Matty started crying again and his Mom said, "Push over."
She crawled into his bed with him, "I never should have left you. I could have helped the Agency from home. I only went because you were so adamant last night. I was going to come home to check on you this afternoon anyway."
Matty leaned his head into his mom's shoulder and started crying hard. He did not feel good. He had made a mess of everything. His family was about to start a war with the Gilstrap family over him.
His mom was holding him and talking soothingly to him, "It's going to be alright. I'm here. I've got you. You are safe. I know it doesn't seem like it right now but everything is going to be alright."
Matty snuggled into her, "I'm sorry, Mom. I messed everything up. Can you call the Gilstrap house? Make sure that Rachel is alright. That I didn't hurt her. I pushed her. Jamie and Grandma think she owes me an apology. They are all mad at her, but it was my fault. I pushed her off of me, so I didn't throw up on her while we were kissing."
His mother started laughing, "Oh sweet boy. That's actually pretty considerate on your part."
Matty wiped his eyes and laughed a little. "Mom don't make me laugh. I don't want to laugh."
His mom kissed the top of his head, "Matty what happened today with Rachel you have to admit it is a little funny. She's your first girlfriend. This whole thing with her. You are going to look back on and laugh one day. Do you love Rachel?"
Matty looked at her, "I don't know. I really like her. She is very pretty. She is ok with me bringing you and Dad on dates. Leann and Jamie said she just likes me because I'm hot now and I'm rich. I'm not hot, Mom."
His mother smiled, "Matty you are a very good-looking boy. I think you are right. I don't think Rachel just liked you because of that, though. I think she liked you because you are very sweet and considerate. Do you remember what Doctor Pfaff told you about your low self-esteem? It stems from your PTSD. I think maybe we should start scheduling some regular appointments with him again."
Matty looked at her, "But he helped me control my nightmares. I haven't had a nightmare in a couple of years."
His mother nodded, "I know. Matty, you getting your voice back and being able to hear a little bit. That's all a big change for you. I know you talked to Doctor Pfaff a couple times over the summer after what happened at your last school, but we didn't go back to regular appointments."
Matty nodded, "Ok, but I would rather talk to you mom. You're a professional too."
His mother hugged him, "I'm also your mother.I can't be biased when it comes to you. You know it's all going to be alright, don't you? I will call the Gilstrap house. Make sure Rachel is alright. But I'm not sure she is right for you if she just left you like that."
Matty spoke, "I might have hurt her or something, Mom. I really like having a girlfriend, but she moves a little fast for me. I know I'm a guy and I like kissing her and stuff. I just need to move at a little slower pace. There's something wrong with me, isn't there? The guy is supposed to be the one that moves too fast. Not the other way around."
His mother spoke, "There's nothing wrong with you, sweet boy. I think you just might not be that attracted to her. It was more about you liking the idea of having a girlfriend and being a regular teenager. Now what happened between you two, if it had been reversed, if you were kissing Rachel and she was the one that started throwing up. What would you have done? Even if she pushed you and hurt you a little bit?"
Matty looked at his mother. "I probably would have followed her to the bathroom and asked if she was alright. But I'm a boy, Mom. It's different."
His mom smiled, "Matty, if your father had pushed me off of him to go throw up. I would have checked on him.'
Matty looked at her, "Dad doesn't count. He's the love of your life. Rachel was not the love of my life. Mom, what about if you had to throw up when you were kissing Lester the turtle man?"
His mother laughed, "Lester the Turtle man? I never actually kissed Lester. He was a very nice man though. He didn't look that much like a turtle. Jamie and Leann are exaggerating."
Matty smiled a little, "What about the potato chip guy? Did Phillip really eat the potato chip shaped like Lincoln? Did you kiss him?"
His mom smiled, "Yes, that really happened. Look you really look terrible, sweet boy. How about you go back to sleep now, and we can go back to talking about our love lives some more after you wake up. Close your eyes. I'm here. I will stay until you fall asleep. I love you so much. It's all going to be alright, I promise."
Matty closed his eyes again. When he opened them, it was 2PM. He was alone in his room. He got out of bed and went downstairs. It was quiet in the house. He went to his sister's room, and it was empty.
Was he home alone? Then he went down to the basement. He saw the light on in the office. His mother was working on the computer.
Matty walked in, "Hi Mom."
She turned and smiled at him. "Hey sweet boy. Are you feeling better?'
Matty nodded. "A little. Where is everyone?"
