ch 14
The next morning Eve woke up and saw it was time to get Faith up so she put on her robe and went down the hall to her room which at the moment was being occupied by Matt, she knocked on the door not wanting to walk in on his if he was dressing or something,
" Come in " Matt said.
" I came to let you know Faith's alarm will be going off soon " she said.
Matt nodded and he sat up slowly rolling his neck and shoulders to loosen the stiff muscles, Eve watched him and frowned knowing he and Jeff would feel worse today than they did yesterday.
" You want some Motrine " she offered.
" I have some " he told her.
Matt got up and limped over to the chair and grabbed his shirt and painfully slipped it over his head
" Did you wake Jeff " he asked.
" No I wanted to get you up first " she said.
Matt gave a slight nod, he winced rubbing his neck " Let him sleep cause if he's like me he didn't get much sleep last night " he told her.
" I'm sorry "
" No I wanted to get up and let Faith see for herself that I'm alright "
Eve watched him limp slowly to the door ans sighed " I doubt your going to be able to show her that " she said.
" Watch me " Matt tossed over his shoulder.
By the time Matt got to Faith's door he wasn't limping and he was standing up straight, Eve didn't know how he could do it but he was. Matt let Eve peek in incase she was dressing, she was sound asleep in her bed, the alarm went off and she stirred, turned it off and didn't even open her eyes.
" Faith time to get up " Eve said stifiling a giggle.
" Just ten more mins " she whined.
" Time to get up " Matt said and her eyes popped open and she shot up in the bed.
" Dad " she cried and went to him giving him a hug, he had to bite back a yelp of pain.
Eve put her hand on his back to help steady him and said " Easy honey your dad is sore " she gave a gentle reminder.
Faith pulled back " I'm sorry did I hurt you " she asked.
" Not at all " Matt lied.
" How come your here " she asked.
" I wanted to show you I was alright so you didn't worry " he told her.
Faith looked him over and shrugged " Okay I guess I believe you " she said. " I'm going to go get a shower " she said.
Matt and Eve left so she could get ready for school, Eve looked at Matt from across the kitchen table and shook her head as she set a cup of coffee in front of him, he sipped it and saw her looking at him with questioning eyes.
" What he asked "
" How do you do it " she questioned him. " I saw you and you could bearly stand up straight, you limped all the way to her room and as soon as the door opened you were standing tall and you didn't have the slightest limp to your step " she recalled.
Matt laughed " Its either a gift or a curse I haven't decided yet but, unless were selling a beating we took were not supposed to show when were in pain, so you lean to sorta flip this switch " he told her.
" How long can you keep it up " she asked.
Matt gave a shrug " A good hour or so " he said.
Eve gave him a stern look and said " If you ever do it to me I will put my foot up your ass sideways, just so were clear on that "
Matt about spit out his coffee " I'll remember that " he said.
They were soon joined by Faith she sat down and Eve fixed her some breakfast along with Matt, she set his food down in front of him.
" You think Jeff will want to eat " she asked.
Faith gasped " Uncle Jeff is here too " she cried.
" Yeah he's asleep in the guest room "
" Can I go wake him up " she asked.
Matt got up " I'll go get em, he tends to be cranky in the morning " he said truth being he wanted to see how Jeff was feeling before Faith did.
Matt opened the door and Jeff stirred a little before settling back into his bed, Matt gave him a gentle shake not wanting to be rough knowing he was sore too.
" Jeff breakfast is ready and Faith wants to see ya " he told him.
Jeff raised his head up and looked around it took a few seconds for him to remember where he was, he lowered his head stretching his neck and shoulders, Matt gave his little brother's neck a gentle squeeze.
" You okay " he asked, Matt felt bad since he was driving even though there was nothing he could do.
" Yeah " Jeff said raising up on his hands and knees, then just to his knees resting his hands on his thighs.
" Alright, get your game face on and come on out " he told him, Jeff nodded.
Matt went back into the kitchen and a short time later Jeff came out, he too was walking tall, no limp and not even a glimpse of pain on his face.
" Hey kiddo " he said kissing the top of her head and sitting in the seat next to her.
" Hey " she said and hugged carfully remembering that if her dad was sore Jeff would be too.
" Want some pancakes " Eve asked.
