Challen and Addy

Chapter 29 (Challen): An Adventure

Copyright © 2025 by GroveltoHEA

Addy and I explored the town for several hours, stopping to have lunch at the Misty Pines Diner, which boasted the best  strawberry rhubarb pie in the world. 

"Any place that has a claim like that, well, we need to try it," Addy laughed, and for a minute, I almost stopped pushing her chair to bask in the sound. "I mean, apple, definitely. Cherry, blueberry, pecan, even chocolate...but strawberry rhubarb? Is there even a competition for it?"

"Sure. There has to be since they're making the claim. They may have been the only entry in the contest, but that doesn't make their title any less meaningful." 

Addy grinned at my completely non-serious answer. "We're trying it," she said. "It actually sounds good."

We were seated in a booth, Addy's wheelchair folded up near the front, and we were talking so easily I wanted to stay for a long time.

"Did you and Jennifer talk like this?" she asked out of the blue.

"What do you mean, Addy? Like about personal shit? No."

"I just meant was it easy to talk to her?"

"We talked about bike riding, hiking, running or work. All of those were easy subjects to talk about because that's where my focus was. The one time she tried -- the day of your accident -- I shut her down."

"She's really pretty."

"And you're beautiful," I said. "Addy, all I cared about was that she was athletic and fit enough to keep up with me when we worked out."

"So you never thought about her in that way?"

"No. And I think that's why I got so defensive when you kept objecting to me spending time with her. To me you were implying I had feelings for her and I didn't."

Addy took a deep breath and fiddled with her silverware. Getting ready to stab me, maybe? "I think that's all I want to talk about her for now. I wanted to have a nice day and these things keep flying out of my mouth."

"That's good, Addy. It's what Hannah told me would happen and that we should have bite-sized conversations when something popped into either of our heads."

"Until we eventually get it all out?"

"Yeah. Hannah said that smaller conversations are actually easier to process than thinking you have to have one big conversation to get it all out."

"I can see that," she said thoughtfully. "It's a lot to work through, so when I start to feel overwhelmed, we can put it on hold until the next time."

"Do whatever makes you comfortable, Addy. You can decide what we talk about when you want to talk about it and for how long."

"Let's just have lunch and pie for dessert and go back to easy."

I smiled at my wife.

"I want you to have a good day, too."

We did, and on the drive  back to the Worthington Center, she let me keep my hand on her thigh. Every so often, she'd press her hand to mine.

When we arrived, I asked if she could move her seat up to give Grady room.

"I was just planning on getting into the back seat."

"No," I said flatly. "You're staying up front. He has plenty of leg room in the back if you move your seat up just a bit. I'm keeping you next to me."

Addy had turned her head away from me but not before I saw her lips twitch.

"I'll run in and get Grady. You want the air on or windows down?"

"Windows down, please."

I adjusted the windows, keeping the SUV running while I hurried inside to get Grady. He'd been waiting in the common room, a frown on his face.

"You took forever," he noted.

"I was out with Addy. No way was I rushing back," I told him honestly.

"Let's go," he said, rolling toward the door. "Can I sit in the front?"

"Addy's already there, but she moved up her seat so you have more leg room."

He huffed a bit but got into the back seat without any help.

"I'm getting stronger," he said.

"Looks like it. Good for you because that means you're closer to getting out of rehab so you can go be with your family."

We drove to an ice cream shop that had outdoor seating so we could sit outside, and both Grady and Addy opted to walk the short distance to one of the picnic tables. I went inside with their orders and came back out with a chocolate malt  for Addy, a banana split  for Grady and a hot fudge sundae.

We ate, enjoying the day, and when Grady finished, I told him about the opportunity he had to go visit his wife and baby girl using a private plane.

"I make good money, but I can't afford a private plane," he said.

"You don't have to pay a dime. Someone who owns a private plane with a wheelchair lift to get you in and out is offering it to you, free of charge. You can fly out Friday night and return Sunday night."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Seriously. If you want to go, just tell me which weekend."

Grady looked down at the table, then looked up with a rare smile. "Next weekend. I want to go next weekend."

"I already know next weekend's good."

"I need to call my wife," he said. "Right now."

Addy and I tried to talk so he could have some privacy, but Grady didn't seem to care. He was excited and wanted to share the surprising news with the woman he loved.

"Carys, I'm coming to see you and Rosabel next weekend." Pause. "For the whole weekend. Addy's husband found a private plane for me. For free." Pause. "It has a wheelchair lift."

A much longer pause followed and Grady looked a bit uncomfortable. "Don't cry, Carys. It's a good thing. Please don't cry."

Another pause.

"I can't wait to see you either." Pause. "I love you, too. We can talk more later tonight. See you Friday."

Grady looked back at us. "She's happy, and now I can't wait for Friday afternoon. It's never going to get here."

Friday did manage to roll around, and the three of us were heading to the small airport, following directions to the private hangar where the plane would be waiting for us. Grady didn't say anything beyond a handful of words, probably feeling too much to process at the moment, but he kept running his right hand over his left the entire twenty minute drive.

"That's the plane?" Addy asked as we pulled up to the hanger. "It's beautiful."

The plane was a pristine white and on the tail was a beautiful, gold willow tree that was so cleverly done that it took a minute to realize the trunk of the tree was a stylized M.

Grady wasn't saying anything at all now.

"I've never been on a plane. That's smaller than I thought."

I exchanged a glance with Addy.

"I don't think I can do this by myself." He shook his head.

"How about if we come with you, Grady?" Addy asked, her voice calm.

The look of relief on his face was apparent.

I'd brought up the possibility of two extra passengers when Addy had mentioned Grady's nerves about the flight and had been assured that it wouldn't be a problem.

"Let me go get our bags," I said, grateful Addy and I both had packed small carryon suitcases just in case of this eventuality.

"Ready for an adventure?" she asked Grady, trying to lessen his apprehension.

"Now I am," he said.

Half an hour later, we were all on board the beautifully appointed plane, awaiting takeoff.

It would definitely prove to be an adventure.