WORK IN PROGRESS: Challen and Addy

Chapter 7 (Challen): Fall Back In Love

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

"Of course I can fall in love with her again. I love Addy, Mom."

"And is that guilt speaking? Would you have had this revelation if your wife wasn't broken and bruised in a hospital, facing months of rehab?"

"Mom, it's not guilt," I said. "It's more like reality hitting me right in the face."

"Mmmmhmmm. And if Addy was at home and doing just fine, would you still be ignoring her? Would you still be hanging out with this Jennifer?"

God, I was a shithead with what I had to admit. "Most likely."

"Why, Challen? Why would you put your wife after work, working out and Jennifer?"

I didn't want to have this discussion with my mother because it would hurt her. The truth was, I'd never wanted to have this discussion with anyone because it was painful. It scared me and led me to making fear-based decisions on how to conduct my life. So not even with my wife had I spoken of my obsession and the reasons behind it.

"Mom," I said as kindly and as gently as I could, "I'd rather not have this conversation with you."

"Too bad, Challen," she said, and I knew that tone because I'd heard it growing up often enough. "You've told me everything else; you might as well tell me all of it."

Rubbing the back of my neck, I felt my body tense and my stomach start churning. I didn't want to make her relive the worst day of her life, and I wasn't really thrilled to go there, either. Yet, every day, I went there even if I didn't admit it.

A phone ringing at 3:47 in the morning was never a good thing.

"Seb?" I said quietly when I answered my brother's call. Despite trying not to disturb my wife who'd been snuggled right up against me, Addy had come awake the second she heard my phone ring. "What's --"

"Challen..." his voice was choked. "Get to Mom's right away. She just called...Dad's...Dad's..."

Listening to my oldest brother stumble over his words, I knew it was something very, very bad.

"Dad?"

"Mom woke up and he wasn't...he wasn't breathing. He's gone, Challen. She called the ambulance and then me. I'm on my way, but you're closest. Go! She's alone. I'll call everyone else."

Addy had heard enough, jumping out of bed to toss some clothes at me and put some on herself. 

"What is it, Challen?"

I stood there, unable to move, the stark reality my brain was trying to process holding me immobile. "Dad." 

I wasn't sure if I was answering her question or calling out to the man who'd always been my rock.

"Challen, come on," she said firmly, her voice snapping me out of my daze. "Let's get ready. Your mother needs us."

She nudged my sweatshirt into my hands, handed me my jeans and after dressing, I threw on a pair of tennis shoes. Taking my hand, Addy practically dragged me to the car.

"I can drive," I insisted when Addy tried to take the keys from me. I needed to drive because driving was normal and I needed a few more minutes of normalcy before I had to face that everything, with one phone call, had changed.

Although I drove, I didn't remember one second of that fifteen minute drive. The paramedics were coming out of the house when we arrived, pushing an empty gurney. I brushed past them into the house, calling for my mother. We found her sitting beside Dad on the bed, holding his hand.