You know that was battling feelings for Matt when i found out that you were in love with me. When i ended it, i ended it because i didnt want it to get any messier and more complicated than what it already was. What people didnt know is that i was also starting to develop feelings for you" "You had feelings for me? Why didnt you say anything Wills? I couldnt. Everyone was already judging me for sleeping with you. Im not sure if i'll ever fully trust him. I missed you. I missed being around you, i missed having you to talk to. I missed having fun with you. I missed our connection, the sex was amazing. But the one thing i missed the most, was our friendship. Just being able to hang out with you. Ive not been able to get you out of my head for a while. Ive been replaying our time over and over again. If we had met under different circumstances, then who knows what could have happened with us.
Matt replayed the recorded conversation over and over, unable to absorb what he was hearing. It was Seth? Of all the people it was him? And she has feelings for him? Is our marriage a lie? he thought to himself as he awited the return of Willow. She'd been out with Amy all day, Matt not knowing her anguish at the heartbreak and pain she was going through. How the fuck am i supposed to trust her after this? I cant even look at her he thought as he heard the door open. He played the message as he heard her walking towards the living room, wanting to catch her out. He saw her face drop when she heard the conversation, he also saw a sadness to her and yet he didnt want to see her. He didnt remember the arguement, he didnt remember kicking her out, all he felt was his heart breaking.
The next few months were hard for both Matt and Willow. Although he had moved on rather quickly with Reby, it still killed him inside seeing Willow everytime she dropped the girls off. One day was particularly hard, Matt had had Jasmine the day before and they had planned a daddy daughter day trip to the zoo. He went over to Amy and Adams place where Willow had been staying, knocking on the door. "Matt, what do you want?" Willow asked, looking incredibly pale, tired and thin. Matt still not knowing about her diagnosis. "Im here for Jas. She wanted to go to the zoo today, just me and her" he replied asking "Is she ready to go?" "Jas isnt going anywhere. She doesnt want to see you" Willow replied, never taking her eyes off him. "What do you mean Willow? She was all excited yesterday" Matt said, confused as he tried to enter the house, as Willow stopped him. "She was taken to hospital last night. Vomiting, foaming at the mouth. She had a mini seizure because someone gave her bleach to drink. They had to pump her stomach" Willow said as Matt looked on with a blank face. "I called you multiple times, messaged you. She needed you Matt and you ignored her" "Ive got nothing on my cell Wills. No messages, no missed calls. Nothing" He replied showing her his clear cell, as Willow showed him hers, the countless messages and calls to his number showing, making Matt confused. "You dont think Reby deleted them to stop you from seeing Jas?" Willow accused,"Who knows Matt, she may have been the one to give the bleach to Jas" "Wills thats crazy. Why would she do it? Was Jas even really in hospital?" He replied as Jasmine made an appearance.
The next five minutes were a blur to him, the information and accustions in his head "JASMINE BELLE! Stop lying" Matt yelled as Jasmine started crying. Willow picked her up and carried her back into the living area. "Make him go away momma. I dont wanna see him again" he heard Jasmine sobbing, which killed him inside as Willow returned, yelling and screaming at him. It wasnt until the door was slammed in his face after Willow had screamed "we're done" at him did he start to feel guilty about his actions. "Hey Matt, that was quick everything ok?" Reby asked as he reentered the house. "Not really, Jas said she doesnt want to see me anymore" he replied as he sat on the sofa, Reby sitting next to him, "Whats going on? Has Willow done something?" she asked as Matt shook his head, "I dont know. Wills said something about Jasmine being in hospital last night and being unable to contact me. Theres nothing on my cell but there is on hers" "Matt, shes probably making it up. You know how much Jasmine and Willow hate me" Reby said manipulating the situation, twirling her hair on her finger as Matt kissed her. "Probably. I just thought Willow and Jas were better than that, especially after everything we went through together" he said as she took his hand and led him upstairs.
