A/N : Yeah, I know, I know, I said that I would try to be more regular, that I would write more, but hey, life, you know ! I took advantage of the summer, the sun, the outdoors, and currently even if summer continues, we are going to enter the period of cocooning under a blanket with a candle, the ideal period to type a few lines on his computer ! So, here we go, we motivate ourselves, and we try to move this story forward ! I hope you will still be there and that you will like this new chapter…

Good reading,

G.


« It feels good to see her smile and laugh, » Matt said simply, before running his tongue over his lips. « We made the right decision to come here, » he smiled at his friend who nodded before joining his team for the day inside. As for Matt, he stayed outside in the company of Miguel and Raul, two men who were as old as his father but who seemed very endearing. Despite the delicate situation of the island, their history and the work they had in front of them, their faces wore a warm smile. Warm, that was the term to designate the inhabitants of the island, the locals.

« So, young man, ready to sweat in the sun to restore the exteriors? » Miguel, Daniela's father, asked Matt, taking him by the shoulders to guide him to their next task.

« I hope he put on some sunscreen, he's as white as a sheet! » Raùl mumbled under his mustache, which triggered a small laugh from his Puerto Rican friend.

« It's certain that the climate of the American East must not be the same! We'll give you a hat on the way! An essential tool if you want to escape sunstroke. I understood that you had much more important plans than getting sick and staying locked in your hotel room! » Miguel smiled at Matt who nodded, suppressing a smile. Miguel had never met Matt before, but through the words his daughter had said, telling her father a little more than she should have about the situation of Gabby and her husband, a situation that resonated with him. The old man felt a particular attachment to the blond, sympathy, compassion too. He was much older than him but had also had to overcome some relationship obstacles in the past, somewhat similar obstacles. He knew what it was, and that although the situation hadn't been easy for the one he now called his chief, it must have been the same for Matt. They walked towards the front of the dispensary and the three of them studied the state of the construction site. In addition to repairing the roof, it was necessary to patch up the main door, but also to repair the shutters, sand them and repaint them. « Here, put this hat on! We have work to do! » said Miguel, seriously, hands on hips, taking his role as a mentor very seriously. « I suggest we start by repairing and strengthening the roof… » he said, pointing his finger towards the sky.

« Oh, no way! I'm too old, I can't climb up there! » Raùl grumbled.

« I'll go with you, » Matt smiled at Miguel. « Construction is my field! »

« Oh, be familiar with me, we're going to spend time together, we might as well just do it! »

« It works, with pleasure! » Matt smiled at him.

« But aren't you a firefighter, blondie? I don't understand anything anymore, I'm tired of all these stories! » Raùl acted grumpy again, which made his two companions smile.

« Yes, yes, I'm a firefighter, I'm even a captain in the Chicago Fire Department, but I also have a work company on the side for days off, a small business that I started with my own hands about ten years ago, » Matt explained to him as Miguel set up the ladder to allow them to climb onto the roof.

« And, this is why you stayed there? » Raùl stared at him, stunned. « You could have done that here too, and then we probably would have needed it a lot more… » the dark-skinned old man continued to mumble. Raùl was known as the old grump of the group, the one who always had something to say about everything, but who was above all unfiltered. He said whatever came into his head, whether it was right or wrong, whether it would do any good or not. Matt didn't know what to answer, firstly because he was embarrassed, indeed he could have helped the forces present on the island, but also and above all because he was shocked that the old man obviously knew some pieces of his personal situation. He looked up, disconcerted, at Miguel for help.

« Oh, Raùl, stop grumbling, that's enough, leave him alone and get to work, will you! » Miguel lectured his old friend, like an old couple arguing after 50 years of marriage. « Come on, young man, grab whatever tools you want, and a pair of gloves and join me! I guess as a firefighter you are not afraid of heights! »

« Absolutely not! » Matt put his hat back on his head, put on a pair of gloves that he had found on the ground, in this mixture of grass and sand, and took the small pouch with the tools necessary for him and the old man to solidify the roof of the dispensary that the one he called his wife had so brilliantly put back on with life. He thought of this as he climbed the ladder and a feeling of pride came over him. This woman, his own, this little brunette whom he found so beautiful, had put this whole project together with her own hands, and although it was difficult for him to accept how much it had changed in his life, he knew that she was meant to do this, this role suited her perfectly and he couldn't be more proud of her.


