Found by Love (32 page)

I looked down at my lap because I wasn't about to look anywhere else even if someone paid me to. I always thought Amelia was the one to worry about. Who knew that sweet Gid would be the one with the temper?

"Yes Sir!"

"Yes Sir!"

Both men shamefully put their heads down and were embarrassed at I know by getting reprimanded in front of everyone. I was waiting for someone to change the subject but there was no one brave enough it seemed to say anything.

"So... I don't mean to change the subject or anything but you guys want Caleb and I in Cash's old room correct? The one on the second floor?" I looked to Cash and Olivia and neither of them would say anything so I looked at Carmen because I knew if anyone knew it would be her. Thank God she didn't seem too afraid to talk.

"Yes Claudia. That's where I had Lucas put your luggage and Grayson will stay in the room next to you and Caleb until you all...well..." She looked over towards Olivia who was shaking her head no to her which had me completely confused until Carmen smiled at me. "Until things settle down and you all can go back to your house." I looked back over at Olivia who had let out a big sigh of relief from where I was sitting and looked at everyone else who had their heads down and weren't looking at me.

"Um... Have I missed something here? Does there seem to be a problem with our accommodations? Are we not welcome here anymore? Should we just go back to our house? You all know I'm perfectly capable of hiring my OWN security guards and make sure that Grayson is watched like a hawk if anyone tries anything." All of a sudden all eyes were on me and everyone was back to smiling and shaking their heads at me which had me thinking that I was crazy.

"No Claudia. You are most welcome here and don't ever think that you're not. I've been looking forward to this for days and you all can stay here as long as you want." I looked at Olivia and she definitely seemed genuine and I could see Caleb squirming in his seat as he reached for his wine glass.

"Okay. I believe you but Caleb? Has Mattie called you or something? Have Roger or Meredith been spotted in Oregon? Why are you all making me feel paranoid all of a sudden about our arrangements?"

"Honey, your middle name is paranoid. Trust me, if Mattie calls me I'll tell you everything he says and I haven't talked to him since I told him we arrived here safely."

I looked around the table and everyone seemed to be back where they were before Gid's outburst about the long lost cousin’s arrival so I let it go. I decided to get up and leave the table so I grabbed my plate after telling everyone goodnight and took it to the kitchen. I'm sure they were all mystified at my abrupt departure but I'm not an idiot and I know that something was going on and no one is telling me what it is.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I know one person that seems to tell it to me straight and that's Mattie and hopefully he answers the phone and isn't still mad at me about jumping him about telling Grayson about Roger and Meredith's plans. I make it up to my bedroom and grab my cell phone out of my purse and dial his number. It took a while for him to answer and I was ready to leave a voicemail but he decided to answer after all.

"Whatever do you want Claudia? Or did you happen to dial the wrong number?" Ha! I guess he didn't want to talk to me.

"Well hello to you too asshole!" Oh God!! Did I just say that out loud? Holy shit I'm in a bad mood!

"Asshole? Wow Claud. I guess that answers my question on if you're still mad at me or not. Should I make other plans for Thanksgiving? Maria is going to her family's house for Thanksgiving so I guess I could maybe invite myself there or just stay home because I'm really not feeling it this year anyway." Yes I'm still mad at him but I can't bring myself to be the reason for him to spend the holiday by himself. I go to sit down in the lounge chair to take my shoes off and start rubbing my feet and let out a big sigh.

"Please come for Thanksgiving Mattie. I can put my madness on a shelf somewhere for Grayson because I know he's expecting you. Caleb as well and I know that everyone wants to meet you." He chuckled through the phone and I let out another sigh. At least he doesn't still seem as mad at me.

"Well okay then. I was looking forward to going but wasn't sure if you had disinvited me after our last conversation." I could picture him frustrated and running his hands through his hair while he sighed. "You know that I didn't want to tell Grayson about the threat right? I only told him because of that stupid idea of his that Thomas doesn't want him living with you and Caleb. Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard in your life? Ghosts?! That's crazy Claudia! Surely you realize that right?" I never told him about my dream of Jane and I'm quite offended that he thinks Grayson is crazy.

"What's so crazy about it? Do you really think Grayson is crazy? He's not Mattie! I would think you knew him better than that. I haven't told you this but Olivia saw my brother in her dreams all of the time and at the cemetery and Cash did the same with Vanessa. They're not crazy either."

"You are kidding right? Come on Claudia, I thought you were smarter than that."

"I am smart Mattie and you know what? I'm not going to lie. I thought that maybe just maybe they were all crazy but it was their mind seeing something that it wanted so bad but that changed the night that you and Caleb had your little drunken talk the other night." Now he's full on laughing.

"Oh Claudia, Claudia! What are you saying? You saw Thomas and Jane hanging out in the living room while we were gone? Hahahaha. Come on Claud! Please don't make me go get Grayson and bring him home with me right now because you know I will."

"Don't you ever threaten me with that Mattie! I mean it! You know in your heart that I'm who Grayson should be with whether you want to admit it or not. Don't you ever threaten me with that again after all of these years of me finally having him in my life again. Yes it sucks that Jane and Thomas had to die and I wish for their sakes and yours and Grayson's that it didn't happen but I'm not going to lie and say that selfishly I'm glad it happened so that I could have my baby boy back." I choked on the last sentence because as much as I hated to admit it that was exactly how I felt. I begged him through my tears. "Please Mattie! Please don't ever threaten me again because I don't care how much money it takes but I will fight you. He belongs with me. Please Mattie, Please."

