Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2)

by Len Webster

  “Maybe a beagle.”

  Just as Cooper nodded at his decision to find himself a beagle, his phone began to vibrate in his shorts pocket. He retrieved it, noticing a number he did not recognise on the screen. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he answered the call and put the phone to his ear.

  “Hello?” he said, slightly unsure as he leant against the bench.

  “Hi. Is this Cooper Hepburn?” a man with a deep voice asked.

  Cooper quickly thought back to see if he recognised the voice. But he came up short. He didn’t know this voice, and he certainly didn’t owe anyone anything to have strange men calling him. He felt safe enough where he could confirm that it was he the caller was looking for.

  “That’s me. How can I help you?”

  “Oh, good. I’m Graham Scott. I’m the owner of Scott Family Lavender here in Daylesford. You sent in your resume last night. I was wondering if you wanted to do a Skype interview later this afternoon?”

  Shit.

  I didn’t think I sent it.

  I already have a job …

  That I hate.

  “That sounds great. What time are you thinking?” Cooper asked. He tried to hide his excitement. He’d get a dog later if he got the job. If he didn’t … he’d get himself a dog.

  Graham hummed. “I have to run into town and to the hotel here right now. I was thinking when I come back. Say around two? If you’re free.”

  Cooper nodded even though he knew Graham couldn’t see it. “Two works for me.”

  The lavender farm owner let out a sigh of relief. “This sounds promising. You sound promising. I have your Skype details here. We’ll talk at two. Nice meetin’ ya, Cooper.”

  “You, too, Graham.” And with that, Cooper hung up.

  Graham had said he sounded promising. He hoped so. Before he locked his phone, he did a Google search of Daylesford, and the images that came up had him smiling. It was beautiful. The lake was stunning in the pictures. It was what he needed to escape the bubble and his mother.

  “Let me get this job,” he whispered.

  2:00 p.m.

  2:01 p.m.

  2:09 p.m.

  2:26 p.m.

  Cooper stared at the clock on his MacBook as he sat impatiently on his office chair. Graham had said two. It was now quarter to three. He hoped Graham hadn’t hired someone in the time between their phone call and this supposed Skype video chat. It was hard to understand but Cooper believed that this job was meant to be his. He wanted it enough to believe it was meant to be. But life worked in funny ways. This morning, he had wanted a dog. Now, he wanted a job on a farm three hours away from where he lived. Suddenly, a rectangle box appeared on his screen, slicing through his thoughts.

  Graham Scott requests a video chat.

  He accepted immediately.

  Then an image of a man with blonde hair and blue eyes took the entire space of Cooper’s screen. He had the makings of a beard as if he hadn’t shaved in a week. The bags under his eyes were evident, too.

  “Hey … Cooper?”

  “That’s me,” he said.

  He exhaled. “Thank, God. I’m sorry. There was an emergency at the hotel and I had to get down there. Took much longer than I thought to fix. Right, I’m Graham Scott,” he said and then smiled at the camera.

  “Nice to meet you. So how does this Skype interview work?”

  Graham let out a laugh. “To be honest, you’ve already got the job. I spoke to your reference, Mr Jenkins, this morning. He said I’d be an idiot not to hire you. You have the degree, which most of the applicants had. But your old boss tells me you have the commitment and will to do hard labour, which makes you stand out. The job here is for a year and you’ll be working on your own most of the time. I’m getting married and I need someone I trust to look after this place while I’m on my honeymoon. You’ll be okay since I’ll be going during our quieter time of the year. But my fiancée has some questions for me to ask you if that’s okay?”

  You’re a good man, Mr Jenkins.

  Cooper nodded. “Go for it.”

  Graham picked up a piece of paper that could be seen on the screen. “How do you feel about small towns?”

  “Her question?” Cooper asked, brow raised.

  “Yeah,” Graham confirmed. “Her father’s the mayor. Has been for years.”

  “Never lived in one. But I like the idea of them.”

  “Good answer,” a woman’s voice said.

