No Second Chances

by Beverley Hollowed

  “Did he hurt you?” Gus asked and Ally could see the angry grow inside this man who had been a part of her life since the days she was born.

  “I don’t think he meant to.” She replied but then she thought about Saturday and realised she was no longer was sure what was true. “Well, I didn’t think so. Last Thursday I got a text from him. It was a picture of me and Cole. He had been watching me. And I freaked out. Sid knew and he knew how upset I was. So he took me home.”

  “Why the fuck didn’t he tell me!” Gus stood up abruptly and began to pace.

  “Don’t be mad with Sid,” Ally pleaded. “I made him promise not to say anything.”

  “So have you heard from him since?” Gus asked, turning back to Ally and she instantly dropped her eyes to her lap. She just simply nodded her response.

  “What happened?” Gus asked his voice turning softer as he crouched in front of Ally once again.

  She told him about the ladies room on Saturday night and then she slowly pulled up the sleeve of her top and showed Gus her bandaging from where she had her stitches.

  “I am going to fucking kill him!” Gus growled angrily as he clenched his fists and began to pace again. “And so what has this ‘Cole’ guy got to do with all this?”

  “Cole is…” Ally didn’t know what she should say. She thought of Cole and she smiled. “Cole is a good guy. We haven’t been seeing each other long, but I like him. I really like him. He is freaked out about Jason. He wants me to stay with him until this whole mess blows over.”

  “Well, I can’t say I like the idea of you staying with some stranger,” Gus said as he stopped pacing long enough to look at Ally. “But I am happier than you being alone until the police sort this out with Jason.”

  Ally’s face burned and she dropped her eyes to her hands once again.

  “Tell me you have contacted the police,” Gus stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Ally expectantly.

  “Cole’s friend Nathan is a retired detective,” Ally said unable to look up at Gus. “He had some of his friends still on the force call around to talk to Jason.”

  “ALLY, ARE YOU INSANE?” Gus bellowed so loudly it made Ally jump.

  “I don’t want him in trouble with the police,” Ally snapped back as she sprung to her feet. “I just want him to leave me alone! I want to get on with my life. I don’t want everyone knowing he cheated on me.”

  “This is about your Dad,” Gus said, finally getting exactly what was bothering Ally the most. “Ally just because he cheated on you, doesn’t mean you are like your Mom.”

  “I don’t want to discuss it.” Ally grabbed her bag and headed straight for the door.

  “Ally, sweetheart,” Gus pleaded but Ally didn’t want to hear it.

  “This is none of your business!” Ally snapped as she turned back to look at Gus from the doorway. “Now if there isn’t anything else I would like to get to work.”

  “No,” Gus replied, realising he crossed a line. “Good to have you back.”

  Ally walked out of the office without another word and headed straight for the staffroom where she found Sid pulling on his overalls

  “Hey there, slacker,” he said with a laugh but it faded quickly when he saw Ally’s face, “What’s wrong, Al?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it!” Ally grunted as she threw her handbag into her locker and pulled out her overalls and began to put them on.

  “Jesus, Ally!” Sid exclaimed and grabbed Ally’s arm when he spotted the bandaging on her wrist. ”What the hell happened you?”

  “I had an accident,” she snatch her arm away from his grasp. “I had to get a couple of stitches.”

  “This was Jason!” Sid demanded, looking Ally straight in the eye. “It was, wasn’t it?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she snapped back pulling her phone from her jacket pocket and slamming the locker down shut before she slid the phone into her overalls and heading for the door of the staff room.

  “Ally,” Sid called after her but she didn’t reply or slow down. She went in search of Emma and asked her which car she was scheduled to work on. She was pointed to a Ford Focus. Ally moved the car in her work bay and got to work on it.

  She kept her head down for the morning and avoided talking to anyone. She caught Sid and Gus whispering in the corner a couple of times and Ally cringed because she knew they were talking about her and more than likely, Gus would have filled Sid on all the details of her encounter with Jason, and probably about Cole too.

  She hated that they felt they had to look out for her. She knew they meant well but it didn’t make it any less annoying.

  Ally finished with the Ford and, checked with Emma and the schedule for her next booking. Her annoyance grew to total frustration after she learned that she'd only been scheduled for the one car --- because they weren't sure if she was going to turn up for work.

  When had she turned into the needy girl everyone had to look out for?

  At 2:30 a breakdown call came in and Ally jumped at the chance to get out of the garage for a couple of hours. She took the recovery truck because it was available and also, judging from the message on the phone, the car was going to have to be towed back to the garage for repair.

  As Ally walked to the trucked parked down the far end of the car park, she had the most unsettling feeling wash over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. She climbed into the truck and quickly locked the doors and tried to steady her now ragged breath.

  This is insane! She scolded herself. You need to stop being so paranoid.

  She started the truck and pulled it out of the car park and headed straight for the M50 and took the slip road heading south bound when she reached the motor way. She found she was checking her rear view mirror again and again. Watching for cars that were following her for any length of time.

