The past never lies

Chapter 2

- Present Day-

Matthew cursed at the slow car in front of him. He reached over and grabbed his coffee it was still way to hot and he burnt his tongue. Matt had already been driving for 4 hours and he shook his head wondering why the hell he even considered going back.

The call from his cousin Jenny was the only reason he agreed to come back home, he'd do anything for her. He was actually looking forward to see her again it's been over a year since he saw her and his godaughter Angie.

But it's been 10 years since he drove out of there small town, and he swore he would never go back. He felt a pit in his stomach when he saw the exit sign. He took a deep breath and finished off the last 15 minutes of his drive back home.

As he drove through the familiar part of town alot has changed, more Starbucks then before. He put his blinker on and turned the opposite way he was suppose to turn. He just needed to go by it see it again.

Matt parked his truck in the empty lot and stared at the small old building that was still unoccupied. Matt put his head down and felt a wave of sadness rush over him. He looked up at his once favorite spot in town the empty Taco Shack.

Matt shook his head and got back onto the road and headed where he suppose to go. He looked in his rear view mirror and could actually see the old memories that still meant the most to him.

About 7 minutes later Matt pulled up at the address Jenny gave him. It was a nice house, expensive house. The lawn was perfect it looked just like every other house on the block. Matt sighed, and rubbed his hand over his face. Just leave he thought.

The porch light turned on and the front door swung open and there stood Jenny, looking beautiful as ever. And in her arms was a feisty two year old wiggling to get down.

Matt turned the ignition off and hopped out of the truck. He reluctantly walked up the perfectly laid pathway. Lots of tulips were planted nicely along the path and they were in full spring bloom.

"Matt I can't believe your here!" Jenny exclaimed. She threw her arms around him and gave a squeeze.

"Me either." Matt said truthfully.

"Angie this your uncle Matt." Jenny said tugging at the 2 year old that was clinging to her mom's leg.

"You don't remember me but I saw you when you were a baby when you visited last year." Matt explained to his godaughter.

Angie smiled and then ran off inside. Jenny motioned them to follow.

"Beautiful home Jenny." Matt said looking around the enormous house.

It reminded him of his old house. Everything perfectly in place. Though Matt knew this house was very different then his old home, here you could feel the love that was created in this space.

"Are you hungry? Sarah made roast I could heat some up." Jenny asked.

"Absolutely!" Matt was so happy when Jenny hired Sarah as her housekeeper after the terrible fallout all those years ago. Matt knew seeing Sarah was something he's looked forward too for many years.

Her roast tasted the exact same, in that moment he felt like a kid again. He heard his name being shouted down the hall.

"Wow I'd never see the day that Matthew Alder would step foot into my house!" Justin voiced carried down the hall.

"Get over here!" Justin wrapped his oldest friend in a hug.

"How was the drive?" Justin asked.

" Long!" Matt replied realizing he was exhausted, probably emotionally more then physically. The job exhaustion he's gotten use to over the years.

"So you still seeing that dude from the bar?" Justin asked grabbing a couple beers from the fridge.

"Oh hell no," Matt laughed. "He was also f*****g his boss and dentist."

"s**t man." Justin handed him a beer. " you need this."

"No it was never really anything anyway." Matt reassured his friend.

Angie came running into the kitchen jumping at her daddy. " story" she said holding up a small blue book.

"Hey how about uncle Matt reads to you?" Justin suggested.

Matt smiled, Justin knew how important forming a relationship with his god-daughter meant to him. "I'd really love too."

Angie then turned and jumped at Matt. He scooped her up and followed Justin up the stairs.

Matt saw so many framed pictures along the walls of there home. A beautiful wedding photo of Justin and Jenny. Another one of Justin smashing cake into Jenny's face.

There walls littered of the memories they created together. Matt saw multiple pictures of him as well, he felt his heart warm.

Jenny was in Angie's room. "Sorry she didn't want me to read her the story tonight."

All the adults crowded around the small loved child. Matt read her the story and after the third time reading it her parents left the room rolling their eyes an laughing. Little Angie's puppy's eyes got more storytime out Matt then her parents.

Matt put the book away as she had finally drifted off to sleep through the fifth reading. Matt quietly shut her door and headed back downstairs.

"Matt we re-did our garage into a studio last year for Justin sister when she visits so you can stay in there, have some privacy." Jenny said handing him a key.

" It's not sound proof though so don't pound some dude so hard we hear it." Justin laughed at his joke.

Matt and Jenny both laughed. Matt missed them so much, everyday he wishes he could come back and be near them. But he couldn't not after what happened.

They all retired to the couch. Justin handed Matt a fresh cold beer.

"So how are you holding up?" Justin asked with genuine concern.

Matt honestly wasn't even sure how to answer the question.

"I don't know to be honest," Matt took a drink of his beer and continued "I know I'm suppose to feel sad or some s**t but.." Matt left the thought unended.

"I know right, I mean he's my uncle but I don't even know if I'm suppose to be sad or not." Jenny sighed.

" Your dad was a ass." Justin said matter of factly.

"I think he hit you more then hugged you." Justin said.

Matt laughed not because it was funny but because he was pretty sure his dad never hugged him in his life.

"So what is my mom saying?" Matt asked since all he really had was a vague message on his cell from his older brother.

"Matthew it's Tim, dads pretty sick probably won't be around much longer wasn't sure if you gave a s**t or not and wanted to say goodbye." And that was the end of the message.

Matt called Jenny immediately and she confirmed what Tim said she apologized for not telling him sooner but was wasn't afraid of upsetting him.

Jenny said her mom told her it was stage 4 colon cancer and he was in rough shape. Matt tried to process the news but he still hasn't been able too yet. Jenny asked him to come back and stay for a while with them and Matt would do anything for Jenny.

" I have a job not far from here I'm gonna go check out." Matt announced.

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Can't you ever just take a break?"

Matt knew he was a workaholic, he put everything into it. His job was the only thing that brought his some joy.

"Not a Welding job, I'm doing a bathroom remodel." Matt said.

Matt feel in love with construction just as much as Welding, he got his business license and now does small remodeling jobs when he can.

"So are we done with small talk yet?" Justin's eyebrows went up.

"Really Justin?!" Jenny punched his arm.

"What?" Justin asked. "You know he wants to know."

Matt rubbed his face, Justin wasn't wrong he did want to know, but a small part also didn't want to.

"Ok, tell me. What's Ryder up too?" Matt finally asked.

" Ha told you!" Justin exclaimed.

" Shut it." Jenny rolled her eyes.

Matt waited, he waited to hear about the one guy that he could never forget, that he can't ever truly let go. The reason no relationship ever lasted.

"I saw him about a month ago at the store, we made small talk then split." Justin took a drink.

" He seemed still just off." Justin added.

Justin told him for years that the spark that made Ryder Cruz who he was disappeard right after Matt left and Ryder never got it back. Matt always just rolled his eyes

"He wasn't with anyone." Justin hinted.

"No that's all in the past." Matt stated. He knew that Ryder will always haunt his past.

"Mind if I shower and head to bed I'm pretty beat." Matt got up, he knew tomorrow was gonna be a s**t-show.

Jenny wrapper him in a hug, "We will go tomorrow together."

Matt laid on the soft comfortable bed staring at the ceiling later that night. He let his mind drift, till sleep finally came.