Chapter 21
Cole
Waking up this morning with Lacey wrapped tightly around me was heaven, but the best part was when I placed my hand on her stomach.
Peanut started to move about, and I felt her, for the very first time, while her Mummy slept.
Then I had to get up and get ready for work.
I knew I wanted to be away by lunchtime, and I had our main project to check on, as well as my side project.
I spent longer at the main site, dealing with idiotic contractors and arrogant delivery drivers, which means that now, at lunchtime, I’m only just checking in on the side project.
As I pull up and climb out of my truck, I hear the rush of people and the laughter of work friends.
The place is a buzz of energy, and I’m eager to find Cas to see how it’s going.
I slowly walk through the empty hole that is going to be our front door and into the hallway, and look around, imagining the place that Lacey wants.
We sat down one evening and discussed the plans, including what each room would look like, where the doors would be placed, how many electrical sockets we would have, and what the decorating would entail. A voice snaps me out of my daydream.
“There he is. Hello brother.” Cas claps me on the back and flourishes his arm out. “What do you think?”
I nod my head and smile. “Very impressive. I can’t believe you got the roofers here before their due date; they’re never usually on time.”
He laughs. “Oh, don’t worry, I have my ways.” He winks and tugs on my arm. “Come on, let me show you upstairs!”
We walk up the stairway, which is currently just scaffolding, and reach the top level.
“Okay, so I’ve booked the electricians to make a start at the end of this week, once the roof is up and ready. Windows and doors are going in tomorrow and then…” He trails off when my phone starts ringing.
I look down and see it’s my mum, and panic floods through me. “What happened? Is Lacey okay, the baby? Are you okay? Is Dad?”
Mum giggles on the other end of the line.
“Oh, Cole, you’ve always been such a worrywart – nothing like that.
I just wanted to let you know that I popped up to the hospital to see Lacey.
She sent me a message because she knew you were busy, so don’t go charging around the place when you can’t get hold of her.
Okay?” Her voice is firm; she knows me too well.
“Is she okay? With her dad, I mean?” I wanted to be there with her to support her, but I also understand her need to do that initial meeting alone.
“Oh, believe me, Cole, she has made her feelings clear to him. But I don’t know; he just seems…
better, nicer. We can only hope he wants to be in her life for the right reasons and be here for her.
I’m going back in now. Speak soon. I love you.
” She clicks off, and Cas stands there, hands on his hips like an impatient mother hen.
“Well? Is everyone okay?”
“What? Oh yeah, sorry. Lacey is at the hospital with her dad. Let’s finish up so I can get up there.” Cas nods in return and goes through everything else. All the while, half my mind is on the fact that Lacey is somewhere else and I’m not there with her.
After reassuring Cas that he is doing a fantastic job with my future home, I climb into my truck, connect my phone and dial Nate.
“Yeah.” He is a man of many words.
“I need you to make something for me, please.” Ever since Nate was little, he had a fascination with anything wooden.
On his seventh birthday, my parents bought him a carving set.
He began to craft small wooden animals, which eventually evolved into his current business, where he creates custom wooden furniture.
“Okay. What is it?” No nonsense. The Yin to Archie’s Yang.
“Can you make me a crib for the baby?” Please say yes.
“Sure. What design, or are you trusting the process?” He seems cagey.
“Are you alone or do you have someone with you?” I push his buttons, just because I’m an irritating older brother and I can.
Frustrated, he blows out his breath. “Cole, get to the point, design you or me?”
I laugh back at him. “You. I trust you to make your niece’s crib as beautiful as possible. Oh, and Nate?”
“Yes.” He bites out the word.
“Tell Hayleigh I said hello.” I hear his muttered curse before he ends the call, and I laugh to myself.
After stopping off to grab some puzzle magazines for Lacey’s dad and some snacks, I park up and make my way to the ward he’s staying in. When I walk in, I hear laughter peeling from behind the curtain. I peek around and find Lacey’s dad, Don, telling her and my mum a joke.
“Cole!” Lacey gets up and makes her way to me, and I lean down to kiss her softly. A throat clears, and when I look up, neither my mum nor Don is looking our way.
“You feeling okay?” My brow creases as I take Lacey in. She looks tired and run off her feet.
She nods, and her smile is wide. “I’m okay.” She gives me a pointed look that tells me to stop fussing.
“Lacey, why don’t we go get something to eat and a warm drink and leave your dad and Cole to catch up?”
I give a slight nod of thanks to my mum, and the two gather their things and head on out.
