Brokenness pt.10
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
"Yeah, I know. Even I can't think about eating now that I've seen him. What did he say?" Leo asked.
"The usual." Mattie sighed.
"Ah. Come on. We need to get home soon."
"Ok."
They finished shopping and then went home. When they got home, Leo laid down on the couch with Ella Faith on his chest. Mattie told Laura, Elise and Mia what was going on.
"The wire that holds the charge is old and needs to be replaced but Jacob wants him to get more nutrients first. We got him some supplements." Mattie explained.
"He'll be fine." Elise said.
"I know. He needs to charge whenever he can. Hopefully in a week, he can have the surgery done."
"Let's hope so."
"Elise is right, Mattie. He will be fine."
"I know. If he isn't, I'll kick him till he is fine."
They laughed slightly.
"You have been very strong, Mattie." Laura sighed. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." Mattie replied as she went to check on Leo. She saw that Leo wasn't charging so she grabbed a cord and plugged Leo in.
"I forgot." Leo said knowing what Mattie was about to say.
"I can see that. How do you feel?"
"Tired."
"How's Ella Faith?"
"She's fine. She fell asleep as I was carrying her down her."
"Well, at least she's healthy."
"Yeah. How do you feel?"
"Better. Get some rest."
"I am."
For the next week, Leo charged and took his supplements. When he went back everything was where it needed to be so he could have the surgery. Three days later, Leo had the surgery to replace the wire. Everyone except Mia was at the hospital. Mia was home caring for the kids.
"He's been in surgery for 5 hours." Mattie sighed.
"They have to be careful removing the wire and putting the new one in." Elise warned.
"I know."
Then Jacob came.
"He's out of surgery and he's awake. He'll be fine. If everything goes to plan, he can leave in 5 days." Jacob said. Everyone went to see Leo. Leo was in bed resting. Mattie went to him and kissed him.
"How do you feel?" Mattie asked.
"Fine." Leo answered.
"Did they give you something?"
"No. They turned my pain receptors off. I won't be feeling anything for a while luckily."
"Good. The girls are home with Mia and Elise's kids. Sophie and Toby are in school but they didn't want to be."
"Toby went because I told him that I would make him."
"That explains why he's been acting like he has to."
"Yep."
Mattie saw the wire going from his side to the wall.
"Are you charging ok?" Mattie wondered.
"No. I never have." Leo sighed.
"And you keep saying that you've gotten over it."
"I lied."
"You need to sleep." Laura suggested.
"I will." Leo replied.
"Do you two want something to eat?" Max questioned.
"Maybe."
"I do." Mattie answered.
"I'll go get something. Where's Joe?" Laura sighed.
"I was going to go get Mattie and Leo something. Joe is out there. He didn't want to come in." Max explained. "I'll get lunch for the four of you while you go talk to him."
"Thank you."
"I'll watch over Leo and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Niska teased.
"And I'll watch over Niska and make sure she remembers to be nice." Fred stated. Everyone laughed at the look on Niska's face. Laura went to talk to Joe while Max went to get lunch.
Joe was looking out a window and Laura stood next to him.
"This has to stop. For Mattie and Leo's sake." Laura said.
"What?" Joe asked.
"You know what. Since Leo came, you have been on top of him making him feel unwelcome. He loves Mattie and is doing whatever he can to prove that he can and will protect her."
"Then why did Mattie give birth to Ella faith early? Why did she have to go through the drug withdrawal? He hasn't protected our daughter."
"He has. He was with her as she went through the withdrawal. He protected her from Harun and still is. He's done all he can. Give him some credit, Joe. He's a good man. I look at him and I know that he's trying to prove himself to you but you won't see it. Give him a chance."
"No. I didn't want him here. I didn't want him to marry our daughter but he did."
"He did as I told him. He followed his heart. You brought Mia into the house. SO you brought the chaos that came with it. Leo coming into our lives was a good thing. He helped Mattie more than we ever could and he wasn't really even trying to."
"He's brought trouble into the house. It nearly killed her and the twins."
"Harun was trouble. He loved her but not in a way he should have loved her. Leo loves her the way a man should love her. Did you think about that?"
"He's just as bad as Harun."
"If you're going to be like that then leave. Go home back your things and just go. Leo is a good man and I'm proud to have him for a son-in-law. You should be too. Now, go."
"Fine. I've stayed too long anyways."
Joe got home and went home. He packed his things and left. Laura had to calm herself down. She went back in and tried not to cry. Max had brought lunch and Mattie was trying to get Leo to eat.
"Where's dad?" Mattie asked.
"He left. He won't accept Leo for being a good man. He thinks that Leo is as bad as Harun. SO I told him that if he wasn't going to accept Leo into his life then he might as well go." Laura explained.
"I'm sorry. you shouldn't have told him to leave, Laura. This shouldn't be about me." Leo sighed.
"Leo, he won't accept you. He's mad at you and is mad that you married Mattie. I'm happy that you did. You two are perfect for each other."
"Thank you."
"Eat."
Leo ate his lunch. Five days later, Leo was out of the hospital. Joe didn't come to the house or approach anyone. Laura tried to live her life but it was obviously hard.
"Where does your dad work?" Leo asked when Toby came home from school.
"An hour away at this factory. I know the address." Toby answered.
"Can you write it down?"
"Sure. Why?"
"I'm going to talk to him. Mattie and your mum have been upset since he left. We all know why. Laura was right when she said that I try to prove myself to Joe."
"So you're going to talk to him and make him come back for Mats' sake?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. When I'm done, can I go see Renie?"
"The synthie you keep telling me about?"
"Yeah."
"Sure."
Toby wrote the address down and then left. Leo smiled and sighed.
TBC