How Many Chances

by Beverley Hollowed

  Then he heard her mention Ally’s name and he couldn’t help but listen to the one sided conversation. She was taking a message down to give to Ally. Then she read it back to whoever she was talking to, to make sure she had it right.

  It was a change of venue for a planned night out Ally was having with whoever was at the other end of the line. That was how he had known where she would be that night. His grinned widened as he remembered how that night had ended.

  “Can I help you sir,” the girl’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. Then recognising him she added “If you are looking for Ally, I am afraid she doesn’t work here anymore.”

  “Actually,” Cole said giving her one of his charming smiles. “I was hoping to speak to Sid.”

  “Sid is out on a call at the moment,” she replied in a cheerful voice.

  “Damn,” Cole groaned. He had assumed he would be here.

  “He should be back soon, if you want to wait?” She quickly added and smiled once again.

  “Cole,” Gus’s voice came from behind Cole. He turned around to him and was taken back to see this shell of a man standing in front of him. “It’s everything okay? Is Ally alright?”

  The panic in Gus’s voice was very evident.

  “She is fine,” Cole replied as the sympathy for this man consumed him. “How are you?”

  Gus didn’t reply other than give Cole a shrug.

  “Would you like a coffee while you wait?” the girl behind the reception desk chirped from behind Cole. He couldn’t remember her name.

  “Emma,” Gus called out. “Can you get both myself and Mr Thomas a coffee and bring it into my office. Then turned back to Cole he asked. “Can we talk?”

  “Sure,” Cole said following Gus into his office and closing the door behind them. He took the seat in front of Gus’s desk as Gus took his seat or the far side of it.

  “So,” Gus said as he clasped his hands together and rested them on the desk. “How is she really?”

  “Honestly,” Cole sighed. “She isn’t good. She won’t talk about it. She won’t talk about anything. She has gone to London for a couple of days to my Mom to look for a wedding dress. I am hoping the break will do her some good. But I am worried about her. I won’t lie.”

  “I am so sorry I did this to her,” Gus replied sadly. “You have to believe me, it was never my intention. When Rachel told me she was pregnant. I wanted to do the right thing. But I was married and I did love Laura too. But Rachel was the love of my life. She was terrified of Fitzmaurice. He was rich and powerful and incredibly spiteful. She said if he found out he would have destroyed both our lives and just to make a point, would have destroyed her father too, simply because she adored Pops and he knew how best to hurt her.”

  “I have had some dealing with him,” Cole growled as he remembered the cruel and callous way he told Ally the truth about her father. “So I know exactly the kind of man Sean Fitzmaurice is.”

  “Rachel pleaded with me to keep it a secret,” Gus continued. “I really didn’t want to, but she promised I could be part of the baby’s life. However, the first time I saw Ally, it nearly killed me. I want to tell everyone she was mine, including Laura. But Rachel begged me and I love her so much I stupidly agreed. Plus I was afraid if I didn’t, she would stop me from seeing Ally”

  “Why didn’t you tell her when her Mom died and he had walked away?” Cole asked.

  “Ally took her mother’s death very badly,” Gus explained. “Pop was up the wall over her. But I got drunk one night and went to talk to him man to man. I told him everything and he beat the crap out of me. Back then Pops wasn’t someone you messed around with. But still I guess I deserved it. Then he sat down and cried. He begged me not to tell her. He said it would destroy her. Guess he was right because look at her now. Cole I am not proud of what I have done to her.”

  “She is just angry,” Cole sighed, hoping he was right. “She will come around. She has a new family she could be part of eventually. I know that is something she has always wanted.”

  “Laura and the girls are very angry with me,” Gus said sadly. “But they are angrier at the fact that I never stepped up and told Ally the truth sooner. They all love her so much. They are heartbroken to think of the years they have lost and that she is so hurt and alone right now. So I am really public enemy number one.”

  Before Cole could reply there was a knock on the door. Emma came in carrying the coffees and was followed closely by Sid.

  “Here you go gentlemen,” Emma said happily before she turned to Cole. “I told Sid you were looking for him.”

  Cole looked up at Sid and he could see fear written very clearly across his face.

  “Thank you,” he said turning back to Emma. Then turning to Gus he asked. “Could I possible speak to Sid in private for a few moments?”

  “Certainly,” Gus said as he stood up and took his coffee with him.

  “Oh, and Gus,” Cole said as Gus stopped at the door and turned back to him. “I will talk to Ally for you.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a sad smile before he walked out and closed the door behind him.

  Cole turned to Sid and looked a deep breath.

  “So,” Sid said looking Cole straight in the eye. He had no idea why he was here but he was ready for whatever he had to say. Sid knew he shouldn’t blame Cole for what Ally was doing, he didn’t know about the baby so it wasn’t really his fault. But he was angry with him that he was so caught up in his own hurt and pain, he couldn’t see she was hurt too. And that he had driven her to do something, Sid knew, she would regret for the rest of her life. “You wanted to see me.”

  “I want you to back off and leave Ally alone,” Cole said getting straight to the point. “She has been through enough recently and she doesn’t need you hassling her about Gus.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Sid asked totally confused by what Cole had said to him.

