Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) (23 page)

C
ooper pointed out the window and at the cherry blossoms that fell from the tree.

“See why these are your mother’s favourite flower?” he asked as he glanced down to see Callum’s big blue eyes staring up at him. His son had his mother’s eyes. They were just lighter than Peyton’s, but the doctor had said they would darken in the next few weeks. “Can’t believe you’re already two weeks old.”

Callum’s eyelids became heavy. This was one of Cooper’s favourite moments of the day, watching his son fight sleep as he lay in his cot. The bedroom they had set up had a palette of shades of green and white. Peyton hadn’t liked the colour blue, saying that green complemented the cherry blossom tree outside their son’s bedroom window. He had agreed and was happy he did. It made the pink cherry blossoms stand out vibrantly.

“Well, rest up, buddy. Your Aunty Margie and Uncle Phil will visit you tomorrow. They’re staying over before Aunty Megs and Uncle Rhys come for lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. You’re going to be pretty busy, so I’ll let you sleep.” Cooper reached out and grasped the baby monitor in his hand. Then he shook it up at his two-week old son. “I’ve got the monitor so if you need Dad for anything, you just let out a cry, all right?”

His son’s eyes were now closed and his lips made a pout. It was cute and had him reaching into his jeans pocket for his phone. He went to his camera, ensured that the flash was off, and then snapped a picture.

Like every time he had put his son down to sleep, Cooper whispered, “I love you, Callum. Your mum and I, we love you.”

Cooper smiled as he spun around and quietly left his son’s bedroom. He left the door slightly open, went down the hall, and entered the lounge room. There he found his wife lying on the couch still asleep. He made his way to her and set the monitor and his phone on the coffee table behind him. Then Cooper set his hand on Peyton’s shoulder and shook her lightly.

She opened her eyes and blinked several times. “Is he asleep?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I watched you fall asleep as he laid on you. Thought I’d put him to bed so you could sleep properly.”

Peyton shot him a lazy smile as she sat up and patted the couch. “Come lie with me.”

She didn’t have to ask him twice. Cooper stood up and lay on the couch, twisting slightly so Peyton then squeezed between his body and the couch cushion. She rested her head on his chest as she covered them with the blanket. Her right hand settled on his stomach and her legs entwined with his. His arms were around her in seconds. As much as he loved being a father, Cooper was tired. The nights were long, and just like his wife, he had barely slept with all the nappy changes and feeding.

But he loved it nonetheless.

“Coop.”

“Yeah,” he replied as his eyes began to close.

“Do you think he likes his bedroom being next to the cherry blossom tree?”

He squeezed his arms around her. “He loves it, Peyton. I know I do.”

He felt the curve of her smile against his chest.

“Oh, and Coop?”

“Yeah?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled, sleep and tiredness caused her voice to soften. “Just wanted to tell you that I think you’re a pretty amazing father. And that I love you.”

Cooper’s hand found hers on his stomach and laced his fingers through hers. “I know and see just how amazing you are as his mother. I love you, too. Never, ever, think I don’t. You’re the love of my life, Peyton. You’re the mother of my child. You’re the most important woman in my entire world.”

He knew then that no matter how much he dreamt, sleep never lived up to his reality. Dreams had lost their spark and purpose the moment he had met the love of his life.

When he had met Peyton Spencer.

I was wrong.

Being the father of her child did it.

Cooper set down his pen after he had made the full stop. What he had written was true. He thought nothing could ever top being Peyton’s husband. But he was wrong. Being the father of her child had done that.

No truer words had ever been written.

Glancing down at the black notebook, he picked it up and smiled when he turned to the first page. Cooper had finally stuck the first Polaroid he had ever taken of her on the second page. They had been friends then, but he had wanted to be more. Now, almost five years since he had met her, they were married and had a three-month-old. And he could never want for any other life than the one he lived with Peyton.

He hadn’t been wrong. Moving to Daylesford had changed his life. Falling in love with Peyton made it a life worth living. They’d had an adventure filled with many highs and many lows. More highs than the dips on life’s roller coaster they lived. Cooper smiled to himself as he set the notebook down. Just after he and Peyton had gotten married, he had run out of pages. When he got to that last blank page, he smiled. It wasn’t the end. He just needed a new notebook with more blank pages to write about the life they lived. And more Polaroid film to capture those moments. The Sometimes Moments wall at the hotel began to fill. More and more moments of their son’s life were documented in frames. Since his return to work, he found himself stopping each time he’d pass the main sitting room and stare at the happy smile on his son’s face.

He watched as Peyton picked up their son and drew up her legs. She cupped Callum’s head in her palms and supported him by resting his back on her thighs. He didn’t have to be close to hear her say it. He saw it on her face and he had read her lips. She had said ‘I love you’ to their son.

Before him was his inspiration to continue with his letter to Callum Reid. He also had to thank him. But most of all, he wanted Callum to know that Peyton was happy. So he continued to write.

Not long after, Cooper blinked at the lined paper when he realised that he was about to end it. With a smile, he gripped the pen just that little bit tighter. This letter wasn’t just for Callum.

It was also for Peyton.

Then Cooper Hepburn wrote the remaining words that he had left to write.

My happiness, my wife, and my son are because of you.

Cooper Hepburn.

“P
luto, you’re a good boy,” his wife, Peyton, said as she handed Cooper the lead.

He bent down and patted the tail wagging four-month-old beagle. It had been his early birthday present from his wife and his son. He had been surprised considering his birthday wasn’t for another three months. When he woke up two weeks ago, she had handed him an envelope. Inside was a Polaroid of Pluto and Callum. His wife had taken their son to the breeder to choose which beagle Cooper would have liked.

When he told Peyton of Pluto’s name, she had laughed and asked him if it was because of Micky Mouse’s dog. He had said no. Pluto, their beagle, was named after the planet—former planet—in the solar system. When he saw the small puppy, he knew their dog was probably the smallest out of the litter. He had told her that he remembered when it was announced that Pluto had been downgraded to a dwarf planet because of its size. The news of Pluto had always stuck with him. Space had always fascinated Cooper. So when Peyton woke him up with a puppy in the house, he knew he’d let the planet of Pluto live on in their dog. His wife had laughed and told him she admired the way he looked at the world. For the rest of that day, his family welcomed and trained their newest addition.

Pluto Hepburn, welcome to the family.
That was what Peyton had said when she introduced him to their backyard for the first time. Pluto had been a hit with the staff at the hotel and the guests. He had a bed right next to the front desk. The hotel had always been pet-friendly, but Pluto had further strengthened that option for their guests.

“Have you got everything?” Peyton asked as she brushed Callum’s light brown hair to perfection.

Cooper stood up and nodded. Dangling from his arm was a picnic basket with the lunch Peyton had spent the morning preparing. In a separate bag inside the basket were Pluto’s treats and a tennis ball. “Everything is inside.”

“All right, let’s go. Are you ready to go to a special spot in town, Callum?”

Their son smiled as he clung to Peyton’s shirt. Then he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

“When we get there, you can play with Pluto, okay?” Cooper said as he set his hand on Callum’s shoulder. Callum turned and nodded at Cooper with his light blue eyes. The same colour as his mother.

Cooper bent his knees, kissed his son’s cheek and then his wife’s before he glanced down at the dog by their feet. “Come on, Pluto, let’s go.”