by Len Webster
“Come on, Callum, let’s set up your blanket so you and Pluto can play.” As he led Pluto back to the middle of the clearing, he felt at peace with his life. When he was twenty-five, he didn’t want any of this. He couldn’t imagine himself having any of this.
Now, months shy of his thirty-first birthday, Cooper couldn’t imagine not having any of it. He wouldn’t want a life without his wife, his son, and his dog. When he reached the basket, Cooper bent down and opened it with the hand that had Pluto’s lead around it. Then he pulled out the large brown blanket.
“Can you help Daddy?” he asked his son.
Cooper held up the end of the blanket and Callum latched on to it. He slowly shook it out, watching his son’s eyes go wide when the blanket flew in the air. It took some attempts, but somehow, they managed to get the blanket laid out. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to have Callum sitting on it with Pluto. When Cooper set his son down, he reached over and picked up Pluto, setting the puppy down next to them. He took off his lead, knowing that the dog was in unfamiliar territory and wouldn’t run, especially without Callum. The beagle loved the eight-month-old.
For the next ten minutes, he had spent his time watching Callum and Pluto play then glancing over to find his wife reading his letter. Then he noticed Peyton walking towards them with pieces of paper in her hands. When she reached him, she got on her knees in front of him and cupped his face in her hands. She glanced down, smiled at their son playing with their dog, and then focused back on him.
“This right here,” she said. “I have everything I could have ever wanted underneath my fingertips. You gave me life after Callum Reid. I never thought there could be one, but you made it possible. You are so much more than enough. You gave me our son. You have loved me when I gave you every reason not to. You have loved me and stood by me. My happiness is because of you. Callum will always be part of me. You have our son and me because you worked and fought for us. You are my forever, Cooper Hepburn. You are my best friend, my lover, my soul mate, my once fiancé, my one and only husband, and more importantly, you are the father of my son. Our son. My best moments are the ones I’ve spent with you.”
She kissed his forehead.
Then his nose.
And then finally, his lips in a chaste kiss.
She whispered, “Life is a cluster of sometimes moments. And my sometimes led to you and my forever moments. Sometimes, forever, you became my everything and gave me everything. You’re my hero, Cooper Hepburn.”
Cooper turned his head to see their son staring up at them, Pluto lying on his lap. Right here was where he was supposed to be. He focused on Peyton and committed that loving simmer in her eyes to memory.
His wife.
His soul mate.
His lover.
The mother of his child.
His biggest dream come true.
He wrapped his arms around his wife. “No,” he breathed. “You’re my hero, Peyton Hepburn.”
Actually, it’s only just the start of their happily ever after.
Dear Callum Reid,
You don’t know who I am, but I like to think you had an idea of me. My name’s Cooper Hepburn, the husband to Peyton Hepburn and father to our child, Callum Stuart Hepburn. I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, but when Peyton got pregnant, my focus was on her and getting ready to welcome our son into our lives.
I feel like I know you. I’ve heard enough stories to know I would have liked you … Actually, that’s probably a lie. I would have respected you, but I think if I had met you, I would have hated you. At the time, you had my wife’s heart. And that would have killed me. You still have a place in her heart, and that’s something I would never want to have. Her love for you will be something I can never try to claim.
I want to say that we’ve had the easiest of loves, but I would be lying. We’ve had an adventure, and adventures come with many complications and many successes. Peyton claims that I’m perfect, but I’m far from it. I try my best to be for her. But I want to tell you the two worst days of my life. They were the times I thought I had lost her. I will never forget those days.
The first day was when we were dating. I didn’t know you very well then. I was still trying my best to get her to trust me. It was the day after we’d first been intimate. She had cried, and I hated myself for making the woman I love cry. I didn’t understand why she had cried. I didn’t know. Peyton made me leave, and she didn’t talk to me for almost a week. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I stormed to her house and demanded to know what I had done. She wouldn’t answer me, and that’s when I yelled at her. It was the first and last time I ever yelled at her. From the top of my lungs, I screamed, “You’d rather me dead and Callum alive, don’t you? You hate that I’m alive and he’s dead! You hate that you slept with me. You wish it were him and not me! Well, guess what, Peyton? He’s dead! And right now, the way you look at me, I’d rather I were the dead one. Maybe you’d love me more.”
I’m not proud of those words. I’ll always regret saying them. Peyton didn’t speak to me for three weeks, and I deserved it. I had accused her of not loving me because I wasn’t dead. I was scared to lose her, but I had said everything that ensured that I would. I was jealous of you. I have never been jealous of anyone until I was of you, Callum. I wanted Peyton to love me. I wanted Peyton’s heart. I believed there wasn’t room for her to love me after you. I had planned to work the rest of my contract and return to the suburbs. But I needed to leave quickly. I wasn’t needed in town anymore. It was the night before I was going to leave when Peyton was at my door, crying. She apologised, saying that she was being selfish and that she should have told me. Graham had told her of my plans to leave. She begged me not to go. She begged me to listen to her. When I agreed, she said only three words, and they were ‘I love you.’