" Yeah thanks " Jeff said.
The family ate breakfast together and it was time for Faith to go to school, Matt and Jeff went out to the drivway to see her off and get their bags from the car, then back into the house, Eve was cleaning up from breakfast.
" Mind if I grab a shower " Jeff asked.
" Help yourself " she said.
" Don't use all the hot water " Matt told him as he helped clear the table.
" You don't have to help " she said.
" I don't mind besides it beats sitting around " he told her.
Eve nodded " I'm sure, hey I was thinking since your here and if you feel up to it we can go over to your place and I could get some measurements "
" Okay, for what " he asked.
Eve laughed " Duh you asked me to help you decorate, I'm not a professional or anything but I do dabble in interior design " she told him. " That is if you still want me to help you " she said.
Matt laughed " Yeah I was only kidding but hell if you want to decorate the place be my guest, uh I take it you haven't thought about my offer " he asked.
" No I've thought about it I'm just not sure if its what I want to do for sure yet, I'll let you know " she said.
Matt nodded and rubbed at his sore shoulder again " Either way I do want to do up a room for Faith so when she's there she has her own room " he said. Eve kinda gasped a little and Matt looked at her and asked
" You don't have a problem with that do you " he asked.
" No I just didn't think about her spending time at your place and mine " she said. " She's never really been away from me for more than spending a night here and there with a friend " she told him.
" Right, well she'll still be here most of the time, I only get one maybe two days off a week if I'm lucky " he reminded her again rubbing at his shoulder it was really hurting him.
" Are you sure you didn't hurt that shoulder " Eve asked him.
Matt nodded " Yeah, well not in the accident anyhow I've injured my shoulders so many times that I have arthoritis in both, my left tends to bother me more. " he said rotating it.
" I have some muscle rub " she offered.
" Yeah I need to go to the store and get all that stuff " he said.
Eve went to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of muscle rub and went back over to Matt with it.
" Sit down " she said.
Matt was going to do it himself but if she was offering to do it for him he surly wouldn't tur him down, he turned the chair backwards and sat down, Eve put some muscle rub in her hands and was about to apply it when she stopped.
" I don't think it will work through your shirt " she told him
" Oh right " he said and removed his shirt.
For a second Eve's breath caught in her throat Matt was a very sexy man and she was about to have her hands on his bare shoulders, she felt a tingle at the thought. She used her whole hand to apply the cream and then worked it into his sore shoulder and neck area, seeing as it was helping loosen up his stiff muscles she continued to massage along his upper back where he seemed to hurt the most. The ringing telephone made her have to stop otherwise she would have kept going, she frowned when she saw Matt put his shirt back on.
" Hello " she said.
" Eve hey its Lany Roberts " she said.
" Hey what's up " she asked.
" I'm in a tight spot the school called and they think Michela may have broken his hand in PE, I can't get a hold of Larry and my parents are out of town, can you keep an eye on the two little ones for me " she asked.
" Oh wow, um yeah go ahead and bring them over " she said and Lany thanked her they hung up.
" Are we going to have company " Matt asked.
" Yeah, I'm going to watch my friends twins for her " Eve said. " Her oldest son was hurt at school and she needs to go to the hospital " she explained.
" Cool how old are they " Matt asked.
" Two " Eve answered.
Lany knocked on the door, handed the boys off to Eve, through some instructions at her about them and ran back to her minivan, as soon as their mom left the two toddlers began to cry, the crying got Jeff's attention and he came out to see who was here.
" Sh it's okay Tyler mommy will be back soon, don't cry Skylar " she soothed trying to comfort them.
" Here let me have one " Matt said and took one of the boys from her. " Who is this " he asked.
" That's Tyler " she told him.
Matt looked between the two " How can you tell they're identical " he asked.
" Tyler always wears red and Skylar green, its the only way to tell them apart " she said.
" Okay" Matt said and walked the baby into the kitchen. " Tyler hey you don't want to cry man " he said and the baby lay his head on Matt's shoulder sobbing.
Lany's instructions included that they had lunch in their bag so Eve figured they might eat then go down for a nap, she went to sit Skylar down but he wouldn't have it and cried louder, she quickly picked him back up.
" Give him to me and we'll go see what Matt and Tyler are up to " Jeff said reaching for the baby.
