“I don't want to help her Kyle.” He said with determination. “She never stepped in to help me when I needed her, and I was a fucking kid. I don't owe her anything.”
“No, you don’t.” I agreed. “I think that’s the right decision, bro. She’s poison, and I never want to see her coming into your life again.”
“Me either. It took me a long time to get her face out of my nightmares.”
“I’m gonna get rid of this for you, ok? Forget all about it Matt. If she sends you anything else, you don’t open it. Just bring it to me, and I’ll deal with it.” I held up the letter as we both stood.
“Thanks Mano.” I hadn’t heard him use the spanish word for ‘bro’ for a long time. He had been twelve the first time he called me it. I’d taken him and Cole to a football game, and we’d had a great day together. It was the first time I saw Matt really come alive and smile, and at the end of the day as I drove them both home, he’d said those exact same words, making it clear I had breached the high walls he had held around himself for the eighteen months since he came to the house.
I pulled him into a hug and gave him a slap on the back.
“Always, you know that. I will always have your back.”
“And I’ll have yours.” He returned.
“Now go shower, then check in with Livy. She’s worried about you.” I ordered as he stepped back and grabbed his towel and jacket.
“You think I should tell her?”
“That’s up to you, but I think she can handle it. She’s strong, and I think she’d feel better to know what’s going on. She really was worried about you when I spoke to her.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He nodded. “Thanks Kyle.” Before I could say anything else he was gone. I looked down to the letter in my hand and tried hard not to let the bitch get to me too. It was hard though, when I had seen first hand what she had put her own child through all those years ago. How dare she ever contact Matt again? It made me sick with rage.
Deciding action needed to be taken, I dialled Kade. I thought it might be best to pay Matt’s bitch of a mother a little visit, make sure she knew never to contact her son, ever again. Matt was strong, I hadn't lied about that. He had been through hell and come out unbreakable, except for that bitch. She had the power to break him, but I was never going to let that happen, and neither would Cole or Kade, or Livy for that matter. She was strong too, and fiercely protective of all of us.
“Kyle?” Kade answered.
“Hey. I need a favour. I need a visit with Matt’s Mom. I need to impart on her just how scary I can be.”
“Do not tell me the evil bitch has contacted him.” Kade growled.
“She has, and I need to make sure she ever does it again.”
OLIVIA
“Hey Cariña, what are you looking so down about?” Matt asked as he strode into the office. I had been sitting there for over an hour, trying hard to focus on my assignment, and failing miserably. I looked up, relieved to see Matt dressed in jeans and a button down, looking much more like his usual upbeat self.
“Oh nothing.” I replied. “Are you ok? You look better.”
“I’m good. I….I got a letter this morning. It was from my Mom. She’s in trouble, and was trying to make me feel guilty enough to help her.”
“Are you going to…..help her, I mean?”
“No. Kyle talked it through with me and I decided I don’t owe her anything. I’m just going to ignore her letter and hope she gets the message.” He sounded determined, but I saw the uncertainty in his eyes. He was too kind. He actually felt bad about not helping her, I realised. After everything she let him go through, he still felt a duty to her.
I got to my feet and went to him, wrapping him in a hug and holding him tight.
“She should never have contacted you Matt. She was selfish to do that in the first place, but to then try and guilt you? That’s beyond twisted. You’re right, you owe her nothing. Don’t let her make you feel bad about a damn thing. Whatever trouble she’s in, she got herself there, and she can get herself out of it, or not. Either way, it has nothing to do with you now. She gave up any right to call herself your mother the first time she laid a hand on you.” I knew I was likely being too opinionated, and should just let Matt come to his own conclusions, but he was too caring and too good. He would flounder over his decision, tearing himself up thinking he had been selfish leaving her to deal with her own mess. I was not willing to let that happen. She had hurt him enough. I wasn’t letting her do it ever again. Matt was mine to protect now, and I would.
“You don’t think less of me for turning my back on her?” He asked. I looked up from where my face had been buried in his shirt and made sure my eyes met his.
“Of course not. In fact, if you hadn’t, I’d likely have tried to talk you into doing just that. She’s a selfish bitch from what you told me Matt. You’re too good and kind to ever be tainted by her again. Leave her in the past, and keep moving forward, with me,
