“Can we see him?” Cole asked anxiously.
“Certainly,” she smiled and held up her hand indicating the direction to go. “If you follow me, I will take you to him now.”
She led Cole and Ally down the corridor to a little room at the end. The room was in darkness except for a nightlight over the crib where Ben was asleep.
Ally could feel Cole stiffen the moment he saw the little boy asleep in the crib. It was clear he had been very distressed. Even though he was asleep, his breath was still catching in his chest in a shudder. A clear sign he had been sobbing. It was truly a pitiful thing to see.
Cole walked to the crib, lowered the side down and reached in to Ben. He softly stroked the little boy’s hair and as he did, Ben shuddered again.
Cole could bear it no longer, he scooped the little boy up into his arms and held him close to him.
“He will be released in the morning,” the doctor finally spoke. “We have arrangements with the Social Service to come and collect him, but as you are here now, I am sure there will be no need for them to intervene.
“He is not my son,” Cole quickly replied looking at the doctor.
“But you are down as his next of kin,” the doctor said with a look of confusion on her face. “I mean his name is Benjamin Thomas.”
Look Dr. Knight,” Cole spoke calmly. “I know what all the certs and forms say, but I am not his biological father.”
Ally, who was still standing by the doorway, watching everything that was happening, finally spoke.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t be his dad,” Ally said, walking slowly towards Cole. “You are his dad, you have been since the day he was born. Cole any asshole can be a father. But it take someone special to be a dad. You are his daddy. You love him and biology is never going to change that.”
“What are you saying, Ally?” Cole said, looking at her half in surprise, half in hope.
“I am saying you are his dad,” Ally said as she reached up and softly brushed the tiny blonde strands that where on Ben’s tiny head. “He needs you.”
She bent down and kissed him on the forehead then looked back up at Cole.
“He needs us,” she added with a smile.
Cole stared at her for a moment.
“Do you realised what you are saying?” Cole spoke softly to Ally. “You are almost seventeen weeks pregnant, how would we cope with a baby?”
“He is a baby, Cole,” Ally laughed. “Not a monster.”
“Ally, I can’t ask you to do this,” Cole replied in a serious tone.
“You didn’t,” she shrugged. “Look at him Cole, just look at him. He needs us. That’s all that matters.”
Cole stared at Ally in complete disbelief. Then he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
“Do you know how much I love you, Ally Thomas?” He asked, his face barely inches from hers.
“About as much as I love you,” she smiled back at him.
They spent the night sitting next to the crib. Cole asked them to bring Ally a comfortable armchair as she was pregnant.
At about 2 a.m., Ally drifted off to sleep and Cole sat and watched Ben sleeping too.
It was almost 3 a.m. when Cole’s eyes grew heavy. He was just starting to drift when he heard a noise. He opened his eyes and saw a pair of big blue eyes staring up at him.
“Hey little man,” Cole said in a whispered voice. “How are you doing? Are you hungry?”
Ben just yawned and continued to stare at Cole. Cole lifted him from the crib and held him close to him once more. Then taking the bottle from the side locker, he settled back in the chair and fed Ben.
“That really does suit you,” Ally said suddenly, when Ben was about half way through his bottle.
“Why are you awake?” Cole asked looking over at Ally.
“This little one is laying funny and now I need to pee,” Ally said as she rubbed her stomach.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked with concern.
“I am perfect,” Ally said as she stood up from the armchair. She leaned down and kissed Cole. “I won’t be long.”
She made her way to the bathroom and headed straight for a cubicle. When she was done and she had washed her hands, she made her way back to Ben’s room.
She paused at the door and watched Cole as he rubbed Ben’s back, trying to burp him.
She smiled as she listened to the one-sided conversation that was going on.
“Tomorrow, we are going to bring you home,” Cole spoke softly. “And you are going to meet your Grandma and Grandpa. They are going to love you so much. Then once everything is sorted here, we are going to go home to Dublin, where you will meet lots more family. We will decorate your bedroom. And in a few months’ time you will get a little brother or sister to share your room with you.”
Ally smiled at his words. She could see all the worry and stress of the past few months was finally gone. She was happy that he was finally able to move on from the whole Steph mess, and what’s more, Ben was safe.
“You will never be left alone again, little man.” Cole said as he leaned down and kissed the little boy on the forehead. “Mom and I will never let anyone hurt you again.”
His words hit her like a steam train. In all the time she had supported him, all she had thought about was what having Ben meant to Cole.
And she knew she wanted to help this little boy as much as Cole did. But it had never occurred to her she would be his mom, Steph was his mother.
But Steph was gone, and she was all he had left now. Just her and Cole. She would be his mother now. She reached down and held her stomach and just as she did, she felt Little Bean flutter beneath her hand once again.
She knew she was going to be a mother, but she thought she had time. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to do this yet.
She looked up at Cole and Ben and she realised, she was already a mom. This was her little family and ready or not, it was time for her to step up.
Chapter 14
It was after 2 p.m. before they finally made it out of the hospital. At 9 a.m. that morning, Siobhan Carter, a social worker from the Social Service arrived at the hospital.
