“But nothing is going to happen to you,” Cole added. “That is my promise to you. You and I are going to grow old together. We are going to watch Ben and Little Bean grow in to amazing people and then we will watch our grandkids come into the world. You are going nowhere.”
“Thank you, Cole,” Ally said leaning up and kissing him tenderly on the lips.
The moment her lips touched his, Cole wanted her. He pulled her to him and rolled her over in the bed.
They slowly made love before they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Finally, feeling happy and contented, at least for a short while.
Chapter 26
Over the next few weeks, Ally barely left the house. And when she did, it was usually only ever as far as Nan and Pop’s or for her check-ups at the hospital. She seemed to have withdrawn into herself a little and nothing seemed to reach her.
Everyone was worried about her. Cole had pleaded with her to go to London for a while just to get a break from everything but she refused to go.
Cole was at a loss for what to do. The fact that Jason was nowhere to be found didn’t help either. They had his apartment watched but he never came back. Nathan called in a favour from one of his friends still on the force and they had his credit card traced but it wasn’t being used. It was like he just vanished off the face of the earth.
When they went for the twenty six week check-up, Ally had a 3-D scan of the baby. It was the first time Cole had seen her properly smile in weeks. They held hands and watched their baby girl move on the screen in the clearest picture they could have even imagined.
“I think Little Bean is going to be a heartbreaker, just like her mom,” Cole said with a big proud grin. Ally smiled up at him and suddenly the old Ally was back. She was even more beautiful when she smiled. Cole wished he could keep that smile on her face but decided he would just enjoy it while it lasted.
After the hospital, they headed, as always, straight to Nan and Pop’s, where they had left Ben and Adam.
Adam was the new guy Cole had hired as extra security. Ally had become so upset one day while at a hospital visit that Jason could get into Nan and Pop’s and harm Ben, Cole hired Adam to remain with Ben while he was away from them.
When they reached Nan’s, they played the DVD of the 3-D scan for Nan and Pop.
“I have never seen the like of it before,” Pop exclaimed in amazement. “Sure you can see her little face and all. And for the record, she’s as beautiful as her mother.”
“Thank you Pop,” Ally said with a genuine smile. “I just wish she was here. I can’t wait to hold her in my arms.”
“You need to have some patience, chicken,” Nan said as she stood up and headed for the door. “When the apple is ripe, it will fall not before. Now, who wants some tea?”
“I’ll help you,” Cole said getting up and following Nan out to the kitchen.
“So, how is she really?” Nan asked once they were alone.
“Not so good,” Cole sighed as he reached up into the cupboard and took the cups down as Nan boiled the kettle. It had become a custom that Cole helped Nan with the tea and they would always have a little chat while they prepared everything. “She is exhausted because she isn’t sleeping properly. Her weight is a little down on what it should be and her doctors aren’t happy about that. They are also worried her blood pressure is still a bit raised. But the main thing they are worried about is the baby as she is lying very low and her head is already in position. Now, they said that this isn’t uncommon and that she could move back out anytime.”
“And if it doesn’t happen?” Nan asked, concern evident in her voice. “What does that mean?”
“They are a little concerned that Ally could go into early labour,” Cole sighed. “They said she needs to rest and try not to do anything too stressful, that could raise the blood pressure and, well it’s all a little worrying to be honest.”
“She is only twenty-six weeks,” Nan sighed. “It’s far too soon for the baby to get here. The longer she stays in there the better she will be. Ally needs to really learn to relax. Mind you, I am sure this Jason thing isn’t helping.”
“Nan, I am doing everything I can to keep her safe,” Cole said sadly. “But I have no idea where he is.”
“I still think you should go to the police,” Nan said as she filled the teapot with hot water.
“Ally won’t go,” Cole replied. “She is afraid I will be in trouble.”
“Surely they would understand your anger,” Nan said looking up at Cole. “For a man to find the woman he loves in that state….”
She closed her eyes as she tried to keep control of her emotions. She tried so hard not to think about what Ally had gone through that night. Every time she did, she hated Jason a little bit more.
“Sure any judge would understand what you did,” Nan said looking up at Cole.
“I honestly don’t know,” Cole admitted. “But Ally is too afraid to take the chance.”
They headed back into the living room to Ally and Pop. He was watching the DVD once again with Ben sitting happily on his knee.
“How is Nathan doing?” Nan asked Cole as they all took their seats. Ally’s stomach heaved as she thought of Nathan, knowing he was almost killed, trying to keep her safe. She didn’t agree with what they had tried to do but she was grateful none the less.
He had been released from hospital four days after the shooting. Caitlin insisted he came to stay with her for a while so she could look after him.
That was the only good thing about this whole mess that had made Ally happy, seeing her friends so loved up. And she did consider Nathan a friend now too. In some ways he was more like family.
“He’s getting the pins taken out of his collar bone next week.” Cole replied as he sipped his tea. “Then they will begin his physio the following week. But they are pleased with his progress.”
“Shocking what this country is coming to,” Pop growled as he dipped his biscuit into his tea. “That poor lad, just minding his own business and no doubt some drug addict.”
