by Len Webster
“I can’t lose her. Our son can’t grow up without her. He needs his mother. I need my wife. I can’t say goodbye to her. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without her,” he cried.
“You don’t have to. You won’t. We won’t lose her,” Mads assured.
God, if you’re listening, please save her. Please don’t take her from us.
But she hadn’t seen Peyton’s white face or felt her cold touch. She hadn’t heard the doctor say that she was haemorrhaging or losing blood.
Cooper had.
And they were the worst words he had ever heard in his life.
Callum Reid, you and I both know she deserves a life with her son. Please help save her.
After a long time of hugging his wife’s best friend, he heard Dr Luz call out, “Mr Hepburn.”
Cooper quickly tore himself away from Mads and spun around to find the doctor with a smile on his face. Every fear or doubt left him and disappeared quickly into the air.
“Your wife is stable. She’ll be unconscious for a while, but she’ll be okay.”
“Thank you,” Cooper uttered as he blinked his tears of relief away. “Thank you for saving her.”
The doctor nodded. “We lost her for a few minutes, but she fought hard. You should be proud of her. Would you like to meet your son?”
“Yes, I want to meet Callum.”
Behind him, he heard Mads make a sharp inhale. “Callum Hepburn. That’s perfect.”
He had to agree with her there.
Callum Stuart Hepburn was perfect.
He had sent most of their visitors home since Peyton was still unconscious. Their son had been born on September 17th at 11:09 a.m. on a beautiful spring day. Uncle John and Aunt Brenda would come back to visit after lunch. Mads and Graham had returned to the hotel to take care of things for him. Jenny had dropped off the bag after he had told her that Peyton was okay through text message.
It was now almost two p.m. and he had been sitting on the hospital chair by Peyton’s bed waiting for her. Cooper was able to hold Callum for a little while. He had whispered to his son that he’d see his mother soon. That she was just resting. Assured the newborn that they both loved him so much.
“Coop?”
Her voice had him tearing his focus off the photo he had taken of Callum on his phone to find his wife blinking at him. Then she cringed. A flash in her light blues had him reaching for her hand.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” She made a small gasp as her eyes quickly succumbed to tears. “Cooper, where is he? Where’s our son? Coop, where …”
“Hey,” he said in a soft voice, hoping to calm her. He got up off the chair and was by her side. “Callum’s all right.”
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Callum?”
He nodded. “His name is Callum Stuart Hepburn, and he is the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. He’s perfect, Peyton. You’re perfect.”
“You named him Callum? Oh, Coop,” she whispered.
“And he has your father’s name as his middle name. I thought we were gonna lose you.” He bent his knees so that they were eye level. “I’ve never been more scared in my entire life.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Can I meet him? I want to see him,” she said with a smile.
He kissed her forehead, knowing that they were going to raise their son together. “I’ll get the nurse. Just take it slow, okay? You just gave birth.” Then he rushed out of the hospital room and found the closest nurse. “My wife’s awake. She wants to meet our son.”
The young nurse smiled. “I’ll get the doctor.”
Cooper stood outside Peyton’s room. She had to be checked over by Dr Luz. By the time he was able to bust Callum out of the nursery, it had taken twenty minutes.
“He’s so cute,” Mads said next to him. Then he heard the camera shutter. “I’m going to be your photographer. You go in there and let him meet his mum already. Graham will be here soon. He’s trying to pick out the best balloon.”
“Thanks, Mads,” he said as he gave her a smile and ensured he was holding Callum the way the nurse had taught him. “Ready to meet your mum, Callum?”
His son made a sigh and Cooper was in awe of it. Callum had fair hair, as light as Peyton’s. Cooper wasn’t sure what colour eyes he had. The newborn had opened his eyes before, but he had missed it. The nurse had said they appeared to be blue. He hoped his son had Peyton’s eyes. Cooper lifted his chin to find Peyton staring out the window. The worry on her face was clear. She needed to see it for herself that their son was okay.
