Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) (25 page)

She tells me that I am her forever moments and that you were her sometimes. But I think that’s where she’s wrong. In some stages of her life, Peyton never had sometimes. In those moments, she lived and she had forever.

I hope that the man you wrote of was me. I hope I do justice to the man you envisioned for Peyton. I hope you can see that I’ve done my best to be enough for her. I hope that you approve of my love. If not, I’ll love her harder than I already do, although I’m not sure that’s possible.

Thank you for loving Peyton the way you did. I know that she will always love you and I hope that one day she tells our son of you.

Thank you for Peyton. Until the day I die, I will never stop thanking you, Callum Reid.

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

Cooper Hepburn.

The third book in the
Sometimes Moments Collection
.

One fall,

One chaste kiss,

One hidden love ...

Will change their lives forever.

Madilynne Woodside hates Daylesford, Victoria. Hates being the mayor’s daughter. And hates everything that comes with living in a small town. She can’t wait until the moment high school finishes and she can leave everything behind her, and say hello to city living. But there’s just one problem.

Lavender boy.

Graham Scott has his life figured out. Once he graduates from high school, he’ll take over his family’s lavender farm. But then he stumbles across the mayor’s daughter injured in the dirt lane between the lavender, and it all changes. He’s never met someone as self-centred or as spoilt as Madilynne Woodside, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t got his interests. As much as they dislike each other, there’s no denying their connection.

But as the years go on, life seems to tear them apart.

Circumstances will divide them.

Circumstances will bring them together.

And years later, one question still remains.

How did the mayor’s daughter and lavender boy fall in love?

COMING SOON

EARLY 2017

Read on for an excerpt of Madilynne and Graham’s upcoming novel.

T
he giggles from the five-month-old caused Madilynne Scott’s heart to swell. Besides her husband, Graham Scott, Callum Stuart Hepburn was the other love of her life. The little boy had his mother’s eyes. Light blue and stunning against his fair skin. His nose and shape of his face resembled his father’s. And Madilynne knew that the smile on his little lips was a mixture of both his parents.

“Don’t get too attached, Mads,” Peyton warned as she set their beverages on the table they sat at. “I’m obsessed with the little guy.”

“I still can’t believe you’re a mother,” she said as she tapped Callum’s tiny nose and was rewarded with more of his laughter.

“I never thought I would be,” her best friend confessed. “Especially after Callum … I didn’t think I’d fall in love again, let alone get married and have a son.”

Madilynne nodded along, feeling the sadness in Peyton’s voice. The baby in her hands had been named after Callum Reid, Peyton’s first love who had died of a brain tumour almost five years ago. He had left Peyton when they were seventeen and his departure had broken her heart. For Madilynne, she had believed they were the perfect childhood sweethearts, but Callum had ended them without telling Peyton the truth about his health.

And in Peyton and Callum’s story was Madilynne and Graham’s.

“Do you miss him?” Madilynne asked. She glanced up to see Peyton staring at the pier where Callum had died.

“Every day,” she whispered. “But that doesn’t mean I’m sad, Mads. I have a great life.” A tear slowly trailed down Peyton’s face.

“I’m sorry.”

Peyton’s lips had pressed together tightly before she took a deep breath and turned her attention back to Madilynne and her son. “Don’t be. Sometimes, I wish he was here but then …” Her eyes fell to her son. “I wouldn’t have any of this. I love Cooper. He was so patient and waited for me. I honestly can’t picture my life without him. I don’t want a life without him, without him as my husband or the father of my child.”

“Callum would be happy that you’re happy, Peyton. He’d be so proud of you.” Madilynne said as she rocked her godson, his small hands clutching her blouse.

“I know,” Peyton agreed in a whisper. “Do you mind holding him for a second longer? I have something for you.”

Madilynne nodded and peeked through her lashes to see her best friend sweep her hair over her shoulders. Peyton stood up and lovingly gazed at her child then she entered the hotel.

“You have a wonderful mum, Callum,” she said softly to him. “Never doubt how much she loves you or your dad. One day, you’ll find out who you’re named after. And you’ll be proud. Callum Reid was one of the greatest men I have ever come across. He loved your mother. However, your dad, he worships her and you. You’re both Cooper Hepburn’s entire world. But if you become as annoying as your father, watch out. Best aunt or not, I’ll be giving you a talking to.”