  “You need to stop this!” she cried out and laughed nervously. Taking the exit off the M50 she needed, she thought she spotted Jason’s car about 3 cars behind hers. Instantly her heart began to race. When she reached the traffic light at the end of the exit she stopped at the red light and turned around, craning her neck. She wasn’t sure who was driving the car, she couldn’t see the driver clearly enough. But it could have been Jason. It was the right kind of car and she was fairly sure it was a man driving.

  Her heart began to thump harder in her chest. She jumped when the car behind her beeped because she hadn’t noticed the Traffic lights changing colour.

  She drove around aimlessly to see would the car turn another direction. But turn after turn the car followed her. She couldn’t think clearly anymore and fear began to take hold of her. She didn’t know what she should do.

  Then the thought came to her. Cole.

  She pulled her phone from her pocket and when she got to the next red light she pulled up Cole number on her phone and pressed send. It rang only once before he answered.

  “Ally,” Cole’s voice was clearly filled with concern. “Are you okay?”

  “Cole!” Ally exclaimed and tried her hardest not to cry. “Cole, I am scared.”

  “What’s happened?” Cole tasked carefully. His was one of fear and this didn’t really help Ally. “Where are you?”

  “I was called out on a breakdown,” she said fighting hard the desire to cry. “I think Jason is following me. Cole, I am so frightened.”

  “Okay, baby, you need to stay calm,” Cole said, suddenly talking in a calmer voice. “Where are you now?”

  “I am in Stillorgan,” she replied and once again checked her review mirror. Sure enough the same car was about three cars behind her. “I am going to get back on the M50”.

  “Okay, good” Cole said, still his voice was calm although she could hear he was moving, walking maybe. “Head straight back to the garage. I am about ten minutes away and I will be there waiting for you when you get back.”

  “Okay,” she whispered as tears of relief pooled in her eyes but she blinked them back. Sh
e was not going to cry.

  “Ally, baby, you with me?” he asked softly.

  “Yeah,” she reassured him and couldn’t help but smile.

  “You shouldn’t be talking to me while you are driving,” he replied, his voice still clam and steady. “I want you to stay on the line but lay the phone on the seat next to you. I’ll still be here. Just concentrate on the road.”

  “Okay,” she replied and placed the phone on the seat next to her. She glanced into her mirror once again and the car was now only one car back and she was certain it was Jason driving. Thankfully the traffic was clearer heading north bound on the M50.

  As she drew closer to the garage, she could feel a mixture of relief and fear run through her body. Relief that she was nearly back at the garage and Cole would be waiting for her. Fear that there was about to be a confrontation between Cole and Jason.

  As she pulled into the car park of the garage, she could see Cole pacing up and down near the door. The look of relief washed over his face as soon as he spotted Ally behind the wheel of the recuse vehicle. She pulled the truck to a stop without even parking it properly. She climbed out of the truck and suddenly the tear broke free and Ally hurried into Cole’s arms.

  “It’s okay,” he assured her, wrapping her tightly in his arms. “I have you, it’s okay.”

  “Why can’t he leave me alone?” she sobbed as the tears were now flowing freely.

  “I will fix this, my gorgeous girl.” he whispered and he kissed her softly on the forehead.

  The sudden sound of screeching make them both turn in time to see the BMW driving away at an alarming speed.

  Yes I will fix that fucker! Cole thought. I’ll fix him for once and for all.

  Chapter 18

  When Cole led Ally into the garage, Gus was surprised to see Ally back, but his surprise turned to anger when he heard she had been followed. He of course wanted to call the police but Ally wouldn’t hear of it.

  He told her she should go home and until things were sorted once and for all with Jason, she would no longer be doing call outs. Ally was mortified. Jason was ruining her life. She felt so weak and pathetic. She slumped into the chair in Gus’s office and buried her face in her hands in shame.

  Gus took the opportunity to ask Cole a million questions about himself and Cole dutifully replied, being honest, open and friendly. Gus was impressed.

  Cole saw a broken Ally slumped on the chair and anger filled him. He need to get this sorted. He needed to make it right for her and make sure Jason never goes near her again.

  “Ally,” Cole spoke softly as he bent down next to her. She looked up and met his eyes with hers. “How about I take you home, gorgeous girl?”

  Ally simply nodded and stood up. After saying a quick goodbye to Gus, Cole led her out to his car where Liam was waiting for them. Cole asked Ally for her car keys and then handed them to Liam, instructing him to follow them to Ally apartment in her car.

  Cole then opened the passenger door the Rover for Ally and closed it once she had climbed in, then hurried around to the driver’s side. He watched Ally as he put on his seat belt and he sighed. She looked defeated and it was killing him inside.

  “Hey,” he said as he reached over and stroked her face softly. “We are going to sort this out.”

  Ally just smiled and then turned her gaze back out the window. She never said a word for the entire journey.

  When they reached her apartment, Ally climbed out of the car and nervously glanced around her. Searching everywhere for any sign of Jason or his car.

  To her relief she found none. Cole took her hand and led her to the door of the building. Ally typed her code into the keypad by the door. And a thought occurred to her.

