The past never lies

Chapter 4

-Present day-

Matt woke up to his phone vibrating. He reached over and saw a text from Ethan his ex.

-Hey let's talk about everything...I miss you-

Matt grumbled, not a chance. He turned the phone off and stretched and quickly dressed. He could smell the pancakes and bacon cooking.

Matt opened the garage door and saw Sarah standing over the stove. He cleared his throat and watched her turn and her eyes widen.

Matthew?!" Sarah said in surprise.

"Sorry I asked them to keep it a secret I was coming. Wanted to surprise you." Matt said sheepishly.

Sarah ran over to him and wrapped in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you in person." Sarah stood back and got a good look at the man he became.

"I suppose your back in town for your father." You could hear the disappointment in her voice when she talked about his dad.

Matt never held any type of ill-will toward Sarah, she tried her best to shield Matt from his dad. When Matt was a kid she would keep him in his room with the door locked and played boardgames with him.

When his dad would get angry and drank to much he would use Matt as a way to release his frustration. The worst one was also the last time he ever hit Matt, he was 13 and got mad at him for wanting to leave with Justin on a camping trip instead of staying for his birthday.

His father slapped him and grabbed his finger and bent it until you heard a snap. He could still hear Sarah screaming and pulling on him.

"You lay one more hand on him I will go to the police, no more touching him!"

That was the last time his dad ever laid a hand on him.

"What's that delicious smell?" Matt trying to change the subject.

Matt poured a cup of coffee and sneaked a piece of bacon. He was amazed by how at home he already felt here.

"Morning." Justin and Jenny walked in the kitchen with little Angie following sleepily behind them.

Justin grabbed two coffee cups and poured him and Jenny some. Angie climbed up at the kitchen table and waited for her mom to finish making her plate full of pancakes, bacon and fruit.

Matt leaned against the counter watching his two best friends in parenting mode. He sighed feeling a little sad that he may never find someone that he could have this life with.

"So whats the plan today?" Justin asked drinking his coffee.

"Gotta go see about the small remodel job and then..." Matt voice trailed off.

"Matt, we can go together to your parents house later this evening." Jenny offered.

Matt nodded, he wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say to his dad. He knew he needed to call his mom and let her know he was in town. Matt tried to remember the last time he spoke to his mom, about 4 years ago she called him letting him know his brother got engaged(for the second time) and that I was invited to the wedding.

Matt declined the invitation and his mother hung up the call and they haven't spoke since.

"I have to drop Angie off at daycare and then I could go out there with you to the job?" Justin said.

"I need to stop by the office and do some paper work for the Hunter Estate." Jenny told Justin and Matt.

Both Jenny and Justin were very successful real-estate agent's.

"Ok hon." Justin kissed his wife on the forehead.

Jenny disappeared up the stairs to get ready.

"I'm really glad the two of you stopped being stupid and admitted your feelings." Matt stated.

Justin rubbed his face, looking up at the stairs Jenny just went up.

"It was always Jenny, since I saw her melting crayons in the sun in 3 third grade." Justin laughed at the memory.

"You only get one soul mate." Justin continued. "I'm lucky mine has been in my life since the beginning."

Matt let his mind wander off, was Justin right do you only get one soul mate in life. If that was true then he was pretty sure he already had his and lost him.

Matt sat in the truck as Justin ran Angie inside her daycare. He took a drink of his coffee, pulling up the address of his small bath remodel. It was about 45 minutes out of town. The job was small, it would take maybe a few days. They wanted a estimate on new counters and shelfs, and possibly a new backslash around there mirror.

Justin opened the passenger door.

"Alright let's head out."

The traffic was good, they arrived to the destination alot quicker then Matt expected.

They pulled into the house, it was a large, blue house. The house sat on acres of farming land. The guys hopped out of the truck and a tall middle aged man greeted them at the porch.

"Matthew Alder." Matt said extending his hand.

"John."

Matt and Justin followed him into the bathroom and Matt took out his tablet and started taking notes as John went over in detail about what they wanted done in this space.

Matt finished up his estimate and agreed to a start day. Matt and Justin headed for the truck.

"So, need a hand on this job." Justin offered.

"Sorry, if you got hurt I'd be fucked." Matt said apologetically.

They got back into town, and Justin cleared his throat. "You know if you take a right up here, we can drive past Weston Auto Shop."

Matt gave him a look. "No."

"Why not, we can stop for a ice tea at Martin Bakery." Justin said coyly.

Matt ignored his friend. As he got up to the light he huffed and grumbled under his breath. He turned his blinker on and made a right turn.

"Not a word." Matt warned.

Justin pretending to zip his lips, but a small smile appeared.

Matt slowed down as they drove up to the auto shop. It looked exactly the same as he remembered. The old white sign worn out and the letter p from shop was still missing.

Matt found himself wishing that Ryder would come walking out that door.

"Sorry." Justin whispered.

" I shouldn't have even brought it up." Justin said seeing the hurt look in his friends eyes.

Matt shook his head. "I would of stopped by eventually."

They got back to the house and Matt felt exhausted for some reason. He wasn't sure what he hoped for, Ryder to come out and see Matt in truck and what? Run up to him and apologize, declaring his love for him, make Matt promises he could never keep.

Matt sure wasn't looking forward to later that evening he prepared himself for the worst already.

Matt pulled his phone out and took a deep breath and hit his moms number.

"Hello?" The voice sounded guarded.

" Hey mom it's Matt. I'm in town."

The line was quiet, he had to looked at his phone to even see if she hung up.

" Timothy was sure you would not come." His mom stated.

Matt debated if he should be honest and tell her that he almost didn't want to come back, but he knew that would be pointless.

" I would like to come over later this evening." Matt told her.

The phone got quiet again. "Just you?"

Matt had to almost laugh, of course nothing has changed. "Just me and Jenny."

God forbid Matt showed up at his parents house with a guy. He was sure his mom would probably faint if he tried that again.

"Well that would be fine."

Matt said a goodbye and hung up. He shook his head. He always tried not to feel sorry for himself with the parents he got.

" That bad?" Justin asked walking into the kitchen.

"I have to wonder how doctors can't be accepting of all types of relationships?" Matt said, starting to let the angry surface.

" Cause your parents are asses." Justin said.

Matt definitely agreed with him. He needed to blow of some stem before he even thought about facing his family.

"I'm gonna go on a run, be back later." Matt told his friend.