28. Addie
ADDIE
A ddie sat beside Sophie, watching the steady rhythm of the monitors as her daughter’s small chest rose and fell.
Her hand rested over Sophie’s, her thumb gently tracing small circles on her daughter’s skin. Sophie’s face was pale and her body looked so fragile against the white hospital sheets, but the steady beep of the monitor reassured Addie. Sophie was here.
She was alive. The relief hadn’t yet settled, and tears slipped down Addie’s cheeks, one after another, quiet and steady.
“Hey, sweetheart,” she whispered. “You’ve been so brave. You’re the strongest person I know.” Her voice cracked, but she kept talking, her words soft and full. “Mommy’s here, and you’re going to be just fine. Just fine.”
Addie kept her gaze on Sophie’s face, letting every little feature fill her mind—the small eyelashes, the faint curve of her cheeks. She brushed a hand over Sophie’s forehead, tucking a stray lock of hair back.
“You scared me, you know that?” she murmured. “But you pulled through. You’re so, so strong.”
Time passed slowly, the quiet punctuated only by the steady beeps of the monitors. Addie stayed close, feeling every heartbeat through the monitor, each one easing the knot in her chest a little more.
She thought of the long night, of everything she’d said and felt. She hadn’t wanted to lash out. She hadn’t meant to, not in the way it came out. But the thought of losing Sophie had made her desperate, furious with anyone who stood in the way, even Giselle.
The door opened, and Addie looked up to see Giselle standing in the doorway. Giselle’s face was pale and her shoulders a little stiff, like she hadn’t recovered from the hours in the OR. Addie rose slowly, her hand still resting on Sophie’s, her gaze steady on Giselle.
Giselle walked in and closed the door softly behind her. She took a hesitant step forward, her eyes flicking to Sophie, then back to Addie, searching for something in her expression.
Addie opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. She swallowed, her mind a mess of things she didn’t know how to say.
“I…Giselle, I…I don’t know where to start.”
Giselle nodded, her gaze steady. “You don’t have to explain. I understand.”
“No,” Addie said, shaking her head. “I do. I need to say it.” She took a breath, her hand squeezing Sophie’s. “I shouldn’t have said those things. I was terrified. And angry. I was…angry because I love her so much, and I didn’t know what else to do.”
Giselle’s eyes softened, her hands dropping to her sides. “You were scared. I don’t blame you for that.”
Addie let out a breath. “I didn’t mean it, Giselle. I didn’t mean any of it.” She paused, her gaze shifting to the floor for a moment. “I was just…scared of losing her. Of losing everything.”
Giselle took a step closer, her eyes on Addie’s. “I know. And I…I’m sorry too.” She looked down at Sophie, then back at Addie. “I’ve pushed you away, over and over. Then there’s the drama with my parents. I should’ve?—”
“I understand.”
“I was trying to start a life away from them. I didn’t mean to keep that much away from you. I was just too scared that I’d never find love, so I clammed up.”
Addie studied her, taking in the hint of vulnerability in Giselle’s face, a softness she hadn’t seen before.
“You weren’t just scared of love, were you?” she asked quietly.
Giselle nodded. “I didn’t think I deserved this. Any of it. I didn’t want to believe I could be close to anyone, even just as friends. I didn’t want to risk losing anybody and hurting them, or myself.”
Addie watched her, a small, tentative warmth rising in her chest. “And now?”
Giselle’s eyes lifted to hers, something unguarded in them now. “And now it matters more than I ever thought it could.”
Addie’s breath caught, the words settling between them, and she took a small step closer.
“Giselle, I love you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And it…it hurt when I thought I didn’t matter enough for you to share that part of your life with me.”
Giselle swallowed, her gaze unwavering. “I love you too, Addie. More than I ever thought I could.”
She took Addie’s hand, her fingers hesitant but warm against Addie’s. “I want to be here. For you. For Sophie.”
Addie’s lips parted, her heart lifting at the words, something calming inside her for the first time in what felt like ages. She squeezed Giselle’s hand.
“Then stay. Just…stay with us.”
Addie’s heart raced as Giselle leaned closer, her hand still holding hers, the warmth grounding them both. The world faded around them, leaving only the quiet hum of machines and Sophie’s steady breathing. Addie’s gaze held hers, a soft, hesitant smile on her lips .
Giselle nodded, her hand steady in Addie’s. “I will. I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Addie looked down at Sophie, a soft smile spreading across her face.
“I love you, Giselle,” Addie whispered again, her words steady and clear.
“I love you, too, Addie.”
Giselle pulled her close, her hand coming up to cup her cheek as she leaned in, pressing her lips gently to hers.
The kiss was soft, slow, a quiet promise made in the silent hospital room. Addie’s hand tightened around Giselle’s, her lips warm and steady, and Addie let herself fall into the moment, into the reality she’d almost lost.
When they pulled back, Giselle’s hand lingered, her gaze still locked on Addie’s, a small smile breaking through the seriousness in her face.
Addie brushed a hand over Giselle’s cheek. “Thank you. For saving her,” she murmured.
Giselle nodded. “Thank you for being here.”
