Some Connecting, Comforting and Confiding
"How have you been doing?" Monty asks Mattie as they are sitting in a break room at Jabot. He takes a sip of coffee and gives her a concerned look.
"Okay." Mattie says looking up at him. She was just finishing up eating her lunch.
"Un-huh." Monty nods looking at her. He had heard about Lily being attacked and had wanted to express his sympathy to Mattie. But he was just getting to know her and didn't want to come across as prying too much. He sits down at the table with her and studies her for a moment. She really was pretty. And she was very smart too. She had been coming up with good ideas for their collections project and he appreciated them. She could be a bit headstrong here and there, but he was enjoying working with her.
He looks at her for a moment more and smiles. She looks up from eating and their eyes meet. She returns his smile and feels her heart skip a beat. He really was handsome. And very intelligent. He had great ideas when it came to their collections projects. She was enjoying working with him. She finds herself gazing into his handsome eyes and then realizes what's she's doing and then looks back down at her food.
"Did you... um enjoy the wedding?" Monty asks and then regrets asking that as soon as he said it. Of course, she probably didn't enjoy the wedding, her mother was attacked. He wanted to shake his head at himself for saying that. But he did want to find out how she was feeling about her mother and wanted to find out if she really was okay.
A look comes across Mattie's face and then she gives him a hesitant smile. "Yeah, I did…at least at first." She states thinking back to Ana's/Fen's wedding and how things ended up playing out.
"Well I'm glad you got to have at least some fun." Monty tell her graciously.
"Yeah, I did, I got to spend time with my family,and see my twin brother Charlie." She informs him.
"That's good." Monty replies listening to her. "I know he's in film school." He then remembers something. "And believe it or not, I think that my brother may have mentioned him."
Mattie's eyes widen. "Really?" She asks curiously.
Monty nods. "Yeah, he mentioned something about having his eyes on some young filmmakers and I'm pretty sure your brother's name came up." Monty reveals to her. "Charlie Ashby, right?"
Mattie nods. "Yeah, I mean Charlie actually mentioned your brother and entering a contest to shadow him, so he'll be excited to know he's even on his radar." She folds her hands and looks at Monty and smiles. "Going to film school and possibly becoming a director someday means a lot to Charlie." She confesses to him. "I admit at first I was hesitant about him going to film school. I thought he should be more focused on academics, and find something more, I don't know…likely to happen." Mattie says.
"Un-huh." Monty replies continuing to listen to her. "Right but it sounds like this is what he wants to do…" His voice trails off as he becomes thoughtful and reflects on his own family.
"And I know first-hand how important it is for someone to follow their dreams, even if someone in the family may have had other plans for them." He reveals. He thinks some more and then decides to tell Mattie a little more about his family.
"I mean my own brother Darryl Jr, was always interested in becoming a filmmaker." He informs Mattie. "Even since he was really young…"
"But he chose football at first…" Mattie interjects.
Monty shakes his head. "He ended up doing that first." He clarifies. "It's what my dad really wanted for him and for Lincoln too…" He continues. "My dad was a great football player…."
"That what my cousin Nate says. "Mattie adds.
Monty looks at her and smiles. "Yeah, my dad was great, and he wanted his sons to follow in his footsteps, and Darryl Jr, definitely had the talent to do that. More so than any of us…"
Mattie nods as she continues to listen to him.
"I mean dad dreamed that Jr. would follow into his footsteps and even make it into the Hall of Fame someday."
"Like your dad, did I guess?" Mattie interjects.
Monty nods and smiles again. "Yeah, he did and that's what dad wanted for Darryl, but it didn't work out like that."
Mattie nods curious. "What happened?" She finds herself asking and then wonders if she should have even asked that question.
"If you don't mind me asking?" She adds, wondering if he would tell her more about his brother's situation.
Monty shrugs. "Yeah, I mean it's just well... Darryl wasn't into football as much as dad was or wanted him to be. And that came through when he was in the NFL. Things kind of catapulted when some drama happened regarding a teammate of his and Darry's ex and things didn't go so well for him after that. He tells her. "And he decided to walk away from it, much quicker than any of us thought. And certainly, much quicker than my dad wanted."
Mattie nods thinking about what he was saying. "And I'm guessing that may have upset your dad."
Monty leans back reflecting to that time. "You bet it did." He confides to her. "Things were definitely strained between them for a while there and they didn't really mend things until Lincoln's injury."
"That's right, Lincoln was in the NFL too, but got derailed by injury." Mattie remembers what her cousin Nate had told her.
Monty nods. "Yes, he had a major injury where we actually ended up not only being worried about his career, but his life as well." He shakes his head as he thinks back to that scary moment where Lincoln had taken a big hit and been laid out on the football field.