Eve gave him Skylar and he was crying, Jeff grabbed his keys off his hip and gave them to him, the baby looked at Jeff and the keys and began to smile.
" Works every time, Beth's niece loves my keys " he said and took him into the kitchen.
Matt had Tyler sitting on the table amused with his cell phone and Eve was impressed the brothers had a way with children, it made her think what all Faith had missed out on with them.
" Mm Chef Boy R D " Eve said. Matt and Jeff both made a sour face " What you have something aganist ravoli " she asked opening the can.
" Only if its frozen or cold " Jeff said and gave Matt a knowing look.
" Yuk why would you eat it cold " she asked.
" We did a commerical and it was at a ski lodge, you can get it from there " Matt said it still sent chills through him. " I can handle a lot food wise, thats not one " he recalled.
" well this I'll heat up " she said.
Eve warmed it and made sure it wasn't too hot, it then occured to her she had on highchairs or booster seats to use to feed them and they wouldn't be able to reach the table sitting on the chairs, she was surprised to see when she set the bowls down the guys pulled them over and let the kids eat right there on their laps. Tyler took one of his noodles out and looked at Matt, he smiled and offered Matt the food, not wanting to upset the toddler Matt ate it, Skylar seeing this repeated the action with Jeff, who ate it as well.
" More power to you guys, I don't even eat that warmed " Eve shivered.The phone rang again, this time it was the hospital and Eve's boss, she told her that she had made a mistake last night and needed to get in there and fix it, Eve hung up the phone.
" Guys I have a serious problem I forgot to document something last night and in my field you don't document it you didn't do it " she told them
" Alright, can't you go down there and fix it " Matt asked.
Eve gave a shy grin " Not with them " she said.
" Oh " Matt said. He looked at Jeff and he nodded " We can watch them till you get back " he offered.
" Thanks guys I won't be long and whatever you want for dinner I'll make it " she said as she got her keys, purse and coat.
The boys were still sitting on Matt and Jeff's laps and an awful smell began to get their attention, they seemed to notice it at the same time.
" Something is rank " Matt declared.
" More like someone you check yours and I'll check mine " Jeff said.
They pulled the diapers back and looked in " Oh " Matt gasped and turned his head away.
" Good job little man " Jeff said to Tyler.
" Man come on I don't know how to do this " Matt complained.
" Me either " Jeff laughed.
" Yeah but you've seen Beth change Shy " Matt told him.
" Nah I vacate the room when she does that " he said.
" Great " Matt sighed as he carried the toddler into the living room " Go easy on me kid I'm new at this " Matt said to him, he just laughed.
Jeff eased up from the chair with Skylar " Let's watch the show " he said and carried him into the living room.
Matt looked at how the other diaper was positioned and fastened on and decided he could do that, he pulled down the baby's sweatpants and the baby rolled over.
" Hey man where ya going " Matt saked gently lying him back down. Matt placed his hand on the baby's stomach " Stay put little guy " he told him thinking he now had things under control. He opened the diaper and before he could get it out from under him the baby grabbed the diaper flinging its contents on himself, the floor and Matt, who jumped back.
" Whoa dude not cool " Matt said, again he kicked his feet laughing.
" You're doing great " Jeff said from his spot on the couch, he was holding his ribs from laughing so hard.
" Fuc...screw you Jeff " Matt said and went back to changing the baby. " HA " Matt cried and held up the diapered child. " Piece of cake "
" Yeah " Jeff rolled his eyes. " You're the Master of Shititude " Jeff joked. But his smiled faded when he felt a warm sensation come from the baby on his lap. " Aw man " he whined.
" Ha laugh at me, floors all yours " Matt said scooping up the child, it was his turn to poke fun at Jeff.
Jeff lay the baby on the floor in front of him and opened the diaper but as soon as he did the baby felt the cold air and Jeff felt his shirt get wet, Matt about dropped Tyler he laughed so hard.
" Aw man dude you peed on me " he said and the baby laughed.
Once they were diapered Matt lay on the big couch with Tyler anf Jeff on the smaller love seat with Skylar, the little ones resting on their bare chests and soon they all fell asleep.
Faith came in the front door and Matt woke up " Aw thats so cute " she said. " What's the twins doing here and where's mom " she asked.
