Gen. 5: Matthew Solo-Ch. 22

Erin

“Come on Cam, man. Haven’t you heard of the bro code?”

As I got to the top of the landing I laughed hearing Cal complain. I could only guess that Cameron peed on him again. We’d been here a week since the funeral and Cal was good about helping with Cameron’s care even if Cam seemed to have it out for him. It never failed, he always seemed to pee soon as Cal took off his diaper.

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Gen. 5.21-Matthew Solo

I stood at the graveside, staring down into the hole that contained Kia’s body. Her final resting place. The minister was reciting some prayer. I heard Mom crying, Dad was comforting her. Why do we do this? Who does this whole process benefit? Kia was gone; she wouldn’t know who came out to mourn her. So what was the point? This whole exhibition was for those of us left behind. To pay our last respects. What did that even mean? Were we supposed to stand here and do our grieving before going on with the rest of our lives without that person? Were we supposed to try and make peace some sort of way if we had unresolved issues with the recently deceased? Kia was gone! She wouldn’t get to see our son grow up. She wouldn’t know that I was sorry for the choices I made that led us here. She wouldn’t know any of that, so me standing here as some man that didn’t even know her talked about how she was at peace now only served to anger me.

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Gen. 5.20-Matthew

Dad tried to convince me not to do this. With everything that had happened yesterday and this morning, he told me I’d had a panic attack and passed out. He didn’t think I could handle any more stress, but I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t even know why I had to be here, they knew it was Kia, she was found in her room, but they said it was procedure. That same word Ms. Logan stated when she showed up. Everything was procedure. They needed her next of kin to make a positive ID, so here I stood looking down at my wife. I kept hoping this was a bad dream, that at any moment I’d wake and the nightmare would be over. She was gone. She’d spent the last few hours of her life probably scared and angry, thinking she was unwanted. Her father had abandoned her and then I sent her here. Why didn’t she believe I would come back for her? Why did she do this?

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.28

Today my baby was growing up. I couldn't believe how the time had flown by. It seemed like only yesterday I was bringing Matthew home from the hospital and today he was turning 6. A big boy, going off to school in the fall. Growing up. Jonas and I decided to throw his party at the local candy store. Kids loved to hang out there to play games and have fun. Hope and Caleb couldn't make it out this time. Caleb's niece had been attacked and they were dealing with a family crisis. I felt bad for Starr. She was a nice girl, liked to have fun. I had an ache in my heart hearing what happened to her. I knew all too well how she was feeling.

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.24

My head was pounding when I opened my eyes. I looked around. I was at home. How did I get home? I swung my legs over the side of my bed. I stood and stretched. I felt like I was floating. I was floating! I'm floating!

"JONAS!"

Both he and Vor appeared in my doorway.

"You're up! I've been so worried, you've been out for two days."

"Yes I'm up, as in my feet won't touch the floor how do I make it stop?!"

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.20

The next day I woke up still feeling excited about last night. When I'd texted Hope, she couldn't contain herself to just typing out messages. Instead she'd called me and I spent a good hour outside on the back porch talking to her. I thought she'd bust my eardrum when I told her he kissed me since she'd squealed so loudly. When I told her how I felt afterwards, she said it was the same thing she had with Caleb when they'd kissed for the first time that her whole world changed. It was still strange to hear her talk like that, but remembering how she looked when around him, I knew she didn't lie. It was crazy how much difference a day can make.

"Good morning, honey."

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.13

Hope was still doing well in the competition, so well in fact she was one of two girls left. Barnacle Bay was a small town so it was no surprise her being on the show made the newspaper. Being only one of two, she was able to call and talk to us finally. She sounded happy and was really enjoying her time there. Dad wasn't keen on that, he still thought Caleb spent too much time shirtless. Erin disagreed. I was excited for Hope, during her 'confessional' time she talked like she really liked this guy, she even mentioned the possibility of relocating to be with him if she won. That was crazy, but then again she was like Dad. It took the right woman for him maybe it only took the right man for her. Odd that my sister may have found him on a show like that.

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.12

Much to Dad's dismay, Hope was still on the show. There had been some catty moments that got Mom ticked off, especially when one of the girls slapped Hope. I'd never heard Mom get so pissed before. She started cussing, which was a shock, she never seemed to lose her temper, but she was ready to hop on the next plane to Monte Vista. It was a rare thing to hear Dad tell her to calm down, but he had too.

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.11

When I got home I broke down into tears. Jonas had been texting and calling me since I left but I wouldn't respond. I freaked out and ran away because I'm scared of the dark. I'm a grown woman scared of the dark. I pulled out my phone to call Hope, but remembered I couldn't. Last time we spoke she told me she'd been picked to go on some reality TV show called The One.

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Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.6

"So glad I caught you before you left."

That made one of us. "Is there something wrong? Did she over pay me?"

That had to be it. I mean I didn't think I'd taken in that much. Mostly grapes and some lettuce, and a few lemons. I was expecting $100 at the most, not the $450 I got.

"What? No, I'm sure she paid you the correct price. I...I was wondering if you wanted to go for coffee."

Coffee? It was four in the afternoon, why on earth would I drink coffee now? Besides I didn't even like coffee so regardless his question would get the same answer.

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