Part 21
Thursday finally arrived for the anxious couple with Chelsea waking early when the nurse came to check her vitals.
"Good morning, Chelsea," greeted Shelle warmly.
Yawning, Chelsea replied, "Morning."
"Want me to wake Alex for you?"
AJ was asleep in the recliner beside her bed, his arm stretched out holding her hand in his. Smiling, she said, "Nah, let him sleep a little longer. Could you come back and give me a hand getting a shower and dressed?"
"Be glad to. You’re my last stop for the hour so just buzz me when you’re ready."
Shelle worked quickly and disappeared into the bright hallway.
As the door closed, Chelsea looked back at AJ as he continued to sleep. Even if she had wanted to, there had been no way Chelsea could have stopped herself from falling in love with him. At the show, he had gone out of his way to make sure Annie was okay and got his autograph. He’d also been concerned that she was going to have to face Kevin’s temper alone. Then to cinch it all, he had been by her side from the minute she woke in recovery and had only left her once to get a shower and something to eat. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of and now she was anxious to get on with her new life with him. She’d be starting fresh, away from anyone who knew her, and her daughter would have her father in her life. Things were definitely looking up for her.
Reaching over, she touched his shoulder as she spoke softly, "Baby, wake up."
Thinking something was wrong, AJ woke with a start. "Are you okay?" he asked sleepily as he tried to shake the sleep from his brain.
"I’m fine. Shelle just came in to check on me and she’s gonna come back to give me a hand getting a shower."
With a pout, AJ asked, “You don’t want my help?"
Blushing slightly, Chelsea said, "It’s not that. I just…I didn’t think….yes, I want your help but I’ll need it more when we get home."
AJ stood and moved to her. Leaning in to her, AJ kissed her slowly, his fingers caressing her cheek. Pulling away, he whispered, "It’s okay, beautiful. I don’t want to rush you."
"You aren’t," replied Chelsea as she put her hand on his.
"How about some breakfast?"
"I am starving. Are you going to go out and get something?"
"They’ve got a McDonald’s about a block away so I won’t be too long."
"Thank you."
Giving her another kiss, AJ started to leave but stopped at the door to look back at her. He was anxious too to get on with their new lives together. There were so many things he wanted to do for her and with her and he was going to start today. While she had slept yesterday, he had arranged for a limo to take her home and ordered roses to be delivered to her house. He’d also told Nick to make sure there was a single rose on her pillow and he’d asked Howie to go out and find a sexy gown for her. One of the things he wanted most was to feel her in his arms and not have to worry about someone walking in on him.
Chelsea interrupted his thoughts, "Alex, are you okay?"
"I’m fine, beautiful…just watching you and thinking about how I’m going to spoil you."
Smiling softly, she said, "I’m looking forward to that too!"
"Back in a few."
While AJ was gone, Shelle helped Chelsea get her shower and dressed. Done and tired of the bed, Chelsea decided that she’d rather sit in the recliner with her ankle propped up than be in bed. She hadn’t been settled long when there was a faint knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly and a familiar face peeked in. "You’re awake!"
“Aunt ‘Bet’! Uncle Mark! What are you doing here?” asked Chelsea surprised to see Monique’s parents.
“We wanted to see you before the funeral and make sure you’re okay,” explained Mrs. Wrenn as the two entered the room.
Seeing the two people who had been like second parents to her, Chelsea felt her emotions slipping away. “I am so sorry! It was all my fault,” she whispered as tears threatened to fall.
The two moved to sit with her and Mrs. Wrenn took her hand. “Chelsea, we talked to the troopers and you are NOT to blame for this. Don’t you dare try to take this yourself.”
From the door, AJ said, “I don’t want to hear you blame yourself again either.”
Everyone looked up to see AJ enter the room, each one having a different reaction.
As he leaned to give her a kiss, Chelsea kissed him touching his cheek with her fingers. “Hey!”
“I thought we had all this settled, beautiful? Why are you talking like this?”
Tucking her head as a tear fell, she whispered, “I can’t help it, Alex.”
AJ knelt beside her and took her face in his hands. With his thumbs, he wiped the moisture. “Beautiful, I know it hurts to lose someone you love but this was NOT your fault and if these people are going to upset you…I’ll get Marcus to kick them out.”