Ally liked her straight away. She was all about what was in Ben’s best interest and she said clearly, as Cole was still his legal guardian, and as Steph’s family are denying all right to him. She didn’t see any reason why he couldn’t take him home and that included home to Dublin.
Ally was completely blown away when Cole brought up the possibility of Ally adopting Ben so she could be legally his mother too. Siobhan though it was a brilliant idea and said she would get started on the paper work straight away, but warned it could take a few months to process.
When they left the hospital, they headed straight to Cole’s parent’s home.
Ella was at the door the minute the car pulled into the drive way. She had a huge smile on her face when she saw Ally step out of the car.
“My sweet girl,” she said as she hurried towards Ally and hugged her tightly. “You look tired, but beautiful.”
“I feel tired,” Ally laughed. “And not very beautiful.”
“Well you are home now,” Ella replied. “And I will make sure you get some rest.”
She turned to Cole, who was unstrapping Ben from his car seat.
“Now let me meet my grandson,” Ella replied as she hurried to Cole’s side.
“Mom,” Cole said as he stepped back from the car, cradling Ben close to him. “I would like you to meet Ben, your grandson.”
“Oh my goodness,” Ella gushed tearfully. “He is perfect.”
She held out her arms and Cole place a sleeping Ben in them. Ally watched as Ella cuddled the little boy into her, as Cole watched on with pride beaming from him.
Cole ushered them all into the house and straight into his parent’s living room. Ally sat on the sofa and continued to watch as Ella cooed over Ben.
“Where is Dad?” Cole asked looking around him.
“He just popped o
ut to get a few bits and pieces,” Ella replied, not taking her eyes of the little boy asleep in her arms.
Suddenly, Ben started to wake and began to cry.
“I don’t think he likes his grandma,” Ella said sounding a little disappointed.
“He is just hungry,” Ally said she said standing up from the sofa. She walked to the bag Nick had brought in from the car and left in the corner before he quietly slipped back out. “We picked up some formula on the way but the nurse gave us some ready-made bottles for him before we left. I need to heat it slightly.”
Ally pulled the bottle out, headed to the kitchen and switched on the kettle to boil the water. As she waited for it to boil, she stared out the window at the beautiful scenery that surrounds Cole’s parent’s home.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” Ella said from the doorway startling Ally just as she was pouring out hot water into a jug and dropping the bottle into heat it.
“I’m great,” Ally replied with a big smile.
“I mean with all of this,” she said as she gestured towards the living room. “This is a lot to take on board. You are both just newlyweds and you’re pregnant. To take on someone else’s baby is no small thing.”
“It wasn’t that hard a choice,” Ally sighed, wiping the tiredness from her eyes. “Cole loves Ben, and I love Cole. Ben had no one else in this world. Ella, I have been that child. If it weren’t for Nan and Pop, god knows where I would have ended up.”
“You are a remarkable young woman Ally Thomas,” Ella beamed as she took Ally by the hands. “I just want you to know, if you need anything at all, even just someone to talk to. I am always just a phone call away.”
“I know Ella,” Ally smiled back. “And I am truly grateful for your support.”
“Cole seems very taken with him,” Ella said. “He is very hands on.”
“I know,” Ally sighed. “He is insisting on doing everything for him.”
“It’s still very new for him,” Ella said as she squeezed Ally’s hands. “He is trying to find his way.”
“I know,” Ally smiled sadly. “But this is very new for me too. Cole was already his dad, but now I am his mom and I don’t know him. I need to be given a chance to get to know him.”
Before Ella could say another word, the front door opened and James’ voice filled the house.
“I’m back,” he announced and a lot of rustling and banging came from the hallway.
Ally lifted the bottle from the jug of water and followed Ella out into the hallway, where they found James surrounded by a lot of boxes and bags.
“Ally sweetheart,” he greeted Ally warmly when he saw her emerge from the kitchen and hugged her tightly. “You are looking as beautiful as always my dear girl.”
“It’s lovely to see you again James,” Ally replied as James released her from his embrace.
“Did you get everything?” Ella asked as she quickly surveyed the bags and boxes in the hall.
“I did,” James replied with a big grin. “And one or two things extra.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Ella laughed and then, turning to Ally, she said. “Let’s move into the sitting room. We got one or two things for the baby.”
Ally was ushered into the living room to where Cole was pacing up and down with a crying Ben.
“I have his bottle,” Ally said as she walked up to a stressed looking Cole. “You need me to feed him?”
“No, it’s okay,” Cole said with a smile. “I got this.”
Cole took the bottle, sat down and began to feed Ben. Ally sighed once more and sat down on the sofa next to Cole. She glanced at Ella and she gave her a reassuring smile.
“Okay,” James said looking at Ella as if asking for permission to continue and her smile gave him the answer he wanted. He turned back to Cole and Ally and gave them both a big grin. “We figured you were going to need a few things for the baby. And well we couldn’t resist, he is our first grandchild that we are getting to hold and spoil until the other little one gets here.”
