Chapter 31
Matt turned over in his sleep and reached for Corinne. He patted the side of the bed where she had been last night and felt cool sheets. He opened one eye and realized that he was alone in the room. Awareness returned to him as he heard the sound of muffled voices downstairs.
"So Matt's still in bed huh?" Jeff asked Corinne, as they sat down on the couch together.
"Yeah, he's had a rough few nights. I'm sure he hasn't been able to sleep well with him worried about me and stuff."
"That's good...well no, not that he was worried about you but you know him getting some rest. For as long as I can remember, Matt has always gotten up earlier than me. I mean after my mom died, she used to wake us up for school, but you know after she...he would get up every morning to make us lunch and then wake me up. Then after high school, he went off to college, but he had to drop out cause my dad got sick and I was still in school then. Even now, we work together and stuff and he's always the one to get everyone together and get ready to go. And he still lives with my dad and even when he's home, I know he gets up early to help my dad out with work in the farm."
"He's a great guy," Corinne said a little wistfully as she looked to the direction of the stairs which went up to the bedrooms.
Jeff noticed the unconscious action and said, "It's a wonder some lucky girl hasn't snapped him up yet." Corinne realizing what she must have looked like, quickly turned back to Jeff and smiled.
"And you know he's single...." Jeff was interrupted by the sound of Matt running down the stairs.
"Yo Jeffro...what time did you get here?" Matt said, then sat down next to Corinne.
"Oh you know like an hour ago. I felt bad barging in you guys like that so I waited outside for a few minutes but then I saw Corinne through the window so I figured you both would be up. I was pleasantly mistaken and was able to enjoy some alone time with Corinne over here." Jeff said, winking at Corinne.
"Oh yeah? How's Beth?" Matt said, placing an arm unconsciously around Corinne's shoulder in a rare show of possessiveness.
"Oh she's good...a little disappointed that I couldn't stay longer but oh she said she'll keep you in her prayers Corinne."
"That's sweet." Corinne said.
"You think so? I think Beth is insane...she's so...normal...and yet she's with this bozo over here." Matt said laughing at the outraged expression on Jeff's face.
"No but seriously, Jeff's a big softie around Beth...here watch this...Jeff would you bleach your hair back to blonde and grow a normal hair-do for Beth?"
"Yeah...but she would never ask me that...why has she said anything to you?" Jeff said with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"I'm sure she didn't...did she Matt?" Corinne asked.
"No of course not. But that's exactly what I mean...had she said anything at all, Jeff here would trip all over himself to please her. It's just sick if you ask me."
"I think it's sweet Jeff," Corinne said and then noticing the embarrassed expression on Jeff's face, decided to change the topic.
"I'm going to go make some coffee? You want?" She said, looking from Matt to Jeff.
"Oh sure, you want me to help you?" Matt asked.
"No, I'll be fine. You guys just stay here and relax." Corinne said as she stood up and headed for the kitchen.
"So...how is she really?" Jeff asked cautiously after Corinne entered the kitchen doors.
"Well...she was really upset yesterday but let me tell you...she's taking it a hell of a lot better than me. I mean...last night, I was watching her sleep and she woke up all of a sudden and I asked her how she was feeling. She said that she felt bad because had she let him rape her, the Swann's would never have been affected. And I lost control, I mean all I could see in my mind was what would have happened, had she gotten raped. And she comforted...she made me feel better when the last thing she should have been thinking off was another person." Matt said lost in thought.
"You really care about her don't you?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah I do...I..."
"What about Amy?" Jeff asked carefully.
"What about her?" Before Jeff could finish his inquiry, Corinne walked out of the kitchen.
"Hey guys, I hope you both drink it black cause I'm afraid I ran out of milk and sugar."
"Great...cause we both drink it black." Jeff said standing up to take a cup out of her hands.
"Thanks."
"So what's your plan for next week?" Corinne asked.
"Well...we're scheduled to be in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Monday and on Tuesday we're due to be in Kentucky. And then we've got a house show in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday night." Jeff said rattling off the places and days off of the top of his head.
"Damn...busy schedule."
"Yeah, but I mean we're pretty used to it by now." Jeff said, noticing that his brother was sitting very quietly.
"Corinne...why don't you come with us?" Matt asked all of a sudden.
"What? No, Matt. I can't. Work you know. And as it is...this past few days haven't really allowed me much time to concentrate on work." Corinne answered regretfully.
"Oh...sorry. Umm...well you don't have to work today do you?" He asked.
"No...actually I'm off until Monday."
"How about you come home with us? I mean it's only Thursday, you have four days to relax."
"No. I shouldn't Matt. I've got to..." Before she could continue she was interrupted by a knock on the front door.
"Let me get that." Matt said, rising from the couch.
"Matty!" Julia squealed jumping up into Matt's arms.
"Ah...Queen Jules!" Jeff said following Matt to the front door and taking Julia from him as Matt picked up Taylor's luggage.
"Taylor! I can't believe you're here." Matt and Jeff watched as the two women hugged.
"Corinne!" Julia yelled as she rushed over to her as well.
"Hey Jeff, will you guys watch Julie, I want to talk to Corinne for a minute."
