Who Needs Maps

Damon just stared. He didn’t want to get used to Matt being around, or have him being a part of his life either. If Pearl decided to have a relationship with her mother, then Mandy would be back in Damon’s life. And now that they lived in the same town, it’d be inevitable to run into each other from time to time. He just didn’t want to imagine Matt being there too. “It was a great first impression.  One you can’t just take back now because you want to date my ex-wife.”

Mateo didn’t want to get used to having Damon around any more than Damon did him. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Mandy he probably wouldn’t have a problem for him at all but he had a soft spot for her, and Damon clearly did as well. “Are you under the impression that my only goal in life is to go out with Mandy? Because that is definitely not, nor will it ever be.”

Michael knew better than to judge someone off the bat, but this guy was trying too hard. He had wine, cake, and a gift for him? He should have expected the guy to try to buy him off, but he never minded a gift. “Really?” he cocked an eye brow, actually curious as to what he had brought him. Michael should have let him in so he didn’t drop the stuff, but he was the one who started digging in his bad so if he dropped the cake it was not Michael’s fault. His eyes did light up more than he would admit as he took the compass. He didn’t know his mom told this guy that, but he didn’t mind too much. He liked walked through the wood, following the train tracks in Rosendale, but he didn’t tell people. But he offered the guy a smile as he took it and a soft thank you as he leaned back, opening the door more for him. “My mom’s in the kitchen.” he told him, holding the door knowing the reason reason the guy was here. It was the only reason any of them men who came over were here for. “Yeah, but you’re still late.”He teased him before Mandy walked into the living room, whipping her hands. “Better late than never,” she corrected him as she came into view. “Michael, go wash up.” The boy nodded before disappearing  with the compass in hand. “I’m sorry for him, he can be a bit–tough on strangers.” 

“Yeah, I know I’m late. It’s a bad habit I’ve been trying to break for a long time now.” Matt gave an internal little sigh of relief when he saw how Michael reacted to the compass. Yeah, what he was doing was probably overkill but that seemed to be his style, at least lately. He stepped inside, looking around, smiling softly. The house definitely felt like Mandy’s and he didn’t mind it at all, and upon seeing the woman his smile grew more. “It’s alright, probably better safe than sorry, you guys have been through a lot. Ah- here- this is for you.” Mateo held out the bottle of wine for Mandy, this being much easier seeing as how he wasn’t digging in his pockets anymore. “And I brought, dessert, of course.”

“I don’t need you to remind me.” Damon would always hold out a little bit of hope because he still loved her. But, he knew the day he walked out that he’d never be able to go back. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try and protect her, whether she needed it or not. “I’m not uncomfortable with everyone. Just you.”

Matt was sick of this. He didn’t care for the attitude Damon was giving him as well as all the flack that came along with it for something so ridiculous. He wasn’t going to cut off his relationship with Mandy just because Damon didn’t like him. “Damon, look, I know we got off to a bad start but we’re just going to have to get used to each other because  I’m not gonna up and drop Mandy from my life just because I make you uncomfortable.”

Damon chuckled dryly, “She’d never let you, and we’d be having a very different conversation if you were.” This wasn’t necessary in the slightest. He didn’t need to take care of her, she’d done that on her own for the last twenty years. If he had to admit it, Mandy had turned her life around being by herself better than he would have been able to help her with. “That’s right. It isn’t your place. So maybe you should just stay away and not distract her.”

“You know she’d never let you either. You left her, she’s moved on, so it’s not your place either. “ Matt said, his voice low, impatient at this point. He knew Damon didn’t really have a place in Mandy’s life, it wasn’t all that hard to tell at this point. “If she chooses to be friends with me then so be it, Why would I, or she, ever stop because you’re uncomfortable with her talking to other men twenty years later?”

His head nodded once, mulling everything over. The gossip couldn’t always be believed, but something had to have made them believe it was more than just a friendship. Damon needed that. If it wasn’t, then he was freaking out over nothing, which he already had a strong suspicion of this being exactly that. “I’m well aware of that, and I’d hope you aren’t forcing her to do anything. But, since you do tend to be an ass on more than occasion, I think she can do better.” His shoulders shrugged, “Our daughter is trying to get to know her and I don’t need you ruining that.”

“Look, Damon, don’t know what you’ re getting at but I don’t think you’re gonna find any answers with me. I’m just trying to live my life.” Matt took another sip from his coffee. “I would never force her to do anything, and I’m not trying to interfere in her life.” Matt was frankly very unamused at this point, and real tired of him. “I’m not trying to interfere with anything, I don’t know what you’re trying to get at, she can get to know her all she likes, it’s not my place.”

Damon frowned slightly, “From what I hear it’s a bit more than just friends.” He would have been okay, mostly, if he were someone else. At least maybe someone he hadn’t already met in town. That would have made this a lot easier. “It’s a bit complicated, and her daughter is an adult. No need for her to hang out with either of her parents if she didn’t want too.”

