Gabby sat with Matt at the cemetery most of the morning and into the early afternoon. He explained the day his mother took his father's life after Matt received one of the beatings of his life by his father's hand. Little did he know it would be his last, as he laid beat in and bloody on the floor of his bedroom he could over hear his parents argue before hearing the loud bang.
"Everything kind of went blank after that." Matt finishes the story." I woke up a few hours later in the hospital bed. That is when I wrote you that letter."
"Matt I don't know what to say." Gabby wiped her own tears." Don't hate me but I threw all your letters away the other night at Molly's."
"You still have your letters." Matt raised his eye brow." After all these years?"
"You were my best friend." Gabby wiped Matt's tears away now." Of course I kept them, well until the other night." She looked away ashamed.
"Hey ." Matt placed his finger under her chin." Can I tell you a secret, I still have your letters." He smiled brushing her jaw with his thumb.
"Really?" She locks eyes with him. They held their gaze until Matt cell phone rang." Damn what time is it?" Gabby asked as Matt hit the ignore button.
"3:15."
"Oh man my mom's gonna kill me." Gabby jumps up reaching down for Matt's hand to help him up." You need to drive me to my parents house I was suppose to be there at 3:00."
"Gabby I'm so sorry." Matt runs around jumping in the drivers seat." But thank you for this." He pauses for a moment.
"Anytime." She squeezes his hand." Now get going." Gabby points ahead grabbing her seatbelt chuckling.
"Just tell me how to get there."
"They live a few blocks from 51, so head back that way, I can get my car later." Gabby glanced over at Matt while he sped down the road." What about your sister in all of this?" She brought up his family again.
"Christie, she had just left for college." Matt kept his eyes on the road." But she was my fathers pride and joy he never touched her. So what's the big event going on at your parents house?" He changes the subject as Gabby points him down their block.
"My brother's birthday." Gabby smiled over to him." Do you remember Antonio?"
Matt rolled his eyes." Your brother hated me, of course I remember him, he always harassed me." He chuckled." But I know he was just looking out for you." He grinned as they pulled up infront of her parents house." He was dating that dark haired girl at the time, what was her name?" Matt placed his finger on his lip thinking.
"Laura."
"Yeah that's it Laura." Matt points his finger at her.
"Yeah their married now two kids." Gabby chuckled.
"Seriously?"
Gabby watched Matt enjoying this day they had spent together not wanting it to end, two old friends reconnecting." Why don't you come in?" She offered nervously.
"I, I couldn't impose."
"Your not imposing, besides my family would love to see you." Gabby pushed." I insist, unless you have somewhere to be?" She asked slightly taken back.
"No I'm free." Matt eyes Gabby." I would love to come in."
They got out of Matt's truck walking towards her parents house as Gabby's mother opens the front door." Hurry up he'll be here soon."
"It's a surprise." Matt whispers in Gabby's ear before they reached the door." I think I might be the bigger surprise." He chuckles as they reach her mother now.
"You brought a friend with you how nice." Gabby's mother says closing the door behind them." It's nice to meet you." She puts her hand out.
"Mom don't you recognize him?" Gabby smirks causing Matt to smile." He's a little taller now." She rubs Matt's back.
"Matthew?"
"That's right." Matt's smile grew." It's nice to see you again Mrs. Dawson."
"Oh please it's Kathy, call me Kathy were all adults now." She pulls Matt into a hug." I can't believe you found each other after all these years." Kathy winked at her daughter.
"Yeah random chance." Matt looks back at Gabby smiling." I actually just started working at 51 with Gabby." He looks back to Kathy now.
"He's the new truck lieutenant." Gabby informs her mom." Hey where's dad?" She looks around." I'm sure he would love to chat with Matt, you know he has his own construction buisness as well."
"Oh busy man." Kathy chuckles." He's out back with the rest of the family. Come before Antonio gets here."
"The whole family?" Matt pulls Gabby's arm whispering in her ear as they follow behind her mother.
"Are you afraid of a few people?" Gabby pokes his side." You run into burning buildings for a living."
"Some fears you never get over." Matt gazed down at her." You should know that."
"Yeah." Gabby's breath caught in her throat." Some things you just don't get over."
"You two coming?" Kathy whispered back to them where they stood in the hallway towards the backdoor." Let's go."." She grabbed her daughter's hand noticing the sparks there.
Gabby sat at one of the tables in the yard as the sun was starting to set on this day. She took a sip of her beer as her eyes were fixated on Matt talking with her father and Antonio." What are you looking at?" Laura comes and sits next to Gabby." Your first love huh?"
"You too." Gabby huffs taking a swig of her beer." We were kids."
"So was your brother and I."
"True." Gabby nods sitting back." Why couldn't he have turned ugly when he got older."
"Just like you grew into a beautiful women." Laura played with Gabby's hair." And he knows it too." She nods her head motioning how she sees Matt watching them.
"Well he's engaged to someone else." Gabby looks away from him now." And she's beautiful."
"Why is he here with you then?" Kathy asks sitting on the other side of Laura over hearing." Gabriela I taught you better then that."
"Mom he's just my friend." Gabby gets annoyed." I have more respect for myself then that anyway. I would never be the one to break someone up." She grabs another beer behind her." It's just nice having my friend back." Gabby smiles to Matt who glanced over again before sipping her beer.
"Just be careful." Laura taps Gabby's shoulder." Those looks aren't friendly if you know what I'm saying." She stands up." You know I love you, just don't get hurt. Now I'm dropping it." Laura bends over hugging her sister in law.
"Thank you." Gabby whispers in her ear." And don't tell Antonio please."
"Strictly girl talk here, my lips are sealed." Laura smiles before running off retrieving her kids to head home.
"Hey mom do you mind if we stay for a few more minutes?" Gabby asks taking Laura's old seat." There's something I need to do before we leave." She glances at Matt again.
"You are a grown smart women and I trust you, is all I'm going to say." Kathy caresses her daughters cheek stay as long as you want." She stands kissing Gabby's cheek before grabbing a few glasses to clean up.
"Let me do that." Gabby jumped up.
"No I got it it's practically done go have fun." She points to Matt who is walking in there direction.
"Thanks mom." Gabby says before turning to Matt." Hey."
"Hey you." He smirks taking a sip of his beer." I forgot how great your family is."
"Yeah they are." Gabby glances back at her mom seeing her thru the kitchen window." Are you in a hurry or do you have a few more minutes?"
"Well that depends." Matt's smile grows." What's on your mind?"
"I have something I want to show you."