"Sure thing Tay," Jeff said, taking Julie away from them and taking her out to the backyard. Matt followed, albeit reluctantly, but still, followed Julie and Jeff out the back door.
"So how are you? Really? Is everything okay? I couldn't really get that many details out of Jeff, but right after he told me that the rapist was dead I just got on the next flight out of Canada."
"Oh, we're both fine Taylor. I'm sorry to have caused you that much worry, but I'm fine. I'm just really thankful to have had Matt with me here last night. I don't know what I would have done without him."
"I'm glad he was here then. He's a great guy you know."
"Oh...I know he's a great guy. I mean last night I just had this breakdown...I mean I couldn't help thinking that nothing would have happened to the Swann's had I just sacrificed myself, and he cried...he cares about me...When I'm with him...I just feel safe you know...it's like as long as he's there I know that I'll be fine." Corinne said in amazement. "But now...I can't help thinking how hard it's going to be to not have him around. I guess I've just gotten used to that idea." She continued.
Taylor looked at Corinne and shook her head. She could see that Corinne had fallen head over heels for Matt...but how did he feel about her? Taylor wondered to herself. "You'll be fine sweetie. Well...you know I don't mean to invite myself over but Julie and I don't really have any engagements next week...so if you don't mind, maybe we could be your transitional protectors?" Taylor smiled as Corinne laughed.
"It'll be great. And isn't it convenient that Chris has a photo shoot this week in Stamford. That'll be great." Corinne said, knowing that her friend probably did have work to do but would give it up to spend time with her. She marveled at this new family she had luckily stumbled into.
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"Hey Matt what are you thinking about?" Jeff said, keeping an eye on Julie as she ran around Corinne's backyard while sitting down next to his brother.
"Well...now that she doesn't need me...do you think it's over?" Matt asked quietly.
Jeff turned to look at his brother. He had never heard Matt sound so vulnerable. "What exactly would be over?" Jeff asked.
"You know, my relationship with Corinne. I've...grown to care for her a lot more than I ever thought possible in a matter of days."
"Look...the way I see it is that if you want something to come out of this, it's all up to you. She's not involved with anyone and neither are you. It's all about how much you want it." Jeff said.
"We'll see...my problem is that I don't know if she's willing to have a relationship with me."
"Why wouldn't she be?" "Well I mean come on, how would I know whether she really likes me for me or if she likes me just because I stayed with her. And if...."
"Whoa Matt...chill...look just leave it alone for now and keep in touch with her. I mean you've only known each other for a few weeks. Just you know make sure you don't leave her alone too long."
Matt turned over in his sleep and reached for Corinne. He patted the side of the bed where she had been last night and felt cool sheets. He opened one eye and realized that he was alone in the room. Awareness returned to him as he heard the sound of muffled voices downstairs.
"So Matt's still in bed huh?" Jeff asked Corinne, as they sat down on the couch together.
"Yeah, he's had a rough few nights. I'm sure he hasn't been able to sleep well with him worried about me and stuff."
"That's good...well no, not that he was worried about you but you know him getting some rest. For as long as I can remember, Matt has always gotten up earlier than me. I mean after my mom died, she used to wake us up for school, but you know after she...he would get up every morning to make us lunch and then wake me up. Then after high school, he went off to college, but he had to drop out cause my dad got sick and I was still in school then. Even now, we work together and stuff and he's always the one to get everyone together and get ready to go. And he still lives with my dad and even when he's home, I know he gets up early to help my dad out with work in the farm."
"He's a great guy," Corinne said a little wistfully as she looked to the direction of the stairs which went up to the bedrooms.
Jeff noticed the unconscious action and said, "It's a wonder some lucky girl hasn't snapped him up yet." Corinne realizing what she must have looked like, quickly turned back to Jeff and smiled.
"And you know he's single...." Jeff was interrupted by the sound of Matt running down the stairs.
"Yo Jeffro...what time did you get here?" Matt said, then sat down next to Corinne.
"Oh you know like an hour ago. I felt bad barging in you guys like that so I waited outside for a few minutes but then I saw Corinne through the window so I figured you both would be up. I was pleasantly mistaken and was able to enjoy some alone time with Corinne over here." Jeff said, winking at Corinne.
"Oh yeah? How's Beth?" Matt said, placing an arm unconsciously around Corinne's shoulder in a rare show of possessiveness.
"Oh she's good...a little disappointed that I couldn't stay longer but oh she said she'll keep you in her prayers Corinne."
"That's sweet." Corinne said.
"You think so? I think Beth is insane...she's so...normal...and yet she's with this bozo over here." Matt said laughing at the outraged expression on Jeff's face.
"No but seriously, Jeff's a big softie around Beth...here watch this...Jeff would you bleach your hair back to blonde and grow a normal hair-do for Beth?"
"Yeah...but she would never ask me that...why has she said anything to you?" Jeff said with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"I'm sure she didn't...did she Matt?" Corinne asked.
"No of course not. But that's exactly what I mean...had she said anything at all, Jeff here would trip all over himself to please her. It's just sick if you ask me."