  Cooper stilled, trying to find the owner of the voice on his screen.

  “What? It’s a good answer,” the woman said. Then she stepped into the camera view and smiled at him. She was beautiful. Blonde curly hair with bright blue eyes. If this was Graham’s fiancée, he had chosen an absolute looker. “Hi, Cooper. I’m Madilynne.”

  “Nice to meet you,” he said.

  Her smile turned into a smirk. “Right back at you. Good luck with the rest of the interview. You can’t go wrong here.” She set a hand on her fiancé’s shoulder. “I gotta get back to Peyton and the hotel. I like this guy. Don’t make him not want this job, Graham.”

  “Let me know if she needs any more help since Nigel’s on holidays,” Graham said.

  Madilynne nodded. “All right. I’ll let Peyton know. Bye, Coop!”

  “Sorry about that,” Graham said once his fiancée was out of the video.

  “Did she just call me Coop?”

  “Means she likes you. Okay, we can save the rest of the questions for later. I just have one question to ask. This is from me. To be honest, I’m gonna base how I like you off your answer.”

  Cooper became anxious. His heart beat erratically in his chest. His palms began to sweat.

  One question.

  His future was based on the answer he gave from one question.

  Graham took a deep breath. “If you found a reason to stay past the terms of your employment, would you?”

  “Are you insane?” Margot shouted, her voice echoing in his car’s speakers.

  It was too late.

  He had quit his job without a second thought. Cooper’s house was up for rent, and he was twenty minutes from Daylesford, country Victoria. He was terrible at goodbyes. Only because he never had to say them often enough. But when he got the call that he got the job as operations manager at Scott Family Lavender Farm, he decided to leave Warren Meadows and follow where life took him.

  “I’m a very rational person,” he said, knowing that it would piss her off.

  “A rational person doesn’t move three hours away to take a job that is a lot more work than his last and a pay cut. Cooper, you are working for less money!”

  He laughed. “It’s not about the money, Margie. It’s about trying something new. I looked and Daylesford is really nice.”

  “So is an Audi but you don’t see me blowing mine and Phil’s savings on one on a whim,” she scolded.

  “This feels right,” he said, eyes still on the highway.

  “That’s it. You’re insane. Mum is going to go insane. And then she’s going to make me go insane. What kind of heartless brother are you?”

  “You’re being dramatic.”

  “You’re being careless.”

  “Daylesford could change my life,” he said.

  She let out a short laugh. “Unlikely. But hey, it’s your life. Get ready to be bored with it. Small town? Seriously, Coop?”

  To his left, a sign caught his eye. He wasn’t sure why, but he indicated to the left. He pulled over and put his car in park. “Seriously. I gotta go. I’ll call you later. I love you, Margot.”

  “I love you, too, Coop. I love your insanity sometimes. Not sure how I feel about this particular time, though. I’ll call you later.”

  Cooper hung up by pressing the ‘end call’ button on his steering wheel. He looked into the side mirrors to see no car coming, and he slipped out of his silver Range Rover. He rounded the car and stood in front of the sign with a smile.

  Because he wasn’t wrong.

&
nbsp; This.

  This moment.

  This decision.

  Felt right.

  Welcome to Daylesford, Victoria.

  I feel like I know you. I’ve heard enough stories to know I would have liked you …

  “If anything goes wrong and you aren’t able to fix the problem, my dad knows what to do. He can help,” his boss, Graham Scott, said.

  Cooper nodded and picked up the clipboard from the desk. His new job as operations manager had come as an actual blessing. He wanted away from the South Eastern suburbs and away from the pressures of the ‘bubble.’ That was what suburbs living was like. At twenty-five, most of his friends were either engaged, married, or had kids. Cooper, he just wanted to go about his day and not have to worry about all that kind of stuff. He would much rather go where life took him. And that philosophy had brought him to Daylesford, country Victoria. It was a small tourist town by the lake. When he had stumbled on the ad online, something in him clicked. It felt right. A force within him told him this was where he needed to be.

