Fighting For a Second Chance (Fighting 1)

He gives me a smile, and I shake his hand. I sit next to Bella and thank God she’s okay, and that’s when I remember Kayla.

“Um, nurse...” I look at her nametag. “Nurse Holly. Is there any way you can stay with my daughter for a few minutes? My best friend was brought in with my daughter at the same time and I have no idea how she’s doing.”

“Absolutely. I’ll be happy to keep Bella company while you go check on your friend.” She turns to Bella and bribes her with an iPad to play with if she can put on her oxygen mask for a few minutes. Bella gives in, of course, because, really, what child would turn down the chance to play electronic games? I give Bella a kiss on her cheek and tell her I’ll be back soon.

I head down the hall to the adult recovery wing and press the button on the elevator to go down. I need to call Bentley to thank him for getting ahold of me and to let him know where Kayla’s room is. As I’m getting on the elevator, I’m staring down at my phone, and without realizing it, I run straight into the wall. Only, it’s not actually a wall, but a beautifully fit man, and that man is Cooper standing in front of me. My breath catches and he looks just as confused to see me.

“Did you come here to see Bella?”

“Um, no. I came here to see my dad… well, not see him… Wait, Bella is here in the hospital? Is she okay?”

He visibly begins to panic, so I grab his hand to calm him down. “Yes, she’s here, but she’s okay. I don’t really know what happened. I was actually just heading to see Kayla. This is all so crazy. Both of them were brought in by ambulance. Bella inhaled smoke, but the doctor said she’s okay. However, they’re keeping her overnight to be on the safe side. I haven’t had a chance to see Kayla yet, so I don’t know how she’s doing or what the heck happened. I guess some guy was there and saved Bella. I really need to find out who he is and thank him. The doctor said he saved her life.”

When I notice that Cooper has visibly paled, I stop rambling. “Cooper… are you okay?”

Eighteen

Cooper

I can feel my heart shatter. I mean, I can actually feel the pieces falling apart as Liz tells me our daughter was brought to the hospital. I don’t even know this little girl, but I can feel it in my heart and in my bones when she tells me about what happened. To think I could have lost her before I even got to know her. What was I thinking taking time to consider whether I should be in her life? I’m her father. It’s not her damn fault I was raised in a shitty situation. That little girl deserves the world and she deserves for her father to be in her life. I have so much to make up for.

“…I guess some guy was there and saved Bella. I really need to find out who he is and thank him. The doctor said he saved her life.”

I suddenly feel sick when I hear Liz speak these words. What are the odds that my dad’s cause of death is the same reason my daughter was brought into the hospital? Something is definitely off. It’s all way too much of a coincidence. She stops talking and looks at me closely, then asks if I’m okay.

I clear my throat. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. If you’re going to see Kayla, who’s with Bella?”

Liz straightens up, and it hits me I just asked that too harshly. She probably thinks I’m judging her. I quickly back track before she flips out. “I’m just asking because I can go stay with her if you want. I mean, if it’s okay… you know, while you go make sure Kayla’s okay.”

Her body relaxes and she gives me a small smile, but it isn’t her usual happy one. It’s got a sad tilt to it.

“I would like that Cooper, but…” She stops for a second to consider what she’s going to say next and then sighs loudly. I can tell she’s exhausted, so I don’t give her a chance to explain. I get it. I might be Bella’s dad, but she doesn’t even know me.

“You don’t have to finish your sentence. I completely get it. She doesn’t know me and seeing me would only confuse her. It’s okay. I’m really glad she’s okay. I was actually meaning to call you. I’ve thought about everything the last few days and I’d really like to be a part of your and Bella’s life, if it’s still on the table, that is.”