Chapter 23
**2 weeks later**
"Wills are you sure you wanna do this?" Matt asked, sat on his girlfriends bed, watching her as she dressed. "Yes I am Matt. Despite everything Eric did to me, he was still my father at the end of the day" she replied, turning round to face him "I know it's hard for you to understand it, but I just feel like I owe it to him. I mean, he saved our lives." "I know Wills, that's why I'm coming with you" Matt said, making his way over to Willow and putting his arms around her. "I know I'll never understand what you went through with him, but he asked me to look after you and that's what I plan on doing" Matt said, as Willow let out a sigh. "Thanks Matt. I know the last two weeks have been crazy, with me moving into Adams old house, meeting Eric's wife Loree and their two kids Garrett and Montanna. Molly's appeal is next week and they still haven't found Dean" she said as she pulled away from him and finished getting ready.
Eric's funeral went without a hitch, even though Loree, Garrett and Montanna refused to acknowledge Willow as his daughter, which didn't bother her as the family had just met her and were a bit dubious of her. It was only when it emerged that Eric had left her 2.5 million dollars, surprising everyone, that Garrett ordered her to leave, which made Matt jump to her defence. "Look Garrett, I know you guys finding out about Willow was a surprise, it was for her too finding out that she had half siblings she'd never met" "Matt, I know where you're coming from, I really do. But for my dad to leave her with that kinda money, I don't want her anywhere near my mom" Garrett replied, his words filled with venom and hate. "Matt, just leave it" Willow said quietly, taking his hand and pulling him away. "Garrett, I'm sorry you feel that way about me, but believe me, I never asked Eric to leave me anything" Willow said as she and Matt left the house.
The days and weeks after Eric's funeral Willow began spending more and more time on her own, barely speaking to anyone, drifting apart from her friends and family and eventually becoming a recluse. Only turning up to work and then vanishing straight away. Even Matt didn't see her anymore and he, like everyone else was becoming increasingly worried about her. "Guys, I'm starting to get really worried about Willow" Matt said, "I haven't seen her in nearly 2 months, she won't answer or return any of my calls or messages" "Something's definitely not right with her" Trish piped up, "so what do you propose we do?" Amy asked "Adam, do you still have a spare set of keys to the house?" Matt asked as Jeff entered the room. "Just passed your place Adam, it's as dead as a graveyard over there" he said, "that's it, Adam you got those keys?" Matt asked "I'm going over there. She can't avoid us forever" as Adam passed Matt his keys Jeff, Trish and Amy all stood up "Matt, we are coming with you" Amy said "we are all worried about her" as Matt nodded his head.
When they got to Adams place, Matt opened the door and called out for Willow, but there was no reply. They searched the house for her, hoping to find some sort of clue as to where she was and why she was avoiding them. They searched high and low but found nothing. It was only when they returned to the living area that Trish discovered three letters, one for Amy and Adam, one for Jeff and Trish and the last one for Matt, but they all said the same thing.
I'm Sorry. I can't do this anymore. Love you all Willow xoxo
What they didn't count on was that one week earlier is that Willow had moved out and was harbouring a deep secret of her own...
Authors note: What could Willows secret be, and where did she go? Will her and Matt be reunited and will her family ever see her again?
Find out in the next story, coming soon!
