she was gone.

  They hadn’t got far when Cole spotted a figure sitting in the middle of the path, their face in their hands and looking desperate and broken.

  “Stop the car!” Cole shouted as Liam hit the brakes. Before the car had come to a full stop, Cole was out of the car and running to Ally.

  “Ally sweet heart,” Cole said as he reached her. He dropped to his knees in front of her as he slipped his jacket from his shoulders and wrapped it around her.

  When she looked up into his eyes, his heart almost broke.

  “They all know now,” she sobbed sadly. “They all know what he did. They all know how stupid I was.”

  “Sweetheart,” Cole said pulling her closer to him. “No one thinks you’re stupid.”

  “I think I am stupid,” she protested. “I knew not to open the door without checking but I did. I let him in and I tried. I tried to fight him off but I couldn’t. He could have done anything and I just couldn’t stop him.”

  “What happened that night was not your fault,” Cole said as anger filled him inside. He was angry at Jason for dragging all this back up. But he was angrier at himself for letting her down.

  He knew the only reason she opened the door that night was because she thought it was him.

  “Ally none of this was your fault,” he said, taking her face in his hands and lifting it up to look at his. “But it’s over now. He will never get to you again. I promise I will never let that happen.”

  She didn’t reply, instead she just cried harder.

  “We need to get you home and dry before you catch your death of cold,” Cole said as he reached down and scooped her up off the ground and stood up.

  Holding her close to him, He carried her to the car where Liam was waiting with the door opened.

  When he slipped into the back seat, he held her on his lap and hugged her tightly as she softly sobbed into his neck.

  “Please don’t cry my gorgeous girl.” he breathed against her ear softly. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against the top of her head and promised himself he would see to it that, that asshole would never make her cry again. This would be the last time.

  Chapter 6

  Cole lay next to Ally as she drifted off to sleep. Once he got her home, he took her straight to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then stripped them both and led her into the shower. He was trying to get the heat back into her because she was soaked to the skin and shivering with the cold. He washed her gently and took his time making sure she was warm and felt safe and loved.

  When they climbed out of the shower, he dried her and slipped one of his t-shirts on her before he dried her hair.

  The whole time she cried silently, the only proof were the tears trickling down her face, neither spoke a word. Ally was lost in her own thoughts and Cole was giving her time, just waiting until she was ready to talk.

  As he lay next to her and watched her sleep, he ran over the nights events. How he was consumed with both fear and overwhelming anger in equal measures when his phone rang and he could hear her talking to Jason, the fear in her voice very evident. All he could think about was getting to Ally as fast as he could.

  Then, when he came out of the bathroom and found she had left alone, the same knot of fear gripped him that he had felt the morning he raced after her to the airport to stop her from going to London.

  He thought back to that day. He was heartbroken he had missed her at the airport but was more devastated he had pushed her into doing this in the first place.

  He knew then and there, that she loved him so completely and unconditionally, she would do something she would never forgive herself for, purely to keep him happy. How had he not seen the pain he was putting her through with his angry words. He was so mad with himself
for his behaviour.

  When he turned and saw her standing in the living room, he was beyond happy.

  That night, he had been afraid to let her out of his sight. They spent hours curled up on the sofa, making plans.

  Cole knew that Ally was still a little unsure of his feelings and that was hard for him to take. He knew that her uncertainty came solely from him and his words. This was something he would always regret but he was determined he would put this right.

  They had agreed that night that they would set the wedding for 8 weeks’ time. But as there was twelve weeks waiting period required in Ireland to get married, they were going to have to get married in London instead.

  Cole insisted on paying for all of Ally’s family and friends to fly over, except for Nan and Pops. They were coming across in Cole’s private plane with Cole and Ally.

  Cole hadn’t spared a penny to make sure everything was ready on time and was perfect. He wanted her to have a day to remember. A day she so rightly deserved.

  But he remembered that night in particular. He watched her sleep as he was watching her now and he felt nothing but love for her. She was going to be the mother of his child. She was going to be his wife. She was everything he never knew he wanted but now, could never live without.

  He reached out and traced his fingertips softly along her face and she sighed contently. He reached behind him and switched off the bedside lamp and slipped down further into the bed, pulling Ally closer to him.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered into the darkness of their room.

  “My gorgeous girl,” Cole sighed holding her tighter. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I am only sorry you have had to go through this. But I promise you he will never get near you again.”

  “I was texting you,” she explained. “I wasn’t watching where I was going, I walked out of the ladies toilets and ran straight into him. I swear I didn’t know he was there.”

  “Ally, sweetheart.” Cole said leaning up on his elbow in the bed and rolling Ally on to her back so she was facing him. “Please, stop.”