One More Chance (Chance, Part 2)

by T. Renee Fike

  My throat is so hoarse, “Drink.”

  “Sure,” he says as he grabs something and pours it into a cup and brings it over to me holding the straw at my mouth. I take a few gulps enjoying the coldness on my throat. “Where am I?” I ask as I try to look around.

  “You’re in the hospital, Hails. You were in a car accident,” he says to me. “Let me go grab the doctor,” he says as he exits my room briefly. He comes right back in with a doctor and nurse on his tail.

  “How are you feeling Haley?” the doctor asks.

  “Sore.”

  “That’s to be expected. Do you remember what happened?” he asks.

  “Not really.”

  “You were in a bad car accident. We had to do surgery on you and then you went into a coma,” he says.

  It takes me a few more minutes of listening to the doctor talk to me before I realize I was pregnant. “Where’s my baby,” I scream as I clutch my stomach realizing there’s nothing in there.

  “Calm down babe, she’s okay. Your mom’s with her,” Liam says as he comes up beside me and grabs my hand.

  “She’s okay?” I ask as tears start to fall.

  “She’s perfect.”

  “Can I see her?” I ask the doctor through tears.

  “Let me check your vitals and then you can have visitors.”

  “I’ll go get her,” Liam says as he walks out of the room. The doctor checks my vitals and before I know it, I watch as Liam enters holding this tiny bundle of joy in his arms. “Hey Lily, mommy wants to meet you,” he says to her as he places her into my hands.

  “She’s beautiful,” I say through tears, not believing I’m holding my baby girl.

  “Just like her mommy,” Liam says as he sits on the edge of the bed.

  “How long was I in a coma?”

  “Five weeks, Hails.”

  “Five weeks?” she shouts causing Lily to start to cry, “Shhh, its okay baby, mommy didn’t mean to yell, Shh, go back to sleep baby girl. When did I have her?” I whisper.

  “Five weeks ago.”

  “She’s five weeks old already? But she’s so tiny,” I say as I stare down at her.

  “She was 3 pounds 2 ounces when she was born, but now she’s 5 pounds 8 ounces. She was in the Nicu for the first four weeks babe. She’s actually grown quite a bit,” he says with a smile, “She’s quite the eater.”

  “I guess we know who she gets that from,” I say with a smile.

  Just then Kenzie walks into the room rushing over to Haley. “God, it’s so good to see you awake,” she says giving her and Lily a loose hug. “Liam, your mom wants to talk to you,” Kenzie says to Liam.

  “Oh, okay, I’ll be right back,” he says with a look of longing before walking out of the room.

  “What’s going on?” I ask Kenzie.

  “He loves you.”

  “He’s married,” I state, as I stare down at my beautiful baby girl.

  “No, he’s not. He called off the wedding. Hails, he wants to be with you. He was on his way to tell you that when he found out you were in an accident. He hasn’t left your side the entire time.”

  “What?” I ask not believing what she’s telling me.

  “He loves you Hails. You can have the family you’ve always wanted,” she says as she sits on the edge of the bed, “This little girl is so beautiful,” she says as she rubs Lily’s head.

  “He didn’t get married?” I ask still not believing it.

  “No, he didn’t. Haley he sat in here talking and crying, begging for you to wake up, that he’s going to make things right and you guys are going to be the family you both want. Hails, I knew he loved you, but I never knew how much until I saw him talk to you day after day.”

  The tears start to fall. I can’t help but look down at this beautiful little girl and hearing what Liam’s done and said.

  “Hails, Liam would bring Lily in here and talk to you, describing her to you. I’ve caught him a few times saying how he can’t live without the two of you,” she says with sadness, “It was beautiful Haley; you need to give him another chance.”

  “How do we just go back though?” I ask, wanting nothing more than to spend my life with Liam, but he left, he didn’t want to be with me.

  “You don’t go back, you move forward together. Start here with Lily, go home and be a family.”