His mother spoke, "Your sister and Jamie went to Phillip's house. Grandma is in her loft. I called Rachel's mom. Rachel is fine. She just got scared and didn't know what to do. So, she ran away. You didn't hurt her at all. Her mother isn't too happy with her right now for leaving you like that."
Matty nodded, "Thanks Mom. I guess I should call her. Apologize for getting her in trouble."
His mother looked at him, "Matty, I told her mother that I would have you call when you feel a little better. Her mother says Rachel isn't ready to talk to you just yet. She'll talk to you when you go back to school. I'm so sorry."
Matty looked at his mother, "I just got dumped. Didn't I?"
His mother sighed, "I'm so sorry, sweet boy. You can do so much better. She is a nice girl, but she comes on a little strong. I think the next girl, maybe you should ask out yourself. I don't even think you ever even had real feelings for this girl. Did you?"
Matty looked at his mother, "I don't know, Mom. I more liked that she liked me even though it confused me. She is really pretty. I wanted to have stronger feelings for her. You and dad didn't have strong feelings for each other at first. It took you three years to get together."
His mom smiled, "No your daddy and I we had feelings for each other from the day we met. The problem was more that the feelings we had for each other were too strong. It scared both of us. We both had been really hurt by other people and we were so different from each other."
Matty looked at her, "You and Dad are not that different. You two are a lot alike actually."
His mother smiled, "We weren't back then. Your father was a dashing spy and I was just a frumpy housewife."
Matty scoffed, "You are far from frumpy, Mom. You look just like the dark-haired Charlie's Angel. Guys hit on you all the time. Coach Hayes at my school has a thing for you. I kind of think my friend Jeff does too."
His mother smiled, "Well thank you for that ego boost. Don't tell your daddy about Jeff. I don't want him to be scared to come over like Bobby. But your right about your daddy and I being more alike than we realized. I guess it was more we came from two different worlds your daddy and me. He had a jet set lifestyle. He was with a different woman every night. You think my string of boring men was bad. You should have seen some of these girls they make Hannah seem like a rocket scientist."
Matty looked at her, "I still can't picture Dad living a jet set lifestyle with a different woman on his arm every night. You know he told me once he had four black books. You know how he exaggerates."
His mother laughed, "That was true. He really did have four black books. Your Aunt Francine and I had to contact every woman in them once."
Matty spoke, "Oh wow. Did dad have an STD or something?"
His mother laughed, "Amazingly not that I know of. The reason we contacted the women is classified. Look Matty I knew I was in love with your daddy on some level since the day I met him. I didn't admit that to myself for a long time. I tried to deny I had feelings for him. But they were there. Even Uncle Joe when I was in college. My feelings for him were there as soon as I met him. They weren't as intense as the ones I had for you daddy but they were there."
Matty looked at her, "How will I know when I have feelings for someone? What does it feel like?"
His mother smiled, "Trust me you'll know. Are there any girls you think about a little too much? Have dreams about? Picture yourself marrying."
Matty looked at his mom, "I've had dreams about Jessica Alba and Nurse Tracy on Love Hospital."
His mother smiled, "Not Rachel?"
Matty nodded no, "No, I've made out with Rachel for real. I don't need to dream about her."
HIs mother smiled, "I still have dreams about your father even though I got him. Some really good dreams too."
Matty looked at her, "Please don't go into details on those dreams, Mom. I have enough to talk to Dr Pfaff about."
His mother smiled at him, "I won't. I'm just trying to tell you. That when you're with someone and its really good. You still dream about them. Still think about them all the time. Want to touch them when they are near you. Even before we were together. Your daddy and I. We were always touching each other. We didn't even mean to do it. It was just holding his hand. Being near him. It made me feel safe."
Matty smiled, "I know what you mean. He always makes me feel safe too. Knowing that he will do anything to protect you. After what happened to me. I think the fact that dad was so overprotective of me. Loved me so much is why I'm not like those kids that ended up in institutions."
His mother smiled, "Your daddy really is wonderful. But it was not all him. You are a very smart, brave, and wonderful boy. I don't think anyone can break you."
Matty looked at her, "No you, Leann and Grandma can break me really easily. Especially you."
His mother smiled, "That's not what I meant. Matty you almost escaped from the warehouse when you were five years old. You gave hope to the other kids. I've interviewed them. They all talk about number 13 like a folk hero. You shared your food. You shared the books you remembered with some of them at night. I wish you could see yourself the way other people see you. The way I see you."
Matty smiled at her, "Thanks mom. Let's change the subject. We are getting too deep. What are you doing for the Agency right now? Can I help at all?"
