Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) (12 page)

Tears slipped down her face as she blinked and then turned. She said nothing as she created distance between them and began to make her way off the pier. Cooper hadn’t followed. His feet wouldn’t move to go after her.

She had told him the truth.

Her heartbreak included death.

… but I’m far from it.

“Y
ou let me fall in love with her?” Cooper roared as he burst into Graham’s office.

His boss’ blue eyes darkened as he got up from his chair behind his desk. The remorseful expression consumed Graham’s face.

“You let me fall in love with her,” he repeated in a low voice. “Without telling me that her boyfriend
died.
”

“You love her?” Graham asked. He didn’t sound angry. He sounded concerned.

“
Shit!
” Cooper cursed out loud. “I do. I love her.”

“Peyton told you?”

“No. She realised she was on the pier and she said that he died there.”

“He wasn’t her boyfriend,” he heard Madilynne say behind him.

Cooper turned around to see the concerned expression on her face.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We couldn’t tell you, Coop. It’s not our story to share. It’s Peyton’s. And when she’s ready, she’ll tell you.” Madilynne entered the office and made her way to her husband then she faced him. “She’s been through more trauma than you can imagine. When I saw you in that Skype interview with Graham, I thought something about you would be perfect for her. From your resume, you were perfect for the job. But from the video chat and your answers, I knew you could be the person she moves forward in her life with. And I don’t want to be wrong.”

He shook his head, completely confused. “But Graham wanted me to stay away.”

“Graham’s a lot more protective of Peyton. He’s seen her at her very worst. He was there on the pier that night. We like you, Coop. I know Peyton, and she wouldn’t have asked you on a date if she didn’t see a future with you. You treat her the way she’s always wanted to be treated. You don’t coddle her. And you’re the only person who brings out her true smile and laugh. Do you have any idea how relieved I am that she can do that again?”

“Mads, I’m no one special,” Cooper said.

Her blue eyes shone bright. “But you are. Do you remember what Graham asked you in that Skype interview?”

Cooper thought back. It seemed like it was forever ago since he’d had that interview that changed his life. He nodded.

“I wrote that question for him.” She smiled at him and held her husband’s hand. “So, Cooper Hepburn, if you found a reason to stay past the terms of your employment, would you?”

“Graham,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember what I answered?”

His boss nodded his head. “I do.”

“Did you believe me then?” Cooper asked.

“I did.”

Cooper glanced between them and inhaled deeply. “If I found a reason to make me stay, I’d put my house up for sale and never leave. If it’s a woman, then I’d follow her long past Daylesford. I’d follow her forever and wherever. If it’s the town, then I’d make it my home. But if it is because of a woman, then I made the best decision during a lonely night searching for a new career.”

“See,” Mads said. “I knew you were the right guy.”

His heart warmed at the approval from Peyton’s best friend. Cooper took a step forward, ready to convince Graham that he should approve of him, too. “Graham, I found my reason to stay here. It wasn’t this farm. It wasn’t this job. It wasn’t this town. It’s Peyton. I’d follow her forever and wherever. When I was with her, I felt sensations that I had never felt before. She made me feel right. She made me feel like I could be her home. I made the best decision of my life during that lonely night searching through job ads. Everything I had run from, a future and wanting to settle down, she made me stop running. I want to stay long past my contract to be with her.”

Graham frowned. Not the sight Cooper was hoping for.

“Do you believe me like you did all those months ago?” Cooper asked, desperate for an answer. He peeked at Mads to see her staring at her husband.

“I believe you,” Graham said. “But that’s not up to me. It was never up to me. It’s up to Peyton.”

Cooper stood at her front door and glanced down at his feet to see the personalised welcome mat.

The Spencers.

It appeared new. Not a single letter worn. He turned his attention to the front door and knocked. As he waited, he peeked at the small notebook in his hand. After he had spoken with Graham and Mads, he had told his boss he was taking the rest of the day off and headed home. Then he found the notebook where he had slipped one of the Polaroid pictures of Peyton inside. He was hoping that he would have more pages filled, but he didn’t get the chance. On the third page was his note to her.