“Peyton,” he said. “I’d like you to meet someone.”
She almost bolted out of the bed. If he hadn’t known she’d had a C-section, then he’d have laughed at her eagerness. Peyton took a deep breath as if she had the same thought. Open a stitch and she wouldn’t be able to hold Callum.
Cooper slowly and carefully made it to the side of her bed and watched her hold her breath. His heart warmed at the sight of her, trying to get a glimpse of their son.
“Callum, I want you to meet the first woman you will ever love. Say hi to Mummy, son,” Cooper said as he gently put his child in Peyton’s waiting arms.
“Oh, my God,” she cried softly. Cooper watched her tears run down her face. “He’s beautiful.”
He didn’t have to be vocal for her to know that he agreed. Cooper just stood there, taking in just how amazing the sight of them was. His wife and his son, together for the first time. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she lovingly gazed at him.
“Coop,” she said quietly as she glanced up at him. “Can you hold him and sit on the bed. I’m in a little bit of pain and I don’t want to hurt him. I’d like to stare at him a little more.”
Cooper carefully took Callum from Peyton and watched as she made room for him to sit. He saw the cringe she made. She was uncomfortable, but she was working through it. He’d find the doctor later and ask for more medication. When there was room, Cooper slowly sat down next to his wife and felt her rest her head on his shoulder.
“I’m so in love with him,” she said softly.
“Me, too.”
Then their son opened his eyes. Cooper and Peyton had both inhaled sharply. Just for a second, their son looked up at them before he let his eyelids fall closed.
“Are you sure his name is Callum?”
Cooper craned his neck to find Peyton staring up at him. “Why?”
She gave him a soft smile. “We’ll have to sign his birth certificate soon. If you want to change it to Eli, we can.”
He shook his head. “He’s a Callum, Peyton. We both know that. Thank you for the most beautiful gift you could have ever given me.”
Peyton closed her eyes and let out a slow and long exhale. “It all goes back to that day you walked into my hotel. Thank you for taking the job at the farm. And thank you for every day and every moment that led up to this. I can’t wait to take our son home.”
I’d never thought the feeling of being Peyton’s husband could be surpassed …
Cooper pointed out the window and at the cherry blossoms that fell from the tree.
“See why these are your mother’s favourite flower?” he asked as he glanced down to see Callum’s big blue eyes staring up at him. His son had his mother’s eyes. They were just lighter than Peyton’s, but the doctor had said they would darken in the next few weeks. “Can’t believe you’re already two weeks old.”
Callum’s eyelids became heavy. This was one of Cooper’s favourite moments of the day, watching his son fight sleep as he lay in his cot. The bedroom they had set up had a palette of shades of green and white. Peyton hadn’t liked the colour blue, saying that green complemented the cherry blossom tree outside their son’s bedroom window. He had agreed and was happy he did. It made the pink cherry blossoms stand out vibrantly.
“Well, rest up, buddy. Your Aunty Margie and Uncle Phil will visit you tomorrow. They’re staying over before Aunty Megs and Uncle Rhys come for lunch with Grandma
and Grandpa. You’re going to be pretty busy, so I’ll let you sleep.” Cooper reached out and grasped the baby monitor in his hand. Then he shook it up at his two-week old son. “I’ve got the monitor so if you need Dad for anything, you just let out a cry, all right?”
His son’s eyes were now closed and his lips made a pout. It was cute and had him reaching into his jeans pocket for his phone. He went to his camera, ensured that the flash was off, and then snapped a picture.
Like every time he had put his son down to sleep, Cooper whispered, “I love you, Callum. Your mum and I, we love you.”
Cooper smiled as he spun around and quietly left his son’s bedroom. He left the door slightly open, went down the hall, and entered the lounge room. There he found his wife lying on the couch still asleep. He made his way to her and set the monitor and his phone on the coffee table behind him. Then Cooper set his hand on Peyton’s shoulder and shook her lightly.
