Chapter 5
Phoebe woke up with a strange feeling. She felt like a rock was in the bottom of her stomach. She got out of bed slipping her robe on and stepped out of her room and walked to the bathroom. She splashed her face with cold water a few times and then walked down stairs to the breakfast table. Her mother was always at the other end reading the paper but this morning she was not.
"Freddie, where is my mother?" Phoebe asked as he came to pour her tea.
"She is still asleep Mademoiselle Phoebe" He replied.
"At this hour?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, the Madam did bring a bottle of the best Merlot to bed with her last evening" Fredrick said quietly.
Phoebe sipped her tea and sat back in her Chair. Just then they heard a blood curdling scream from the maid coming from up stairs.
Phoebe and Fredrick ran upstairs to the maid. Two other maids were consoling the maid as Phoebe brushed by them.
Dallas was laying face down on her bed in her red satin robe. There were pills on the stand by the empty bottle of merlot.
Phoebe started to shake and she walked over to her mother. Dallas looked so sad and alone. Her eyes were still open but her body was very still. Phoebe knelt down by the side of the bed and touched her mother's red curly hair. Phoebe laid her head against her mother's and the tears began to stream down her face. Phoebe began to sob silently as she could still smell her mother's hair. It still smelled good like she remembered it as a child.
Two weeks later…..
Phoebe was up in her mother's room alone. She walked through it and laid on the bed. She held the pillows in her arms and closed her eyes. She could remember all the good things about her mother then. Phoebe had taken care of Dallas for so long she forgot what it was like when she was young and things were simple and easy. It was normal back then and happy. It was skinned knees and closet monsters. Bee stings and bedtimes. It was all so easy back then. Phoebe was lost in her thoughts when she focused her eyes on the stand by the bed. There was a piece of paper laying there so Phoebe reached for it. She recognized it was her mother's hand writing right off. Phoebe sat up on the bed and began to read….
Dear Phoebe,
I haven't been there for you when you needed me the most. But most of all, I need to tell you something. Your father did not leave on his own. He left because I forced him out. I was not faithful to him and when he tried to fix things, I punished him more. I kept him away from you, and I really do not know why. I loved you so much and I needed a piece of him with me. I guess to make him suffer for loving him so much. He was a good man Phoebe, and I am sorry you missed the time with him. I was so afraid of love, and I did everything in my power to push it away. I was wrong Phoebe, and I was wrong for standing in your path of love. Your Cole tried to call you and I didn't tell you. I am sorry. I tried to save you the pain, but I only made it worse. I can see that now. Don't let anyone get in your way of happiness Phoebe! I have to go now, I just miss your father and it hurts to bad.
I am sorry for everything!
I will love you always!
Phoebe folded the letter up in her lap and looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes. She felt so sad and alone. Everyone she loved was gone. Cole was so far away and so were her parents. Just then the phone rang.
"Are you in there dear?" Fredrick asked through the door.
"Yes" Phoebe said wiping her eyes.
"There is a Mademoiselle Piper on the line for you. Will you take the call?"
"Yes, I will get it in here. Thank you." Phoebe said as she picked up the phone.
"Hello… Phoebe Halliwell?" Piper asked
"This is she" Phoebe said wiping her face again.
"I don't know if you remember me…."
"Yes, yes I do. Is something wrong with Cole?" Phoebe asked nervously.
"Well, he is why I am calling. Maybe we could have lunch… and talk….."
**********
Two months passed….
Cole was coming in to land on the dirt landing strip by the ranch.
"Ok, everyone we are preparing to land at Soho Ranch, so please fasten your seatbelts" He said over his dispatch.
Once they landed, Cole and Levi his co-pilot, took off their head gear and helped unload the baggage for the five passengers. Cole grabbed his bag from the plane and headed for the office with Levi.
"Some of us are going to get a few brews, you want to come along mate?" Levi asked as they walked in to the ranch house's front office.
"Nah mate, you go ahead, I am beat" Cole said hanging the keys at the desk.
Levi just smiled and rolled his eye.
"What?" Cole asked.
"Crikey! When are you going to get over her? There are plenty of Sheila's out there mate!" Levi joked.
"I am not bloody hung up on anyone mate!" Cole replied sharply.
"You are full of shit you know that mate? Hey sleep tight, don't let the dingo's bite!" Levi joked as he grabbed his bag and walked off.
Cole smiled and shook his head. He sat at his desk and marked off the cargo for the day. Then he closed the records and picked up his coat and bag. He flung the bag over his shoulder and his coat over his arm. He put his sun glasses back on and headed to his jeep. He jumped in and started it up. He spun out and headed home on the long dirt road.
Cole pulled up to his log cabin on the hill. His dog came running out to greet him from under the porch.
"Hey Ringo, you hungry ay?" He said as he scratched his ears and then opened his door. Phoebe stood up from the rocking chair by the fireplace.
Cole just stood in the door way and stared at Phoebe. Phoebe smiled nervously as they stood across the room from each other. Cole took off his glasses and the tension was thick.
"Hello Cole" Phoebe finally said. She was breathless by how good he looked.
His hair was messy and he looked rough. His perfectly chiseled body glowed from sweat. He had a small smudge of dirt across his chin and sweat beads on his fore head. The whites of his eyes and his teeth also glowed off his tan skin.
He had a white tank on and khaki cargo pants.
"Hey" He said still staring at her.
"Well, do I look that bad?" Phoebe joked cracking a smile and trying to break the ice.
