One Last Chance by Beverley Hollowed

the music her and Cole had chosen for her to walk down the aisle, begin to play.
    “Ally sweetheart,” Pop said , looking nervously at his granddaughter. “I love you Ally with all my heart, I truly do. And to walk you down the aisle would make me the proudest man in the world.”
    Ally’s heart began to beat faster in her chest. She looked from her grandfather to Nick, who was still standing behind them and back to Pops.
    “But this is not for me to do,” he finally continued. “Gus is your father. He has loved you from the day you were born. And though you never knew it, he was always your dad. This is his job not mine. Please Ally.”
    Ally blinked back the tears that had quickly filled her eyes.  She looked over her grandfather’s shoulder and saw Gus standing there looking incredibly nervous.
    Her grandfather leaned in and kis sed her softly on the cheek then walked in through the door he should have been walking her through. She turned to Nick and he raised his eyebrows and Ally knew he was asking her if she was okay with what had happened. She simply nodded and he followed Pop into the building, leaving Ally standing alone with a terrified looking Gus.
    “You look stunning,” he finally managed to say as he stepped closer to her. “I am sorry. This was not my idea. I mean, there is nothing I would love to do more than to walk you down the aisle but I never wanted to upset you, or ruin your big day.”
    “I know this is Pop’s doing,” Ally replied as she glanced toward the door her grandfather had just disappeared through.
    “Ally,” he said as he took a big steadying breathe. “I know I have no right to ask you to let me do this. And if you say no, I will respect that. But I have loved you all your life and I will for the rest of it. I have failed as your father in so many ways. Please let me make up for that now and hold your hand as you walk through that door and to your future.”
    Ally didn’t reply for a moment. She stared at this man she had loved her whole life. He had been the father she longed to have. He had been the one who never let her down. He was her Dad.
    “Would you do me the honour,” she said as she reached out her hand. “And walk me down the aisle, Dad. ”
    Gus smile d brightly as he took her hand and, looking every bit the proud father, led her to the door.
    Ally stared down at the black and white floor of the hall for a moment as she took a couple of deep steadying breaths. Finally she looked up , and her eyes instantly met Cole’s at the far end on the hall.
    Instantly , a smile lit up his face and she couldn’t help but smile back as she began to make her way to the man she loved.
    *****************************************
    Cole was holding his breath. She was finally here and she was just as beautiful as he knew she would be. He clenched his fists at his sides to stop himself from running up the aisle and taking her in his arms.
    He didn’t know how, b ut he knew in that moment he had never loved her more.
    His heart hammered hard er as she stepped closer and closer to him, her eyes never leaving his, almost like she could see no one but him. Like they were the only two in the room.
    Final ly, she reached him and Gus held out his hand to Cole and shook it.
    “Take care of our girl,” he said before he turned to Ally and kissed her softly on the cheek. “I love you.”
    “Love you too, Dad,” she whispered back before he took her hand and placed it in Cole’s then stepped back.
    “Hey gorgeous girl,” Cole whispered when they were finally alone. “Wow, you are breathtaking.”
    “Hey yourself,” she smiled in return.
    He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Even as the y stepped towards the registrar. Cole’s eyes where still on Ally.
    “Shall we begin?” The middle aged man asked with a slight laugh as he leaned into Cole and Ally. Cole finally broke his eyes from Ally and turned to the registrar and nodded.
    As the man began to talk, Cole turned back to