She opened her eyes and blinked several times. “Is he asleep?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I watched you fall asleep as he laid on you. Thought I’d put him to bed so you could sleep properly.”
Peyton shot him a lazy smile as she sat up and patted the couch. “Come lie with me.”
She didn’t have to ask him twice. Cooper stood up and lay on the couch, twisting slightly so Peyton then squeezed between his body and the couch cushion. She rested her head on his chest as she covered them with the blanket. Her right hand settled on his stomach and her legs entwined with his. His arms were around her in seconds. As much as he loved being a father, Cooper was tired. The nights were long, and just like his wife, he had barely slept with all the nappy changes and feeding.
But he loved it nonetheless.
“Coop.”
“Yeah,” he replied as his eyes began to close.
“Do you think he likes his bedroom being next to the cherry blossom tree?”
He squeezed his arms around her. “He loves it, Peyton. I know I do.”
He felt the curve of her smile against his chest.
“Oh, and Coop?”
“Yeah?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled, sleep and tiredness caused her voice to soften. “Just wanted to tell you that I think you’re a pretty amazing father. And that I love you.”
Cooper’s hand found hers on his stomach and laced his fingers through hers. “I know and see just how amazing you are as his mother. I love you, too. Never, ever, think I don’t. You’re the love of my life, Peyton. You’re the mother of my child. You’re the most important woman in my entire world.”
He knew then that no matter how much he dreamt, sleep never lived up to his reality. Dreams had lost their spark and purpose the moment he had met the love of his life.
When he had met Peyton Spencer.
I was wrong.
Being the father of her child did it.
Cooper set down his pen after he had made the full stop. What he had written was true. He thought nothing could ever top being Peyton’s husband. But he was wrong. Being the father of her child had done that.
No truer words had ever been written.
Glancing down at the black notebook, he picked it up and smiled when he turned to the first page. Cooper had finally stuck the first Polaroid he had ever taken of her on the second page. They had been friends then, but he had wanted to be more. Now, almost five years since he had met her, they were married and had a three-month-old. And he could never want for any other life than the one he lived with Peyton.
He hadn’t been wrong. Moving to Daylesford had changed his life. Falling in love with Peyton made it a life worth living. They’d had an adventure filled with many highs and many lows. More highs than the dips on life’s roller coaster they lived. Cooper smiled to himself as he set the notebook down. Just after he and Peyton had gotten married, he had run out of pages. When he got to that last blank page, he smiled. It wasn’t the end. He just needed a new notebook with more blank pages to write about the life they lived. And more Polaroid film to capture those moments. The Sometimes Moments wall at the hotel began to fill. More and more moments of their son’s life were documented in frames. Since his return to work, he found himself stopping each time he’d pass the main sitting room and stare at the happy smile on his son’s face.
He watched as Peyton picked up their son and drew up her legs. She cupped Callum’s head in her palms and supported him by resting his back on her thighs. He didn’t have to be close to hear her say it. He saw it on her face and he had read her lips. She had said ‘I love you’ to their son.
Before him was his inspiration to continue with his letter to Callum Reid. He also had to thank him. But most of all, he wanted Callum to know that Peyton was happy. So he continued to write.
Not long after, Cooper blinked at the lined paper when he realised that he was about to end it. With a smile, he gripped the pen just that little bit tighter. This letter wasn’t just for Callum.
It was also for Peyton.
Then Cooper Hepburn wrote the remaining words that he had left to write.
My happiness, my wife, and my son are because of you.
Cooper Hepburn.
“Pluto, you’re a good boy,” his wife, Peyton, said as she handed Cooper the lead.
He bent down and patted the tail wagging four-month-old beagle. It had been his early birthday present from his wife and his son. He had been surprised considering his birthday wasn’t for another three months. When he woke up two weeks ago, she had handed him an envelope. Inside was a Polaroid of Pluto and Callum. His wife had taken their son to the breeder to choose which beagle Cooper would have liked.