The hours passed quite quickly on the dispensary site, everyone focused on their task. The goal was that at the end of the day the building, formerly in ruins, could accommodate the medical equipment, and everyone devoted themselves to it, the older ones, the young ones, the natives of the island, the expatriates, the regulars, the novices. Gabby, who was inside with her small group, went out for a few moments to get some fresh air and join the table which served as a makeshift office to take stock of the situation. The interior of the dispensary had been emptied, cleaned, scrubbed, and her teams were painting what remained to be painted and making the last small repairs.

« Gabby! » Holly joined her outside.

"Yes, girl? » she smiled warmly at her.

« Do you want me to go get supplies for the team? »

« Oh, yeah, very good idea, I didn't see the time! » Gabby replied, looking in her small banana bag for the money. She handed money bills to Holly, adding: « Seeing as the weather is nice, grab some barbecue supplies and some cold drinks, it's on me! ».

« It's like it's done, boss! » Holly gave her a military salute to tease her because she knew she didn't like it, but it had become a game between them all. Gabby rolled her eyes and laughed, shaking her head. She felt good, she felt in her place, and more than anything she felt useful, even if one thing was missing in her life. At this simple thought, she looked for him. She saw Raùl on the porch of the dispensary repairing and repainting the shutters, complaining as usual. It touched her, he reminded her of her own father. However, she didn't find what she was looking for. She then moved closer and heard echoes of voices coming from the roof. She looked up and saw Miguel and Matt in deep discussion. She couldn't help but smile at this scene, she had the impression of seeing a father and his son, the older teaching the younger, advising him, giving him tips. Miguel was happy to be able to take Matt under his wing and Matt seemed in his element. It reminded her of the times she joined him on his construction sites to bring him his lunch or the times he came home all sweaty and dirty from his days of work. Nostalgia invaded her once again, it became a habit in recent days, but it no longer made her sad, it now brought her a certain form of peace and serenity.

« Hey, boss! » Gabby heard in the distance but too lost in her thoughts she didn't react. « Hey, boss! » the voice became louder and more insistent. She then shook her head as if to pull herself together, turned around looking for where this voice was coming from before realizing that it was coming from above. She then raised her head, put her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the extremely strong rays of the sun at that time of day, and saw Miguel and Matt. « So, boss, we daydream while the others work? » Miguel teased her.

« Um, yes, sort of! You know well, Miguel, the boss is only the inspector of the finished work! » she smiled at him. « What's it like up there? » she then asked him.

« Everything running smoothly! Matt, here, clearly doesn't just master the question of doors in the field of DIY!» he blinked.

« Yes, well, we noticed, it's me who gets all the work! » Raùl groaned on the ground, which sparked general hilarity, the old man being well known for his grumpy side. « He was supposed to help with the shutters and doors right? I find myself all alone, bent over backwards, sanding and painting these damn shutters, while the blond guy scampers and talks!» he continued, exaggerating his movements. Gabby pursed her lips to keep from laughing and looked at him tenderly. She was attached to Raùl who, despite his legendary bad temper, was always the first to come and help them.

« Oh, Raùl, you're doing a great job, and you know you're my favorite! » Gabby placed her hands on his shoulders in encouragement.

« Entonces, estoy esperando mi cerveza, carina! » he gave her his usual charm in Spanish.

« Consider it done! » she winked at him. « Besides, Holly went to do some shopping, the barbecue is coming soon guys! » Gabby looked up and her eyes met Matt's. Although slathered in sunscreen from head to toe, she could see his forearms and legs visibly reddening. « And for some of us, it will be visibly in the shade! » she chuckled.

« Ah, ah, very funny! » Matt replied with a goofy smile and a look full of love. He had noticed that after these last rather tense few days between them, she was finally looking at him, she was no longer looking away. She looked at him, she spoke to him, she made small gestures for him, even the most trivial ones, but they were on the right track. He was reassured, he felt that nothing was lost, he knew why he was going to continue fighting. She smiled at them one last time and nodded at them before wishing them good luck and disappearing on her next mission to wait for Holly to return. Matt followed her with his gaze, as if caught by the silhouette of the woman he loved. He was now less focused on his task, more interested in this woman whom he admired both literally and figuratively, which didn't escape Miguel who continued to work while observing him with a smile.


« This young lady is exceptional! » Miguel declared, trying to bring Matt back to reality. Matt turned towards him with these words and gave him his best smile. « I know how to recognize a man in love, and you, young man, you are more than in love! » the old man continued in front of the radiant look and bright blue eyes of the blond man.

« Oh yes, you're telling me… » were the only words Matt managed to say at that moment. « But I don't know if love is enough in our relation right now… » his eyes lowered.

