Free One Last Chance by Beverley Hollowed Page A

into her dress and to Ally’s relief there was very little work required on the dress. Then she went to get the diamond hairclip and veil Ally had chosen. She wanted to keep it as simple yet elegant as possible.
    When the dressmaker helped her with her final touches, she pulled back the curtain and allowed Ally to step out of the dressing room to w here Nan, Ella and El were all waiting, sipping champagne and chatting excitedly.
    The three fell silent when Ally appeared in front of them. Nan’s eyes instantly filled with tears at the sight of her eldest granddaughter. She was probably the most beautiful bride she had ever seen, even more beautiful than her mother had been on her wedding day.
    Nan thought of Rachel and wish ed she could have been here to see Ally on her big day. She would have been so proud of the woman Ally had become. She and Pop couldn’t have been prouder.
    Then she thought of Pops. He was so proud to walk Ally down th e aisle but Nan knew he thought that Gus should be the one doing it. He had wanted to say it to Ally but Nan had pleaded with him to say nothing. She felt Ally had been through enough upset and she didn’t need any more.
    “Ally, sweetheart,” Ella was the first on e to speak. “My darling girl, you look positively stunning. My son is a very lucky man.”
    “Thank you Ella,” Ally beamed, she was so happy. Her life was perfect.
    “Doesn’t she look beautiful,” Ella said, turning to El.
    “You look perfect Ally,” El replied with a smile but then added. “Dress looks fab and very expensive. Just as well you are marrying money , with such expensive taste.”
    “El,” Ella snapped in disbelief.
    “Actually my grandfather paid for my dress,” was all Ally could think of saying. She was floored by this girl’s directness and obvious hostility.
    “It was a joke,” El groaned and rolled her eyes.
    “Then I suggest you get new material,” Nan said as she stepped towards Ally and took her hands. “You look perfect pet, and I am so very proud of y ou and so is Pops. I wish your mom was here to see you.”
    “Thanks Nan,” Ally said and smiled gratefully at her grandmother.
    After the fitting, the four ladies went to lunch before Ella dropped Ally and Nan back to Cole’s apartment. Pop was installed in front of the 60” TV watching football and giving out to the referee on the pitch. Nan said that she was tired, so she was going to have a lie down.
    Ally went in search of Cole and found him in his office going through a ton of paper work.
    “Hey,” Ally said as she popped her head around the door. Cole looked up from his paper work and his face lit up the moment he saw Ally standing there.
    “Hey gorgeous girl,” he said as he stood up in one swift move and was around the desk pulling Ally into an embrace before she had time to think. He quickly claimed her mouth with his. Finally when he released her lips breathlessly, he smiled down at her. “I missed you. Did you have fun?”
    Ally simply smiled and nodded.
    “What happened?” Cole asked as the smile on his face dropped.
    “Nothing happened,” Ally said , surprised by his reaction. “What makes you think that?”
    “Because I know you Ally Brody,” Cole said , taking hold of her arms and staring her straight in the eyes. “Something is on your mind. And you will tell me in the end. So you may as well spit it out now.”
    “I don’t think Ella likes me,” Ally said, blushing as she said t he words out loud. She hated this whole girlie stupid nonsense. Normally if someone didn’t like her she would say screw it , and move on. But this was Cole’s sister. And although she knew Cole really couldn’t care less to what she thought or had to say about anything. It bothered Ally.
    “What did she say now?” Cole demanded and Ally cringed. She felt like a tattle tale.
    “She just had a dig about me marrying someone with money,” Ally said unable to look at Cole anymore. “It was nothing really, but there