“Oh, baby, you are such a valuable person. We all love you and want to see you get what you deserve.”
Matty choked back tears. “I love you too.” She paused for a few moments, then said, “This is what family is, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. This is how loving people treat each other.”
By the end of the evening, Matty was emotionally exhausted in the best way. She had spent the whole night surrounded by people who made her feel her best. People who saw worth in her. People who treated her with respect. They gave to her as much as she gave to them.
When they were walking back to the car, she took out her phone and saw several missed calls from Grammy. Her stomach instantly soured. The contrast between how Grammy made her feel and how the people she had spent the evening with made her feel was sharp and undeniable. She vowed to make a change. If her family wouldn’t respect her, she’d just have to put firm boundaries up. They didn’t deserve unrestricted access to her. She would pour her energy into the people who poured right back.
Chapter thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-two
Three months later.
There was so much to do. Reese grabbed another bag from the many Matty had brought in. A rush of anxiety washed over her, adding to the nervous ball in the pit of her stomach.
“Baby, let’s calm down. It’s going to all come together,” Matty reassured her as she came up behind her to kiss her cheek and wrap her arms around her waist. It calmed her momentarily. Matty never failed to ground her.
“I just want it to be perfect.” She pulled out two blocks of cream cheese and a box of ranch packets. “Do you think I should have picked different food? Are finger foods enough?”
“It’s more than enough. It’s a nice afternoon party. No one will expect a heavy meal.”
She bit on the inside of her cheek. Reese had gone over the plans for the party so many times. Poor Matty had indulged her over and over while she went over the plans. She had never hosted a party before.
“I just want it to be nice.”
“It will be. Now, put me to work. I’m all yours.”
That made Reese smile. Matty was a constant support. “Umm, let’s prioritize the food and split it up. Do you mind doing the stuff that’s actually, like, you know, cooking?”
Matty barked out a laugh. Neither of them bothered pretending that Reese barely functioned in a kitchen.
“I have no problem with that. Let’s work on the things that need to be assembled and chilled before the hot stuff. The veggie pizza crust needs to bake and cool before we top it. The sliders and pigs in a blanket can wait. The dips need to be chilled, and the pinwheelsneed to be assembled and chilled as well. We need the veggies cut. Can you use a knife without hurting yourself?”
Reese rolled her eyes as she scoffed. “Of course I can,” then she paused, “I mean, like just making them into bite-sized, right?”
“For the tray, yes, but for the pizza, it needs to be very small.”
“Oh, well, I’ll start on the tray. We’ll see how I do with the finely chopped stuff.”
Matty just shook her head and started emptying the rest of the bags.
Today, they would be hosting a small party. Matty thought it was a housewarming party to celebrate the house transformation being complete. Which it was, but what she didn’t realize was that it was also to celebrate her new job. It was a secret Reese could barely keep to herself.
She glanced at her phone when it vibrated. It was the text she was waiting for.
“Matty?” Reese called. She deliberately sounded panicked.
“Yeah?” Matty entered the living room, her eyebrows knitted together.
“My high heels are at your place. I need them.”
Matty’s eyes dropped to her house-shoe-covered feet. “Can’t you pick a different pair?”
“No, I bought them just for this party. They match my dress perfectly.”
“It’s like fifteen minutes to the party.”