Ally and Cole glanced at each other and smiled before they turned back to Cole’s parents.
James began pulling stuff from the bags. He had bought clothes, sleep suits, bibs, vests, and nappies. There was a bottle sterilizer, a bottle warmer, a travel changing mat and baby monitors. And there was a ton of baby toys. Finally, he pulled a baby chair out of a big box. It was brightly coloured and had a detachable mobile with it. It was beautiful.
“Mom, Dad, you didn’t need to do all this,” Cole said completely taken back by his father and mother’s kindness. “This is too much.”
“It’s nothing,” Ella waved her hand dismissively. “He is our grandson, the first of many I hope.”
Ally got up from the sofa and, walking up to James first, wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug. Then she turned and hugged Ella.
“Thank you both, so much,” she said gratefully.
“Nothing to thank us for,” Ella replied. “This is our job, and we are so happy to do it.”
“Now, all this stuff is for Ben,” James said as he walked to the door. “But we can’t forget about the other little one that is still growing away.”
He disappeared back out into the hallway and returned carrying a big, soft plush giraffe with a big bow on its neck and a small gift bag.
He handed the little bag to Ally and she smiled as she reached inside and pulled out what was inside. It was a tiny t-shirt with the words, ‘I love my Grandma and Grandpa’ on it.
“There is one in the bag there for Ben too,” James said with a big grin. “I saw them and I couldn’t resist.”
“They are perfect,” Ally said as she turned to Cole, who was sitting with a content smile on his face feeding Ben and she added. “Just like my little family.”
It was a little after seven when they kissed Ella and James goodbye and headed to their London penthouse.
When they reached the apartment building, there were photographers waiting outside. The car filled with bright flashing lights as they screamed and called Cole’s name, asking for his thoughts on Steph’s death.
Ben started howling with fright from the commotion and Cole quickly tried to soothe him.
When they came to a stop in the underground car park, Cole quickly unfastened him from his car seat and pulled him close to his chest.
Nick opened the car door and Cole climbed out, followed closely by Ally, and Nick led them both to the lift.
As they rode up in the lift, the only sound was the high pitched crying of the tiny little boy.
“You want me to take him?” Ally asked, reaching out her arms.
“I have him,” Cole replied quickly. Ally just dropped her arms and sighed softly. She glanced over at Nick who just gave her a half smile.
When they reach the penthouse, Cole headed straight for their bedroom with Ben.
Ally stood in the hallway staring blankly in the direction Cole just disappeared.
“I will go down and get the rest of the belongings from the car,” Nick said from behind Ally pulling her from her thoughts. Ally simply nodded.
When she was alone, she walked to the full length window in the living room and looked out at Hyde Park, watching people coming and going about their business as the twilight for the late spring evening grew darker and darker.
After about 10 minutes, she could hear Cole making his way back down the hallway.
Ally turned to see him and her heart sank when she saw the thunderous expression on his face.
“Where is Nick,” he growled when he spotted Ally.
“He is getting the rest of the stuff from the car,” Ally said as she took a tentative step towards him. “Where’s Ben?”
“He is asleep in his crib,” Cole replied and seeing the look of confusion on Ally’s face he continued. “I had Nick go buy one today and told him to set it up in our room for now.”
“Oh I see,” was all Ally could say.
“I am not putting up with these pap
s any longer,” Cole growled as he paced up and down angrily. “They can’t be upsetting him every time we leave or come home. This is not acceptable.”
“Cole, you need to calm down,” Ally said trying to keep her own voice as calm as possible.
“Ally, they scared the life out of him,” Cole snapped angrily. “You didn’t feel how fast his little heart was racing. I am not having him being upset by these vultures.”
“I know he was upset,” Ally replied as she pinched the bridge of her nose to relieve the sudden tension headache she had. “But getting mad at me isn’t going to make it better and neither is pushing me out.”
“Ally, I am not pushing you out at all,” Cole said completely taken back by what she said.
Before either could say another word, the sound of a hysterical Ben filled the apartment.
“I’ll go,” Ally said, making to walk towards the bedroom but Cole was already on his way.
“I have him,” Cole said as he headed in the direction of the bedroom.
“Oh my God,” Ally laughed out loud. “No, you are really not pushing me out at all, are you? Tell you what, how about I leave you to play happy family just the way you want it.”
Before Cole could respond, Ally grabbed her handbag and headed straight for the double doors to the hallway, slamming the door behind her.
As she walked towards the lift, it pinged open and Nick appeared before her fully loaded down with a load of bags.
“Are you okay Ally?” He asked as he stepped off the lift. Ally quickly stepped around him and pressed the button for the ground floor.
“I am just fine,” she replied and gave him a forced smile.
Suddenly Cole emerged from the double doors with a screaming Ben in his arms.
“Ally wait,” Cole called out to her but the door began to close and Ally did nothing to stop them.
She slumped against the wall of the lift, and it descended down into the building.
“What the hell just happened?” she asked herself.
One Last Chance Page 10