35 - Meetings
"Matt, you're late. What's the matter?" Gabby questioned Matt by the phone as she prepared the dinner. Anna was in her bedroom making her homework.
"Sorry. I have to do the balcony repair before going home to you..." Matt was contracted to renovate Mrs. Anderson's house, he still had two weeks to be done with everything.
Sharon Anderson was a single woman and had no kids. The woman got impressed by Matt's skills, he had done excellent work until that moment, but what got her attention was his physique. Matt let her know he had a girlfriend and kids, however that didn't stop her to try flirting with him. So he mentioned his family a lot of times to make her step back... or dismiss any intention to flirt with him.
Lately Gabby has been emotional, crying for nothing or everything, because of that he didn't tell her that his client had been at his work looking for him and Molly's. Gabby was transferred to Chicago Department headquarters, thankfully Shay has been keeping her updated about all the gossip around Molly's and 51.
"Okay, you have 30 minutes. Please, hurry up..." Gabby hang up.
x
"I'm home...," Matt announced as walked into their house.
"We are at the kitchen," Gabby yelled back. Anna was putting the plates on the table.
"Hi, daddy," Matt kissed Anna's head, then he kissed Gabby on the cheek.
"Hi, baby..." Matt spoke up, but Gabby didn't reply... He noticed how sternly she glanced at him. Gabby put the bowl of salad on the table and asked Anna to wash her hands.
"Everything is okay? You are quiet...," he uttered softly.
"I've known you had a visitor this week at work...," Gabby sat down at the table and looked up at him.
"What are you talking about?" Matt leaned his back against the fridge and folded his arms.
"You know, Matt, please I'm not an idiot..."
From there he didn't try to deny it anymore, "Look, my client went to 51 to give some details of what she wanted to do in the yard. Besides, she is new on the town, and I told her about Molly's..."
"I don't like it..."
"Baby, you don't need to be jealous..."
"Jealous? I'm not jealous...," she said angrily.
"Okay... " he lifted his arms in surrender. Anna came in and they stopped arguing.
"I'm hungry... let's eat." Gabby declared.
They stayed quiet for most of the dinner...
"My friends from yoga class are planning a trip, it's next weekend to Wisconsin. I checked that you will be working, yet I believe it would be good for Anna and me to enjoy nature..." Casey heard her carefully. A trip during her eighth month of pregnancy didn't seem the best idea, he thought.
"I get it... We can talk about this later...," he suggested giving her a half smile.
"Okay... I need you to take me to buy some things for our trip..."
"I'm really excited..." Anna said smiling.
"I know you are a baby girl..."
Later that night
"I need a bathtub..." Gabby said entering their bedroom, Matt was sitting on the bed while he read a book. She took off her shirt and looked over her shoulder. "Join me?"
Matt didn't like to deny her anything, but a bath tube together might lead to sex and the doctor asked them to slow down since Gabby complained of cramps. Matt decided alone to avoid having sex, however, he didn't tell her... When she approached him a few times in the last two weeks, he was successful in giving an excuse. Now he ran out of ideas.
"It would be great but I need to take Bella for a walk..."
"Now the dog is an excuse for you?" she turned to face him. Matt put the book aside. "Clarice is single?"
"We are not talking about my client," he got up from the bed.
"Just answer me, Matt...," Gabby was angry and upset.
"Yes... Why?" he stood up in front of her.
"Are you two having sex?" she asked straightly. Matt's eyes got wide.
"Are you crazy?" he regretted his words. "Sorry..." he reached her hand, but Gabby stepped back.
"I'm crazy?" she yelled at him.
"Sorry... forgive me, please... Although what you are saying makes no sense..."
"Do you think? Your client had been seeing at Molly's and 51 too..."
"Look..." he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Matt, you keep pushing me away...," Gabby turned around to not look at him.
"I'm so sorry, I've been thinking and it's better if we have no sex until the baby gets here..."
"We decided for both of us?" she was upset. Taking a deep breath. "Take Bella for a walk, Matt. I've decided you are sleeping on the couch tonight..."
"Gabby..." he was upset with himself.
"Go Matt!" she walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
"Babe... can you listen to me for a minute?" Gabby put a hand over her mouth to hide her sob. "Gabby..."
"Dad, can we go?" Anna was staying at the bedroom threshold. Matt sighed briefly.
"Gabby, we are leaving... I love you...," he touched the door and left. When Matt entered their bedroom later the light was off. He walked to Gabby's side of the bed. She was asleep, lying on her side, it was the better way for her and the baby. That night he slept on the couch as Gabby had asked him.
x
"Dad, why did you sleep on the couch?" Anna asked confused. He was sitting on the couch thinking over the last light when Anna approached him, the pillow and the blanket were by his side.
"I-I was snoring and your mom couldn't sleep hearing the noises...," he gave her a small smile.
"Ah... okay..." she accepted his answer easily.
"Your mother is awake?"
"Yes... Are you taking me to school? I'm ready to go, I had my breakfast..." she said lacing her shoes.
"What time is it?" he spoke worriedly.
"I don't know..." she shrugged her shoulders. He looked at the table next to the couch.
"Oh no... I'm late..." he got up quickly. Matt saw Gabby organizing her dresser as he walked in. "I'm late..." he grabbed a t-shirt and pants from his dresser.
"I'm going to shop with Christie this afternoon... She will help me buy a few items I need for the trip."
"Gabby, I think we need to discuss that...," she looked at him.
"What exactly?" she asked confused.
"I don't think it's safe for you to go..." Gabby's expression changed.
"Matt, there will be a lot of people there... I'm feeling good in the last few days."
"I know, but I won't be there, if anything happens, I won't forgive myself...," he walked up to her.
"Nothing will happen, Anna and I will be fine," she reassured him.
"Look, it's rare but sometimes Anna isn't on her best behavior, and instead of you relaxing you would be stressed..."
"Look, I know how to deal with Anna," she was getting annoyed.
"I have no doubt, I'm thinking about the baby..."
"Why? Because I'm not...?"
"I'm not saying that, stop twisting my words, Gabby...," this time Matt was about to lose his temper.
"I'm irresponsible..." she folded her arms and shook her head.
"I'm looking out for you, Anna, and the baby, but you've understood it wrong..."
"Do you know what? Forget the trip. I'm not going anymore., because if I go and anything happens you probably will blame me for everything..."
"You think too little of me..." he told offended, then he looked at his watch. "I'm late to work... Tomorrow we continue this conversation because right now-," Gabby cut him off.
"I'm done with you," she said walking into the bathroom. Matt watched her shut the door and sighed.