Challen and Addy

Chapter 39 (Challen): Say Yes

Copyright © 2025 by GroveltoHEA

I didn't expect admitting that I'd already fallen in love with her again to make Addy freeze up.

"You have?"

"Yes, Addy."

"When?"

"I don't think I can pinpoint it, exactly, because it's not any one day. It's more like a series of events and memories. There's probably two parts to that answer. All the good memories  were buried under the bullshit that'd been fucking up our relationship, and they slowly resurfaced as we spent more and more time together. And you know what was happening at the same time I remembered the good times when we were solid?"

Pressing a soft kiss to her lips, I looked at her beautiful face as she shook her head.

"I was remembering who I'd been. I was remembering the husband I was to you. I was remembering how you were always first before I started focusing on myself. I was seeing you as the woman I fell in love with, the traits that first attracted me to you in the beginning, all the good memories, feeling that strong pull to you again. It really felt like...the echoes of our love were speaking to me, Addy, because I couldn't stop flashing back to our past all the time, wondering how I'd stopped protecting all that goodness between us."

"The echoes of our love," she said under her breath. "I like that. What's the second part to the answer?"

"The second part's falling in love with the new version of you, blending the old love with the new. Seeing the changes in you and having those become precious to me and then melding both versions. Admiring your sheer strength, perseverance and determination as you fought to heal your body and regain your mobility. I realized how much stronger you are than I am, Addy."

"Ironic, isn't it, considering our last fight?"

"If I've learned anything from this time, it's that life has a way of turning things around on me with perfect karma and shoveling all the shit I shoveled right back down my throat. I'm glad it delivered the bitch slap it did, but I'll never forgive myself for not waking up to the seriousness of what was happening between us until I almost lost you. I allowed it to happen and that's always going to be a thorn in my side."

"Maybe we both need some grace, Challen."

"Maybe some grace but that doesn't mean forgetting. I won't be, and it's a good reminder that I need to protect and defend our relationship."

"I'm really beginning to believe you will."

Her face was so sweet, I couldn't resist saying the words outright. "I love you, Addy."

Then, so she didn't feel the awkwardness of not being ready to say those words back to me, I gave her a much longer kiss.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The rest of the visit with Addy's parents went without any problems. Was it the warmest visit? No. Was it comfortable? Also no. Was it stilted? A bit. I continued to let Nate and Shannon have as much time alone with Addy as possible, but during that long weekend, we ate every meal together.

On Sunday morning, I came down early to get breakfast started, but Shannon was already at the stove and Nate was messing with the real coffee maker. He refused to use the Keurig.

"Good morning," I said.

"Morning," Shannon said. Nate gave me a grunt that could have been good morning or could have just as easily been fuck off.

Sighing inwardly, I knew what I had to do. These were my in laws, and since they'd likely be remaining as my in laws -- unless Addy had a change of heart -- I figured I better try to make peace for Addy's sake, or at least strive for a comfortable truce. With only forty-seven hours and fourteen minutes until they needed to be at the airport (yeah, I started counting again), I needed to give this diplomatic effort my best shot.

"I want both of you to know how sorry I am that I hurt Addy. I understand that you may never like me again because of what I did to her, and I accept that because she's your daughter and I caused her a great deal of pain," I began, drawing their attention. "But what I can't accept is Addy noticing the strain between us and feeling like she's been put in the middle. I want her to be able to look forward to your visits without worrying that there's going to be tension between us."

"You could always go away when we come for a visit," Nate muttered. "That'd solve the problem nicely."

Shannon directed a look at him that was the same one she'd flattened me with the day they arrived at the hospital. It was much better not being on the receiving end of it.

"I've been working to show Addy I've changed, and I've been thinking that the only way I can prove that to you is when you see your daughter secure and happy again because I'm the man and the husband she needs me to be."

"I appreciate you acknowledging how we feel about you after what you did to Addy," Shannon said. "It's the hardest thing in the world to see your child get hurt by someone she loves. Forgiveness doesn't come easily, and as you said, we want to see evidence that our daughter feels happy and safe with you again."

"Even then, not sure I'll ever stop wishing she'd moved on," Nate said honestly.

Looking at the clock on the stove, I saw that the countdown was now forty-seven hours and eight minutes.

"I understand." Did that sound like I was gritting my teeth? "I'm not asking or expecting you to give up your animosity toward me. All I'm asking is that we try to be as nice as possible to each other so Addy never feels torn between the two of you and me."

"We'll do the best we can," Shannon said.

"Guess that means I have to cancel the hit I put out on you," Nate grumbled.

"Yeah, hope you can get your deposit back on that," I smiled at him. Only he saw it, so only he knew it was more a baring of my teeth. Nothing to see here, folks.

"If not..." he shrugged.

"Nate!" Shannon snapped. "We're going to get along for Addy's sake. Be nicer."

At that point, Addy walked into the kitchen, so the conversation turned to what kind of pancakes she wanted. The rest of the weekend went pretty well, all things considered, but I was smiling in relief in my car after I'd dropped them at the airport on Tuesday morning on my way to work.

On Wednesday, I got a call from Grady.

"Challen. Got a call from Maine at your company," Grady just launched right into the conversation without any small talk, much like my brother Jackson did when he called. "She asked me to interview for a position in the IT department."

"I recommended you for the position. You told me you wanted to work for a company so you'd have benefits and a consistent income so Carys could stay home with Rosabel. Our company has great benefits and they aren't afraid to pay for good talent."

"We'd have to move, but Carys is good with that. Is it a good area?"

"It's a great area for families. Lots to do and see, a ton of child-friendly parks, and you already have friends in the area."

"My interview's next Monday, so we thought we'd drive in on Saturday and spend Sunday looking around. What hotels would you recommend?"

"Let me call you back with some recommendations, Grady."

Once I hung up with him, I called Addy, explained what was going on, and she told me she'd call Carys and invite them to stay with us.

"That's what I thought you'd say," I said.

"Challen," she said, and I could hear the hesitation in her voice, "I don't want them to know we're not sharing a bedroom."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"So, just while they're here, I'll sleep in our room with you. Is that OK?"

I couldn't say yes fast enough.