  “Hails, there’s something I want to tell you,” he says softly as he reenters my hospital room.

  “I’ll let you two talk,” Kenz says as she rushes out of the room.

  “We will talk and figure everything out,” I say interrupting him.

  “I didn’t get married Hails,” he says as he sits on the edge of the bed.

  “Why not?” I ask curiously.

  “Because I’m in love with you. I tried to move on, I thought I could, but I can’t. I love you and I want us to raise Lily as a family.”

  “Are you sure?” I ask.

  “I’m positive baby,” he says as he comes up beside me and Lily. “This right here is our family, the way it’s supposed to be,” he says before kissing my temple.

  “I love you,” I whisper through tears.

  “I love you too sweetheart. Now, I know your family is waiting to see you, so let me tell them so they can come in,” he says as he gives me a quick kiss on the lips before heading towards the door.

  Everyone comes rushing in hugging me and Lily, with smiles and excitement. I end up staying in the hospital for another three weeks before I’m finally released to go home.

  The final week I was in the hospital, Liam and I talked a lot and we’ve decided to give us another chance. A chance to be a family; a chance to show each other how much we love one another.

  “What’s wrong?’ I ask Liam for the third time as we head home.

  “I have to leave in a few days.”

  “Training camp starts already,” I say forgetting the day.

  “The season started babe,” he says as he runs his hands through his messy blonde hair “I don’t know how I can be away from you two right now.”

  “It will be okay. We can talk on the phone every day, I can send you videos; we can do this Liam. You won’t miss anything that Lily does, I’ll get it all recorded.”

  He pulls in the driveway and puts the car into park, “She isn’t the only reason I don’t want to leave Hails,” he says piercing me with those sexy blue eyes.

  “Oh.”

  “I meant it when I told you, I love you. I want us to be a family babe, you, me, and Lily.”

  “I love you too,” I say as I lean in and give him a kiss, “How soon do you have to leave?”

  “Coach gave me a break, so I only have a couple days.”

  “Okay, we can do this,” I say as I unbuckle the seatbelt and get out of the car. Liam rushes over to my side, “Are you okay?” he asks. “I’m fine.”

  “Alright, I’ll get Lily out then,” he says as he opens the back of Quinn’s car to get Lily and her car seat out of the car. He throws the small diaper bag over his muscular, sexy shoulder after he unhooks her car seat. He carries her and her things like they weigh nothing, “Ready to head inside?”

  “Definitely.”

  We head inside to find both our families sitting in the living room looking excited to see us. With hugs and kisses and sweet, kind words, the rest of the evening has everyone hanging out and feeling blessed.

  Chapter Ten (3 Months Later)

  “You ready for class?” Quinn asks as Brody takes my sleeping daughter.

  “Yep,” I say feeling exhausted.

  “You’re doing great, you can do this,” she says coaching me like she does every week.

  “I know, I just hate leaving her,” I say as I grab my bag for the day.

  “She’s fine, she’s with Brody.”

  “Hails, I got her,” “Uncle Bro has you doesn’t he sweetheart,” he coos to Lily causing me to laugh and shake my head.

  “Fine, let’s go. If you need me, call me.”


  “I know, I know, now go.”

  On the way to school, my phone starts going off, “Hey baby, good morning,” I say to Liam.

  “Good morning. I wanted to see what time you guys were leaving on Friday.”

  “Right after Brody’s last class, I think our flight leaves around five.”

  “So, you’ll get here late evening.”

  “Yep. I can’t wait to see you though.”

  “I can’t wait to you see you either babe. How’s school?” he asks sweetly.

  “Good, though you ask me that every day,” I say laughing.

  “I know, God I can’t wait to see you.”

  “You will, only two days to go.”

  “Yes and then I’ll be coming home with you for two days.”

  “You will?” I ask stunned.

  “Yeah, we have a bye week next week so we get a few days off.”

  “I can’t wait,” I say eagerly.

  “I’ll let you get to class, have a good day babe, I love you.”