" She got tied up at work and their mom had something to take care of " Matt told her.
The doorbell rang and woke Jeff and Skylar, he sat up and put the baby on his lap as his mom came into the living room.
" How's Mike " she asked.
" Okay, he fractured his hand and jammed his wrist, he's in the van " she told Faith and she went outside to see him.
" Where's Eve " Lany asked.
" She had to run to work " Jeff told her.
" Oh well thanks, I was going to give this to Eve but here " she said and tried to hand them money.
" Its alright you don't have to worry about thay " Matt told her.
" No I insist really I apreciate you watching the boys for me " again she offered the money, Matt could tell she wanted to pay them so he excepted it.
The phone rang and Matt answered it while Jeff helped Lany with the kids, Faith was out talking to Mike about his injury and what had happened to cause it, when Jeff came out carrying Skylar.
" Aw Uncle Jeff you look so cute with him " she said.
" Yeah he's my little buddy, we bonded " he said.
" Well thanks again " Lany said and got in her van,
As she backed out of the drivway her cell phone rang and it was Eve, she asnwered it and Eve gave a shy hello.
" Hey " Lany said.
" I'm so sorry for leaving the boys with Matt and Jeff but I had to come in and got stuck there "
" Not a problem your brothers were great with them, I gave them some money, they wouldn't take it at first but I insisted " she said.
" My brothers " Eve asked. " Who told you that "
" Oh nobody I herd Faith call the one Uncle Jeff so I just assumed they were your brothers "
Eve chuckled " No, Matt, the dark haired one is Faith's father, Jeff is HIS brother not mine " she corrected, thinking of Matt as her brother just felt wrong on many levels.
" Oh okay um I didn't know that, sorry " she applogized.
" Its alright you take care "
" You too and thanks " she said.
Eve came in the front door " I'm so sorry " she said pleading for forgivness from the guys, they laughed.
" No problem at all, everything went smooth " Matt said putting his arm around her. " Now about dinner, Jeff and I were thinking and its been a long time since we've had a really good lasguna, salad, some garlic bread "
" I'll have to go shopping " she said.
" Can you bring me back some chocolate chip cookies " Jeff asked from the couch.
" Mm that sounds good but I want homemade chocolate chip cookies " Matt added. " Jeff nothing beats a warm cookie and a glass of milk "
" Mm yeah I want the homemade ones too " he agreed.
Eve asked " Let me get this straight you guys want lasguna, salad, garlic bread and homemade chocolate chip cookies "
" And milk " Matt said.
" And milk " she added. " Fine but I'm not going shopping alone " she said looking from Matt to Faith and then to Jeff.
" Homework " Faith said.
" My ribs hurt " Jeff said.
Matt tried to think quickly " I " he was cut off.
" Alright Mr. Hardy its you " Eve told him.
" Jeff " Matt pointed.
Eve shook her head " Wrong Hardy, try Matthew Moore Hardy " she said pointing her finger into his chest.
" You changed your shirt, I remember you had the gray one on because I was going to tell you I liked it " she recalled.
" Yeah um, ready to go shopping " he asked and Eve gave him a strange look, then turned to Jeff. " Ya know Uncle Jeff somone gives a real good massage I'll bet if you ask her nice she'll do it " Eve teased.
" I dunno if Jeff can afford her, she's damn expensive, cost me that SUV in the drivway " Matt said joing in.
" Dad " Faith whined. " I told you the truck wasn't for that " she reminded him.
Jeff thought for a second " How about a tank of gas " he asked.
" Deal " Faith said.
Matt shook his head " I think I got jipped " he fussed.
" I guess I'll owe you a few " she said standing behind Jeff and massaging his aching shoulders.
" A few, more like almost twenty thousand dollars worth "
" Hm at fifty dollars a massage that means I owe you " she thought for a moment " Four hundred
massages " she said.
" And I'll collect on them all " Matt told her,
" Not at once I hope " Faith joked.
Matt shook his head " Nah what do you think Eve, a month " he asked.
Eve joined in " I saw a week, maybe two " she added.
" You guys are wrong, so wrong " Faith said.
" Nothing to add bro " Matt asked Jeff.
" Jeff is in heaven " Jeff replied and everyone laughed, Matt and Eve left for the store.