The months started to blur into one and Matt was miserable. He missed his girls and he missed Willow. He looked at the young girl in his bed and had instant regret over his actions. I wish it was Wills here, how it should be he thought to himself. We have fun Rebs, but this is nothing like what me and Wills have...had? With Reby its all about money money money, Willow was so family focussed and into making this house a home. I really miss her and the little things she did. I miss the sound of the girls running around, giggling. The sound of Wills humming and singing to herself. I need to make it right with her. Everyone in the family had cut him off, appalled and disgusted by his behaviour. He had been thinking about Jasmines trip to the hospital lately and he didnt know why he did but he called the cell provider and Dr Britt who gave him the proof that Willow and his daughter had been honest from the start. Matt wanted answers, as he waited for his soon to be ex to awaken he took a glance at the deserted house across the street. I know Amy and Adam have gone away for a while, I dont think shes there, maybe shes in Adams old place? Although i have seen a for sale sign there. Where would she and the girls be? he thought as Reby awakened in the bed. "Hey Matty, come back to bed its still early" she said flirtily as Matt shook his head. "Why did you do it? Why did you lie about Jasmine?" He asked quiet yet angry. "Matt what are you talking about? I did nothing to her!" she replied, confused by his accusations. "I know you deleted all the calls and messages from Wills that night. Jas needed me and you stopped it! I havent seen my kids for months because of you!" He replied as she stood up, "FINE! I deleted those messages, the calls. All i wanted was to spend time with you. That brat was spoiling what we have! I had to do something!" she yelled at him, the tears streaming down her face. "YOU POISONED MY DAUGHTER! YOURE A GROWN ASS WOMAN JEALOUS OF A SIX YEAR OLD! I LOST THE WOMAN I LOVE, MY GIRLS BECAUSE OF YOUR SELFISHNESS! WE ARE DONE REBY. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE" Matt yelled at her as she dressed quickly and ran out of the house, slamming the door as she left.
Matt slumped on the sofa, his head and heart aching. I was such an asshole to Wills, shes everything i ever wanted, her and the girls he thought as he flipped through an old photo album, before taking out his cell. "Hey Dad, its Matt. Am I ok to come around this afternoon? I really need to talk to you and get your advice. Thanks dad" Matt said after the brief conversation, the remainder of the morning he spent coming up with a plan to track down Willow and the girls. "So you finally came to your senses Matthew? Ditched the witch that tried to kill Jasmine" Gilbert asked as Matt brought in two beers and sat on the chair opposite his dad later that afternoon. "Yeah, cant believe i wasted so much time with her" Matt said noticing the picture of Willow and the girls on Gils table. "You know, Willow used to bring the girls over to see me and spent most of the time crying her eyes out. That woman loved you, gave you everything and you threw it away over what? A brief fling that she had when you werent together?" Gil said, taking a sip of his beer before continuing "and yes, she told me everything" "I should have just listened to her, let her tell me about it. Especially that day. I'll never forget how she looked that day, she was heartbroken, tired, sickly, but beautiful. And i pushed her away. I ruined everything for a what, two minute recording? I need to find her dad. Her and the girls, make it right and bring them home but i dont even have a clue where to begin" Matt said, slumping back into the chair. "Maybe try Amy and Adam? Or even Elly? I havent seen them in person for a while, just facetime calls" Gil replied as he and Matt spent the rest of the afternoon catching up.
"I wonder why Matts so suddenly interested in talking to us. Do you think something has happened with him and..." Amy asked as she and Adam were driving back from Atlanta. "I dont know Ames, i just hope Wills hasnt been contacted by him" Adam replied as Amy sighed, "she blocked all contact with him. Cell, email, social medias. Pretty much everything. The social media block caused everyone to speculate about what was going on with them. She didnt even put out a statement out about her cancer" she replied as Adam questioned, "You dont think he knows about it?" "I really hope not. Wills has had one hell of a year and shes finally starting to be more like herself. Harriet has been good for her" Amy replied as they entered North Carolina. "Why dont you call him Ads, tell him we'll be home in a few hours and we'll go around tomorrow" Amy said adding "Whatever is going on, we cant tell her. Not when its taken her this long to get over him"
"So she finally admitted to it? After all these months?" Amy asked Matt , as she and Adam caught up with Matt the following afternoon. "Yeah. Told her to get her shit and get out. She manipulated me into thinking Wills was crazy jealous of her, of us. Its killed me not being able to see the girls" Matt explained, sighing. "Ive been miserable for months with her. No matter how much i tried to convince myself this was what i wanted, it just wasnt working. It never felt right. She wasnt Willow. Ive had regrets since the day i kicked her out and now I want to find her, make it right for everyone. But i have no idea where to start. She still at your place?" "Matt she hasnt been here for months" Adam replied. "Is she at your old place then Ads?" Matt asked, not hearing what Adam had said. "Matt listen to us. Shes not here. In NC. She hasnt been for months" Adam said again as Amy added "We have no idea where she is. Last time we saw her was Christmas, in a place just outside Raleigh. Shes not there anymore though" she lied, protecting her daughter. "Then where is she? Where do i even start looking?" Matt asked as both Amy and Adam looked at him and shrugged their shoulders. "I wish we knew Matt" Amy said as they spent the remainder of the day catching up.
