Chapter 23
Chapter 23
The night in Coffs Harbour was unlike any other Colette and Matt had shared in recent memory. In the small motel room, with its plain walls and single bed, they clung to rich other under the thin duvet as if the world outside had ceased to exist. The warmth of his body against hers felt both comforting and foreign, bittersweet reminder of what they once had. They gated at each other with a tenderness that seemed to transcend words, speaking only through solt smiles and gentle touches.
As the night wore on, and Matt’s breathing became deep and steady with sleep, Colette remained awake, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t tried to make love to her, why he hadn’t bridged the physical gap that had grown between them over the past months. The answer seemed to land heavily on her chest: he was trying to make her happy. He had brought her on this trip, taken her to places that were meant to rekindle something lost between them. It was a bitter replication–sweetened only by the fact that, after so long. Matt was trying
In the early hours of the morning, as the first rays of sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, Colette was roused by a flurry of kisses. Matt’s lips trailed from her face to her neck, and then lower, to places that sent a flush of warmth through her. She giggled, half–awake, half–dreaming, as his playful affection stined something deep within her–a spark she thought had long since died. For those fleeting moments, it felt like the beginning of something new, a tentative rebirth of their connection
They hit the road early, the crisp morning air whipping through the car windows as they drove towards the Gold Coast. The landscape shifted around them, from the sleepy town of Coffs Harbour to the sun–soaked coastline of the Gold Coast. The drive was filled with laughter and light–hearted banter, a stark contrast to the tension that had defined their relationship for so long. Lunch was a lavish affair at a high–end Italian cafe, where they shared plates of pasta and sipped on wine, Matt’s hand resting on her knee under the table. For the first time in months, Colette allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other
As they pulled up to Matt’s mother’s house, Colette could feel the subcle shift in the atmosphere. The lightness that had filled the car during their drive evaporated the moment they turned onto the familiar street. Matty face, which had been alight with laughter and warmth, hardened into an impassive mask, The transformation was stark, like watching the sun suddenly disappear behind storm clouds, plenging everything isto a cold, grey shadow.
Hoxy’s husband was the first to greet them, opening the door with a wide, welcoming grin. “Well, look who’s here! Come on in, you twn. His voet wa cheerful, but Colette noticed the way Matt’s shoulders stiffened as he stepped over the threshold. The warmth in Matt’s eyes dimmed, replaced by a hollow look she had seen too many times before
Inside, the house was festooned with blue and yellow ribbons, balloons floating in every comer, the air thick with the scent of birthday cake. It was a celebration, yet the festive decorations only seemed to heighten Mair’s detachment. He offered a cunt “Hello” to his mother and stepfather, his voice devoid of any real emotion. Colette watched him closely, her heart sinking at how quickly he had withdrawn from the world they had shared just moments apo.
Daney, Matt’s eleven–year–old half–brother, burst into the room with the unbridled enthusiasm only a child could muster. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran up to Matt, practically bouncing on his toes.
“Happy birthday, Danny,” Matt responded, his voice flat. But then, as if he couldn’t resist the boy’s infectious energy, he managed to dredge up a smile- small, fleeting thing that barely touched his eyes. Colette noticed the effort it took, how strained and unnatural it seemed. She stepped in quickly, ruffling Danny’s hair with a genuine anile, trying to fill the gap Matt’s coldness had left. “We’ve got presents for the birthday boy,” she said, her voice light, beping to salvage some of the joy for the child’s sake.
Mast handed over a neatly wrapped board game, his handy moving almost mechanically. “And there’s another one in the car,” he added, his tone so devoid of warmth it feh ke an afterthought rather than a gift.
Little Danny’s excitement knew no bounds as he dashed around the house, his Superman cape billowing behind him like a banner of pure joy. His laughter echoed off the walls, a stark contrast to the tension that thickened the air. Colette watched hire whirl past, a bittersweet smile on her face, knowing how this Innocent happiness stood on the edge of a brewing storm.
Rory approached her son with measured steps, as if trending on thin ice. “How are you, Matt?” she asked, her voice tinged with both hope and trepidation.
Matt’s response was as cold and detached as . “Fine,” he muttered, not bothering to meet her eyes
Undeterred. Roxy tried again, though her words came out with the hesitance of someone expecting to be struck down. “Everything good in business?
The reaction was immediate. Matt’s eyes flashed with anger, and he shot his mother a scornful look. “If you want money, Ma, just come out and say it.”
Roxy’s face flushed red, her composure crumbling as she recoiled from the verbal blow. Tears shimmered in her eyes, barely held back by sheer will. But before she could respond, Roger, her husband, stepped in, his voice brimming with a quiet fury. “We don’t want or need your money. Your mother just wanted a good relationship with you!”
But Matt wasn’t finished. His words, lared with bitterness, cut through the room like a blade. “That’s not what she said six months ago when she asked for
five thousand dollars.”
The revelation hit Roger like a physical blow Colette saw the color drain from his face, his mouth tightening as he turned to Roxy with a look of betrayal. The shock of her secret now exposed left him momentarily speechless, his anger simmering beneath the surface. Colette felt the dread pooling in her stomach, knowing this was only the beginning. If things continued on this path, the living room could very well become a battlefield by the time the cake. was meant to be cut.
Rony and Roger quickly retreated, disappearing towards the back of the house, leaving an awkward silence in their wake. When they returned, their faces were grim, etched with disappointment and the remnants of a private confrontation that had clearly left wounds. The atmosphere was heary, words dying on
yone’s lips as they sat in strained silence. Some snacks were laid out, but no one seemed interested in eating
The doorbell rang, breaking the tention momentarily as Eve, Damon, and Archie arrived, their arms laden with gifts for Danny. They were a burst of energy. their cheerful perting a sharp contrast to the suffocating gloom that hung over the room. Unlike Matt, they each embraced Rosy, forgiving her in ways Matt never could. They spoke to Roger like old friends, their laughter filling the space that Matt’s sulking silence had left
Matt, however, remained in his corner, his mood darkening with each passing second. He sat apart from the rest, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, the weight of old resentments pulling him deeper into his own world. His siblings tried to draw him out, but their attempts were met with terse responses and a hardened expression.
Chapter Comments
FOST COMMENT NOW
