A few day later
The family was at the cabin, trying to grow closer.
''I am a bit concerned, she was so happy to join the family but now she seems to be closing down.'' Matt said as he got the plates ready.
''I know, but maybe she just needs to get adjusted to the whole situation.''
''Maybe we can grow closer, that is why we are here. We should go kayaking today.''
''She probably won't like it.''
''Well, we are going to kayak.'' Matt shrugged and they put brunch on the table and had brunched together.
''So there are some kayaks here….I figured we will go out for a paddle after eating.'' Matt said then and Genevieve rolled her eyes.
''It is cold, I really don't want to go kayaking. Also, I don't have any reception here on my phone. This place is a shithole.'' She said as she stuffed a sandwich in her mouth.
''Well, maybe it is nice not have reception for the time? Enjoy the time together here instead of texting all day long?'' Matt said.
''Sure. It's just hella annoying.'' She sighed as she grabbed some food and walked outside then, finishing breakfast there. Matt wanted to get up and discipline her but Gabby grabbed his sleeve.
''Just let it go for once, you will only make her more angry.''
''Well, we are still her family…and when we want to do somethi-''
''Matt she is a teenager. She hates everything.'' Gabby shrugged.
''No, we are going to kayak. She better adjust. She is part of the family now.'' Matt said strict.
A little later they grabbed the kayaks and Gabby was not too excited to get onto the cold water either as it was so cold.
''Come on, we are going to kayak, it will be fun!'' Matt said then and Genevieve and Gabby were not all too excited about Matt plans to go kayaking. They were carrying one double kayak together while Matt was holding a single one and they put them in the water.
''Why are we doing this?'' Genevieve asked then, sighing.
''Cause it will be fun!'' Matt said as he prepared the kayak. ''We get to do something fun and bond as family.''
''It's hella cold.'' She said then and shivered. ''The water must be hella cold too.''
''It will be fun.'' Gabby said, going along with what Matt wanted and she helped Genevieve sit down, sitting down herself in the double kayak as well.
They made their was onto the river and as Matt looked back, it finally seemed like both of the girls were smiling as well.
''Matt, I don't like this turn, can we go back and turn the other way?'' Gabby said then. The water was shallow and it was just a curve in the river.
''no we will be fine, there is a really nice stream around the curve here.'' He said then.
Suddenly their kayak rolled over and Gabby and Genevieve fell into the cold water.
''Gabs, Gen, are you alright?'' Matt asked concerned as he paddled there was and they climbed out of the water, onto the kayak .
''The water is hella cold!'' Genevieve complained and Gabby nodded.
''I could really use a hot shower.''
Slowly they made their way back to the cabin, Genevieve walking in front of them, seemingly angry about something.
''What is wrong.''
''I told you I didn't want to kayak.'' Genevieve said upset.
Inside Gabby showered while Genevieve was still angry, showering after while Matt sat on the edge of the bed.
''I thought it would be fun to do something together.'' Matt sulked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
''It was a good idea.'' She said as she kissed him on his cheek.
''By the way….about that baby…we were still going to talk about that, right?'' He said as he held her hand and pinched it.
''Yeah, I want to have a baby.''
''Maybe it will be easier to deal with a baby than with a teenager.'' Matt said. ''I know I will never fully be her dad but I feel like I am failing so hard.''
''You will be fine. Both with Genevieve and with our baby.''
Genevieve was standing in the doorway, looking hurt.
''Do you want me to be gone? Do you want to start your own family?'' She asked hurt.
''No, no not at all.'' Matt said then and Gabby shook her head.
''We just want a baby of our own, but that does not mean you have to go.'' She said then and she felt bad Genevieve seemed so hurt.
''Gabby and I have been talking about having a baby for a longer time now. We still wanted to talk about it with you. It won't change anything. '' Matt explained.
''Even if we do get a child of our own, it won't change anything in us being your guardians. Maybe in the long run we can even adopt you, if you would ever want that.'' Gabby said and she nodded.
''But if you want us to wait…we can talk about it.'' Matt said then but Genevieve shook her head.
''No, it is okay. I am sure you will be great parents. You are being great to me…and that the family will only get better and bigger.'' She finally said then. Maybe she had been wrong thinking that she would be the only one. It was not that strange that they wanted a baby. They were a young couple that was in love and they would be great parents, also for a little baby.
''Maybe it will be fun, having a younger brother or sister, sort off.'' Genevieve smiled then.
''Well, we are nog saying we will have a baby really soon, but we just want you to know, that we would love to have a baby.''
Genevieve nodded and smiled then.