« Young man, I'm not going to lie, I've heard a few rumors about what may or may not have happened between you, bits of information here and there… » Miguel confessed, which surprised Matt. « You shouldn't blame my daughter... She's a little too tongue-tied and she's a big dreamer, a big romantic, and she just wanted to help the chief find a smile again, regain her morale… When she arrived here, the poor little one wasn't in great shape, Daniela took her under her wing, and she often came to spend time at the house... So… »

« So she confided in her father, a great Puerto Rican spiritualist! » Matt teased. « More seriously, never apologize for taking care of her! » He didn't blame anyone, especially Gabby for telling Daniela. On the contrary, he was grateful that she was able to find these people to support her, to accompany her when she arrived on the island. He knew that it must not have been easy for her, she had not arrived in the best psychological and moral conditions. « I'm just grateful that your daughter was there for her, that's all... We went through some very complicated times these last few months before she decided to come here… » Matt felt his throat tighten. Miguel nodded sympathetically.

« Ah, my boy, life is not a long smooth river, but when two people truly love each other, nothing can destroy what is in their hearts, you know. A couple is arguments, joys, sorrows, madness, laughter, tears but above all love. There are periods more difficult than others, moments when we have the impression that we will never recover, but on the contrary the trials, the difficulties, the hard times strengthen a couple… »

« That's the problem… The disagreements and silences have only killed us slowly. It created distance between us, we drifted apart without even realizing it until one day… » Matt couldn't continue, remembering the harsh words they might have had towards each other. « Until one day… » Miguel encouraged him to continue. He had taken a liking to the young man. He reminded him of himself thirty years earlier. « Long story, short. We wanted to start a family, but after some medical examinations we learned some bad news about Gabby's state of health, namely that there was a risk to her life if she became pregnant... From there, everything collapsed, everything went downhill... Communication has never been our strong point, but there we had reached a point where we no longer understood each other, we could no longer speak and it ended up exploding… ». Matt wiped his forehead with his forearm, burning from the heat. He took off one of his gloves, took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair, all the while looking up at the old man. « Words were said, words that can no longer be taken back... These are the circumstances in which she arrived here at the beginning, although in the meantime we had obviously discussed and clarified things... Then a few weeks later, she came back home, I was happy when I saw her in the middle of our living room but in fact it was to leave better... To leave here permanently... and... I couldn't hold her back, or rather I didn't know how to hold her back… ».

« Oh, Matt… You remind me so much of myself at your age. With Daniela's mother we experienced something quite similar, even if the circumstances were different... I didn't want to leave my island, it was out of the question for me... You see I was as grumpy as the old simpleton down! » he laughed, pointing at Raùl.

« What happened? » Matt asked him. « Well, if it's not too indiscreet, of course! »

« She got pregnant, she wanted to return to the mainland, there was no way I was leaving, I couldn't bring myself to do it... It may seem selfish, I know, but this island is my whole life, and I wanted to share it with the woman I loved. She didn't agree, she didn't want to live here, she wanted to go home, give birth near her family... Anyway, you get the idea. She left, like you I couldn't hold her back. I watched her leave, her stomach starting to round, in the middle of the airport on a stormy afternoon... Anyway, we're not going to repeat the story and I'll spare you all the details, thirty years is a long period of time» he paused briefly before continuing. « All this to tell you that we went through storms, even hurricanes, without wanting to make bad puns of course… We separated for a while, getting back in touch was difficult, then we reconnected pieces… But the structure of our relationship was still cracked, we had to work ten times harder than other couples to make it work. We held on, and here we are more than thirty years later, on my island, well on our island, with wonderful children that we raised together and who have great values. Today, we are as solid as a rock. We had ups, downs, even very, very lows, but that's how I learned that the strongest couple is the one who got through the most difficult times. These moments that were meant to separate us ultimately made us stronger than ever. True love persists even in the hardest of times, Matt. And the way you look at her today shows me what real love is, young man. »

« I love her so much, I'm a shadow of myself without her, but... we screwed up, we ruined everything, or maybe I ruined everything, I'm not really sure. I just know I wish I hadn't let her go so easily… again… » Matt felt confident with Miguel, and he opened his heart to him, thinking about that day in their - his? - apartment where she had asked him to accompany her. « I would have liked to tell her to stay, not to leave, but at that moment I told myself that spending a little time apart was probably not only what she needed but also what was best for us, you know… It was a mistake, a very big mistake, and I'm paying the price for it today! »

« Everyone makes mistakes, Matt. A person's character is not determined by their mistakes but by the lessons they learn from them. And obviously, you've learned lessons from it since you're here today, right? » Matt nodded. « I guess you're not here just to spend a day on a rotting old roof with a wise old Puerto Rican guy, » Miguel laughed and looked towards the little brunette who had come to give the grumpy guy a helping hand a little further down. Matt followed his gaze.