When he told Peyton of Pluto’s name, she had laughed and asked him if it was because of Micky Mouse’s dog. He had said no. Pluto, their beagle, was named after the planet—former planet—in the solar system. When he saw the small puppy, he knew their dog was probably the smallest out of the litter. He had told her that he remembered when it was announced that Pluto had been downgraded to a dwarf planet because of its size. The news of Pluto had always stuck with him. Space had always fascinated Cooper. So when Peyton woke him up with a puppy in the house, he knew he’d let the planet of Pluto live on in their dog. His wife had laughed and told him she admired the way he looked at the world. For the rest of that day, his family welcomed and trained their newest addition.
Pluto Hepburn, welcome to the family. That was what Peyton had said when she introduced him to their backyard for the first time. Pluto had been a hit with the staff at the hotel and the guests. He had a bed right next to the front desk. The hotel had always been pet-friendly, but Pluto had further strengthened that option for their guests.
“Have you got everything?” Peyton asked as she brushed Callum’s light brown hair to perfection.
Cooper stood up and nodded. Dangling from his arm was a picnic basket with the lunch Peyton had spent the morning preparing. In a separate bag inside the basket were Pluto’s treats and a tennis ball. “Everything is inside.”
“All right, let’s go. Are you ready to go to a special spot in town, Callum?”
Their son smiled as he clung to Peyton’s shirt. Then he buried his face in the curve of her neck.
“When we get there, you can play with Pluto, okay?” Cooper said as he set his hand on Callum’s shoulder. Callum turned and nodded at Cooper with his light blue eyes. The same colour as his mother.
Cooper bent his knees, kissed his son’s cheek and then his wife’s before he glanced down at the dog by their feet. “Come on, Pluto, let’s go.”
After they had said hello to Jenny and the rest of the staff, Cooper and Peyton walked out of the hotel, past the area where they had become man and wife, down the path, and into the forest. They found the perfectly smooth rock that had been the marker they had been looking for. At the rock, Peyton handed their son to Cooper and took hold of Pluto’s lead and the basket. He knew that a small embankment was ahead and she’d much rather Cooper held Callum as they trod down it.
Finally, they entered the clearing.
Cooper took in all the trees that surrounded them in a circle. It was still the same as it had been when she had first shown him this spot almost three years ago. The spot Peyton and Callum Reid had spent much of their lives in. Cooper had felt like he was imposing on her memories with Callum. She had told him never to think that way, that Callum would have wanted her to share this with him. They hadn’t returned until today. For their son to fall in love with this spot in the forest. To escape from the world when he was older here.
Peyton dropped the basket on the ground. She then walked Pluto to the middle of the clearing and took in the trees.
He looked down at his son to see him staring at his mother. Cooper bounced him to get his attention. “This is a special spot for Mum,” he said and then reached behind him and pulled out the envelope from his back pocket. He had written it five months ago. He had wanted to give it to her at the perfect time. Her suggestion of returning to the forest was it. She would feel close to Callum Reid here.
As he held the envelope, he took in every letter that spelled the same name as his son. The man his son was named after. Peyton’s footsteps caught his attention and he noticed that she had gone to the tree that marked her and Callum Reid’s initials. Taking a deep breath and holding his son tightly, Cooper made his way to her. Peyton’s fingertips were on the carving as Pluto sat at her feet.
“Peyton,” he said, getting her attention.
She spun around and he saw nothing but her love for him staring back at him. He never got jealous of Callum. He had said those horrible things when they were first dating, and he had almost lost her. He’d always regret saying them. Cooper presented her Callum’s letter. Peyton took it from him and stared at it. After several silent moments, her eyes locked on his.
He smiled as he took Pluto’s lead from her. Then he kissed her forehead and turned around, giving her space to read the letter.