  “I love you too Liam,” I say before disconnecting the call.

  It sucked when Liam had to leave two days after we came home, but that’s life; he’s a professional football player and when the season starts you have to go. I’ve been sending him pictures and videos of Lily, even if she’s only sleeping. Even though we aren’t able to see each other day in and out, we talk a lot and have gotten a lot closer.

  For the past few months that we’ve been back in school, Brody, Quinn, Rebecca, and Cara have been amazing, helping me out with Lily. We have our schedules worked out to where I don’t have to miss any of my classes; neither does anyone else.

  Going back to school was rough because rumors started and spread quickly about how I got Liam back by tricking him to get pregnant, when I didn’t. I tried to argue with some of the people who were spreading the rumors, but realized it’s pointless; people are going to believe what they want to believe. Liam tried to calm me down and reassure me that he never stopped loving me, that it had nothing to do with being pregnant and I believe him.

  Friday comes and we are waiting for Brody to get here, so we can get to the airport. He walks in the door five minutes after four, “You girls better be packed because we need to leave now,” he says rushing us.

  “We’re ready,” I assure him as I grab Lily and her car seat and diaper bag and head out the door. Rebecca is dropping us off at the airport and her car is already loaded.

  The flight doesn’t take long and before I can see him, I know he’s already waiting for us. I continue to look for him, but can’t see him, and then I feel him behind me, “God, I’ve missed you guys,” he says as he pull us into a hug.

  “We missed you too,” I say as I lean up to give him a chaste kiss.

  “You look beautiful,” he says, as he then leans down to kiss his daughter. We wait for the baggage claim to retrieve our bags before heading to Liam’s place that he has in Minnesota. He doesn’t want to buy a house here because he has no intentions of living here permanently, which is fine by me.

  Once we get back to the house we unload as Lily decides she wants attention, “I got her,” Liam says as he swoops in to get his daughter. Nothing is sexier than watching Liam with Lily. The way he adores her is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

  An hour later there’s a knock at the door and I’m stunned to see my parents, Liam’s parents and Isaac, along with Kenzie, Spence, Rebecca, and Max.

  “What’s going on?” I ask as they all look at me.

  “You didn’t tell her?” Denise asks hastily to Liam.

  “We, pretty girl are getting married,” Liam says before leaning down and giving me a kiss.

  “What makes you think that? You haven’t asked.”

  “I did before,” he says looking intently at me.

  “But, that was before and this is now,” I quip.

  “Oh, you’re marrying me woman, I’m done wasting time,” he says as he leans down and kisses me chastely. “Don’t you want to marry me?”

  “Of course I do,” I say, as I smile happily at him.

  “See, told you,” he says laughing, causing everyone around us to chuckle.

  “When are we getting married?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “But, I don’t have a dress or anything.”

  “Don’t worry sweetie, we took care of everything,” Mom says as my dad pulls in a large piece of luggage.

  Everyone settles into Liam’s house and everything seems like its back to normal or at least how it once was.

  “I need to borrow you for a moment,” Liam says, as he pulls me down the hall to his bedroom.

  “Why’s that?” I ask all giggly.

  “Because, since we’re getting married tomorrow I’m not going to be able to sleep with you tonight in my arms. So, I’m taking you now,” he says proudly as we enter the bedroom, he kicks the door closed with his foot.

  “You are so bad,” I say laughing as I follow him to the bed.

  “I love you babe and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

  “I love you too,” I say as I throw my arms around his neck, pulling him down towards me for a kiss. “Make love to me.”

  “Absolutely,” he says before pulling my shirt over my head. I move my hands and start working his jeans before trying to push them down his sexy, muscular legs.

  It takes seconds for us to be naked and under the covers. “Would you lie down and let me play?” I argue.

  “Baby, it’s my turn,” he says laughing, “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”

  “You either let me play or you put him in me, those are your options,” I say with a straight face.

  “Inside you then,” he says as he runs his fingers through my slicked folds before thrusting into my aching core.