« I don't know what could have happened to her, to us… » Matt whispered seeing her at ease. She seemed so happy here. Much more than her last days back in Chicago.

« Who knows, life… » Miguel smiled.

« She seems much happier and calmer here, » Matt observed, almost hurt.

« My boy, there are smiles that only know how to confess the sadness of the heart! » Miguel placed his hand on his shoulder.

« I ended up understanding that she was absolutely inconsolable because I refused to let her give me what she had always dreamed of giving me... I was sad and I was scared to death, an immeasurable fear of losing her... We couldn't comfort each other... We didn't understand each other, or we didn't even try to understand each other, to understand what the other was feeling, I don't know anymore, and in the end we got lost… » Matt continued to open his heart.

« Over time, we come to understand that the greatest distance there can be between two people is a misunderstanding… Lack of communication can ruin an exceptional connection, and you still seem to have this exceptional connection despite everything what you've been through. A connection like very few people have on this earth, boy. You must keep it, it's priceless! »

« And how do I do it? I don't know what to do anymore, how to do it… She left, I couldn't hold her back… » Matt seemed lost. He wanted to fight for the woman he loved, he wanted to fight to get her back, but what to do after the events of the last few days, these last weeks, these last months?

« See these two tiles? They are ultimately one and the same object, and yet they will not be considered in the same way depending on the events. One could be considered as protection against the hurricane, the second as a dangerous element that could injure someone by the force of the hurricane for example. It's the same with all things in life. When you encounter a problem, tell yourself that the solution is in the way you look at it. Imagine a cube and tell yourself that you are looking at the wrong side. Gain some height, change your perspective, young man. » Miguel let his words sink into Matt's mind. « You can see what happened to you from multiple perspectives. She left, she abandoned you. You let her go, you didn't hold her back. She asked you to accompany her. You haven't been there... There are a thousand ways of seeing things, each from a different perspective. Look for the bright side, there is always one. And when you always look for the bright side of things, you will always be happy. Like me. » Matt absorbed the words of the old Puerto Rican. The luminous side. He looked for what the luminous side could be in this whole story. « I see you're looking, young man, that's good! If I can guide you a little further, I would say that the bright side comes from the fact that she wanted you to accompany her. So, she didn't leave you. She didn't leave her relationship, she didn't leave her husband. And it's already ultra positive, if I may say so! » the old man gave him his best smile. Matt looked down at the figure he knew and loved so much. Her darkened skin stood out in her beige outfit, her hair styled and braided gave her a fresher, freer look.

« I found it selfish to ask me to leave everything to go with her… » Matt admitted, somewhat ashamed.

« This woman is bright and sunny, Matt. Maybe a little selfish, but I think she's earned this right after everything she's been through... There's a big difference between giving up and knowing you've already given enough, » Miguel gave him a fatherly look. He was about to continue before being interrupted by the shouts of Holly who was coming back from the groceries and calling everyone to get together for a more than deserved lunch for the whole team. « Matt, old keys won't open new doors… Follow your heart, follow your bright face and everything will be fine! » he finished by quickly picking him up and placing his head on Matt's, like a father would hug his son.

« Thank you, Miguel! » Matt smiled. « I now know that looking for the bright side of things helps us to cope better with difficult situations… »

« Come on, you handymen! » Gabby called out to them from the ground. « All that's missing is you two! » she smiled at them, waving with her arms in the air.

« And that I love her more than anything in the world, » Matt finished his sentence under Miguel's proud gaze. The latter simply nodded.

« Come on, let's go eat! That's not all, we still have work to do afterwards! » Miguel ended their heart-to-heart conversation by heading towards the ladder.

Matt followed him, and he was greeted on the ground by Gabby, all smiles. She was waiting for him at the bottom of the ladder. When he reached her level, he gave her his most beautiful smile, the one that was intended for her, the one that he reserved only for her. She placed her hands on his forearms reddened by the sun. Their eyes locked on one another as a thick feeling settled in the air around them, the two losing sight of anything besides each other. It's like she was unable to look away, Matt's bright blue eyes that she fell in love with so long ago boring into her as she felt her heart catching in her chest, Matt's breath catching in his throat as his body instinctively leaned closer to hers, the man feeling forced to be as close to her as possible. They were lost in each other, like in the good old days. And like old times, this moment was interrupted by Kelly. « Hey! You come! We are waiting for you two! » he ran through the sand to join them. Matt and Gabby walked away, embarrassed. They felt like they were being caught at fault, like two kids caught red-handed stealing candy... Matt looked away and looked down at the ground, while Gabby slapped both of her hands together to regain a certain composure and pursed her lips… « Uh, sorry to interrupt! » Kelly said feeling the discomfort.

