Chapter 68

Matt awoke the next morning to find Angela gone. He got up, took a quick shower, and got dressed. He pulled his damp hair into a ponytail and went downstairs. He walked through the living room and saw Rich asleep, holding the remote control, on the couch with the TV on, playing some baseball game. Matt grinned as he moved past the couch and headed for the kitchen.

He walked in through the hallway and heard laughing. He stood in the doorway and saw Angela wearing a pair of shorts and a pink bathing suit top. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she was drinking a lemonade. Aunt Jenny sat across from her wearing a flowery long skirt, and a blue tank top. From out the window he could see Joe and Colleen running across the beach playing Frisbee with the Golden Retriever, Benny. Matt sighed as he walked over to the kitchen table and took a chair next to Angela.

"Matt good morning sleepy!" Aunt Jenny said smiling at him, as she turned to pour him some lemonade.

"Hey Matt. Good morning." Angela said leaning over and kissing his cheek.

"Morning ladies, sorry I was so tired. Did I miss breakfast?" Matt asked suddenly starving.

Jenny giggled, as she handed him a plate of pancakes, and eggs and sausages. Then a pitcher of syrup, and his glass of lemonade.

"Ohh thank you, this looks great!" Matt said smiling as Angela laughed at him.

"Your welcome, there’s plenty here, eat up, enjoy!" Jenny said smiling as she went to make a pot of coffee.

Angela leaned close to Matt and whispered softly. "How’d you sleep?" Angela asked as Matt turned to smile at her.

Matt shook his head and grinned, whispering, "I haven’t sleep that good in weeks, you got to be next to me for a change!" Matt whispered as Angela smiled. Matt stared at her, and she sighed, sipping her lemonade.

"So kids what’s the plan for today?" Jenny asked leaning against the counter and looking back across the room at them.

Matt shrugged. Angela sighed, "I dunno, we’ll probably just hang around here. I had no plans to go any where." Angela said softly.

"Well I talked to Melissa yesterday, she called, she wanted to know how I was doing, we got to talking and I mentioned that you were coming to visit, she’s in town for a while, I told her maybe she could come and join us for dinner tonight...." Jenny said staring at Angela who sat shocked as she stared at her aunt.

Melissa was an old friend of Angela’s from way back, after Angela left the hospital, she went and stayed with Melissa, rather then go back with Ray. Melissa lived in Ohio, she had moved out there when Angela was 12. They’d been real close friends, and Angela hadn’t seen her since she left to get away from Ray. Melissa was obviously coming home to visit people and vacation. How could she see Melissa with Matt here?

Matt didn’t know about Ray and she was sure the conversation would come up. How could she avoid it? She suddenly felt sick... She thought of Jack... and then of Ray and everything that happened in the past, she thought of things she knew she would if she came back home... things she wanted to forget, to hide, to run from! How could she face these things? Matt couldn’t know yet.... she wanted to cry.

"Melissa?" Angela said softly trying not to appear upset knowing Matt was next to her, watching her.

Matt stared at Angela, sensing something was wrong, and not liking the fact that he didn’t know what it was. "Whose Melissa?" Matt asked softly watching Angela whose eye’s met his.

Angela took a breath and swallowed, "An old friend I haven’t seen in a while." Angela said softly taking a deep breath and she sipped her lemonade. Angela suddenly couldn’t take Matt’s eye’s any longer, "Excuse me." Angela said getting to her feet and leaving quickly disappearing.

Matt stared confused where Angela had sat. Then he heard aunt Jenny’s voice, "Matt I sense there’s some things you don’t know about Angela...." Jenny said softly coming to sit besides Matt.

Matt sat confused, he knew naturally there were things he didn’t know about Angela, things he might never know, because they were personal, there were things Angela didn’t know about him, because they were personal and he would never tell them to anyone, but everyone has those secrets. Angela was a mystery to him from the moment he met her. He thought he knew more about her then apparently he did. He shrugged, taking a deep breath, "Yeah I guess not." Matt said softly as Jenny patted his shoulder.

"Let me say this Matt, and no more...... theirs things that happened to Angela once that have haunted her, that have made her the way she is.... things that changed her forever. I remember when I’d hear from her.... she used to sound so unhappy, so confused, so mixed up, so angry. But since she’s started wrestling, ever since she’s met you, your all I hear about, you’ve changed her whole life, your very important to her... you mean a lot to her. I think Angela loves you Matt, and I think she’s afraid because... well she’s tried so hard not to love anyone, not to get close to anyone, not to get hurt... I think she’s afraid because she has, because she’s let her guard down and allowed herself to fall in love.... with you. Matt I take it there’s many things, important things, Angela’s not told you yet, but give her time she will in her own way. She’s stubborn, she won’t believe what she feels until she can’t fight it anymore, or until its to late. I don’t want to see her hurt again, not like she was... all I ask Matt is that you treat good, and be there for her, love her, she needs that....she deserves that." Jenny said smiling at Matt.