"Man, that was a scary time for all of us when Lincoln got hurt. It really worried all of us especially my mother." He reveals.
"She was really scared, and that really was an eye-opening moment for all of us. It made us realize more than anything that nothing is more important than family." He tells her solemnly. "And that's what made Jr. and Dad put their differences aside to rally around Lincoln."
"And he recovered…" Mattie says.
Monty nods gratefully. "He did but his career unfortunately was over. And it was a big bummer for him and for all of us, because he really did love football. And he had the passion for it that dad wished Junior had." Monty pauses and takes a sip of his drink. "Plus, this came after a very good year for him, where his team made the playoffs and it seemed like he was going places…" He pauses. "Yet it was pulled out from underneath him in one moment."
Mattie nods understanding. "It is something how things can just be taken away from people so quickly. I do know something about that myself." Mattie tells him thinking about how she lost her grandfather Neil unexpectedly and suddenly around two years ago.
"Yeah, it was a life altering experience for him, for all of us really." Monty confides in her. "But thankfully, he ended up being okay and was able to move on with his life." He smiles, proud of his brother Lincoln. "He now has his own successful business and his own family…I'm glad he was able to still have a good life for himself."
"I'm glad to hear that." Mattie tells him.
"Thanks." He responds smiling at her. "He lost out on having more time with doing something he really loves, but I know that he's grateful for the time he had in the NFL. And he's found a career he's happy in." He looks down at his cup thoughtful. "And that's ultimately what I was getting at earlier, that people need to do or at least find careers that can make them happy, like Jr., did and Lincoln was able to do after his football career was cut short." He looks up at Mattie. "Like hopefully your brother will be able to do, with his desire to become a film director.
Mattie nods thinking. "Yeah, I know it means a lot to Charlie, and I do hope it works out for him." She admits.
Monty nods. "Good, I hope it does, and who knows maybe my brother Jr., can be a part of helping make that happen for him."
Mattie smiles. "Charlie would love that." Her and Monty smile at each other. He becomes thoughtful again. "Yeah, and I'm sorry if I hijacked our conversation about your attending the wedding." He apologizes. "It's just when you mentioned Charlie being in film school and doing something that he loved it made me think of my own family, especially my brothers." He gives her an apologetic look.
"I didn't intend to go into as much of their backstories as I did with you." Monty admits. "I don't know, but I guess I just felt comfortable telling you about that." He admits, thinking for a moment about how easy it was to talk to Mattie and confide in her.
Mattie makes a gesture with her hands. "That's okay." She tells him. "I get it, and it made me respect more what Charlie is trying to do. I may not always agree with everything he does, in fact quite a few times, I don't. But he's my brother and I love him."
"Yeah... And what else happened at the wedding?" Monty asks, and thinks again about hearing about Lily's attack.
Mattie frowns thinking about the attack as well. "Well, you may have heard already but my mom was attacked at the wedding..."
Monty nods. "Yeah, I did, and I can't believe that. Is she okay?" He asks sincerely. "She seems like a lovely lady."
Mattie nods. "Yeah, she's okay, but she was unconscious for a few hours after she was attacked. And she had some head wounds, but she's healing up now. And the doctors said that she will make a full recovery. She's just taking it easy now." Mattie informs him.
"I'm glad to hear that." Monty responds.
"Yeah, but it was just so scary, seeing her lying there on the floor of the ladies' room…" Mattie states incredulously, still in a bit in shock at what had happened to her mother. "I mean when I found her, she was just lying there knocked out cold and bleeding." She closes her eyes and shivers at thinking again about that moment.
"You found her?" Monty asks.
Mattie opens up her eyes and nods, a very somber expression on her face. "Yeah and it was so scary, I tried to get her to wake up and when I couldn't I panicked a bit…" She recalls. "But thankfully, I remembered that Nate and Elena were around, and I went to get them, and they stayed with her until the ambulance showed up…." She takes a deep breath and then continues. "And I was so scared, so was Charlie." She confesses to him. "So was all of us really. And we stayed in the hospital for a while that night, hoping mom would wake up…" She looks at Monty the fear she had that night reflecting in her eyes. "Sophia led us in prayer, and within an hour or so after that, Mom woke up." She takes another deep breath and sighs again, this time with relief.
"I tell you Monty, I was so glad, when she woke up. The thought of my mom's life being in danger and losing her, it was so I'm was just so so…..." Mattie shivers again at the thought of losing Lily.
"It's alright." Monty says and instinctively reaches out and grabs her hand. "It's alright Mattie. It's alright lady."
Mattie nods as she holds onto his hand. His touch felt warm and comforting. As Monty is trying to calm her, Valentina walks into the room and frowns when she sees him holding her hand.