"Alright Claudia! Alright. Let’s just drop it. I’m... I'm just so alone Claud. I have no one but Grayson. You don't understand how lonely I am. Thomas was my best friend since we were kids and I just feel... I feel like if I dropped off the face of the earth right now no one would even care. Yeah I'm sure that Grayson would be upset and he'd cry over me being gone but he's my last link in this world Claud. Do you not understand that?"

Oh man! This is not how I planned on this conversation going because now both of us are crying over the phone. I've never heard him sound so sad…. and vulnerable. My heart went out to him because I knew EXACTLY how he felt because that's how I've felt about Olivia ever since Derek and the kids died.

"Mattie. We can do this together. The three of us…. You, me and Caleb. That night you and Caleb went out to talk, Jane came to me in a dream and told me that we would figure it all out. She also told me that she wanted Grayson to be with me and that she was mad at you for not letting me have him."

"Not you too Claud! Not you too? So you're telling me that Jane came to you in a dream? Did you ever think that maybe just maybe it's because that's what you wanted to hear? This is crazy Claud! CRAZY!"

"Listen, I've felt the same way that you have and I'm not going to lie. I was always jealous when Olivia would tell me about seeing Derek and the kids because he was MY brother. Why wouldn't he want to see me? But... Jane told me something else that I didn't know because you and Caleb were keeping it from me and when Caleb told me, I knew it WAS her Mattie and not a figment of my imagination."

"Oh yeah? And what was that Claudia?"

"She told me to hurry up and get Grayson to Oregon and out of California because Roger and Meredith were going to try any way possible to get him back." I sat there waiting for him to say something but all I heard on the other end was silence and then a loud sigh.

"Well... Maybe you're all NOT crazy. I don't even know what to say to that." He got quiet and I heard tapping in the background.

"Are you tapping a pen against your desk?" He chuckled.

"Yeah. It's what I do when I'm deep in thought. So... Did Jane tell you anything else? So she doesn't want Grayson with me huh. Not at all? What about Thomas?"

"Well isn't this a change of direction for you? Haha. You went from thinking everyone was crazy to actually having a conversation with me about what ghosts want for our lives."

"Well maybe I'm crazy too. How come Thomas hasn't come to me in a dream? He was my best friend after all. Now I'm a little jealous. Wow! Jealous of not getting a visit from a ghost. How freaking weird and crazy is that? Okay. Can we change the direction of this conversation because I'm thinking I may need to go see a shrink. Haha." I laughed along with him because I couldn’t believe the conversation that we were having.

"Well don't go to the one you sent Grayson to because she will definitely tell you that you're crazy."

"Is that why you stopped sending him to her?"

"Yes Sir and I'd do it again in a heartbeat." Now that our conversation has lightened up and we are finally able to talk without screaming at each other I go ahead and tell him everything else that Jane said. "Listen Mattie. Jane does want Grayson with me but she also doesn't want you cut out of his life because she knows how much you love him and vice versa. She also told me that you always end up doing the right thing and for me to have patience with you. She said that there's a solution to the problem and that we would figure it out."

"Wow! That sounds like something she would say. Man I miss her wisdom. When I had a problem and I mean a big problem I always went to her because she was the least judgmental person I knew. Thomas would call me on my shit but she would explain why I did things the way I did and help me through the problem." He chuckled and went back to tapping his pen. "Ya know what? Maybe that's why I have such an attraction to you. You remind me of her a whole bunch." I went to say something but he stopped me. "Don't worry Claud. It's more of a brother sister attraction now. Trust me. I'm not getting in the middle of what you and Caleb have and honestly. I could use a friend right now more than anything. That is if you're up for the job, haha." I could tell in his voice that even though he was laughing, there was more hope in his question more than anything which put a smile on my face.

"Oh I can always use more friends Mattie and I will gladly accept the job. You're not so bad yourself ya know that? I've been looking at you like you were the enemy and that was definitely the wrong approach. So. Hi! I'm Claudia and it's very nice to meet you and I'm a great friend but very needy at times." I really wished that I was there right now so that I could give him a big hug. I'm glad I called him now because we got really far in our conversation that didn't start out so great. His boisterous laugh had me cracking up.

"Nice to meet you Claudia! I'm Matthias but you can call me Mattie and I tend to be an asshole but I'm working on not being such an ass."

"Well I'm quite the bitch so I guess that makes for a great friendship. Please come visit us for Thanksgiving so that I can give you a big hug." I could hear him grinning through the phone.

"Okay. I'll come. But only because I could really use a hug. Oh and to see my Godson. I really miss him already."

"He misses you too. He's only mentioned your name a hundred times since we've been here."

"Good, haha. You have a good night Claudia. I'm really glad you called."

"Me too, Mattie. Me too. Goodnight." I hung up the phone with the biggest grin on my face. That was a big, big, big load off of my shoulders to be able to knock a few barriers down between Mattie and I. Caleb always thinks he has to be my peace maker but I can handle myself. I just have to pull those big girl panties on from time to time.

I crawl into bed as Caleb is walking into the bedroom and by the look on his face I can tell that he wants to talk to me but I'm so not in the mood. After the great conversation I had with Mattie I don't want anything to ruin my good mood. I look at him and roll my eyes and reach up and turn the lamp off letting him know that I'm not interested.

"Well goodnight to you too Cru. Oh goodnight Caleb. Dinner was good don't you think? Why yes it was Cru, right up until you got up and left the table without a proper good bye to everyone that was looking at me to explain what your problem was. Which was? This is where you stop me from talking to myself right?" I knew I should have jumped into bed sooner and pretended to be asleep when he came to bed. I angrily tossed the blankets up to lean over and turn the lamp on and lean back onto my pillows and give him a dirty look.