Matt listened intently and took each of Jenny’s words to heart. He didn’t know that much about Angela he realized.... he felt though that Angela was worth waiting for, worth investigating, worth learning about, worth loving. And he did he loved her with his entire heart, and soul. Matt realized he couldn’t think of any words to use to describe just how he felt about Angela or how much he loved her now.

"What happened to her? Who hurt her?" Matt asked softly staring at Aunt Jenny praying she would tell him. He needed the truth.

Jenny sighed, "It’s a long story Matt." Jenny said softly taking his plate and glass to the sink.

"I’ve got the time, I’m listening." Matt insisted staring at Jenny as she turned to stare at him.

Jenny grinned, "Angela will tell you when she’s ready, give her time, be patient, she needs you to do that." Jenny said softly watching Matt who looked very confused and she felt for him.

"I love her." Matt said softly as Jenny smiled staring at Matt. "I’ll do anything to make her happy, I’d never hurt her.....I’ve loved since the second I saw her...since the moment I met her, from the moment my lips kissed hers, since I’ve held her hand, I’ve loved her since the moment I saw her......" Matt whispered as Jenny came and touched his cheek.

"I believe that." Jenny said smiling at Matt.

Matt took a deep breath and sighed, "You think she loves me.....?" Matt asked staring at Angela’s aunt whom he was growing to like more and more.

Jenny grinned and shook her head smiling, "I think she loves you very much Matt. I think she’s very much in love with you." Jenny said softly watching Matt as he slowly smiled.

"I don’t know how to tell her." Matt admitted staring at Jenny.

Jenny smiled, "Angela’s a romantic to the core.... anything sweet and nice and romantic would make her happy. Just tell her, make it special, she’d like that." Jenny said staring at Matt.

Matt frowned taking a deep breath, suddenly remembering something Angela said back at the lodge months ago. "Is her mother alive?" Matt asked staring at Jenny.

Jenny looked at him uncertain as to if she should answer. She didn’t think Angela had told Matt about that. "Is her mother alive?" Jenny asked staring at Matt as she moved back to wash the dishes.

Matt followed her not wanting to let up on this conversation, not at this point. "Is she alive? Angela spoke about her middle name once and it sounded to me from the way she spoke of her mother that she might not be alive..." Matt said softly as Jenny glanced at him.

Jenny sighed staring at Matt, "My sister was a great lady. She loved Angela very much, she passed away several years ago, Angela took it very hard." Jenny said quietly looking back at the dishes, half lying.

Matt frowned shaking his head, "Please don’t say anything to her about it.... I don’t want her to be upset...." Jenny asked softly watching Matt.

Matt grinned and shook his head and Jenny felt he understood her reasoning without an explanation as to why. Matt sighed, "I’m gonna go check on Angela, make sure she’s okay. Thank you Jenny for breakfast it was great." Matt said softly turning to leave the kitchen.

Jenny’s voice pulled him back and he turned to face her. "Matt, I do believe you... I believe you love her, very much, I know Angela cares about you, she’s in love with, and she’s afraid, and I know you don’t know why, and that your probably very confused, but all I can say is that theirs things that happened to Angela that were horrible, sad things, things that hurt her.... I don’t think she ever thought her life could ever get better....that things could never turn around. Then you came along and now she’s a knew person, she’s the happy little girl, well woman now that she used to so long ago... I’m so happy she has you, you truly have changed her life whether you know it or not. I’m grateful for that Matt. There’s apart of me that’s worked for a long time, since her mothers passing to try and reach her, to help her, but I never could reach that far. You could, you have. Angela’s opened her heart and her soul to you Matt. She’s fought against herself not fall for you, to work against herself to not love you, to not be in love with you, she’s tried to run from it to not be hurt, and I don’t think you’d ever hurt her. But I’m grateful to you because you’ve helped whether you know it or not in a way you’ll never know. You really have changed her life, and Angela loves you Matt, she does, she deserves happiness, I hope, and I wish, and pray she gets with you." Jenny said softly staring at Matt.

Matt shook his head smiling at the older lady, "I’ll do anything I have to do to make that happen, Jenny I do... I love her, I’m going to do what ever it is I have to do to be with her for always, she means that much to me. My heart belongs to her." Matt confessed staring at Jenny.

Jenny stared at Matt for a long time and then suddenly she giggled, "I better be invited to the wedding." Jenny blurted out making Matt laugh.

Matt smiled laughing, "Well if that ever happens.... its a deal." Matt said staring at Jenny.

Jenny grinned and came & hugged Matt tight. "Good, well go see Angela, make sure she’s okay." Jenny said smiling at Matt as he shook his head and left. Jenny sighed, Matt was a good guy, Angela had found herself a super great guy, Matt could make her happy.... he loved her, that she believed. She believed it...

***

Matt got up the room he shared with Angela and found her on the balcony, lying across the hammock, staring down at the beach, and the ocean. Matt stood in the doorway as she looked over and saw him.

Angela sighed turning her attention back to the water, not wanting to feel Matt’s eye’s on her for the first time since she’d meet him and she didn’t exactly know why.

"Hey." Matt said softly watching Angela who continued to stare out towards the horizon.