"Yeah, thank goodness it was, but it just so frightening." She admits to him still shaken.
"I know." He squeezes her hand. "I felt like that when Lincoln got injured, but it turned out alright, just like it did with your mother…" He assures her.
"Ahemmm!" They are suddenly interrupted by Valentina who makes a loud sound. This startles Mattie who pulls her hand away from Monty in the process.
"Oh, hi guys!" Valentina says looking at them and giving them a smile. "Sorry to interrupt you, but I just wanted to remind Monty that lunch is almost over, and Boyd and I needed to meet with you guys about the collections. We have some really good ideas that could benefit both of our projects." She says looking at them smiling and then narrows her eyes at Mattie.
Monty looks at her nodding. "Well, thanks for reminding us." He tells her. "We'll see you guys in a few minutes." He tells her and then turns back to Mattie.
Valentina frowns at how quickly he turns back to Mattie.
"Okay!" She responds. "We'll see you guys in a few." She then shuffles off a bit annoyed about seeing Mattie and Monty's closeness.
"Yeah everything's good and hopefully they will catch whoever did this to your mother." Monty expresses to Mattie optimistically. "Do they have any leads on that?"
Mattie shakes her head. "Not really. Mom can't remember anything surrounding the attack, except from feeling pain after being hit." She informs him.
"Ana said someone else was in the bathroom stall, but we don't know who that person is or if they slipped out before Mom was attacked." She tells him. Mom said she had her back turned but couldn't remember anyone else coming into or leaving the restroom at that time."
Mattie nods taking that in. "Well, hopefully, they will catch who did this. They deserve to be in prison." He expresses firmly.
"I mean running up on a happy occasion like that and attacking a random, innocent person is just wow…" Monty shakes his head in disbelief. He then leans back and sighs. "But unfortunately, in today's world you have people like that running around." He then gives her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry that put a damper on your cousin's wedding, Mattie." He tells her sincerely.
Mattie looks at him and smiles at his sincerity. "It wasn't all terrible." She assures him. "We still had a good time prior to the wedding." She tells him.
"Ana and Fen's wedding was beautiful. And we all had a good time dancing. And I even caught the bouquet." She finds herself revealing to him.
Monty raises his eyebrow and smiles. "Really?" He asks. "Did you want to catch it?" "You got any plans of your own anytime soon?" He teases. He looks at her with a twinkle in his eye.
Mattie finds herself blushing at his questions. "Uh-it was on accident…really." She stammers. "I wasn't trying to catch it; the other women were but it somehow fell into my hands." She informs him.
"Oh, okay." Monty says a bit amused. "Did your boyfriend feel pressured about that?" He jokes. "Was he feeling the heat after you caught it at the wedding?"
"Uh-…" Mattie begins unsure of what to say. This was the second time that Monty had asked if she had a boyfriend. And she never clarified that she didn't.
"Well, uh…. You know I was actually at the wedding by myself." She reveals.
"He didn't go with you?" Monty asks. "Or was it just a very private family event without any plus one's type of thing?" He asks.
"Oh, we were allowed plus ones." Mattie says. "I just uh... was there by myself, you know sometimes people…"
"He had something better to do than spend time with you?" Monty asks a bit disapprovingly.
"You know sometimes stuff happens." Mattie says a bit cryptically. She still didn't tell him she didn't have a boyfriend and was pondering if she should. Once again, she opted not to.
Monty shakes his head. "Hmm... well, his loss." He says. "Couldn't have been me." He blurts out.
Mattie makes a face. "What do you mean?" She asks.
"I mean I'm not turning down an invitation to a famous pop star's wedding." He responds, laughing.
"Oh…" Mattie nods understanding. A thoughtful look comes across her face. "But you're probably used to that with that considering your dad and brothers were well-known athletes and now Jr, is a famous filmmaker."
"Yeah, I'm been to some fun events, which is exactly, why I know not to skip out on them." Monty laughs again. "A chance to have some fun and turn up a bit, especially with a pretty girl". He finds himself saying. "I'm always in for something like that." He declares lightheartedly.
"Oh…" Mattie says feeling her face grow warm again. Did he just say I was pretty she thinks to herself?
"Well, I didn't really turn up." Mattie states. "But I did have some fun before you know... that stuff with my mom happened."
"Good." Monty remarks smiling. "I'm glad you had fun." He tells her sincerely. "Too bad your boyfriend missed out on that part." He smiles at her again and Mattie feels her face grow warm and her heart skip a little. Monty then looks down at his watch.
"Time is flying today." He says. "We should be getting back to work shortly. Valentina did say she wanted to meet with us about some ideas regarding the collections."
Mattie nods. Her and Monty get up and she throws her away her trash from her lunch. They then head off to meet with Valentina and Boyd.