I have no explanation for how I felt when I heard those three words. But I think you know what it’s like to be loved by Peyton Spencer. When I confessed that I loved her, too, she cried and kissed me. That night, she told me everything about you. She told me that she’d cried because she’d realised she felt guilty for loving me more than she loved you. That, in some way, she felt as if she was cheating on you by loving me. I had never felt like more of an asshole than those weeks of my life. I almost lost Peyton and I didn’t want that ever to happen again.
The second worst day of my life was when our son was born. It’s a terrible thing for a father to say but just listen. You’ll understand. Peyton went into labour, and we rushed to the hospital. Everything went to plan until after my son screamed and Peyton’s hand fell from mine. Our son was too big to be born naturally and a caesarian was performed. Peyton didn’t even see him before her eyes shut. She was haemorrhaging and losing a lot of blood. The helpless feeling of knowing my wife was about to die was surreal. I had never felt so lost in my life. At that moment, I was blessed with a beautiful son, but I was close to losing the love of my life.
I also knew what it must have been like in the last moments of your life. I felt like I was you, Callum. I didn’t know how to say goodbye. I didn’t want to believe what was happening. I thought of my life without Peyton, and it was impossible. I was scared. The jealousy I held for you disappeared and every self-doubt I had left me. The only thing that mattered in my life was ensuring my son grew up with his mother by his side. Peyton doesn’t know why I named my son after you. Why? Because while the doctor was trying to save her, she called out your name and reached out in the direction the nurse had taken our son. I wasn’t envious or jealous that she hadn’t called out for me. Peyton had named our son and I was proud.
I’d never thought the feeling of being Peyton’s husband could be surpassed. I was wrong. Being the father of her child did. The relief of knowing we were going to raise our son together comes close. I prayed to God to save her, but I also prayed to you, hoping you’d influence Fate.
Peyton showed me your last letter to her. You spoke of her experiencing life’s firs
ts after you, Callum. Those life’s firsts she shared with me. And they have been the best moments of my life. (I also fell in love with her mother’s French toast the moment Peyton introduced me to them!)
Everything you wanted her to achieve, she has. She became someone’s fiancée, someone’s wife, and the mother of someone’s child.
For whatever reason, I was blessed to be that someone.
And for that, I thank you. You played your part in our forever. You brought Graham and Madilynne together. If they had never married, I would have never taken over the farm, never met Peyton, never fallen in love with Peyton, never asked her to marry me, never married her, and never held and loved our son.
She tells me that I am her forever moments and that you were her sometimes. But I think that’s where she’s wrong. In some stages of her life, Peyton never had sometimes. In those moments, she lived and she had forever.
I hope that the man you wrote of was me. I hope I do justice to the man you envisioned for Peyton. I hope you can see that I’ve done my best to be enough for her. I hope that you approve of my love. If not, I’ll love her harder than I already do, although I’m not sure that’s possible.
Thank you for loving Peyton the way you did. I know that she will always love you and I hope that one day she tells our son of you.
Thank you for Peyton. Until the day I die, I will never stop thanking you, Callum Reid.
My happiness, my wife, and my son are because of you.
Cooper Hepburn.
The third book in the Sometimes Moments Collection.
One fall,
One chaste kiss,
One hidden love ...
Will change their lives forever.
Madilynne Woodside hates Daylesford, Victoria. Hates being the mayor’s daughter. And hates everything that comes with living in a small town. She can’t wait until the moment high school finishes and she can leave everything behind her, and say hello to city living. But there’s just one problem.
Lavender boy.
Graham Scott has his life figured out. Once he graduates from high school, he’ll take over his family’s lavender farm. But then he stumbles across the mayor’s daughter injured in the dirt lane between the lavender, and it all changes. He’s never met someone as self-centred or as spoilt as Madilynne Woodside, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t got his interests. As much as they dislike each other, there’s no denying their connection.
But as the years go on, life seems to tear them apart.
Circumstances will divide them.
Circumstances will bring them together.
And years later, one question still remains.
How did the mayor’s daughter and lavender boy fall in love?
COMING SOON
EARLY 2017
Read on for an excerpt of Madilynne and Graham’s upcoming novel.
The giggles from the five-month-old caused Madilynne Scott’s heart to swell. Besides her husband, Graham Scott, Callum Stuart Hepburn was the other love of her life. The little boy had his mother’s eyes. Light blue and stunning against his fair skin. His nose and shape of his face resembled his father’s. And Madilynne knew that the smile on his little lips was a mixture of both his parents.
“Don’t get too attached, Mads,” Peyton warned as she set their beverages on the table they sat at. “I’m obsessed with the little guy.”
“I still can’t believe you’re a mother,” she said as she tapped Callum’s tiny nose and was rewarded with more of his laughter.
“I never thought I would be,” her best friend confessed. “Especially after Callum … I didn’t think I’d fall in love again, let alone get married and have a son.”
Madilynne nodded along, feeling the sadness in Peyton’s voice. The baby in her hands had been named after Callum Reid, Peyton’s first love who had died of a brain tumour almost five years ago. He had left Peyton when they were seventeen and his departure had broken her heart. For Madilynne, she had believed they were the perfect childhood sweethearts, but Callum had ended them without telling Peyton the truth about his health.