Matt stood watching her for a long time and watched finally as Angela sat up and watched him. Matt sighed as he walked over to the hammock and sat down next to her, slipping his arm around her as Angela snuggled against him. Matt felt better then but he also felt confused by some things Jenny had said. Who had hurt her? What had happened to her in the past? He could only wish that Angela would tell him, he didn’t want to force her to, but he did want to know. He decided not to dwell on it. He just wanted to spend time with her.

Matt sat silently holding Angela for several minutes when he heard her whisper. "I’m sorry." She whispered looking up at him.

Matt sighed frowning, "Sorry for what?" Matt asked watching her.

"For....leaving." Angela said softly.

Matt sighed, "Angie you can leave a room or a conversation anytime you want to... just promise me you’ll never leave....me." Matt whispered staring down at her as he touched her cheek wiping a tear away with his finger tip. "I don’t know what I’d do without you..." Matt whispered watching Angela grin a little.

Angela closed her eye’s and didn’t speak, she just whispered his name and Matt leaned close silencing her with his lips.

After a few minutes Angela opened her eye’s and whispered against Matt’s lips, "My aunt likes you, she says you seem like a great guy for me. She thinks were perfect for each other, she says she likes us together." Angela whispered as Matt chuckled.

"Do you agree?" Matt asked smiling at her.

"I always have." Angela whispered hugging Matt, as she kissed him softly.

*

Matt was snuggled still in the hammock with Angela when she spoke again, breaking a long period of silence. "Matt do you remember that night in Las Iegas before I debuted, I was upset, and I called and woke you up and you insisted I come to your room....?" Angela sked softly as Matt stared at her.

"Yeah, I remember how happy I was to see you, Angie I felt horrible watching you cry... I wanted to pull you into my arms and kiss all your tears away." Matt whispered as Angela smiled. "What about it?" Matt asked staring at her.

Angela sighed, "Well I was upset, you remember when you woke up to find me upset in the bathroom...." Angela said as Matt shook his head, "I told you I’d tell you why someday..." Angela said softly as Matt sat up a bit more staring at her.

"Are you gonna tell me?" Matt asked anxious to her everything.

Angela sighed staring at him, "I will soon, but not here, I wanna wait until we get back, I don’t wanna tell you here..." Angela said pausing as she looked around, "I don’t wanna tell you at my aunts house." Angela said softly.

Matt grinned starting to get up, "The vans down in the driveway, lets go somewhere, we don’t have to be here, you can tell me..." Matt said as Angela got to her feet and reached to silence Matt as she covered his mouth with her finger tips.

"Matt." Angela whispered hugging him tight.

Matt sighed holding her, he knew she didn’t want to go anywhere, he knew what she meant. He wasn’t going to force her to tell him anything until she was ready. "I just wanna know." Matt whispered kissing Angela’s cheek.

"I swear soon I’ll tell you, but just hold me now Matt!" Angela begged hugging Matt as Matt wrapped his arms tight around her and held his girlfriend close in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

***

About a hour later... Matt was walking along the beach with Angela, there feet wet as they walked together along the surf. Benny was running around, splashing throught the water, barking, and running after sea gulls.

Matt took a breath glancing over at Angela. "Can I ask a question?" Matt asked staring at angela as she met his eye’s.

"You know you can." Angela whispered wrapping her arms around him and leaning close against him. her forehead resting against his, she stared into Matt’s dark eye’s as he slipped his arms around her.

"Is this Melissa girl coming going to upset you. Because if seeing her is going to upset you then I don’t want you to see her. I don’t want you to be upset...ever." Matt whispered pushing a strand of hair behind Angela’s ear.

Angela smiled at him, "No it won’t upset me, its just that a conversation might come up that could that’s all. Just a very painful conversation. Matt I hate to ask you this but would you hate terribly if you didn’t stay for dinner while she’s here?" Angela asked staring at him.

Matt stared at her for a long time and sighed, "Well no, if you don’t want me there...." Matt started until Angela interrupted him.

"It’s not that I don’t want you there, or that I don’t want you to meet Melissa, I just don’t want you to be there if the conversation I think were going to have should come up that’s all. Its simply because I need to tell you some things, and I will! But if your there for the conversation, it defeats the purpose. I wanna tell you. Joe is taking Uncle Richie to a ball game tonight, they have an extra ticket, you could go with them? It’ll be Aunt Jenny, Colleen, Melissa and I, you’d feel outta place anyways." Angela said softly pleding for Matt not to be mad.

Matt shrugged staring at her. "No that’s okay I’ll go." Matt said softly staring at Angela.

Angela grinned slowly and watched Matt, "Are you mad at me?" Angela asked softly.

Matt sighed touching her cheek, "No I’m just confused." Matt whispered rubbing Angela’s cheek softly.

Angela frowned sighing, "I’m sorry." Angela whispered staring at Matt as she reached down for his hand. "I wish I weren’t completely confusing you." Angela whispered hugging him tightly snuggling in Matt’s arms.

"It’s okay, I forgive you." Matt whispered smiling at her. Angela smiled as she leaned close to Matt and kissed him softly.

Chapter 69
Chapter 67