  “Cole, how did you manage to get into the building the first couple of times you came by?” Ally asked as they walked to the lift together. Frustrated, Cole pushed his hand through his hair and let out a rush of air. "The first night there was some guy heading in and he held the door open for me. The next night I was about to buzz you door when a couple came out and let me in.”

  “It really is easy to get into this building,” Ally sighed. “Isn’t it?”

  “You’re worried about Jason getting in,” Cole said as they stepped on to the lift. It was something he was worried about too.

  “More alarming is that he knows the code to the main door," Ally added looking up at Cole and he tensed immediately.

  “He can get in here without the kindness of strangers?” Cole asked as the colour drained from his face. The lift doors pinged opened and Ally was the first to step off.

  “Ally, wait,” Cole said taking hold of her arm and turned her around to face him as they walked down the hallway. “Okay, I didn’t want to tell you this, because, well because you are already scared enough.”

  Ally took a deep breath and looked at expectantly at Cole.

  “Jason was sacked from his job.” Cole began. “Last Thursday he arrived at worked and was angry as hell. He abused his assistant verbally in front of everyone. He called her a whore and told her she ruined his life. He then went crazy and began to smash up the office. He had to be escorted out of the building”

  “Oh my god!” Ally gasped, her hand flew to her mouth as her stomached heaved. She thought she was going to be sick.

  “Ally,” he said and took a deep breath. “Jane was beaten up badly on Saturday night. The police think it was Jason but they can’t prove it. Her jaw was broken.”

  Ally slumped against the wall as her legs buckled beneath her. Cole grabbed her and pulled her to him as a heart breaking sob shook through her body and out of her mouth.

  “I have you, baby” Cole said scooping her up into his arms.

  Ally doesn’t know how but suddenly she was in the sofa in her apartment and Cole was handing her a glass of water.

  “Drink this,” he instructed her and she did as she was told. She sat and held the glass tightly as her mind raced. Had she really been so wrong about Jason?

  When she thought back to their time together, yes he had been possessive and a little controlling. But when they were together she never felt scared or at risk. How had she been so completely clueless?

  “Ally,” Cole’s soft voice pulled her from her thoughts. “I know you want to stay here, this is your home. But I really don't think it's safe for you here. Please come home with me.It's much safer there.”

  “Okay,” Ally agreed, surprising Cole she didn’t argue with him. But she couldn’t argue or fight him because she had no fight left.

  “Good,” he replied and kissed her softly on the forehead. Ally gathered some more of her belongings, looked around her apartment one last time before she followed Cole to his car where Liam was waiting for them.

  Ally felt completely and utterly lost. Her home no longer felt the comfortable safe haven she once though it was. Jason was destroying her life. She pressed her forehead against the glass of the car door as the car pulled away from her apartment building.

  Cole reached over and took her hand and squeezed it softly. Ally glanced over and smiled at him. He really was perfect.

  He watched her as they drove to his house and his heart ached to see her so broken and defeated. He wasn’t sure how he could make her feel safe and happy but he was determined to do just that.

  When they reached the house. Cole led Ally to his bathroom and ran her a bath, complete with bubbles. As she slipped into the bath Cole left the bathroom and then returned a few moments later carrying her pink fluff PJs.

  “I want you to feel at home here,” he said as he placed them on the vanity unit before he turned to her. “These make you comfortable.”

  Ally smiled gratefully at him as he walked over to the bath and leaned down and kissed Ally softly.

  “Besides,” he added with smile. “I think they are sexy as hell.”

  Ally could help but smile again. Her first proper smile of the day.

  “There’s my girl,” Cole said and kissed her once agai
n. “I will leave you to relax. There are a couple of things I need to do in my office. Come find me when you are done in here.”

  He kissed her once more before he left her alone. She sunk down into the bath and let the tears she been struggling with all day finally go without fighting them.

  ***************************

  An hour later a very wrinkly but relaxed Ally, dressed in her fluffy pink PJs, made her way down the stairs in search of Cole. When she reached the hallway she could hear music coming from the living room. Rihanna’s ‘Stay’ filled the air and Ally smiled because she loved Rihanna and Cole remembered.

  She walked onto the living room and found Cole rummaging through some boxes and bags. He turned when he heard her come in and smiled.

  “Feeling better?” he asked as he stood up and walked slowly towards her.

  “Much,” she sighed as he wrapped her in his arm as kissed her firmly.

  “I am glad to hear it,” he whispered against her mouth as their lips parted. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not really,” she sighed.

  “You know you should eat something,” Cole replied as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Rosie left something dinner in the kitchen. She is gone to bed early. She thought we would need some time alone.”

  “What’s with all the boxes?” she nodded over his shoulder to.

  “Funny you should asked,” he said as he turned around and taking her by the hand he lead her over to the boxes. “This is my first Christmas in this house and I was hoping you would help me decorate my Christmas tree.”

  “I would love to,” Ally replied. “I love Christmas. Every year I put up my Nan’s tree. She tells me every year it’s even nicer than the year before.”

  Cole pulled apart the huge box in the centre of the room and wrestle out the biggest tree Ally ever saw.