CHAPTER 4

"Diana, is their something wrong?"Matt asked

"No"Diana said Matt sighed

"Then why are you being so distant with me Diana? I'm really trying here"Matt said

"Matt I--"Diana said their was a knock at the front door

"Who is here this late?"Matt whispered

"If Shannon got drunk again I swear--"Diana said as she and Matt walked downstairs Matt opened the door and Saw Christine standing there

"Guys.."Christine said in tears

"What's wrong?"Diana asked

"I found these..they're Jeff's"Christine said handing Matt the pill bottle
"Oh these..they're pain pills, I had him when I had my face busted and appendix removed"Matt said he looked at Diana

"Remember that year?"Matt said Diana rolled her eyes

"I remember the hospital bill, it was like a phone number"Diana said

"But..why would Jeff be taking these?"Diana asked Matt shrugged

"Does he tell you he is hurting?"Matt asked

"He doesn't tell me anything anymore Matt, it's like talking to a rock!"Christine said

"Matt, They'd be too strong for Jeff anyway, you took them when your face was busted and your appendix was removed"Diana said

"I am guessing I'm handling this?"Matt said

"Please Matt?"Christine said

"Ok..Ok"Matt said

"But first.."Matt said looking at Diana

"We'll be right back"Diana said walking away with Matt

"What's wrong?"Matt asked

"I'm just stressed Matt.."Diana said

"About?"Matt asked

"Johnny, He knows about Riley and it's just.."Diana said shaking her head Matt hugged her

"But he can't do anything"Matt said Diana took a deep breath

"And I'm kinda..late"Diana said Matt let go of her and looked at her

"That's why you've been acting so--Oh my god.."Matt said

"Calm down, It's not confirmed"Diana said

"But you need to go take care of Jeff"Diana said Matt nodded and kissed Diana

"I'll be back Ok?"Matt said Diana nodded and Matt left for Jeff and Christine's house

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"Jeff?"Matt said as he walked inside

"Hey Matt"Jeff said greeting his brother

"Sorry, I went to the store I just got in"Jeff said

"Jeff..we need to talk"Matt said

"About?"Jeff asked

"You..and these things"Matt said pulling the pill bottle out of his coat Jeff took the bottle from Matt and looked hard at it

"Jeff..What's going on?"Matt asked

"Matt look ok? I'm not the same little Jeff I used to be and I don't need your help or anyone else's!"Jeff yelled

"Jeff! I have Christine at my house crying!"Matt yelled

"It's ending right now!"Matt yelled

"Matt! You don't know the kind of pain I'm in!"Jeff yelled

"Jeff! These aren't for you! I had these when my face was broken and my appendix was removed because I was in so much pain, your face and appendix are fine Jeff you're being selfish and you're hurting your self and Christine and if you think she's going to stick around while you're doing this shit then you're wrong!"Matt yelled

"What do you know Matt!?"Jeff yelled

"You don't even have marriage problems!"Jeff yelled Matt laughed

"Oh yes I do, especially since Johnny came around! But Jeff, this isn't about me or my marriage it's about you and Christine and your health!"Matt yelled

"Jeff..it has to stop"Matt said calmly

"It's not going to Matt, I'm into Much pain!"Jeff said

"Jeff! these pills aren't bringing Beth back ok!? She left!"Matt yelled

"Fuck you Matt! You don't even care about me anymore! All you think about is your wife and kids!"Jeff yelled

"At least I am taking responsibility for my family Jeff! You say you want to marry Christine and all this other shit..well Jeff talk is cheap you know that? I am going home I am going to send Christine home, hopefully you can grow up and stop acting like this because Jeff..you're not a baby anymore, I can't tell you to stop..Dad can't tell you to stop Jeff, but you have to make the decision on your own to stop Jeff"Matt said before he left and went home

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"I'm back"Matt said walking inside

"What happened?"Diana asked

'Well..I tried to get through to him"Matt said

"Please don't tell me you hit him?"Christine said worried Matt laughed and shook his head no

"Nah, I did my mental work"Matt said pointing to his head

"Ok"Christine said

"I told him I'd send you home and maybe you can talk to him"Matt said Christine nodded

"Is he mad?"Christine asked worried

"No, he's not 'mad' right now Jeff's just in fragile state of mind"Matt said

"Ok, Thank you Matt"Christine said

"Glad I could help, and if he does get violent or anything, you have our number I can be there within 5 minutes"Matt said Christine nodded and hugged Diana then Matt

"Thanks for everything guys, bye"Christine said

"Bye, Good luck" Diana said before Christine left after Christine left Diana and Matt went to their room

"What do you think?"Matt asked

"About?"Diana said

"Well..about what you said earlier"Matt said sitting beside Diana on their bed

"I don't know..A lot of times I feel stressed so I feel like That's it, a lot has been going on Matt..but I'm late and that alone does stand for something"Diana said Matt nodded

"Well when was the last time we did anything?"Matt asked Diana thought about it

"I think the Monday before you went away about 2 weeks ago?"Diana said Matt nodded
"Does tonight count?"Matt asked
"No dummy"Diana said before he kissed her

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"Daddy.."Riley said walking up to Matt as they were in the airport

"What hun?"Matt said he bent down so he was now eye level with his daughter she kissed his cheek and gave him a piece of paper

"I made you a picture daddy"Riley said Matt unfolded the paper and looked down at it

"Awwww...hunny..where are you guys?"Matt asked realizing the tan blob with black scribbles was supposed to be him

"We're at home..you're on the plane"Riley said Matt looked upset

"Hunny, you know I'm only gone for a few days"Matt said Riley nodded and hugged Matt

"I love you daddy"Riley said Matt kissed her cheek
"I love you too, be good for your mommy Ok?"Matt said Riley nodded

"And help her with Matthew"Matt said Riley again nodded in reply Matt then stood up looking at Diana as she held Matthew

"Bye son, you try not to get your little hands on too many valuable items ok?"Matt said Matthew giggled which Made Matt laugh a little

"Matt, come on..you always take forever"Shannon said Briana slapped him on the shoulder

"It's sweet shut up!"Briana said

"Here Matt..I want you to take this"Diana said handing Matt an envelope he nodded

"Ok"Matt said he went to open the envelope

"Open it on the plan Ok?"Diana said with a smile

"Ok, I will.."Matt said he then kissed her then kissed Matthew's cheek and then gave Riley a kiss on the cheek before leaving

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"Where's Jeff?"Shane asked Matt looked around

"Damn it.."Matt said under his breath knowing once again Jeff was up to no good

"What's up with him?"Shannon asked Matt looked down

"Dude, I don't want to get into it right now, it's going to come out soon enough anyway"Matt said as she shut his eyes then fell asleep after a little bit Matt woke up

"Hey"Shannon said greeting him

"Hey..man you're too cheery!"Matt said as Shannon bounced in his seat

"Sorry..I just phoned home, I talked to Landon man that kid can tell stories like no other!"Shannon said Matt smiled

"Yea..Kids..they're awesome aren't they tho? You remember what we were like before..we'd be looking forward to going home and hooking up with various girls.."Matt said

"And now it's like you just want to go home to hug your girl and kiss your kid good night"Shannon said Matt nodded

"Exactly.."Matt said he then remembered the envelope in his hand he looked down at it then picked it up and started to slowly open it and finally he had it opened he pulled out what was inside

"Wow.."Matt whispered looking at what was in the envelope as Shannon looked over Matts shoulder to see what it was Shannon also looked shocked