“They don’t know who it was,” Ally replied quickly. “Cole it’s time we were getting home. I promised Rosie I would help her with dinner today.”
Cole looked at Ally, he knew she was lying. He knew she wasn’t comfortable with talking about what happened to Nathan. She hated lying to her friends and her grandparents. So every time they brought up the subject she changed it as quickly as she could.
She stood up and took Ben from her grandfather and got him ready to leave for home.
“You don’t have to leave already do you?” Nan said sensing Ally was upset about something. “I don’t think Rosie would mind if…”
“Nan, I said we are going now,” Ally snapped as she grabbed her handbag from the end of the sofa and headed for the door. Ben, sensing Ally’s mood, began to howl in her arms. Cole grabbed the nappy bag from the floor next to the door and hurried after Ally.
“I will take him,” Cole said reaching out for Ben.
“He’s fine!” Ally snapped back angrily and Ben cried louder.
“Ally,” Cole said trying to keep calm. “You are scaring him. He can sense you are upset.”
“FINE!” She shouted as she handed Ben to Cole and pulled the nappy bag from his hand, then hurried down the path towards the car. Nick and Adam where standing next to the car when she reached it but neither said a word. Nick just opened the door for Ally and she climbed inside.
When Cole reached the car, he secured Ben into his car seat despite his protests. The whole time Ally stared out the window, ignoring everything that was happening around her.
Cole climbed into the car and waved back to Nan and Pop as they pulled away from the house. Then turned to look at Ally. But her eyes remained fixed to the road outside the window.
When they reached the house, Ally didn’t waste any time getting out of the car, climbing out before Nick had even switched off the engine. She headed straight up the steps towards the door.
“Is everything okay, Ally?” She asked as Ally walked straight past her and headed for the stairs.
“Just peachy.” Ally shot over her shoulder as she hurried straight up the stairs.
She reached the bedroom and made her way straight for the wardrobe. Once she walked inside the wardrobe a sudden sob shook through her body as she collapsed to the floor, buried her face in her hands and sobbed her heart out.
“Ally,” Cole said from the doorway of the wardrobe before he hurried to Ally’s side and quickly wrapped her in his arms. “Sweetheart, please don’t cry.”
“Cole,” she sobbed. “I can’t do this anymore, I feel like everything is closing in around me. Sometimes I can’t breathe. I just want this to be over. What have I done that is so bad? Why does it feel like I am being punished for something?”
“This is not your fault,” Cole replied. “You listen to me Ally Thomas, you have to stop blaming yourself. You have done nothing wrong.”
“Why can’t he just leave me alone?” She sobbed harder. “I know we haven’t heard from him in weeks, but he is always there. In the unspoken silences, in the looks everyone gives me. And every time I look at Nathan. He nearly died because of me and I can’t take it anymore. I wish he would just come and finish the damn job. Let him kill me and be done with it.”
“YOU STOP THIS NOW!” Cole shouted in anger as he blinked back the tears. “If he kills you, he may as well kill me too. Because if I lost you I wouldn’t want to live without you. Don’t you see that? Ally you are my world, you are my life, I need you. And what about Ben and Little Bean. They need you too.”
He grabbed Ally’s hand and pressed it against her stomach and looked up into her eyes. As if on cue, the baby kicked Ally good and hard.
“Did you feel that?” Cole asked looking Ally straight in the face. “She needs you more than anything. She wants to live and if you die, she will too. So you need to fight for her, fight for us Ally. Please, I can’t do this without you.”
“I don’t know if I am strong enough,” she whispered as the tears streamed down her face. “I just don’t know if I can take much more.”
“You are stronger than you think, Ally Thomas,” Cole said softly. “You are the strongest person I know. Please, my gorgeous girl. Fight. Fight for me.”
Ally looked up into Cole eyes. She smiled and nodded through her tears. “I’ll fight, I promise.”
“That’s my girl,” Cole smiled and kissed her gently on the lips. “Now, how about we go down stairs to our little man?”
“Give me a few minutes,” Ally said with a sad smile. “I want to wash my face and change into something a little more comfy. I promise I won’t be long.”
“Okay,” he said with a broad smile, as he kissed her once again before he helped her up off the floor. “I will wait downstairs for you.”
He walked to the door and stopped, then turned back and gave Ally a funny kind of look. Almost like a child who felt insecure and it almost broke Ally’s heart.
“You know I really do love you Ally Thomas,” he said before he disappeared out the door and left Ally standing alone in the middle of the walk in wardrobe.
She took a deep steadying breath before she followed him out but then headed into the bathroom.
She ran the water and splashed it up into her face a few times, washing away the tears and the running make-up. She reached for a towel and pressed it to her face, drying it thoroughly.
She looked up into the mirror and was shocked to see her reflection. She barely recognised herself anymore. Despite the ever expanding bump, she had lost weight. She was pale and had dark circles under her eyes that were now also puffy and red from crying.
“You are a mess, girl,” she said to her reflection. “You are letting him win.”
She thought of Jason. She thought about when they went out together, of how he made her feel stupid and worthless every chance he could get. She thought of the night she caught him with the girl in his office. How he pleaded with her for another chance. But she had found the strength to stand her ground. She had not been the girl he once made feel pathetic and small.