His mother spoke, "I'm just going through employee records. Looking for anyone that might have ties to Birol or Karbala. Someone tipped him off."
Matty looked at her, "Any leads?"
HIs mother nodded, "Not yet. Everyone is clean so far."
Matty looked at her, "Dad probably won't be home today. Will he?"
She looked at him, "Probably not. I'm going to make some lasagna tonight. Your grandmother is going to bring Phillip and your dad plates at the agency."
Matty looked at her, "You can bring it to them if you want. I'll be ok."
His mother looked at him, "Oh no. I'm not falling for that again. I'm not leaving you. Not a chance."
Matty then asked, "Where did Leann and Jamie go?"
His mother spoke, "Jamie took her to the park. Then they were going to go Uncle Joe and Aunt Carrie's house for a little while. Jamie listened to you about spending more time with Joey."
Matty looked at her, "You didn't tell Uncle Joe what I told you about Joey yet. Did you?"
She smiled, "Matty you can trust me. I am going to talk to him alone. When he's not with Carrie. And not right now. We have enough going on right now without getting involved in that drama."
Matty then felt nauseous again. His mom followed him into the bathroom while he got sick this time. She gently rubbed his back.
"Alright you are going back to bed."
Matty nodded no. "No, I want to stay down here with you. Can I just lay on the love seat while you work, Mom? I want to be with you."
His mother nodded, "Ok sweet boy. Yes, you can stay with me. But let me get you a pillow and a blanket for the love seat."
His mother disappeared out of the office. She came back with a pillow and a blanket. She also had a bottled water and his pill bottles.
Matty looked at her, "I don't need to take those again until before I go to bed."
His mother nodded, "Yes well that would be the case if you had taken them at all today."
She was on to him. He wasn't sure how, "What makes you think I didn't take them?"
"You aren't rambling, sweet boy. And you are your father's son. Your grandmother wasn't home when you woke up. Did you flush them or are they hidden in the loose floorboard in your room that Phillip thinks I don't know about?"
Matty looked at her, "I'm sorry, Mom. I just didn't want to say anything stupid to Rachel. I could've accidentally told her my whole family were spies or something. I mean maybe I should stop taking them. I could jeopardize national security You and dad let Leann, and I hear confidential information all the time."
His mother smiled, "Nice try. Take your pills. I'm willing to risk national security. Your daddy and I don't tell you kids everything. Just what you need to know. I've done it the other way. And well I made a promise to your grandmother and brothers that I would never lie to them again. It is so much easier and less stressful for you all to know the truth."
Matty knew he wasn't going to win. He took his pills. His mom petted his hair and kissed his forehead.
She put the blanket on him. "Are you comfortable?"
Matty was very comfortable. He liked being with his mom. "Yes. Thanks Mom. Can I help you with the research? You could print some stuff out for me. I can help you. It might go faster."
His mother smiled, "Matty this is all classified information. I can't do that. You already know more than you should. Just rest."
Matty fell asleep again. He woke up to voices. Phillip was in the office.
"Maybe we should let him just stay down here for the night. He's too big to carry."
Matty sat up, "I'm awake. What time is it?"
His mother spoke, "Its 9PM. How are you doing? If I make you some soup. Do you think you can keep it down?"
Matty's neck hurt a little from sleeping on the love seat, "I'm sick of being sick. Yeah, I can try to eat some soup. I haven't eaten anything at all today."
Matty got off the love seat and wobbled a little. Phillip helped steadied him.
Matty looked at him, "Is my dad still at the agency?"
Phillip nodded, "Yeah, I don't think he's going to come home any time soon. Although Mom will probably make him at some point. She's the only person who can make him do anything when he's like this."
His mother looked at Phillip, "Did Lee eat anything while you were in the office?"
Phillip looked at her, "He drank at least two pots of coffee. I'm not sure I actually saw him eat food though. The lasagna that Grandma brought in for us. He gave me his plate. Said he wasn't hungry."
His mother sighed, "I'll make a poppy seed cake. I'll put it on the counter. Stop by before work tomorrow and bring it to him."
Phillip nodded, "Yeah, I will. I really should get home. Where's the runt, Mom? Is she with Grandma or something?"
His mother answered, "She's at your house now. Jamie and her spent the day at your father's house and then Jamie got Carrie to let Joey go to your house. So, you have all the kids tonight, except Matty."
Phillip looked at her, "Cool. So, my house is where the party is at. I'm just going to stop in at Grandma's loft. Say hi to her then I'll go home. You going to be ok here with just you and Matty, Mom?"