The door unlocking had Cooper straightening. He hadn’t planned out what to say. He would wing it. But really thinking it through, he probably should have rehearsed something so he wouldn’t be a blabbering fool.

When the door opened, an old man looked Cooper up and down. The man at the door’s bushy brows had furrowed before he turned his head and shouted, “Brenda, there’s a boy at the door.” He glanced back at Cooper and yelled, “Sorry. Brenda, there’s a handsome man at the door!”

Seconds later, after an exchange war with the old man, a woman came to the door. “Yes?” she asked. She was just shorter than the man with recently dyed brown hair.

Cooper was sure this was Peyton’s house. He had only walked her home once late at night, but he was sure the weatherboard house was it.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he took a step back. “I must have the wrong Spencer house.”

The old woman shook her head. “No, this is the only Spencer house in Daylesford. Can I help you?”

“Ma’am, I thought Peyton Spencer lived here,” he said.

The woman’s eyes lit up as a smile formed. “She does. I’m her Aunt Brenda. We visit her for lunch when she’s not working or busy at the hotel.” Then she peered out the door and pointed out to his right. “Her Uncle John and I live a few streets down that way.”

Her great aunt and uncle.

She had mentioned them, but he hadn’t connected the dots quick enough.

“I’m Cooper,” he said introducing himself. “Is Peyton home?”

“
Cooper,
” Aunt Brenda said with a hint of familiarity in her voice. Then she patted her husband’s shoulder. “John, could you please get Peyton for Cooper?”

“No need,” Peyton had said behind the elderly couple; both had flinched in surprise at her interruption. “Do you guys mind giving us a minute?”

“Not at all, love,” Uncle John said and then he led his wife away from the door.

Peyton crossed her arms over her chest as if to protect herself from him. “Hey,” she said, sounding careful and calculated.

“Hey.”

“I’ve never had to tell anyone because everyone I know knew him and what happened. So this is all new to me,” she explained in a tiny voice. She untangled her arms and let them fall to her sides. “I’m sorry I just left you on the pier. I needed to be alone for a little bit, and I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“Don’t be sorry, Peyton,” Cooper said in a soft voice. He peeked down at the black notebook and then extended his arm out to present it to her. “I don’t know if you ever want to spend time with me again. I’ve made some mistakes and hurt you. But if you’re willing to give me a chance, then take this and read it.”

She took the book from him and stared at it. “What is this?”

“I hope you read it. There’s not much in there. I was hoping there would be more, but that doesn’t matter.” Cooper gave her a tight smile and then spun around, giving her time to think over what he had said to her.

As he went down the steps, he thought of how much he wanted her to read it. How much he wanted a chance to be perfect for her once more.

I try my best to be for her.

C
ooper let out a breath of air and leant back into his chair. It had been almost eight hours since he’d left Peyton’s house. In those eight hours, he had wrapped fairy lights around the rafters of the veranda, cleaned his house, and called his sisters. A few hours ago, he had baked scones with his grandmother’s recipe he had gotten from Megan. He had burnt the first batch of scones he had made, but his second turned out better. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. The tea he had brewed almost ten minutes ago would now be cold.

It was 6:12 p.m. and Peyton was late.

Or she wouldn’t show.

He believed the latter.

He wasn’t sure why he held on to hope that she would come. Cooper wasn’t even sure if there was room in Peyton’s life for him. She obviously loved the man who had died on the pier. He still didn’t know his name. But he knew she loved him. He must have been the one for her. And Cooper, well, he wasn’t even sure he could be perfect for her. Nothing about him screamed worthy of being perfect.

Setting his phone down next to him, Cooper stared out at the sun setting. He knew that he’d be on this porch until midnight, maybe even longer. Then tomorrow night, he’d do it all again. Night after night, until she showed up and told him to stop holding on to hope.