HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 328

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 328**

“Could you please pick up the one with the blue packaging? Not the green one, okay?” Althea’s voice had a gentle insistence, a note of urgency that made her request feel more like a subtle command.

Daven raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “You do realize the blue one costs more, right?” His tone was light, but there was a hint of mischief in his eyes.

“That’s precisely why I’m asking you to get it,” Althea replied, her smile brightening the dimly lit aisle. “I don’t want to be the one who looks wasteful.”

With a soft chuckle, Daven relented, reaching for the blue-packaged kitchen tissues and placing them into the cart. “If you keep dragging me along on these shopping trips every month, I swear I’ll have every brand in this store memorized.”

“Exactly!” Althea replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “So next month, you can come by yourself and impress everyone with your newfound knowledge.”

“And miss out on strolling beside you? Not a chance in the world,” he said, pushing the cart alongside her. Their pace was leisurely, and the tranquility of the store wrapped around them like a comforting blanket. Every so often, Daven would steal glances at her profile, illuminated by the overhead lights—bright, simple, and radiating a calmness that soothed his restless heart.

“I just had a thought,” he said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. “Back when I was still your husband, I never did things like this with you.”

Althea turned her gaze toward him, her fingers brushing over the soap bottles on the shelf. “You didn’t even know how much laundry detergent cost back then,” she teased lightly, a playful glint in her eyes.

Daven lowered his head slightly, a rueful smile creeping onto his lips. “True. I was quite the idiot. I thought as long as everything was stocked at home, that was enough. But what you really needed was something as simple as this—just being together.”

Her smile was faint but warm, a flicker of understanding passing between them. “Took you long enough to figure that out,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of affection.

“I’ve learned a lot,” he murmured, his tone earnest. “About patience, about listening… and about cherishing the little things that matter.”

They paused in front of the baby food section, where Daven picked up a small jar. “This is the brand Grace drinks, right?” he asked, a hint of pride in his voice.

“Right,” Althea confirmed, adding two more jars to the cart with a satisfied nod. “You really do remember now.”

“See? I’ve leveled up—from a failed husband to a fairly decent shopping partner,” he said, a playful grin spreading across his face.

Althea let out a soft laugh, the sound brightening the air around them. “You’re more than that now.”

Daven raised an eyebrow, curiosity piquing within him. “More?”

“More patient, more thoughtful… and more present,” she replied, her voice steady, yet filled with warmth.

He exhaled slowly, the weight of her words settling in his chest. “Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of losing this second chance,” he confessed, vulnerability creeping into his voice.

Althea halted in her tracks, her expression turning serious. “You know, Daven… I’m afraid too.”

“Afraid of what?” he asked, concern lacing his tone.

“Of getting too comfortable with you being around,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daven didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he offered a faint, understanding smile and resumed pushing the cart toward the checkout, the air thick with unspoken emotions.

As they stepped outside the supermarket, the afternoon air enveloped them in a soft embrace. The sky was a canvas of gold and orange, the sun dipping lower as it prepared to bid farewell to the day.

“Josh is going to love this,” Daven said, opening the trunk of the car with a satisfied grin. “He asked for strawberry ice cream again.”

“This Saturday… would you come with me to visit Chase’s grave?” Her voice trembled slightly, vulnerability shining through.

Daven’s expression remained calm, as if he had anticipated her request. “Of course,” he said softly, his eyes reflecting understanding.

“I usually go alone,” she confessed slowly, her voice tinged with hesitation. “But this time… I don’t want to be alone.”

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” he murmured gently, his heart swelling with gratitude.

Althea looked down again, a small smile touching her lips. “I just don’t want that day to feel too quiet.”

“I’ll be there,” Daven assured her, his voice low and steady. “I don’t need to say much—just being beside you is enough.”

“And if I cry?” Althea asked softly, her vulnerability laid bare.

“Then I’ll stay silent next to you,” he replied simply. “Until you’re ready.”

Althea turned her gaze to the window, watching the scenery blur past beneath the dusky sky. “And if I don’t cry?”

“Then maybe Chase is finally at peace,” he said after a thoughtful pause. “And maybe… so are you.”

The car was once again filled with silence, the only sounds being the steady hum of the engine and a soft melody playing from the radio.

Daven glanced sideways, catching sight of Althea leaning against her seat, her eyes closed in contemplation. In that quiet moment, he realized something profound—though their journey was far from over, for the first time, he felt an undeniable sense of belonging, as if he was exactly where he was meant to be.