  The day after his Skype interview with Graham, Cooper was hired. Two weeks after Graham had given him the job of operations manager, Cooper put his house up for rent, packed his things, and drove three hours until he reached the lavender farm. While his boss, Graham, and his wife had their wedding at the Spencer-Reid, Cooper had been familiarising himself with the business. From the sprinkler system to the weekly deliveries and the finances, Scott Family Lavender was highly profitable. From what Cooper could tell, they were the best in the state. The manual work wasn’t so bad. A sprinkler had broken a couple of days ago and that had taken all of ten minutes to fix.

  “Graham, I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can handle everything while you’re on your honeymoon. You said that the owner of the hotel could help me if I needed it. I’m sure I can handle this,” Cooper assured with a smile.

  A knock on the door had both men turning to find Madilynne Scott standing there with a smile on her face. In her hand was a bundle of lavender with a card on it. She brushed her curled blonde hair out of her face and stepped inside the office. Madilynne was beautiful. It was the first thing Cooper had thought when he had met his boss’ wife. She was also sassy when she wanted to be. She played off Graham’s serious and composed personality well.

  “Coop, do you mind dropping these off at the hotel later?” she asked as she handed him the flowers. “The delivery slip is already on the clipboard. Could you also make them your last delivery? I’d like to see Peyton before you deliver them. I’d also like them to be a surprise.”

  He nodded. “’Course. I have a handful of deliveries, so I won’t be at the hotel until later this afternoon.”

  “Don’t forget. Peyton Spencer. Do not give these to Jenny or anyone else. Just Peyton,” Mads instructed firmly.

  “What are you playing at, Madilynne? You’re up to something,” her husband accused.

  She batted her lashes. “Me? Up to something? Never. Come on. We have to say our goodbyes before we leave for our honeymoon. Coop, remember to give those to Peyton. Just Peyton.”

  “Yes, Mads. They’re for Peyton Spencer. Got it,” he insisted.

  “Why are you so pushy for him to see Peyton?”

  Madilynne rolled her eyes. “Because they haven’t met. He has to meet Peyton.”

  Cooper pressed his lips together and nodded once. “I haven’t met this Peyton.”

  “You haven’t?” Graham appeared to be shocked at the revelation. “How have you not met Peyton?”

  All Cooper knew was that Peyton was the owner of the hotel. That and she was best friends with Graham and Madilynne. The vibe he got from the newlyweds reminded him of his mother trying to play matchmaker. He let out a sigh. Cooper Hepburn had no desire to be matched. He had no desire to settle down and get married. He’d work on the farm for the length of the contract and head back to the suburbs, hoping his mother and sisters got over the fact that he was twenty-five and without a wife.

  Getting out of the ute, Cooper gazed down at his boots and sighed. Chasing Mrs Peterson’s loose rabbit across her acre backyard was something he hadn’t prepared himself for. When he had delivered her order of three crates of lavender for her beauty products business, he didn’t expect to be chasing a very clever pet through mud and God knows what else. When the white rabbit—named White Rabbit—was caught, Mrs Peterson had sliced him a piece of carrot cake and had him sit and enjoy a cuppa. The moment of peace as he took in the sixty-something-year-old’s beautiful garden was angelic. A moment he wouldn’t forget.

  He could get used to country living. He loved the peace Daylesford offered. The closeness and friendliness of the townsfolk were something he also loved. He still had yet to check out the pub in town, but with how busy he had been, he hadn’t even left the small cottage he now called home. The newly remodelled, small one-bedroom house close to the farm was all he could find within his price range on such short notice.

  Scraping the mud on the concrete ground, he tried to remove as much dirt as possible. When he was able to get some of it off, he went to the tray bed of the ute and took out the bouquet of lavender Mads had insisted he deliver. Then he turned around and took in the hotel. It was beautiful. A dark, rich blue tiled roof with cream stone walls brightened the vibrant lavender that was planted. To his left, the lake glittered, making the scene in front of him one to be in awe over. He understood just how much the people he had met loved this hotel. He could definitely see why it was popular with the tourists and why Graham and Madilynne got married here. It was beautiful.