His mother smiled, "Yes. Just stop by before work. I'm going to tell Lee that I want you to watch him eat at least one piece of cake."
Phillip laughed, "No problem, Mom. I'll have Francine help if he doesn't."
Phillip left and he was alone with his mother again. "Alright let's get you upstairs. Back in bed. Since its just you and me tonight. You want to sleep in my bed?"
Matty smiled and nodded yes, "Ok let's get you settled and then I'll make you some soup."
Matty followed her up the stairs. He went to his parent's bedroom. He got in his dad's side of the bed. Then she handed him the remote control of the television."
Matty flipped to ESPN but then decided he should probably find something on television his mother would want to watch too. He put it on the classic movie station. They were having a Cary Grant movie marathon. That was perfect for his mother.
She came back with some soup and toast. She looked at the television. "Matty I won't be in for a while. I have to make the poppy seed cake. You can watch sports. I really don't mind."
Matty smiled, "You don't have to stay in the kitchen the whole time. What's the difference between sitting on the couch and reading while the cake is baking or watching television with me in here?"
His mother smiled, "Ok. I will be back in a little bit. I am going to start the cake and then I just have to call the agency and check in on your daddy."
Matty spoke, "Can I talk to him too when you call? I think me being able to talk on the phone is the only good that came out of all of this."
She smiled, "Yes of course. I think he would really like that too."
Matty ate his soup and watched the movie. Then his mother came up. "Pick up the line."
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling? I heard you had a rough day. I'm sorry about Rachel."
Matty answered, "Well the good news is that you don't have to worry about me marrying into the Gilstrap family anymore."
His dad laughed, "Thank God for small favors. You can do so much better. She was just your first girlfriend of I'm guessing many. Look I'm probably not going to home tonight. I miss you, kid."
Matty spoke, "I miss you too, Dad. Mom's letting me sleep in your bed tonight. She's making you a poppy seed cake. She's going to make Phillip force you to eat it tomorrow."
His dad laughed, "Yeah, I know. She already told me it's either at least one piece of Poppy seed cake or she'll send your grandmother here with a full breakfast. Look I have to go. You take care of yourself, kid. I love you."
Matty smiled, "I love you too, Dad. Do you want to talk to Mom again?"
His Dad spoke, "No we said goodbye already. You have a good night with your mom. You know she doesn't mind watching sports with you right?"
Matty smiled, "If I watch sports or something. She'll never come to bed until after I fall asleep. I kind of just want to be with her."
His Dad spoke. "You and me both, kid. You take it easy. I love you."
Matty smiled, "I love you too, Dad."
Matty hung up the phone. He finished the rest of his soup. His mother came in after a few minutes with a timer which she put on her nightstand.
"Don't want to get too comfortable and fall asleep. What movie are they playing?"
Matty spoke, "An Affair to Remember and after that it will be His Girl Friday."
His mother smiled, "Those are both good ones."
She laid down on the bed and put her arm around him and Matty snuggled into her. It felt really nice being there with his mom. "Thank you, Mom."
She looked at him, "For what?"
Matty smiled, "Always being there for me."
She kissed the top of his head, "I always will be. No matter how old you get."
Matty fell asleep again after a few minutes. He woke up a little when the timer went off and his mom left to get the poppy seed cake. But he fell back asleep. Almost instantly.
When he woke up again. The sun was blaring in through the window. He was really hungry and thirsty.
He looked at the clock. It was early. It was only 7am. He heard his grandmother and mother talking in the kitchen.
He got out of bed and washed up. Then he crept down the stairs.
"Amanda dear, can't you talk some sense into him?
She spoke, "I could. But I'm not sure I want to. I want Birol to pay for what he's done to our family just as much as he does. Lee is not that far gone yet. I've seen him worse. You've seen him worse. When Matty was taken, and Phillip was shot. We wouldn't see him for weeks at a time. At least I know where he is and what he's doing. I want him to end this. If the kids didn't need me especially Matty. I would be there with him right now."
Matty sat on the steps. He liked that he could listen in now.
His grandmother said, "Are you going to take Matty to the doctor when he wakes up?"
His mother spoke, "I talked to the doctor. We just have to monitor him. If the fever gets worse or his pain levels spike again. We should bring him in. We will see how he does. God he is so much like Lee. You know he flushed his pills down the toilet. Tried to tell me he didn't want to take them for national security reasons."
Matty heard his grandmother laugh, "That is cute. He really is the most wonderful child. They both are. It's a shame you two lost all that time together. The way you and Lee go at it all the time. I probably would have had at least one or two more grandchildren if nothing had ever happened."