“You’ve heard wrong then. I don’t know what your sources are but you should definitely double check them because she and I most certainly aren’t a couple, and I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.” That didn’t mean he didn’t want it to happen though, he very much enjoyed Mandy’s company, but his mood was kinda brought down by Damon being involved. “Besides, she’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions, I would never force her to do anything.” Mateo reached for his coffee cup again, lifting it to his lips before pausing and saying “If her daughter is an adult then why would this concern me.”

This guy wasn’t being anywhere near convincing if he was trying to find a way to get Damon to back off. It would have been easier for Matt to just say it was all a lie, and he’d gladly move it. Pretending like none of this wasn’t happening, only made him more annoyed. “Right. So you have no clue who Mandy is and you’re the wrong Matt that this gossip post was talking about?’

Narrowing his eyes, Matt folded his hands on the table. He had heard about some gossip blog or something that ratted on the townspeople of Rosendale, but he was not aware there was one involving him. “No, I do know who Mandy is, we are friends after all. I wasn’t aware that you were the father of her other child. I hardly knew she had two kids, I’ve only seen Michael.”

The reaction Damon got only confirmed more that it was this guy. He’d only caught a glimpse of the post, but it was enough to make him jealous. “I’ll be the first one to agree that you’re entitled to some privacy.” It was the one of the things he valued in his own life, this just wasn’t going to be one of those times. “But when it concerns the mother of my child, then it’s a little different.”

Matt knew Damon didn’t like him. That was pretty clear from the moment he had approached him in the grocery store, and then it was reaffirmed every time they saw each other after that, but this had to take the cake. Was he accusing him of something? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It was true, Mandy had only mentioned offhand that she had two children and Michael couldn’t be the son of this guy. Wait, were they even talking about Mandy? They weren’t going out so there shouldn’t have been anything to talk about.

Mandy had planned to make dinner tonight for herself and Michael, but now with company over it needed to be perfect. Not just perfect, but impressive–even if her and Mateo ended up not being a couple she needed him to at least like her cooking enough stick around as a friend. When had she become her mother in that thinking? She went home after picking up Michael from school and began to cook. She loved to cook, it was one of the few things she was actually good at. She decided this needed to be impressive. There was a soup her mother always made and with the cool air still lingering she knew it was perfect. A home made potato soup with vegetable melody and her mother’s special spice list. That with the bread she made yesterday it would be great. A simple, yet delicious meal that would still leave them room for cake–right, he was bringing cake. Once the soup was simmering and the bread reheated, Mandy tasked her son who was still working on his homework to listen for Mateo. Michael agreed and went back to doing his science worksheet. Mandy went to work on making herself look decent or better than. Micheal was nearly done when he heard the door bell, he sighed yelling to his mom before he got up to let Mateo in. He knew his mom liked this guy, but he still had his doubts. He sounded nice, but no guy was good enough for his mom. Michael went to the door, opening it to see a slightly disheveled man. “Is that our cake?” should not have been the first words out of his mouth, but if his guy was as cool as his mom made him sound it better be good cake. He  could hear his mom call from upstairs to let him in and he stepped aside. “You can come in, mom is running late too.” 

Mateo was surprised to say the least when the person to answer the door was a smaller boy. It was Michael- he should have expected that, he was a cute kid, made even better by his comment on the dessert. Laughing a bit, Matt nodded “Yes, it is your cake. Well, for you and your mom. I do have something just for you, though.” Adjusting himself so as to not drop the cake or the wine, Matt reached into his pocket and pulled out an old compass of his. It was metal, with the little pocket ring, it definitely wasn’t new but it looked nice and still worked as you’d hope a compass would “Your mom mentioned you like exploring so I thought you could use one of these. It was mine when I was growing up. If not, I think it looks pretty cool.” Matt smiled before walking further in so he could go and set the tart and wine down. He knew he didn’t have to get anything for Mikey but it felt right, and he wanted to make a good impression because he really liked Mandy and that wouldn’t mean squat if her son didn’t like him. “I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one running late here, I was worried.”

Honestly, chit chat wasn’t what he was looking for, but maybe it should have been. Did he really want to get in the middle of this? He’d already messed up once with her, and this would only turn into another one. Damon wanted to at least be civil with her because of Pearl, whenever she decided to actually talk to her. “Guess not,” he sighed, leaning back and taking a sip of his coffee. “You seeing anyone?”

When Damon asked that question Matt nearly choked on his coffee, setting it down; that seemed to come out of nowhere. “If I was I don’t see how it would be any of your concern. I’m an adult, I’m entitled to some privacy in my life.” Besides, it’s not like him and Mandy were going out going out, they had met up a few times and he had visited them for dinner but it wasn’t anything serious by any means. She was a friend.