  “She told me about you pestering her to hear Gus out,” Cole explained. “That’s why she was upset last night. I knew something wasn’t right between you two. She finally admitted it this morning.”

  “And she told you that,” Sid said feeling the anger bubble inside him. Ally was hurting and this asshole couldn’t see what was going on right in front of his face. He wanted to slap him in the face with his own stupidity. But he had promised Ally so he bit his tongue. “Fine, I will back off.”

  He turned and headed towards the door without saying another word.

  “That’s not the truth, is it,” Cole said standing up and turning to Sid as the realisation suddenly hit him. “That’s not the reason she is upset.”

  “Cole,” Sid said, turning back to Cole and taking a deep breath. “I think you are a good guy. And I have no doubt you love Ally. But she is my friend. Don’t come here and expect me to ease your conscience.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Cole snapped. “Are you saying it’s my fault Ally is upset?”

  “Look, this is none of my business,” Sid replied and sighed. “All you need to know is she adores you and she would do anything to make you happy. Even if it means breaking her own heart.”

  “Are you in love with her?” Cole asked as he clenched his fists. “Is that it?”

  “Oh for the love of God,” Sid laughed. “You really haven’t a fucking clue. That girl it tearing herself to pieces and you can’t see it. Look go back to your perfect little life. She will come back from London and your world will be perfect once again. But she won’t be.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Cole demanded.

  “Go home Cole,” Sid said and turned back to the door but Cole was not going to take no for an answer.

  “NO!” Cole shouted grabbing hold of Sid, slamming him to the door and pinning him to it with his arm across his throat. “Spit it out, whatever the fuck you are talking about. Enough of the sly remarks. Have the balls to say what you really think.”

  “SHE IS PREGNANT!” Sid shouted back int
o Coles face. “She is carrying your baby. But she thinks you don’t want it. And she is so scared of losing you she has gone to London to get rid of it. But you are too fucking stupid and rapid up in your own world to see what you have done to her.”

  Cole was stunned he just held Sid against the door and stared into his face as his mind raced. Sid regretted his cutting remark. And the look on Coles face said it all, he really had no idea.

  “Look, she found out last week she was pregnant,” Sid continued a little less forcefully. “But you had said you didn’t want kids. She tried to tell you. Believe me she tried. But she loves you so much. She was afraid you would walk away. Or worse still, stand by her and end up hating her and the baby.”

  “But I love her,” Cole said as he released Sid. He could feel the blood drain from his body as the realization of what Sid told him, hit him. He slumped into the chair and buried his face in his hands as he tried to get his head straight. “I would never hate her.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” Sid admitted and sighed. He actually felt sorry for Cole. The look of devastation was more than pitiful.

  “Why would she think I would even want her to do this,” Cole said looking up at Sid.

  “She isn’t thinking straight,” Sid replied as he ran his hands through his hair. “She is scared, she really scared. She has spent her life being the child no one wants. She doesn’t want that for her baby. But this is killing her. She is falling to pieces. And if she does this, she will never forgive herself.”

  “My baby,” Cole said as the words sunk in. “Ally is carrying my baby.”

  “Yes,” Sid confirmed. “Cole she loves you more than anything else in this word but she is so scared she is going to lose you.”

  “I did this to her,” he said as it finally hit him what he had done. “Oh god what have I done. I have pushed her into doing this without even knowing I was doing it. If she goes through with this she will never forgive me.”

  He buried his face in his hand as he fought hard to hold back the tears. It all made perfect sense now. She was sick because she was pregnant. She was so upset after what happened with her father and then Ben. It never occurred to Cole, that she might be pregnant. She must have felt so lost and alone. Then the thought occurred to him.

  “Oh god.” Cole said looking up at Sid. “She is on her way to London now. She is going today, to get rid of the baby. Our baby.”

  “Believe me Cole, I tried to talk her out of it,” Sid explained. “When she told me yesterday I begged her not to do this. But she has convinced herself this is her only option. But I know she really doesn’t want this. That much is clear. It is written all over her face. If she does this. She will never get over it.”

  “I need to stop her,” Cole said pulling his phone from his pocket. He pressed Ally’s name on the speed dial. It rang a couple of times before it answered.

  “Hello” the voice at the far end answered.

  “Ally, sweetheart, It’s me,” Cole said relieved she obviously hadn’t boarded the plane.

  “Mr Thomas,” a familiar voice said from the other end of the line. “Mr Thomas, this is Rosie. It would seem Ally walked off without her phone.”

  “FUCK!” Cole exclaimed. “Sorry Rosie, I will call you back.” He hung up the phone and slipped it back into his pocked

  He stood up and quickly hurried to the door.

  “What’s happening?” Sid asked following Cole to the door.

  “She forgot her damn phone,” Cole said as he hurried out of the garage and to the car outside. “I need to go to the airport and stop her before she does something totally stupid.”

  “Cole what if you don’t stop her in time?” Sid asked taking hold of the car door.

  “Then God forgive me,” Cole replied. He slammed the door shut and told Liam to get him to Dublin airport as fast as he can.