"Ads, whats going to happen if he finds her" Amy asked as she lay in bed with her boyfriend. "I dont know Ames, i wish i did but i dont" he replied as he kissed the top of her head. "You want to tell her whats happened?" he asked as Amy shook her head. "I cant. I cant and wont. I dont want to send her down that dark, destructive path she was on again. Shes already 4000 miles away, i dont want her any further away" she replied as he held her tight. "Wills is in a good place. Im not going to say anything to him, i still cant get over him abandoning her and the girls for Reby. Especially when Jas needed him" Adam said as Amy sighed. "No more talk about her. Wills and the girls are our focus.I'll update Trish and the others tomorrow, they'll want to know about this" she said as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
The months started to blur into one, Matt not giving up his search for Willow and the girls. He search the local areas multiple times. He tried Willows old place in Miami, even considering Ravenhearst at one point. It wasnt until mid March that it came to him, he knew where she was he just had to confirm it somehow. Shes in the UK. She has to be, its the only place she'd go to to get away. Far away from me he thought as he looked through another photo album of the two of them together. Im going to go see dad, see if hes heard anymore from the girls he thought as he put down the album and picked up his car keys. Driving the short distance to his childhood home, Willow and the girls playing on his mind. As he entered the house, he heard a familiar voice in the living area "Today we went to the museum and down Oxford street and on the tube. It was super duper quick gramps" Matt overheard Jasmine say to Gilbert, as he closed the door. Gilbert caught sight of him and quickly ended the conversation with Jas, "Jas you know i love you and Rubes. Gramps misses you but i have to go as my friend has just arrived. Call me tomorrow? Tell me more about your adventures" he said as Jasmine nodded off screen as it went black. "So, they are in the UK then" Matt said as Gilbert looked at him with a look of disbelief. "Matt dont. Dont do what i think youre thinking of doing" he warned as Matt replied "I need to go dad. Thats the woman i love, my kids. I need to go get them back" "And what if they dont want you? Have you thought about that?" Gilbert asked as Matt shook his head "I miss them. I need to go get them, bring them home" he said as Gilbert got angry. "MATTHEW MOORE HARDY! DONT YOU DARE GO OVER THERE!" he yelled "Dont you think you've put Willow through enough this past year? What if you go and find Willow is happy? Are you really willing to risk that for your own selfish reasoning?" "I hadnt thought of that. Me and Wills, we've always got through everything and always come out stronger. I need to go and make it right" Matt replied, lying to his dad already knowing he was going to go win her back. "I know Matt, but look at the bigger picture here. Willow and the girls have been through hell, Wills especially. How do you think she'll react to you just turning up out of the blue?" Gil asked as Matt sighed. "I really fucked up with her didnt i? Threw away the best woman i ever had" he said as he and Gil spent the rest of the night catching up.
A few days later, Matt packed a few items in his case in the early hours of the morning before slipping out and headed to the airport, without telling anyone. He turned his cell off, knowing that his family would try to stop him from going.
Matt barely slept on the flight over. All he wanted was to see his girls, hug them and be a dad to them. He longed to see Willow, tell her how sorry he was. How beautiful she is and that hes an idiot. "This is your captain speaking, we shall shortly be arriving at Heathrow. Please be prepared for landing" Matt got up and went to the bathroom, knowing that it could be his final chance before seeing Willow. The plane landing half an hour later, Matt rushed through customs, only stopping outside for a few minutes for fresh air before jumping into a taxi and speeding off towards his ex's home.
Almost 12 months had passed since Rubes had arrived and it was almost nine months since Matt had laid eyes on Willow. He stared at the house for a few seconds, taking a deep breath before walking up the driveway and knocking on the door. He heard voices on the other side and felt his heart drop when a strange woman opened the door. "Hi can i help you?" she asked as Matt stared at her for a few minutes. "Is Willow Smithson here? I know this was her place for a while" he replied as he silently prayed she was here. "You havent answered my question. Who are you?" the woman asked as he finally heard the voice he'd missed. "Harry, its ok, i'll deal with him" Willow said from behind. "You know this guy Wills?" the woman known as Harry asked as Matt didnt take his eyes off of Willow. She looks so stunning. So beautiful with her hair sitting just above her shoulders, Matt thought to himself as Willow nodded at Harry. Matts heart sunk watching Harry kiss her before heading back into the living area, as Willow said angrily "what the hell are you doing here Matt?"