And in Peyton and Callum’s story was Madilynne and Graham’s.
“Do you miss him?” Madilynne asked. She glanced up to see Peyton staring at the pier where Callum had died.
“Every day,” she whispered. “But that doesn’t mean I’m sad, Mads. I have a great life.” A tear slowly trailed down Peyton’s face.
“I’m sorry.”
Peyton’s lips had pressed together tightly before she took a deep breath and turned her attention back to Madilynne and her son. “Don’t be. Sometimes, I wish he was here but then …” Her eyes fell to her son. “I wouldn’t have any of this. I love Cooper. He was so patient and waited for me. I honestly can’t picture my life without him. I don’t want a life without him, without him as my husband or the father of my child.”
“Callum would be happy that you’re happy, Peyton. He’d be so proud of you.” Madilynne said as she rocked her godson, his small hands clutching her blouse.
“I know,” Peyton agreed in a whisper. “Do you mind holding him for a second longer? I have something for you.”
Madilynne nodded and peeked through her lashes to see her best friend sweep her hair over her shoulders. Peyton stood up and lovingly gazed at her child then she entered the hotel.
“You have a wonderful mum, Callum,” she said softly to him. “Never doubt how much she loves you or your dad. One day, you’ll find out who you’re named after. And you’ll be proud. Callum Reid was one of the greatest men I have ever come across. He loved your mother. However, your dad, he worships her and you. You’re both Cooper Hepburn’s entire world. But if you become as annoying as your father, watch out. Best aunt or not, I’ll be giving you a talking to.”
Carefully, Madilynne rose up from the chair and made her way to the steel railing of the deck. Then she smiled as she overlooked the lake. All her favourite memories were made on it and around it. And though the baby in her arms didn’t know it, his moments were made here, too.
“You see that over there, Callum? Just that small dip in the path before the pier?” she asked.
Callum let out incoherent noises that Madilynne accepted as a yes.
“Well, that there is the spot your mum asked your dad out. Your dad was in a rush to deliver an order your Uncle Graham stupidly took and completely blew off your mum. And well, it was this time that your mum found this fearlessness. See, your dad used to drive up to the hotel during every lunch break and have lunch here. Your parents became great friends and your mother slowly fell in love with him. She told me she knew she would, and she was right.” Madilynne paused and glanced down to see that Callum had fallen asleep in her arms. “So your dad just ran past her. And your mother told him to wait that she just needed a second of his time. Just so you know, your dad’s an idiot. He was just about to tell her that he couldn’t stay to chat when she asked, ‘Would you like to go on a date with me?’ And wait for it, it gets better. Your dad said—”
“I said no,” Cooper finished for her.
Madilynne slowly gazed over her shoulder to see Callum’s father on the deck. “You were an idiot.”
Cooper shook his head. “Mads, stop cursing around my son.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t one,” she teased. “Come here and take him. Tell him why you said no to a date with his smokin’ hot hotel owner of a mother.”
When he had made his way to them, Cooper scooped up his son in his arms. “Peyton’s not only smokin’ hot, but she’s also beautiful.” Then he gave his son a kiss on his forehead.
Unable to help herself, Madilynne smiled at the sight. Her best friend deserved this ending. It might not include the man Madilynne had originally hoped for, but it did, however, include a man absolutely devoted to and in love with Peyton. Callum Reid’s legacy lived within all of them. And though he never got his dreams, Madilynne knew that he’d have been happy that Peyton got hers.
“You looked g
ood just before, Mads,” Cooper stated.
Madilynne squinted at him. “What?”
“My son in your arms.”
“I don’t get—”
His light chuckle halted her. “You holding a baby. It looked good. Have you thought of having one anytime soon?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I don’t think I’d be a great mum.”
“You’d surprise yourself,” Cooper said.
Little did Cooper know that being pregnant was one of those things that had eluded her. Sure, she’d love to be a mother, but for Madilynne, it just wasn’t what nature had intended for her and Graham.
Just as she was about to tell her best friend’s husband that maybe someday she’d have a child, Peyton had stepped onto the deck and made her way towards them. “Oh, he’s asleep,” she said gratefully once she reached them.
“I can’t take credit. Mads was the one to do it. She was telling our son about the time that I said no to a date with you.”
Peyton’s facial features scrunched up. “Can’t lie. That was painful to hear.”
“I thought it was a pity date,” he explained. “I’m gonna put him down. I’ll be back right back.” Cooper had quickly kissed his wife before he began to hum as he left them.
“Here,” Peyton said, gaining her attention.
Madilynne looked down to see a Polaroid in her best friend’s hand. When she took it from Peyton, she stared at the picture. It was of her and Graham by the boathouse. And that was when it clicked.
“Callum took it. I was cleaning out some of the boxes in the shed the other day when I found this bundle of Polaroids stuffed right in the back. It must have been from when I was seventeen, when Callum and I used to swap the pictures we’d take. I don’t even remember going through this particular bundle at the time, but I came across these two pictures stuck together. When I peeled them away, it was of you and Graham, and I knew you had to have it. He knew about you both from the very start.”