  Chapter 30

  Ally sat at in the departure lounge waiting to board the plane.

  You’re doing the right thing, she chanted to herself repeatedly but the pain in the pit of her stomach was almost suffocating her. She could barely breathe.

  She struggled to take deep breaths. But she could fight the tears no longer as they pooled in her eyes and quickly broke free.

  “Are you alright miss,” an elderly man sitting next to her asked as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Ally. Ally looked up at him and then down to the handkerchief. “It’s clean,” he reassured her.

  Ally couldn’t help but smile at the old man. He reminded her a little of Pops and she wished more than anything he was sitting there next to her.

  “Thank you,” she finally managed to say.

  “It there anything I can get for you,” the old man asked. “A pretty young girl like you shouldn’t be so sad.”

  “I don’t think there is anyone who can help me right now,” she replied sadly.

  “Has a boy broken your heart?” he asked as he patted her on the man hand lightly.

  “Something like that,” she smiled at the old man. “It’s complicated.”

  “True love always is my dear,” he said with a knowing smile. “The thing is, if the love is strong enough, it can survive anything.”

  Ally nodded and smiled.

  “So the question is,” he continued. “Is your love strong enough?”

  Ally thought about his question for a moment. She thought about Cole. She knew in her heart he loved her more than anything in this world. There was truly nothing he wouldn’t do for her. But him loving her wasn’t the problem. The problem was could he love their baby too. In her heart Ally wanted to believe the answer was yes.

  But she was scared. She had been that child that no one wanted. She had not just one, but two father’s walk away from her.

  Then her mind wandered to Gus, had he really walked away from her. There wasn’t one single event in her life he hadn’t been part of. He was there for the good as well as the bad.

  He had cared for her and watched out for her just the same as he had his other three girls. Okay he never told her the truth but had he really walked away from her. No he hadn’t. He had even gone as far as to give her a job and always stood up for her and had her corner whenever she came up against the sexist assholes that came into the garage. He was proud of her. Something she always dream of her father being. She had always wished he was her father. He was her father.

  Then she thought of Cole. She loved him with every ounce of her being. He was her soul mate and her best friend. But the tiny voice in her head kept saying “what if he doesn’t love the baby too?” The truth was she really didn’t know.

  She looked back up at the old man and smiled.

  “Honestly,” she said to him sadly. “I really don’t know. And I am too scared to find out.”

  “But the best things in life scare us,” the old man smiled. “If life didn’t scare us. How boring would life be? We need the fear to remind us, we are still alive.”

  Before Ally could replied the voice over the intercom announced that her flight was now boarding.

  “That’s us,” Ally smiled as she stood up and grabbed her handbag.

  “That it is,” the old man said and smiled warmly back at Ally. “Just remember my lovely, running away from our problems isn’t the answer, and it just creates new ones.”

  He turned and walked up to the flight attendant and handed her his boarding pass while Ally waited her turn in the queue.

  Ally walked up to the flight attendant next and the girl smiled brightly at Ally.

  “Can I have your board card, please madam,” she said to Ally brightly.

  Ally smiled at her and looked down at her boarding pass and then back up at the girl.

  *********************************

  Cole rang his assistant and told her to book him on any flight as soon as possible. She was confused by his request. He told her he wasn’t actually catching the flight he just need a boarding pass to get the through security as quickly as possible
Then he opened his brief case and prayed for a miracle.

  “Thank you God!” he exclaimed as he pulled his passport from his case. Now all he needed was to get to the airport in time.

  He had called the airport and had Ally paged but she didn’t come to the phone. He was panicking now.

  His phone rang and it was his assistant informing him she had booked him on a flight for Manchester.

  He knew he was cutting it fine. They seemed to hit every red light on the way there. He had a feeling of dread washing over him. What if he didn’t make it? But he couldn’t think like that now. Failure was not an option. He had to make it.

  Finally he arrived at the set down area at Departuresin Dublin Airport, where he had left Ally not even ninety minutes earlier. The car was barely stopped before he was out and running into the building. He headed straight to the ticket desk and collected his ticket.

  He impatiently tapped his fingers on the counter as the girl behind the desk asked him so many stupid question. He willed her to hurry up but she seemed to be making it her mission to be the most useless person on the planet. It took him everything he had not to scream at her.

  Once he finally had his ticket then made his way to the check in desk and thanked Sally, his assistant for booking him on business class so there would be no queues for checking in.

  But still he had to go through the same boring questions that were always asked at check in. Cole was running out of patience very quickly. He checked his watch and he knew he was running out time too.

  When he got his boarding pass he ran flat out to the security gate. Despite the fact there was a row of security scanners, there was only three operational and Cole groaned. It would have been almost funny if it wasn’t such a nightmare. Once he finally passed them, he checked the screen for which gate her flight was leaving from. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the screen flash the words “gate closing”. He checked her gate number and headed in the direction he needed to go as fast as he legs could carry him.

  He ran faster and faster as he watched the number of the gates climb. He spotted her gate at the far end of the corridor and he ran like his life depended on it. However, when he reached the gate and his heart crashed into his chest. Her flight was closed and the plane was pulling away from the gate.