They stood there for a few moments, just holding each other and savoring the quiet. Addie wrapped her arms around Giselle’s waist, resting her head against her shoulder, and Giselle closed her eyes.
The door creaked open, and they turned to see Madeline standing there, grinning with raised eyebrows.
“Well, look at you two,” she said, crossing her arms. “I knew you had it in you, but seriously, get a room. Preferably not in the hospital.”
Giselle rolled her eyes, a small laugh escaping. “Madeline, you have the worst timing.”
Madeline shrugged, chuckling. “That’s my specialty. Just thought I’d check in…didn’t know I’d be walking in on a rom-com.” She gave Addie a wink. “You chose well, Addie.”
Addie laughed, leaning into Giselle a bit more. “She grows on you, doesn’t she?”
Madeline laughed. “Oh, absolutely. But seriously, it’s about time you two figured things out.”
The door opened and Sarah stepped inside, looking slightly amused as she glanced between them .
“Dr. Wolfe, there’s someone here asking to see you.”
Addie frowned and glanced at Giselle, then back at Sarah. “Me? I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
Giselle straightened, her expression shifting. “I’ll come with you.”
Addie gave a quick nod, squeezing Sophie’s hand one last time before stepping back. Together, they followed Sarah out of the room and down the quiet hallway.
When they turned the corner into the waiting area, Giselle’s steps faltered. Her parents stood by the door, looking every bit as formal and guarded as they had during their last visit.
Her mother’s gaze softened when she saw her, but her dad looked at her with an unreadable expression.
Addie glanced at Giselle, eyebrows raised in surprise. “Your parents?”
Giselle’s face hardened and her jaw clenched. “I don’t…I don’t think I want to do this right now.”
Her father, noticing her reaction, stepped forward, his expression gentle but determined. “Giselle, please. Just a moment. We came to apologize. To both of you.”
Giselle crossed her arms, her gaze wary. “You always have your way of knowing when things are going well for me, don’t you?”
“Giselle—” her mom began.
“Why can’t you just allow me to be happy?” Giselle said. “Did Josephine put you up to this?”
“No.”
“Then what?” Giselle said. “I work here. You could’ve waited until…I don’t know. Never?”
“Josephine had nothing to do with this,” her dad said. “We just needed to see you and tell you we’re sorry.”
“Here?”
“Where else?” her mom asked. “We practically hounded you into medical school. It’s only fitting that I apologize in a hospital.”
Addie reached over and touched Giselle’s arm, her hand warm and steady. “Let’s hear them out.”
Giselle looked down, exhaling slowly, and then she turned back to her parents, meeting their gazes with a mix of defiance and exhaustion .
Her mother stepped closer.
“We’ve been…unfair, Giselle. We’ve pushed you in ways we shouldn’t have. We’ve tried to control things that aren’t ours to control.”
Her father nodded, his eyes on Giselle. “We were so focused on shaping you into what we thought you should be that we ignored who you actually are, and we hurt you because of it.”
Giselle watched them, her arms still crossed, though her gaze had softened slightly. She didn’t respond, her expression guarded, waiting.
Her father took a breath, glancing at Addie, then back to Giselle. “I never wanted to put you through the same things my parents put me through. But somewhere along the way…I did.”
Giselle’s shoulders relaxed just slightly, though her expression remained unreadable. She glanced at Addie, who gave her a small nod.
“We hurt you,” her dad continued. “And we want to make it right. Not just for you, but for Adrienne. We owe you both an apology.”
Giselle’s gaze softened, though she kept her guard up. She glanced at Addie, who watched her with quiet encouragement in her eyes.“Adrienne,” Giselle’s mother said, “we owe you an apology for making things difficult. We pushed Giselle, and, by extension, pushed you away.”
Addie glanced at Giselle, then back at them, nodding. “Thank you for saying that.” She slipped her hand into Giselle’s, her grip gentle but strong.
Her dad looked at her. “Can you forgive us?”
Giselle hesitated, but then she nodded slowly, her lips parting in a faint smile. “Yes. But…I need you to understand that I’m done living up to your expectations. If you want to be in my life, then you’ll accept that.”
Her mom nodded, her face filled with relief. “We want you to be happy, Giselle. That’s all we’ve ever wanted.”
Her dad stepped forward, reaching out, and Giselle was pulled into a warm, genuine embrace that was long overdue.
Her mother joined them, holding onto her tightly, her head resting on Giselle’s shoulder.
Addie, watching with a soft expression, gave Giselle’s hand a quick squeeze before stepping back, giving them the moment they needed.
After a long pause, Giselle pulled back, her gaze meeting Addie’s. Her parents turned to Addie, their expressions open and unguarded.
“Thank you, Adrienne,” her dad said. “For loving her. And for waiting.”
Just then, the door opened and Josephine entered, looking pleasantly surprised. She gave a short nod, an approving smile on her face.
“Finally,” Josephine said.
“Come over here,” Giselle said. “You’re family.”
Giselle’s words echoed in Addie’s head. This moment was everything she’d ever wanted. It felt like the start of something perfect.