Damon’s leg shook under the table, a smirk on his face. Did he need something? Answers, he supposed. The last time they spoke Matt had practically threatened him about the ability the guy had, but he didn’t know if that was the right approach in this situation. “Well, I did want to just take my food home, but seeing you sitting here…I couldn’t quite pass that up.” He leaned back in his seat, getting comfortable. If anyone walked past, Damon didn’t want to appear hostile right out.

Matt leaned back in his seat, not happy with the look on Damon’s face. He knew this probably wouldn’t end well but at least he had an escape plan. Okay, it wouldn’t work as well if Damon was touching any part of him or had him really distracted, as it didn’t work out so well last time. “Well, something tells me you’re not here to just chit chat, now, are we?” He took a sip of his coffee, raising an eyebrow.

Damon just needed to keep busy, that’s what he kept reminding himself. If he just threw himself into work, or tinkering with his truck or bike, everything would return to normal. Except this wasn’t normal. He hadn’t given Mandy another thought since he’d left her. It wasn’t fair of him to be mad at her for moving on, that’s what he had done for the past twenty years. Damon just couldn’t come to terms with the guy. Every time he had met the guy it turned into an argument, which only made Damon hate him more. It wasn’t even confirmed if it was the same Matt that he had run into, there could be more than one who lived in town. Of all days he just wanted to get lunch and go home, except fate seemed to have a different idea as he saw the guy sitting at a table. He chuckled to himself, take the opportunity to sit down across from him. “Long time no see.”

Here Matt thought he would have a nice, peaceful lunch. That idea flew out the window as soon as Damon sat down across from him. He didn’t even pay much mind to someone sitting across from him, it happened time to time, people in town wanting to talk, but as soon as he heard Damon’s voice he let out a sigh to himself, trying not to roll his eyes. He would have if he was actually holding the paper all the way up and open, maybe that would have spared him this encounter. Here he thought he was done interacting with this guy forever. Matt folded up the paper and set it down, looking at Damon, clearly not feeling this “Is there something you need? Or were you just looking for a table to eat lunch at?”

She couldn’t help the laugh, shaking her head at her own words. When had she become her mother? “If you want, God, I’m starting to sound like my mother. Being the overbearing mother.” She chuckled, looking up to him. “Whatever you two do, he will love it.” She knew that was true, her son was nearly thirteen, She needed to start treating him as such, he wasn’t just a kid. He was growing up, she needed to remember that. “If you are I cannot promise we will wait.” she teased, knowing she will be too nervous to think of food at least not until he was there. It had been so long since she did this sort of thing, it felt weird. “Great, I can’t wait. I will see you then?”

His smile widened when she laughed, really enjoying the sound of it. It was warm, loving, like a mothers, of course, but in a good way. Matt really admired it, and her in general, of course. “Well you're wonderful so I’m sure your mother is too.” He complimented. “And I’ll try my best, no guarantees, I’m not the best with timing but I’ve been working on it.” Chuckling, he nodded “I’ll see you then, Mandy. I can’t wait.”

“He’d love it, Matt. He’s probably think you were searching for Pirate treasure or even explores finding undiscovered land. He wouldn’t care if you had to do a little work, he’d think it was part of the fun.” Her son was a smart kid and in truth was used to someone always working while with him, but Matt at least had a fun job unlike her. “Store bought is our favorite flavor, how did you know?” She teased, shaking her head. “Come over about six thirty, I should have it ready by then. If not, I’m sure Michael will have no problem showing you his comic book collection or how big he can make his force fields now.”

“I mean searching for pirate treasure is something we can do.” Matt said with another laugh, truly excited to bring him along. He really like Mikey and was eager to spend more time with him. “It’s my favorite too, I’m glad we share that. And six thirty, it’s a date. I’ll try not to be too fashionably late.” Matt replied, knowing full well he was someone who was always a few minutes late, but that was mostly because he never even thought about travel time and did things last minute, but it was okay he was a speedy traveler. “I look forward to it.”

“He will be on Spring Break next week. He’s free all week, unless he goes to a friend’s, but I will get back to when I see him tonight. I almost want you to tell him, he’s going to be so excited.” She could feel her own excitement grow for her son. She knew how much this would mean to him. “I avoid most gastropods, so I think you’ll like what I have in mind.” She was already trying to think of what they have at home she could make, but she might need to run to the store after they part ways. “A dessert if you want to.  But if its too much trouble then don’t worry about it.I know you’re a busy man. And you coming over is really enough.” She assured him, “I was glad I got to have a few minutes of your time today.”

“Oh that’s perfect! I should be free next week I’m caught up on most of my work and I don’t think there are any projects for me. If there are I’m sure he wouldn’t mind tagging along as I do some surveying.” Mateo was excited himself, it would be nice to have some company. “No gastropods you say? Then I’m sure I’ll love whatever you make. And I can bring dessert no problem, I make a mean store-bought cookie.” He laughed a little.