  When he was done taking in the exterior, Cooper made his way up the path and to the wooden door. He glanced down at the bouquet and noticed something missing.

  “Crap, the clipboard,” he mumbled and headed back to the ute. When he pulled the passenger door open, he grasped the clipboard and kicked the door shut behind him. He returned to the door, and after taking a deep breath, he entered the hotel. His focus was on the clipboard he had almost forgotten.

  It took him six steps to make it to the front desk, and when he did, he said, “I’m looking for Peyton Spencer.” Once he’d finished saying her name, he lifted his chin to find a woman with the most beautiful blue eyes staring up at him. Her brown hair was a soft colour. Somewhere between blonde and brunette. She had a slim face with a cute nose. She was beautiful. Far more beautiful than Madilynne was. This woman was stunning. The most gorgeous woman he had ever seen stood before him.

  His breathing seemed to stall as the air in his lungs thinned. Cooper’s heart pounded in his chest as he set the bouquet and clipboard on the desk. Nerves invaded and conquered, and the only way he knew how to keep them at bay was to scratch the short beard he’d let grow from his normally clean-shaven jaw.

  “I’m Peyton Spencer,” she said.

  This is Peyton.

  How did it take me so long to meet you?

  How?

  Cooper mentally kicked himself. He couldn’t believe that he had missed her. Taking a small breath of air, he said, “I have a delivery for you. Just need a signature here,” as he picked up the clipboard and handed it to her.

  Then, suddenly, she let out a sweet laugh.

  And there it was.

  Fate.

  All the things he had run from, he had found in that one laugh.

  It sounded full of nerves and realisation. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. Natural and carefree. A laugh that had his chest tightening.

  This Peyton was something else.

  And her laugh had him curious.

  “Is something funny?” he asked as he raised his brow, trying to fight the humour in his voice.

  Peyton shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. That was rude.” Then she grabbed a pen and signed the delivery slip. She reached for the envelope on the bouquet and read what was inside.

  When she finished reading the message Madilynne had left, she had said, “Thank you,” as her blue eyes met his.

  He noti
ced the blush on her cheeks at that moment. He had put that there. That or he liked to think that he had that kind of effect on her. It was wishful thinking, but who could blame him. She was far too beautiful for the likes of him. Cooper knew he stood no chance. Peyton was probably in a relationship, and he needed to stay professional. He was representing Graham Scott’s business, after all. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t know his name. He knew hers. It was only fair.

  “Cooper Hepburn. I’m the new operations manager while Graham and Mads are on their honeymoon,” he said.

  She nodded. “And I’m still Peyton Spencer. I’m the owner of the Spencer-Reid.”

  Then she handed him the clipboard and their hands grazed. The smallest touch had his head spinning, and he couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. He knew. That laugh, that smile, and that graze were all he needed to know.

  She was the one.

  Peyton Spencer was the concept he was running from, only to run right into her.

  All the things he never desired, he now wanted. He saw it. A future with her. Irrational thoughts consumed his ability to fathom common sense.

  It was her.

  It is her.

  “Well, maybe I’ll see you around town, hotel girl,” he said, hopeful that he would.

  Peyton shook her head at his grin. “Maybe I’ll see you around …”

  God, I hope so.

  It was only a small town. With him staying in Daylesford for the next year, he knew the chances were extremely high. He wanted to know Peyton Spencer. Wanted to know why she had laughed and the reason behind that glimmer in her eyes. Wanted to know her life story and her day. It was completely crazy, yet it made sense.

  Cooper nodded then turned and made his way to the entrance. When he had reached the door, he heard her say, “Lavender boy.”

  Lavender boy?

  He spun around, smiling at her teasing tone. “Lavender boy?”

  Cooper noticed that she had swallowed hard as if she had thought of something that triggered a memory.