I turn back to Don Fullman and take him in. He looks at me warily, almost like a frightened old man. The bag crinkles as I lift it. “I brought you some snacks and puzzle books. I hope they’re okay.”
I hand them over, and he digs into the bag, pulling out the books and snacks. He opens the bag of grapes and offers me one. I take one to be polite and sit back silently, waiting for him to say what is clearly on his mind.
“I don’t know what your parents have been feeding you, Cole, but you’re huge. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.” He trails off, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I was raised right, Mr Fullman.”
“Don, please.”
“Okay, Don. My parents raised me right, and they raised me to be respectful at all times. So I am only going to ask you this once, and I want an honest answer, okay?” He nods but doesn’t say anything. “I need to know what your intentions are with Lacey and my daughter.”
He looks at me in confusion. “Your daughter? But I thought…Wow! Lacey didn’t get that far into the story.
” He shakes his head like he’s shaking away the thoughts.
“My intentions are permanent, Cole. I want to be in their lives for as long as I have left.” He looks at me straight in the eyes and doesn’t flinch. I realise he’s telling the truth.
“Okay.” I nod, satisfied with his answer, and so I offer an answer in return. “Peanut, the baby. She isn’t biologically mine, but she’s mine.”
Don’s eyes shine with what looks like pride. “I’m lucky my daughter had you and your family all these years, and I’m sorry I never thanked any of you for your support.”
“Clean slate?” I hold my hand out, and he grabs it firmly and shakes.
“So, tell me about the little shit stick that got my daughter pregnant and abandoned her.” He delivers the line deadpan.
“Not much to tell. It was one night, it happened, and he didn’t want to commit to anything or be in the baby’s life.” I choose to leave out the part of him wanting money as compensation for the baby being born.
“Seriously?” He looks on in disbelief.
“Yep, serious as a heart attack.” I realise what I’ve said as soon as the words leave my mouth, “Fuck. Shit, Don, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…
” But I don’t need to worry because Don Fullman laughs so hard, his monitor starts to beep, which then causes the nurse to come over and tell us off like two naughty schoolboys.
He catches me up on the conversation he had with Lacey. He agrees he has a lot of work to do where she is concerned and a lot of time to make up for. A thought occurs to me.
“What are you doing for work now?”
His cheeks redden. “Ah, I lost my business when Lacey was a teenager. Nobody wants a drunk to turn up and decorate their house.”
“I need a decorator. Not yet, but soon. If you’re up for it, that is?” This may be reckless of me, and I should probably consult Lacey first, but this feels right.
“I don’t need charity.” He shakes his head.
“Not charity, Don, work. It’s my business, and I genuinely need a decorator. Offer’s there, think on it.” I slide one of my business cards to him.
Maybe it is a little like charity, but if that means Lacey’s dad has something to get up for in the morning, something to focus on, and he can help? Then he would do it a million times over.
For her.
Only her.
**********
We left Don earlier with a promise to return tomorrow during visiting hours. Lacey didn’t want to go, but her dad told her she needed rest, and he was right. She looks beat and bone tired.
“What did you say to my dad when your mum and I went to get a drink?” She even sounds tired.
“Nothing much. Man stuff.” I smile at the very unladylike snort she lets out.
“Man stuff? Pfft, sexist much? I bet it wasn’t man stuff, I bet you were discussing me.”
“Hmm…good guess. But the world doesn’t revolve around you, so.” I trail off and laugh at the outraged look on her face.
“You’re an arse, Cole Peterson.”
“Yeah, but you love me.”
She’s quiet and doesn’t respond to me, and for a moment I worry.
“Oh wow. Cole, pull over.”
I find a safe place to pull in, worry cinching my gut.
“What is it? Are you okay?”
She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “Cole, she’s moving, and I can feel it from the outside. Put your hand here.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her I already felt this; the love and happiness shining in her eyes is a look I want to keep there forever, and so I play along.
“I can feel her too.” My words are a whisper as I feel my little girl move about happily. I bring my hand to cup Lacey’s face and bring her in for a soft kiss.
“I’m so happy, Cole. It scares me.” Her voice is small and quiet.
“Why?”
“Because when I’m happy, bad things happen, and I don’t want anything bad to happen. I have too much to lose.”
“You’re not losing anything.” I kiss her till she forgets about any of the negative thoughts swirling around in her head.
I kiss her till she’s moaning my name and begging me to take her home.
I won’t let anyone try to take this happiness from her.