  “Oh God,” I shout at the sensation of his initial thrust, “Holy shit, you feel so fucking good,” I say as he starts moving faster. “Baby harder,” I say, as I tug on his hair.

  Liam starts grunting, but thrusts harder as I meet him thrust for mind-blowing thrusts. It doesn’t take long for me to cry out in ecstasy with him following right behind.

  “God I love you,” he says as he pulls me closer after discarding the condom.

  “I love you too,” I say as I snuggle into his side.

  “You better marry me tomorrow woman.”

  “I am, there is nowhere I would rather be.”

  “Good.”

  We end up staying in the bedroom for another forty minutes before a few people bang on the door telling us to get out, so we do. We get dressed and head back into the living room, where it looks like no one even missed us.

  “There’s my baby girl,” I say as I go to get her from Kenzie. “Mommy loves you,” I say before taking a seat on the other couch beside Liam.

  “I don’t think so,” Liam says as he moves so fast; the next thing I know me and Lily are on his lap, “Much better,” he says before kissing me.

  “You are crazy,” I say laughing.

  “Crazy for you babe,” he says, as he looks down at a sleeping Lily.

  The rest of the evening we all hang out before heading to different parts of the house. The boys are told to keep Liam away from me, when all I want to go do is sleep in his arms.

  Luckily, morning comes and he’s rushed out of the house, while the girls and I get ready for my upcoming nuptials.

  “I can’t believe you guys did all of this,” I say as they take out dresses and start working on hair and make-up.

  “I can,” Kenzie says excitedly, “We’ve been waiting for this moment for a while now.”

  “Decorations are all done,” Quinn says happily.

  “What time is this wedding to start?” I ask feeling lost, because I didn’t plan any of it.

  “At one.”

  “It’s already noon,” I say nervously.

  “Why the hell are you nervous?” Kenzie asks, “You’ve wanted this man forever, what on Ea
rth is there to be nervous about?”

  “I’m not really nervous, just excited. I didn’t expect this and it’s a little overwhelming.”

  “Liam does have a way with things, doesn’t he?” Denise says laughing.

  Just then there’s a knock at the door, “I’ll get it,” Quinn says before disappearing down the hall. It doesn’t take her long to walk back with an envelope and a small package. “It’s for you,” she says as she hands me the items with the biggest smile.

  “Thanks,” I say as I stare at the envelope.

  I open the envelope and pull out the letter, opening the letter to see that Liam wrote it.

  Hails,

  I can’t even begin to describe how much I love you. You have given me the best gift a man could ever ask for, but not only have you given me you, you’ve given me a beautiful baby girl that I’d do anything for. Today symbolizes the love that we have for each other. I know times have not always been the easiest or the best, but I can promise you that I will be the best damn husband you’ve ever seen.

  When I almost lost you, it took everything out of me. I tried to remain strong because we had Lily, but I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t okay. Baby, you make me see things and wants things out of life that I never even dreamed about. I look forward to our future babe. I love you Hails; enjoy your gift.

  Love-Your Soon to be Husband,

  Liam

  I open the black velvet box to reveal a beautiful necklace that has a locket on it. I open it up and see Liam on one side and Lily on the other. I can’t help when my eyes start to water.

  “That’s beautiful,” Mom says sweetly.

  “No crying,” Kenzie shouts, causing me to laugh.

  “You guys look beautiful,” I say to Kenzie, Quinn, and Rebecca who are wearing matching bridesmaid’s dresses in the blue color I picked forever ago.

  “So do you,” Quinn praises as she looks at me. I’m wearing a white strapless gown that flares out at the waist down to the floor. I have a ribbon that goes around my waist that matches the girls’ dresses and Lily is in a soft white dress that has blue and silver in it, matching the theme our wedding.

  A few minutes before 1:00 p.m., I’m being escorted downstairs to the back of the house where my wedding will be taking place. It’s pretty quiet around here, so there won’t be any interruptions, which I’m thankful for.