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.
