Challen and Addy

Chapter 31 (Challen): You Have A Deal

Copyright © 2025 by GroveltoHEA

We landed, and I'd arranged for a rental SUV to be at the hanger. 

"Can we go right to the hospital?" Grady asked. "I want you to meet Carys and Rosabel."

Addy looked at me, eyes wide.

"We'll take you to the hospital, Grady, but you need to go see your wife and baby by yourself, and spend time just the three of you. Addy and I will meet them on Sunday when we pick you up for the airport."

He turned to look out the window, and I could tell he wasn't happy with my answer. I tried again.

"This is your first time seeing your wife in months. And you've never seen Rosabel in person. Tonight is just for you, your wife and baby, and your first time together as a family of three should be spent alone. Focus on them for the next two days. We'll see Carys and Rosabel for a few minutes when we get you Sunday afternoon."

"I'm staying with Carys at the Ronald McDonald house near here."

"That will also give you some time to talk to and be with your wife. Catch each other up on the parts of your lives that you don't have a chance to cover in your phone calls."

"Remember to give Carys the chocolates," Addy added.

"I will," he said.

I parked near the entrance of the hospital and got out. When Grady was in his chair, I put his duffle bag on the handles and walked in with him. We got to the reception desk, he signed in, got his visitor's badge and was told what floor the NICU was on. I walked him to the elevator.

"Enjoy your visit," I said as I shook his hand.

"I will," he said before he thanked me and got onto the elevator. 

Hustling back out to the SUV, I looked over at Addy. "Mission accomplished. He's in the elevator on the way up to the NICU floor."

"I hope the weekend goes well," Addy fretted. "I feel like the overbearing, bossy older sister with him."

"He'll be fine. They'll be fine." I gave her a teasing glance. "You'll be fine, too."

"Where are we staying?"

"I got us a nice family-bed and breakfast. Every review was great, said it felt more like your own home than a B&B, and the breakfasts and afternoon tea are incredible."

"Two rooms?" Addy asked.

I sighed. "No, unfortunately, due to the blizzard, all that's left is a single room with a twin bed."

Addy burst out laughing. "You remembered that book!"

My wife had her head in my lap as she read her romance novel and I watched a game on TV with my hand lightly stroking the soft skin of her belly. She burst out laughing suddenly.

"Something I'd understand?" I asked, looking down into her amused face.

That was our code for whether she'd bother telling me what had made her laugh so hard in one of her books.

"So, this boss and his secretary had to take a business trip. She hates the boss but he's been trying to get her into bed forever, so while she stays with the luggage, he tells her he'll arrange for rooms. Oh, and they arrived during a snowstorm that's about to turn into a blizzard. He talks the desk clerk into saying there's only one room and all it has is a twin bed. He delays the heroine while the hotel staff get the room ready. So he breaks it to her that they'll have to share a room that only has a twin bed because of the approaching blizzard. He also had them clear all other furniture out of the room so she couldn't make him sleep on the couch."