"I think it's sweet Jeff," Corinne said and then noticing the embarrassed expression on Jeff's face, decided to change the topic.
"I'm going to go make some coffee? You want?" She said, looking from Matt to Jeff.
"Oh sure, you want me to help you?" Matt asked.
"No, I'll be fine. You guys just stay here and relax." Corinne said as she stood up and headed for the kitchen.
"So...how is she really?" Jeff asked cautiously after Corinne entered the kitchen doors.
"Well...she was really upset yesterday but let me tell you...she's taking it a hell of a lot better than me. I mean...last night, I was watching her sleep and she woke up all of a sudden and I asked her how she was feeling. She said that she felt bad because had she let him rape her, the Swann's would never have been affected. And I lost control, I mean all I could see in my mind was what would have happened, had she gotten raped. And she comforted...she made me feel better when the last thing she should have been thinking off was another person." Matt said lost in thought.
"You really care about her don't you?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah I do...I..."
"What about Amy?" Jeff asked carefully.
"What about her?" Before Jeff could finish his inquiry, Corinne walked out of the kitchen.
"Hey guys, I hope you both drink it black cause I'm afraid I ran out of milk and sugar."
"Great...cause we both drink it black." Jeff said standing up to take a cup out of her hands.
"Thanks."
"So what's your plan for next week?" Corinne asked.
"Well...we're scheduled to be in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Monday and on Tuesday we're due to be in Kentucky. And then we've got a house show in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday night." Jeff said rattling off the places and days off of the top of his head.
"Damn...busy schedule."
"Yeah, but I mean we're pretty used to it by now." Jeff said, noticing that his brother was sitting very quietly.
"Corinne...why don't you come with us?" Matt asked all of a sudden.
"What? No, Matt. I can't. Work you know. And as it is...this past few days haven't really allowed me much time to concentrate on work." Corinne answered regretfully.
"Oh...sorry. Umm...well you don't have to work today do you?" He asked.
"No...actually I'm off until Monday."
"How about you come home with us? I mean it's only Thursday, you have four days to relax."
"No. I shouldn't Matt. I've got to..." Before she could continue she was interrupted by a knock on the front door.
"Let me get that." Matt said, rising from the couch.
"Matty!" Julia squealed jumping up into Matt's arms.
"Ah...Queen Jules!" Jeff said following Matt to the front door and taking Julia from him as Matt picked up Taylor's luggage.
"Taylor! I can't believe you're here." Matt and Jeff watched as the two women hugged.
"Corinne!" Julia yelled as she rushed over to her as well.
"Hey Jeff, will you guys watch Julie, I want to talk to Corinne for a minute."
"Sure thing Tay," Jeff said, taking Julie away from them and taking her out to the backyard. Matt followed, albeit reluctantly, but still, followed Julie and Jeff out the back door.
"So how are you? Really? Is everything okay? I couldn't really get that many details out of Jeff, but right after he told me that the rapist was dead I just got on the next flight out of Canada."
"Oh, we're both fine Taylor. I'm sorry to have caused you that much worry, but I'm fine. I'm just really thankful to have had Matt with me here last night. I don't know what I would have done without him."
"I'm glad he was here then. He's a great guy you know."
"Oh...I know he's a great guy. I mean last night I just had this breakdown...I mean I couldn't help thinking that nothing would have happened to the Swann's had I just sacrificed myself, and he cried...he cares about me...When I'm with him...I just feel safe you know...it's like as long as he's there I know that I'll be fine." Corinne said in amazement. "But now...I can't help thinking how hard it's going to be to not have him around. I guess I've just gotten used to that idea." She continued.
Taylor looked at Corinne and shook her head. She could see that Corinne had fallen head over heels for Matt...but how did he feel about her? Taylor wondered to herself. "You'll be fine sweetie. Well...you know I don't mean to invite myself over but Julie and I don't really have any engagements next week...so if you don't mind, maybe we could be your transitional protectors?" Taylor smiled as Corinne laughed.
"It'll be great. And isn't it convenient that Chris has a photo shoot this week in Stamford. That'll be great." Corinne said, knowing that her friend probably did have work to do but would give it up to spend time with her. She marveled at this new family she had luckily stumbled into.
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"Hey Matt what are you thinking about?" Jeff said, keeping an eye on Julie as she ran around Corinne's backyard while sitting down next to his brother.
"Well...now that she doesn't need me...do you think it's over?" Matt asked quietly.
Jeff turned to look at his brother. He had never heard Matt sound so vulnerable. "What exactly would be over?" Jeff asked.
"You know, my relationship with Corinne. I've...grown to care for her a lot more than I ever thought possible in a matter of days."
"Look...the way I see it is that if you want something to come out of this, it's all up to you. She's not involved with anyone and neither are you. It's all about how much you want it." Jeff said.
"We'll see...my problem is that I don't know if she's willing to have a relationship with me."
"Why wouldn't she be?" "Well I mean come on, how would I know whether she really likes me for me or if she likes me just because I stayed with her. And if...."
"Whoa Matt...chill...look just leave it alone for now and keep in touch with her. I mean you've only known each other for a few weeks. Just you know make sure you don't leave her alone too long."