« Um, uh, nothing to worry about! » Gabby pulled herself together. « Come on, let's go join everyone! » Gabby looked at the two men one by one and headed towards the beach.

« Damn, I'm such a drag! I'm sorry, man! » Kelly apologized to Matt once Gabby was gone. Matt looked at him skeptically. « Well, things were looking a little caliente right? » Kelly rubbed his hands, all smiles, excited by the situation.

« Oh, shut up, Sev! Nothing was happening at all! » Matt rolled his eyes. He took his best friend by the shoulders and guided him towards the beach. « But, yes, it's on the right track! »

« Ah, I want to know everything! » Kelly was jumping up and down, so happy for his friends.

« You're worse than a girl! » Matt laughed as they got closer to the group.

« What? Kelly worse than a girl? » Gabby teased them as they came up behind her, handing them two cold beers.

« Your man here is insinuating that I'm someone who likes gossips! » he said, outraged, his hand on his chest.

« My man… » Gabby commented with a mischievous smile, before returning to the conversation. « Umm, let's just say you Shay's got you well trained! » Gabby smiled as she toasted her cold can with their respective beers. « Come on, cheers! Thank you for what you're doing for me! » she smiled at them, gratefully.

« Always! » Kelly winked at her, and they all three smiled, remembering the importance of that word.


At the end of the day, as the sun and light began to fade over Puerto Rican soil, the dispensary looked great. The main door has been reinforced, refurbished and secured. The shutters looked like new. The roof had been consolidated, there were no more holes and therefore no risk of leaks. The interior of the building had been cleaned, tidied and reorganized from top to bottom, and the equipment was arriving little by little. Under Gabby's orders and directives, everyone knew their position and their exact role in the last mission of the day: men transported the furniture and other bulky supplies, the women unpacked and Miguel and Raùl, among others, assembled the furniture.

A few hours later, the dispensary looked like a mini clinic. All that was missing was the IT and electronics which would be installed over the following days. They were all gathered in the reception room of the dispensary, a last minute aperitif had been organized to toast the work accomplished during this long day. Discreetly, Gabby moved away from the hustle and bustle. She passed through the half-open door of the dispensary, went around the building and sat on the terrace opposite the entrance, the one on the beach side of the site, her hands on the balustrade. She took a deep breath and released all the pressure. She sat down at a small wooden table which they used for their little breaks and was overwhelmed by the landscape. Despite the time spent here, she was still amazed by the beauty of the place, even after the devastating passage of a hurricane. She then remembered Miguel's words some time earlier: « You may not have the genius of Einstein, the talent of Mozart or even the pen of Shakespeare, but you still live, and that makes you superior to them. As long as we are alive, we can rebuild. »

« As long as we're alive, we can rebuild, » she mumbled, eyes staring at the endless ocean in front of her. « As long as we are alive, everything is possible, » she continued, as if to convince herself that nothing is ever lost, that everything is always possible to those who dare, dream, work and never give up. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, rested her head on her forearms and remained in thought for a long time, before being surprised by the footsteps approaching her.

« What are you doing here all alone? » this familiar voice gave her chills. He positioned himself against the railing, facing her, and looked at her lovingly.

« I just needed to get some fresh air, clear my mind, » she smiled at him. In his turn, he turned around and placed his arms on the railing and watched the waves wash up on the beach. « It's so beautiful, don't you think? » she asked him, getting up and approaching him. He nodded in agreement. They were both side by side, extremely close. She looked at him, or rather admired him while his eyes no longer turned away from the landscape, he was captivated by the spectacle in front of him. They remained here for long minutes, in complete silence, next to each other, without speaking, without looking at each other, without even touching each other. The simple presence of the other seemed comforting, like before. She didn't know when she started feeling good enough to cuddle up with him, but she wasn't embarrassed to be around him anymore. A few minutes later, he put his arm over her shoulders and hugged her against him before placing a kiss on the crook of her shoulder. A kiss probably without a second thought, but which get her all worked up.


A/N : And here ! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that it wasn't too long! I'm a little perplexed, I find this chapter soft but sometimes you have to take the time to put things, and then, I must say that sometimes transposing certain ideas into English doesn't necessarily make it the same! Don't hesitate to tell me what you thought in the comments, I'm already working on the next chapter, I hope to be able to update quickly! See you soon !

G.