Carefully, Madilynne rose up from the chair and made her way to the steel railing of the deck. Then she smiled as she overlooked the lake. All her favourite memories were made on it and around it. And though the baby in her arms didn’t know it, his moments were made here, too.

“You see that over there, Callum? Just that small dip in the path before the pier?” she asked.

Callum let out incoherent noises that Madilynne accepted as a yes.

“Well, that there is the spot your mum asked your dad out. Your dad was in a rush to deliver an order your Uncle Graham stupidly took and completely blew off your mum. And well, it was this time that your mum found this fearlessness. See, your dad used to drive up to the hotel during every lunch break and have lunch here. Your parents became great friends and your mother slowly fell in love with him. She told me she knew she would, and she was right.” Madilynne paused and glanced down to see that Callum had fallen asleep in her arms. “So your dad just ran past her. And your mother told him to wait that she just needed a second of his time. Just so you know, your dad’s an idiot. He was just about to tell her that he couldn’t stay to chat when she asked, ‘Would you like to go on a date with me?’ And wait for it, it gets better. Your dad said—”

“I said no,” Cooper finished for her.

Madilynne slowly gazed over her shoulder to see Callum’s father on the deck. “You were an idiot.”

Cooper shook his head. “Mads, stop cursing around my son.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t one,” she teased. “Come here and take him. Tell him why you said no to a date with his smokin’ hot hotel owner of a mother.”

When he had made his way to them, Cooper scooped up his son in his arms. “Peyton’s not only smokin’ hot, but she’s also beautiful.” Then he gave his son a kiss on his forehead.

Unable to help herself, Madilynne smiled at the sight. Her best friend deserved this ending. It might not include the man Madilynne had originally hoped for, but it did, however, include a man absolutely devoted to and in love with Peyton. Callum Reid’s legacy lived within all of them. And though he never got his dreams, Madilynne knew that he’d have been happy that Peyton got hers.

“You looked good just before, Mads,” Cooper stated.

Madilynne squinted at him. “What?”

“My son in your arms.”

“I don’t get—”

His light chuckle halted her. “You holding a baby. It looked good. Have you thought of having one anytime soon?”

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I don’t think I’d be a great mum.”

“You’d surprise yourself,” Cooper said.

Little did Cooper know that being pregnant was one of those things that had eluded her. Sure, she’d love to be a mother, but for Madilynne, it just wasn’t what nature had intended for her and Graham.

Just as she was about to tell her best friend’s husband that maybe someday she’d have a child, Peyton had stepped onto the deck and made her way towards them. “Oh, he’s asleep,” she said gratefully once she reached them.

“I can’t take credit. Mads was the one to do it. She was telling our son about the time that I said no to a date with you.”

Peyton’s facial features scrunched up. “Can’t lie. That was painful to hear.”

“I thought it was a pity date,” he explained. “I’m gonna put him down. I’ll be back right back.” Cooper had quickly kissed his wife before he began to hum as he left them.

“Here,” Peyton said, gaining her attention.

Madilynne looked down to see a Polaroid in her best friend’s hand. When she took it from Peyton, she stared at the picture. It was of her and Graham by the boathouse. And that was when it clicked.

“Callum took it. I was cleaning out some of the boxes in the shed the other day when I found this bundle of Polaroids stuffed right in the back. It must have been from when I was seventeen, when Callum and I used to swap the pictures we’d take. I don’t even remember going through this particular bundle at the time, but I came across these two pictures stuck together. When I peeled them away, it was of you and Graham, and I knew you had to have it. He knew about you both from the very start.”

Madilynne’s thumbs brushed against the picture of seventeen-year-old Graham leaning down to kiss her. Their fingers entwined as Madilynne had wrapped her other hand around his elbow. “I can’t believe Callum took this,” she whispered, tears filled her eyes. Callum might have been Peyton’s first love, but for Madilynne, he was her friend, too.

“You know …”

She brushed the tears from her face and her eyes found her best friend. “Yeah?”

“After all these years, I still don’t know how you and Graham came together,” Peyton pointed out and then looped her arm through hers.

“It’s a long story,” Madilynne said.

“My husband’s putting my son to sleep and Jenny’s at the desk. I have time, Mads. I think it’s time you finally tell me how you fell in love with Graham Scott.”

The butterflies became existent in her stomach and fluttered upwards and settled in her heart. The warmth was similar to when she was seventeen. The question was one she had asked herself many times before.

How did the mayor’s daughter fall in love with lavender boy?

COMING SOON

EARLY 2017.