Free One Last Chance by Beverley Hollowed Page B

was something in the way she said it. I knew exactly what she was getting at. She means someone like me. Just a mechanic marrying… well… marrying you.”
    “What you have or don’t have is none of her business,” Cole replied, the anger in his voice was very clear. “I love you, for you. Money has nothing to do with it. And it is certainly none of Ella’s damn business.”
    “She is just looking out for you,” Ally said but even she didn’t believe that.
    “And where was she when Charlie was screwing my best friend?” Cole asked bitterly. “It’s a bit late to be playing devoted sister. And she is playing it with the wrong person.”
    “Cole please,” Ally said taking his face in her hands.
    “I will not have her making you feel inferior,” Cole replied. “You have worked hard all your adult life. She has never worked a day. You should be the one looking down your nose at her.”
    “She doesn’t matter Col e,” Ally said as she slipped her arms around him. “Just you and I matter. You, me and our baby. Okay?”
    “I love you ,” he said as he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.
    “How did the call with Steph go?” Ally asked nervously.
    “Not great,” Cole sighed, “But I don’t want to think about it now. I will fill you in later.”
    “Okay,” Ally smiled as she leaned up and kissed Cole on the lips.
    That night , they took Nan and Pop to dinner to the Babylon Restaurant, in The Rooftop Gardens, where Cole had taken Ally the night he had planned on proposing to her.
    As they rode up in the lift, the thought occurred to Ally, the last time she was here she bumped into her father. She wonder ed would he be here again. She looked at Nan and Pop and wondered how they would react to seeing him again for the first time in so long.
    “Stop worrying,” Cole whispered into Ally’s ear. She looked up at him and he gave her a reassuring smile. Ally instantly felt better.
    The night went smoothly and Ally couldn’ t help but smile at Nan, who had a huge smile on her face. She knew Nan was impressed. She and Pop were simple folk. They were not used to the finer things in life. But Ally knew Nan was enjoying living the high life for a couple of days. This made Ally love her even more than she thought it was possible.
    And that’s how the rest of the week went. Running around during the day doing wedding stuff, and each night taking Nan and Pop out to see the best of what London had to offer.
    By the time Thursday came , Ally was feeling tired. Hannah, Caitlin, Nathan and Sid arrived at lunchtime and it was planned that everyone would go to dinner. Then Ally would return to the Penthouse with the girls and her grandparents. Sid was staying there too. Cole and Nathan were to spend the night in Cole’s parent’s home.
    Cole had also arranged for Ally’s uncles and their families, along with Gus and his family to meet up at the restaurant too.
    Ally dressed in a c ream chiffon tunic style dress and nude colour shoes. She kept her hair down in soft curls that framed her face. She stood in the walk in wardrobe and stared at her reflection but she didn’t see herself. She was miles away in her mind.
    Tomorrow she was marryin g someone she had barely known 5 months. She was having his baby and she had never loved another person more than she loved him.
    “There you are!” Cole exclaimed with a huge smile , as he appeared in the doorway of the wardrobe. When Ally turned to face him, his smile faded. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine,” she said as she walked slowly towards him. She slipped her arms around him, leaned up and kissed his mouth softly. “You know I love you, right?”
    “I know,” Cole replied and looked at Ally strangely. “Is something wrong, my gorgeous girl?”
    “I just want you to know I love you,” Ally said , looking directly into his eyes. “And just you.”
    “Ally, where has this come from?” He asked confused by her remark. Then it suddenly hit him.