Chapter 3
As soon as Shay grabbed Matt's hand, he found themselves in front of Christie's house. It must have been when they had just started dating. Gabby was snuggled into Matt, and he had his arm around her shoulder.
Both were trying to protect themselves from the blistering cold Chicago winter. "Thanks for agreeing to do Christmas Eve with my family; it really means a lot," Matt whispered in Gabby's ear as they were waiting for Christie to answer the door. "It's only fair!" Gabby said with a smile on her face. "Besides, I cannot wait to meet Violet. I have been told I am the best Aunt in the world, so I am excited to see if you measure up?" she said in a flirty tone. Matt laughed and went in to kiss her! As they were leaning in, the door swung open.
"Uncle Matt!" a young girl around 9 said. Matt and Gabby instantly parted and entered inside to warm up. "V!" Matt said. He instantly got inside and hugged his niece. Christie appeared behind Violet and went to hug her brother as well. Gabby was standing on the outskirts of the little family reunion, taking her winter gear off; as soon as Christie stopped hugging Matt, he straightened his back out and stood a little taller and looked back at Gabby. "Christie and Violet, I have someone very special I want you to meet!" Matt said. He then grabbed Gabby's hand. "Violet, Christie, this is Gabby, my girlfriend!" Matt said with the biggest smile on his face. Gabby having that same look of love and adoration on her face.
"Look at you lit up like a Christmas tree!" Shay said with a smile on her face. Giving Matt a little nudge. Matt silent, not noticing her comment. He was caught up in his own thoughts. Seeing himself there so happy. It felt like a dream. He always knew he was that happy with Gabby but to really see the joy on his face, it was different. It made him happy to know that he felt that deeply. He always knew he could but to see; it gave him a new perspective.
He snapped out of his trance when he heard Gabby talk. "Christie, thank you for inviting me to your home. I'm really happy to be here", Gabby said with a smile. "Oh, Gabby, it's a pleasure! It's exciting to see the girl that Matt will not stop talking about. All he talks about is, Gabby had this great save at work, or her and I had this great conversation at Molly's. All he talks about is you!' Christie said with a smile. Matt was blushing. "Uncle Matt, your blushing!" Violet said. The whole group was laughing at the nine-year old's honesty. "Ahh, Violet come on, cut your Uncle Matt some slack," Gabby said. She then kneeled down to Violet's height. "Your Uncle Matt told me you had the best Barbie collection in the Midwest, and I told him I had to see it to believe. Do you want to show me?" Gabby asked. "Yes! You and Uncle Matt can play with me before dinner!" Violet said. Matt looked up at Christie about to ask her if she needed help. "Go!" Christie said. Violet began pulling Gabby's arm up the stairs up to her room. Matt following behind her.
Before they knew it, they were in Violet's room. Inside were all her toys, books, and everything a nine-year-old girl needs. Violet immediately brought Gabby over to her dolls and showed them all. Gabby was sitting in Violet's bean bag chair as Violet was near her bins of dolls. Matt was leaning against the doorway of her room. Violet was giving her the rich, detailed back story of every doll. This went on for about an hour, but Gabby never lost interest or looked down on the nine-year-old's retelling. The last doll, though, caught Gabby's attention. It was a Barbie that looked like Violet, but her outfit looked like it was hand sewn. "What's her story?" Gabby asked curiously. "Her name is Gabby too! She fights fires and saves people. Uncle Matt said girls can do anything, and he wanted me to have a reminder of that or whatever. I think he just wants me to be a firefighter like him.", Violet said, laughing. "She's come in handy though she's helped Ken out of a lot of sticky situations," she said. Gabby looked at Matt and said, "I'm sure she has," with the biggest smile on her face. Gabby and Violet were about to start playing a game before they heard Jim yell, "Dinner's ready!" Violet immediately putting her dolls away and heading downstairs. "Gabby, can you sit by me?" Violet asked. "Of course!" Gabby said with a smile. Violet was dragging Gabby downstairs, and Matt was following them down the stairs. The three of them made it downstairs to a beautifully set table by Christie.
Jim was sitting at the head of the table. Then Christie was seated next to him. Matt took the remaining seat next to his sister. Meanwhile, Gabby and Violet grabbed their seats together. The table was full of all the best Christmas food. "Gabby! We are not the most religious group, but we do like saying what we are thankful for before each Christmas. I hope that doesn't bother you!" Jim said. "Oh no, that's great," she said. Everyone went around the table saying what they were grateful for. Jim said for a successful work year, Christie for her family, Matt, for everyone being safe and Gabby echoing those same sentiments. Violet wanting to go last, said, "I'm thankful Gabby's going to be my aunt!" Gabby and Matt both had shocked but happy reactions on their face. Jim and Christie were horrified. "Violet, we are happy Gabby's here, but we can't say things like that, sweetie," Christie said. "Why?" Violet said. "We don't comment on people's personal lives because they're private," Christie said. "Well, Uncle Matt looks at Gabby like Flynn does at Rapunzel in the movies, and that's true love," Violet said matter of factly. Her parents didn't know what to say, not wanting to make their dinner guest uncomfortable, and Matt felt a little too shy to admit to the whole dinner table that he did love his girlfriend that much even more.