''I am sure you are going to be great parents for a little baby and I would love to be a big sister.'' She said then and they all had dinner on the porch, having the grill on and enjoy the view from the cabin.
''I am going to take a walk around.'' Genevieve said then.
''okay, but stay around the cabin, it is dark and I don't want you to get lost.'' Gabby said and Genevieve nodded before walking away. A little later they saw her sitting on the small pier by the water and from afar they could smoking as her cigarette lit up.
''We told her to quit.'' Gabby said then.
''I know…but she is a teenager. If we get really strict we will end up pushing her away.'' Gabby said.
''So what for the night? We should do something nice.'' She said then.
''I took something.'' He said as he walked away and a little later he came walking back with a board game.
''What brings a family more together than a nice board game?'' Matt said as he held up the monopoly and as he got the fire going, Gabby was setting up the table for the game, putting some snacks and drinks there as well.
''Genevieve, game!'' He yelled before walking inside.
Genevieve joined them again and they started playing the game.
''Ready?'' Gabby said as she divided the money.
''I never lost a game of monopoly.'' Genevieve said then. 'Maybe it was because my aunt was drug- well I just never lost.''
''Well neither have I ever lost a game….although I will let Gabby win from time to time.''
Gabby hit him against his shoulder and they continued playing, Matt taking the lead.
''You were cheating! You moved when we were looking away!'' Gabby said then.
''I didn't!'' Matt said.
''Ugh why are you always winning!'' Gabby said angry and Matt raised his hands.
''it's a game, I just want to win.'' Mat said then, smiling because he was winning. He loved to be winning.
''I want to win too, you must be cheating!'' Genevieve said angry.
''I am not.''
It was her turn then and she threw really bad, going to jail and Matt bought something else and Genevieve shook her head then.
''Looks like you are going to lose.''
''I hate losing!'' She said angry and she hit the board from the bottom on one side, causing it to fly up and flip as she walked off.
''Oh yeah, what brings the family more together than a board game…'' Gabby sighed as she started cleaning it up. He just sighed.
''We might all be a bit too fanatically.'' Gabby smirked and Matt walked outside.
Genevieve was standing outside, smoking and he wanted to say something about she as they still wanted her to stop but realized that it would only make her more angry.
''You are crowned winner of the monopoly game.'' Matt said then and Genevieve chuckled.
''Sorry, I don't like losing.''
''it is fine. I once hit my sister with the board itself cause I didn't want to lose. Oh, Gabby once hit her brother with the box. Maybe we are not the kind of family that should be playing board games together.''
''or Kayak.'' She laughed then and they walked back inside again.
''I…heard you say you are feel like you are failing with uhm…raising me so to say. Well, I have to admit I am so cranky sometimes and I am not giving you an easy job…and I will promise I will try to listen a bit better…and uhm…I really appreciate you are trying to let us grow closer. I am sorry I am making it so hard. Just, you are not failing.'' She said then, mostly to Matt but also to Gabby.
''It is fine, we all just have to get adjusted to each other.'' Gabby smiled then.
''I appreciate that a hella lot.'' Matt smirked then.
''Please don't, you are starting to sound like a real dad, it's not cool.'' Genevieve laughed and all of them laughed.
They sat back all together, not playing any board games but just spending some time together.
A little later they all went to bed, Matt and Gabby cuddling.
''You know what I love? I love not having any reception so my phone never rings and I can have full attention for you.'' Matt smiled and they shared a kiss.
''Well, I feel the same, but remember that Genevieve is a bit younger and that she is used to being reachable, everywhere, always.''
''I know…I know it sounds stupid but sometimes I don't realize that she is not an adult yet and that she is so much younger than me. I am not used to having a teen 'daughter' to take care off.'' Matt said then and she nodded.
''I know, I am still getting used to it well. It is not suddenly having a teenager to deal with.''
''We will figure it out.'' He smiled and they shared a kiss, falling asleep, knew it was not going to be easy to live with a teenager, but also happy they could provide her a loving family.
NOTE: So the new family is at the cabin now and are trying to grow closer and matt is trying to bring them closer with activities but instead they are not growing closer at all and Matt and Gabby talk and also said that they want to have their own baby, making Genevieve insecure but she also liked the idea then and although they still have a lot of figuring out to do as a new family, they are also happy together.
Next chapter, the family tries to adjust a bit more to each other while Matt and Gabby try to figure out how to be her guardians and Genevieve also tries to be more open to them.
Thank you so much for your response on the previous chapter! I am so glad you are so interested in the story and I hope you like this chapter as well, please enjoy! I look forward to hear what you think.