“No, it’s okay, Alex. There are Monique’s parents…my godparents,” explained Chelsea putting a hand on one of his. AJ moved to sit beside her on the arm of the recliner and she introduced them. “’Aunt ‘Bet’, Uncle Mark, this is my boyfriend, Alex McLean. Alex, Betty and Mark Wrenn.”
AJ shook hands with Mr. Wrenn as he said, “Sorry for your loss. I only met her for a short time but with that and everything Chels has told me, I know that she was a wonderful lady.”
“Thank you,” replied Mr. Wrenn looking him over completely.
Giving him the same once over, Mrs. Wrenn commented, “You look familiar.”
“You probably recognized him from the posters Monique use to have in her room,” smiled Chelsea as she put her hand on AJ’s leg. “Alex is one of the Backstreet Boys.”
“That must be it,” smiled Mrs. Wrenn. Watching the two, she said, “Chelsea, there’s something different about you.”
“You mean besides the bruises and cast?” laughed Chelsea.
“Yes….you just seem…you were always such a happy child and the last seven years, Annie has been the bright spot in your life…but you just seem happier.”
“I am, Aunt ‘Bet’. For the first time, my life, for the most part, is going in a positive direction. Annie’s father is going to be part of her life….”
Cutting her off, Mr. Wrenn said, “You’re mother said you’d told him.”
“When did you talk to Hillary?” questioned Chelsea bristling at the mention of her mother.
AJ felt her body tense and knew he needed to step in. “Annie’s father is Kevin Richardson…one of my best friends.”
Defensively, Chelsea said, “Kevin’s a good man and he’s going to be a good father. THAT was NEVER an issue for me and NOT why I didn’t tell him sooner.”
“Whoa, Chels! We never doubted your decision to not tell him,” said Mr. Wrenn. “And so you’ll know, we told your father he was wrong to kick you out. You’ve always made well-thought out decisions about your life.”
Realizing she was wrong, Chelsea apologized. “I’m sorry, Uncle Mark. I shouldn’t take my anger out on you two because you’ve both been super wonderful to Annie and me.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. The last few days have been difficult for all of us,” reassured Mr. Wrenn. “I’m glad that you’re happy and things are going well for you.”
AJ nudged her. “Tell them all of it, beautiful.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes sir,” blushed Chelsea. “Annie and I are moving to LA.”
That stunned both Mr. and Mrs. Wrenn.
“How can you leave your family?” questioned Mrs. Wrenn.
“The only family I have now is you and Uncle Mark…that will be here in Virginia. Kevin, Alex, Brian, Nick, and Howie are my family and I’ll be with them.”
“Kevin was going to find her a house while she was having surgery on her ankle but I’ve asked her to live with me,” explained AJ.
“And I said ‘yes’,” finished Chelsea. “Uncle Mark, Aunt ‘Bet’, I love you both and I’m going to miss you terribly but I have nothing else to keep me here with Monique….” She stopped and AJ gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“So you aren’t going to give your mother a chance at all?” asked Mrs. Wrenn.
“No ma’am. She knew the whole time where I was and why I left home because if she didn’t listen in, I know you told her. She let seven years go by and she didn’t do a damned thing. Alex told me what she said the night I was brought in. She should have told Daddy that seven years ago before I had to….” Chelsea stopped, angry tears streaming down her cheeks. She dashed them away as she said, “I have NOTHING to say to her because she is just as guilty as he is.”
As Chelsea turned her head into his chest and he hugged her tighter, AJ said, “Mr. and Mrs. Wrenn, I was all for her trying to make amends with her mother…I’m very close to my own mother but well, Chelsea and I have talked about this and I support her.”
Mr. Wrenn shook his head. “Chelsea, I told you we always believed you made the right decisions with your life so I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong about your mother. I am going to tell you that she loves you a great deal and wants to be a part of your life and Annie’s. I am glad to see that you have someone in your life and that you’re happy with where your life is going. Promise us you will keep in touch.”
"I promise, Uncle Mark," whispered Chelsea as she leaned to him to hug him. When she let go of him, she said, "We’ll see you tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yes sir. I’m being released later this afternoon so that I can go to the visitation and the funeral tomorrow."
"Should you be going so soon?" asked Mrs. Wrenn with concern.
"I gave the doctor my word that she would take it easy and I’m bringing her back if there are any problems," explained AJ. "I’m not taking any chances with this woman getting sick."
Hugs were given all around with AJ’s promise to take care of Chelsea before Mr. And Mrs. Wrenn left.