Gabby breaking the tension, said, "Well, I hope Uncle Matt and I's love story is a little calmer than Rapunzel and Flynn's. I've seen Uncle Matt climb a ladder, but I don't think he could climb hair that well", Gabby said. That simple joke breaking the whole tension in the room as everyone started laughing. Conversation then flowed easily throughout the rest of the night. The group was talking about Violet's school, Gabby's family, her career as a paramedic, and of course, the Blackhawks. Before they knew it, they had already finished their deserts, and it was nearing 9 p.m., AKA Violet's bedtime. Jim turned on the TV to check out the last half of the Bull's game, Violet putting on her coat so her and Matt could leave reindeer food out (AKA Glitter, Oats, and Carrots), and so it left Christie and Gabby alone in the dining room.
Gabby immediately started picking up plates like Christie. "You can go out with Matt Gabby; you are our guest after all," Christie said to her. Gabby shook her head. "Figured I would let the cutest Niece/Uncle duo in Chicago have their fun. Besides, you made such a great meal. I can't leave you to pick it up by yourself. Besides, I have to get your stuffing recipe. That was the best I have ever had", Gabby said with a smile. Christie returned her smile and immediately jumped into how she had picked up the recipe from a Good Housekeeping magazine. It then spurred a conversation about how both women liked cooking, and they were swapping recipe tips, fails, and wins. Before they knew it, they had washed all the dishes and put them away.
Now it was just the two of them in the kitchen. "Gabby, I really like you! You make Matt relax and open up in a way I have never seen him be with anyone else. You two seem pretty serious, so I have to ask. You know Matt wants kids at some point? That's the reason he and Hallie split up, and I just", Christie paused before she spoke again. "Gabby, he seems happy with you, and I don't want a girl to break his heart again, or for him to put that dream on hold, you know? I want him to get the girl and the dream. Not one or the other, he deserves both, and I just don't want him to go down that same road he did with Hallie, you know?" Christie said, finishing her thought.
Gabby grabbed her wine and took a big sip before she started talking. Shocked but touched by Christie's honesty with her. "Christie, I love Matt. I know we've only been going out for a little while, but he's one of the most important people in my life. Maybe the most important.", Gabby said with a smile and paused before she spoke up again. "I know Hallie really hurt him with that, and I can assure you I never want to do that to him. I would love to have a family with Matt more than anything", Gabby said with a smile. Christie returning the smile. "Gabby, that's really good to hear. I'm rooting for you guys", she said with the biggest smile. "Thank you, me too!" Gabby said. "Let's go say goodnight to Violet before she falls asleep. I'm sure she would be mad if I kept you from her any longer", Christie said. Gabby laughed and followed Christie up the stairs.
Violet was in bed, and Matt was sitting at the end of it. He was reading how the Grinch Stole Christmas in awful character voices. He was so caught up in his storytelling; he didn't realize Christie and Gabby were in the doorway. "Gabby, Mommy," Violet said. "Hi sweetie, Gabby wanted to say goodnight before she and Matt left," Christie said. "Do you have to go?" Violet said to Gabby and Matt. Gabby left the doorway and sat next to Matt on the bed. "We got to head out so Santa can get here on time," Gabby said. "But Violet, thank you for showing me all your Barbies; Uncle Matt was right; you do have a great collection. Also, you were the best person to sit next to at dinner," Gabby said with a smile. "Will you come back ?" Violet asked. "Of course! I saw that the new Cinderella movie is coming out next week; maybe the three of us can go together?"
Gabby said. "I would LOVE that!" Violet said. "Then it's a date," Matt said with a smile on his face. He was looking at Gabby and his niece. Gabby was squeezing his hand. "Violet, sweetie, it's time to say goodnight to Uncle Matt and Gabby! We all have to be asleep before Santa comes!" Christie said. "Ok! Goodnight Gabby and Uncle Matt", Violet said. She sat up in her bed and gave the couple a big hug. Matt kissed her on the forehead, and then the couple got up and let Violet go to sleep.
Gabby and Matt exited the room and headed back downstairs. Jim was assembling Violet's Santa present. A new bike. "Thanks for coming, you guys! Matt, we will miss you tomorrow but have fun at Gabby's, ok!" Christie said, giving her brother a big hug. Matt hugged her back. "Thanks, Christie. Merry Christmas!" Matt said. Matt then went to say goodbye to Jim. Christie then hugged Gabby and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for making him so happy!" she said and gave Gabby a tight squeeze. Gabby smiled and whispered back to Christie, "He's the best present I have ever gotten!" Then both women laughed. Gabby and Matt then grabbed their coats and headed back to Matt's pick up, holding hands.
"So Gabby the firefighter, huh?" Gabby asked. "What can I say? I was inspired by the most badass women I know.", Matt said with a smile on his face. He walked around and opened the pickup door for Gabby. Gabby smiled, and just as she was about to walk in, she kissed him hard on the lips. "Matt Casey, I am so in love with you," she said with a smile. "Me too; you're the best thing that's ever happened to me," he said. And they continued to make out on a snowy Chicago Christmas Eve.
"Matt Casey, look at you being all smooth and thoughtful!" Shay said. Matt smiled. "I never realized Christie and Gabby had that talk that night," he said in a stunned tone. "Matt, she's always cared about you deeply!" Shay said. "Then why did she leave Shay," Matt asked with tears welling up in his eyes. "That's for you to find out, Matt!" Shay said in a solemn tone. "Now on to our next stop!" and she grabbed his hand. Before they knew it, they were in front of Chicago Med in front in the coma ward. Matt stepped up closer to see who they were looking at it. He was surprised to see that it was him.