She had been stronger. But bit by bit he had chipped away at that strength until there was nothing left.
Do I really want to let him win? She thought to herself.
“Hell no,” she said to her reflection. From now on she was going to be the strong, happy and better Ally she had become. He was never going to win.
Chapter 27
When Ally got back down the stairs, she found Cole in the kitchen with Ben and Rosie. She walked over to Ben, scooped him up, kissed and hugged him tightly.
“Mommy is sorry for making you cry,” she whispered to him as she rocked him back and forth. She could feel Cole’s hand on her back and she turned to him and smiled.
“You feeling a little better?” He asked, taking in every inch of her beautiful face.
“Much,” she nodded and smiled.
“Good,” he replied as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “As it’s such a beautiful evening out, I thought we could sit out on the patio for dinner?”
“Sounds fab,” Ally replied happily. She carried Ben out to the patio where the big glass garden table was already set for dinner. She slipped Ben into his highchair and kissed the top of his head once more. She took a seat as Rosie and Cole emerged from the house carrying their evening meal.
“Aren’t you joining us?” Ally asked Rosie when she saw only her and Cole’s dinner and a small bowl of food for Ben.
“I think tonight, you need to spend some time as a family,” Rosie said with a grateful smile, as she placed a scan picture on the table in front of Ally. “Just the four of you.”
Then she turned and headed back into the house.
Cole and Ally sat on the patio, enjoying the evening sun Talking about what ever came into their minds, but neither one mentioned Jason, though both knew the other was thinking about him.
“I think I will give this little man a bath before bedtime,” Ally said standing up.
“Let me,” Cole said beating her to Ben. “You need to rest, stay here and enjoy the last of the evening sun.”
“Thank you,” Ally said gratefully. She watched Cole disappear into the house with Ben in his arms and felt content for the first time in weeks. She sat staring over their beautifully manicured back garden. Their world was perfect. They had a beautiful home, a gorgeous little boy and their little girl was on the way. They should have been happy.
But the ugly, dark cloud in the shape of Jason hung over them like an unspoken sadness between them. However, Ally was determined she would no longer let him destroy their happiness.
She grew up in an unhappy home and she didn’t want that for Ben or Little Bean.
She rubbed her stomach as her little girl kicked, as if giving her a gentle reminder she needed to be strong and fight for her family.
“Ally,” a voice from behind her made her jump pulling her from her thoughts.
She turned and she smiled when she saw Nathan standing at the doorway to the kitchen. But inside her heart hurt when she remembered he nearly died because he was trying to keep her safe.
“Hey,” she said as he walked out on to the patio and took a seat next to her.
“Sorry I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said looking at Ally oddly. He looked nervous and very unlike the Nathan she was used to.
“I just wasn’t expecting anyone,” she replied as she began to stand up. “Can I get you a drink or something?”
“No,” he shook his head and Ally dropped back into her seat. “I am good thanks.”
“How’s the shoulder?” Ally asked and she cringed once more knowing why he was hurt.
“It’s healing well,” he replied and dropped his eyes to the floor. “That’s kind of why I am here.”
“
Oh,” Ally said, feeling suddenly a little sick.
“I spoke to Cole,” Nathan began cautiously. “He is worried about you. He said you are blaming yourself for what happened to me.”
Ally’s heart was thumping hard in her chest as Nathan looked up and his eyes met hers. She could feel hot salty tears sting her eyes. She tried to blink them back but they broke free and trickled down her face.
“It is my fault,” she replied in a tiny voice. “You would have never heard of Jason if it weren’t for me. I brought him in to everyone’s life. People are getting hurt because of me. And it was the last thing I ever wanted to happen.”
“Ally, let me tell you a little story,” Nathan said and took a deep breath before he continued. “I met Cole when I was nineteen. My parent’s and younger sister Abby were killed in a car crash when I was eighteen. They were killed by a drunk driver and I was left with no one.”
“Oh Nathan,” Ally said, the tears now falling freely. “I am so sorry.”
“I went to London on what would have been Abby’s eighteenth birthday,” Nathan continued. “She had always wanted to go to London and my parents were organising a trip for her birthday. So I took the trip. But I was not in a good place. The night of Abby’s birthday, I got really drunk. I found myself beside the canal. I just couldn’t go on any more. I filled my pockets with rocks and jumped.”
“Oh my God,” Ally sobbed.
“I just wanted to end it,” Nathan said sadly. Then he suddenly chuckled. “Cole had other ideas. He just happened to be passing by at the time, saw what I had done and jumped in after me. I kicked and fought but he pulled my sorry ass from the water. Ally he saved my life.”
“I had no idea,” Ally said, stunned by what he had just told her.
“I had no idea who he was,” Nathan smiled at the memory. “But he stayed with me all night in the hospital. The next day he took me home to his parents’ house. They welcomed me and made me feel like I was part of their family. A week later it was Christmas and I had a Christmas I was never expecting to have. I came back to Ireland in the New Year and applied to join the force. I wanted to try and make a difference. Cole kept in touched and he became my best friend. More. He became my family.”
One Last Chance Page 18