His mother huffed, "Mother, four children are plenty. Lee and I do not go at it all the time."
His grandmother spoke, "Amanda, I'm not judging you. I'm just saying it would have been nice to have a couple more grandchildren. Especially considering how active you two are behind closed doors and even open doors every once in a while. God knows if I had a man that looked like that. I'd never want to leave the bedroom either."
Matty figured he should save his mother. He also didn't want to hear anymore about how active his parents were behind closed doors.
"Good morning, Mom and Grandma."
His mother looked so relieved he walked into the room. He knew she did not want to continue that conversation anymore.
His Grandmother smiled, "Good morning sweet angel. What are you doing out of bed?"
Matty looked at them, "I feel a lot better this morning. I'm even hungry."
His mother came over to him and felt his forehead, "You are still taking your pills today. But you don't feel as warm as yesterday and your color is better. Sit down on the couch. I'll go get your pills and the thermometer."
Matty spoke, "Can I have some coffee, Grandma?"
HIs grandmother spoke, "Can your stomach handle that?"
Matty spoke, "Yeah, I think so. I don't feel as bad. My ear doesn't hurt as much today. It's more warm and a little itchy."
His mom came in and put the thermometer in his mouth. They waited a minute and then his mom took it out.
She smiled, "99 degrees. Almost normal."
Matty looked at her, "Good. Now you can go to the Agency and help Dad if you want."
His mother looked at him, "No. I'm not falling for that again. I can help your daddy from here. Plus, Jamie is coming home around lunchtime, and I want to spend some time with him too. He has a breakfast date with Colleen Dennis this morning and then he's coming here after."
HIs grandmother spoke, "Colleen Dennis? Oh, that's wonderful. She just split with her husband. Jamie and her were really cute together in high school. That was Jamie's first real girlfriend. They dated all of high school. They only split up because Jamie went to NYU. They didn't want to do long distance. Oh, that's still going to be a problem. She has a 4-year-old daughter. She can't move to New York."
HIs mother spoke, "They are just friends now, Mother. Sven's daughter Hannah just moved to NYC. Jamie wants to give her a call."
His grandmother spoke, "Hannah? She's a very pretty girl but well other than her looks she is not exactly Jamie's type. There's not much between her ears. Jamie is a very smart boy. I don't think that would last very long."
Matty interrupted, "Hannah's very nice. But I don't think either of you have to worry. She isn't into Jamie. She liked Phillip even though he's very happily married to Irene. She hit on him the last time we were in London."
His mother spoke, "Oh Matty. Are you spilling family secrets again?"
His grandmother spoke, "Matty was spilling family secrets? Anything good?"
His mother gave him a look that Matty knew meant to keep his mouth shut. He needed to stop talking.
HIs mother spoke, "He just was telling me things yesterday that the other kids probably didn't want me to know."
His Grandmother said, "Like what?'
HIs mother answered, "Nice try, Mother but they are secrets for a reason. Let's just say it sounds like Joe & Carrie are having problems."
His grandmother spoke, "Oh well I could've told you that. Joe was so annoyed with Carrie during that whole dinner the other day. I love him but he screwed up the way he treated you and the boys. He had the most wonderful wife and children and then he married the coldest woman on the planet. I hate to say it, but he deserves Carrie."
Matty spoke, "Joey doesn't. He's a great kid."
His grandmother nodded, "Your right and I'm sorry. Joey is a sweet boy too. If that boy didn't look so much like Joe. I would think maybe they brought the wrong baby home from the hospital with how warm and sweet he is."
Matty spoke, "I think it's just because Uncle Joe actually is a good guy. He and mom just were too young when they got married. But it all worked out because my dad got my mom."
His mother spoke, "I'll say. Everything I went through was worth it for your daddy and you kids. I couldn't imagine my life without your father, you and your sister."
His mother made him some breakfast. Matty ate it happily. Afterwards they both went down in the basement. Matty played Death Demon, and his mother went and worked in the little office.
The rest of the day went well. Jamie came home around lunch. They had lunch together and played Death Demon together the rest of the afternoon. Jamie then had dinner with them.
Matty slept in his own bed that night. The next couple of days past with Matty feeling better every day. He couldn't even feel his ear anymore. He was looking forward to the next day when his friend Jeff came over.
Notes:
This really is the last chapter of Matty being really sick. He really does start to feel better after this chapter.
Next chapter - Matty's friend Jeff comes for a visit. I may actually have thrown some plot to start moving the story along in the next chapter as well.