"No...Phoebe. You look great. Why are you here?" He stuttered as he closed the door and walking over to the table and laid his keys and things down.
Then he walked over to Phoebe and sat down in the rocking chair across from her.
He watched Phoebe intensely. The tight curves of her small petite body filled out her dress perfectly. Her dark curls hung down over her shoulder and her brown eyes stared into his. Cole cleared his throat as he felt his heart beat faster, but he tried to hide it.
Cole looked at her painfully. "Please Phoebe, just leave. There is nothing here for you…"
"I had to see you…There is something I have to say….And if you still want me to leave I will" She interrupted.
Cole nodded to the other rocking chair across from him for Phoebe to sit in. She walked over and sat in front of him. Cole sat back in his chair and waited for Phoebe to talk. Phoebe sat with her head down and her elbows on her knees. She was silent for a moment and then she looked up at him.
"I grew up trying not to feel. My father left us when I was young. He would visit us for a while but then one day I never saw him again, that is until last year when I was in Venice with Joh…Patric." Phoebe paused. "Well that was a mistake"
Cole's eyes hardened. He felt his insides tense when she said his name. He swallowed hard working past the lump in his throat.
"My mother was afraid of love and so she taught me the same. My father loved her and he had to suffer for it. She punished him everyday. And I did not know why until now.
I ran from my feelings for you, I panicked, and I didn't want to end up like my mother. I thought if I hurt you, you would not want me.
I am so sorry for the pain I caused you. I know what it is like to lose a father. My parents are both dead too…"
"What? Phoebe…I" Cole sat up surprised and he wanted to comfort Phoebe.
"Please, hear me out" Phoebe stopped him.
Cole sat back in the chair.
"I realize I was punishing you now for loving me and for me loving you." Phoebe looked into his eyes and she felt the desperation of trying to reach him.
"Phoebe, I am so sorry for your parents, I know how much that hurts, but Phoebe…don't mistake loneliness with love…"
Phoebe stopped him by sliding off her chair and kneeling down in front of him.
She put her hands on his knees and looked up at him. Cole tried to hold back his emotions and he tried to fight the desire and fear he was feeling. Her touch melted him and reminded him how he longed for her everyday she was gone. He sat up in his chair uncomfortably and avoided her eyes.
"Can't you see, My mother was stupid, she killed herself! I don't want to make the same mistake she did! I love you Cole, I have since the first day I saw you! I am lost with out you! I want love and happiness…I want it with you!" Phoebe said as a tear ran down her face.
Cole grabbed her and held her in his arms. He stood up with her and wiped her wet cheeks, then he leaned in and passionately kissed her lips and Phoebe wrapped her arms around his neck. Cole picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He grabbed her buttocks and they both were short of breath as their kisses became more lustful. Cole carried her over to the bed that was under the loft stairs, and laid her down under him. He pulled away from kissing her and brushed her hair back from her face.
"Phoebe…I love you, I always have, I want you to stay with me" He said hoarsely.
"I love you too Cole, and I am going to take care of you…I came out here to find you and I am not going to ever leave you again" Phoebe whispered softly.
"Will you marry me?" Cole asked staring intensely into her eyes.
"My things are in the drawers and my suit cases are under the bed" Phoebe said as a huge grin spread over her lips.
Cole smiled then he laughed, "You knew I wouldn't kick you out didn't you?"
"Yeah, it was all a part of my master plan" Phoebe teased.
Cole leaned in and kissed her again. Then he stood up and unbuckled his belt as Phoebe propped up and leaned back on her elbows.
Cole unzipped his pants and reached out for Phoebe's hand. He pulled her up to him and started to unzip her dress.
They climbed into bed naked and Cole pulled Phoebe to him.
********
Cole woke up the next morning to the sound of bacon popping and the smell of fresh coffee.
Phoebe was opening the oven when she felt Cole wrap his arms around her and start kissing her neck from behind.
"Oh, good morning sleepy head!" Phoebe said turning to kiss him, "It is about time you woke up!" She said between kisses.
"What do you expect when you kept me up all night?" He said smiling and laying his head over her shoulder.
"You certainly were up last night!" She teased
Cole gave her a sexy grin and he sat at the table.
"So it smells great! What is it? He said pouring juice for him and Phoebe.
"Well, pouched eggs, grilled bacon, and ammaretti!" She said sitting each plate of food on the table.
Cole just stared at her with a warm grin.
"What?" She said smiling at him.
"I missed you" He said leaning in to kiss her again.
"I missed you too" She said touching his cheek and kissing him back.
Cole sat back in his chair and looked at the breakfast, "This looks great Phoebe, I am starving. I worked up quit an appetite last night!" He said raising his eyebrow.
"Yes you did, and you deserve every bite!" Phoebe giggled.
"Oh, so what about the hotel and your home?" Cole asked as he took a bite.
Phoebe smiled and looked at him funny. "I sold it" She said and sipped her coffee.
"You sold it?"
"Yes, I told you I was here to stay!"
********
Cole and Phoebe made a life together and were very happy. Cole built a gazebo for Phoebe to paint in and she had a new life and new scenery. Cole eventually bought a small charter company. Australia was beautiful and it was perfect for them to raise the baby that was on its way.
********
On their first year anniversary, Cole brought Phoebe and their daughter Jewels to Hotel De Paris. The hotel had a new owner and a new manager.
Piper and Fredrick greeted Cole and Phoebe and new baby Jewels when they arrived.
Cole and Phoebe wanted to go back to the hotel in spite of all the bad memories. After all it was where it all began.
