Dawsey: Starting a Family Part 2

Chapter 163

Matt's POV: Once I came back out to the garage when I got water bottles for everybody, I smiled when I went to pass them out. Giving my family our water bottles, I went to give Christie and Violet some plastic water bottles. "Okay, why do we get these and you get the expensive ones?" Gabby then looked at her. "Because I need a lot of water. Unlike you guys, I'm drinking for 4." Christie nodded when she said that. "Right, sorry about that." I then went to sit down next to Gabby and grabbed her hand. "Okay, take a breath and just relax okay?" Gabby nodded when I said that and agreed with me. "Sorry guys, this pregnancy is giving me a shorter temper."

I then muttered under my breath. "Giving you?" Turning her head, Gabby just glared at me. "Is that you asking to sleep on the couch downstairs Matthew?" My sister then smirked. "Violet, don't talk for a bit...this is going to get good. She only brings out the Matthew when he's in trouble." I then looked at me sister when she said that. "And you didn't do the same when I was in trouble as a kid. By the way, how in the world did you not know about how our father abused me?" Christie sighed when I asked her that. "Sorry, I guess I blocked it out." I nodded and agreed with her. "Right, sorry. Listen...on to better topics." 

Christie then smiled. "One we can start with is the gifts we have in my car. I forgot to grab them. Help me Violet?" Violet nodded and got up before going to get some gifts for us. "I didn't know we were getting some gifts." My sister then went to walk over to her car. "I missed your birthday and I want to show my new nephew that he's one of us." I smiled when she said that and nodded. "That sounds great. Thanks for being such a good sport when it comes to accepting him into the family." Christie nodded and smiled when I said that. "Matt, he's your son...that makes him my nephew and Violet's cousin." She then grabbed some gifts.

Walking back  over to the garage, my sister smiled as she came to give the bags to us. "This is a late birthday gift...this is for Louie and this is for the triplets." I nodded when she came to give us the bags and just smiled at her. "Thanks sis." Violet then gave me some bags before going to sit with her mom. I then went to grab Louie's gift and went to open it. Looking at it, I smiled when I saw it was a new Blackhawks jersey for Louie. "Oh god, look at his Gabby." Gabby then turned her head and smiled as I went to show her the back of the jersey. It saw L. Casey on the back with the number 20 (as in the year he was adopted).

Gabby smiled when I said that. "That's adorable. Now, do your gift." I nodded and went to grab the gift. Opening it, I went to grab it when I saw it was my dad's watch. "Woah Christie..." Christie then smiled when I looked at it. "Dad wore it, our grandfather wore it and our great-grandfather wore it. I took it since I am the oldest daughter but...you are the son. You should have it. Someday it can be Louie's." Turning to look at Gabby, I smiled when my sister said that. "That is going to be so special for so many reasons." Gabby was confused when I said that. "Yeah, because he is our son babe."

I nodded. "That and it's a known fact that African Americans don't usual have heirlooms passed down to them. So for Louie to get a family heirloom passed down to him...it is going to be special." Gabby smiled when I said that. "Maybe it can be his Fire Academy graduation gift." Gabby smiled when I said that. "You guys going to push all of your kids into the fire academy?" I nodded and smiled. "I actually had a dream before we got Louie back. Our daughter was the candidate on Truck 81, our son Matt Jr. was the candidate on Truck 90 at another house and our other son Andy was a paramedic with Gabby." 

Christie smiled when I said that and nodded. "Where do you think that guy is going to end up?" Gabby then thought about it and smiled. "He wants to be a firefighter like his daddy." Christie smiled when she said that. "His dad was a fellow firefighter?" I then shook my head. "No, she means me. When we talk about his daddy...we refer to me. He doesn't really remember his other dad. It's complicated. I am his dad okay?" Christie then looked at me. "Sorry I hit a nerve." I then sighed when she said that. "Sorry, we just had this awkward conversation about that with him and we don't want to confuse him anymore." 

"Okay, I understand." I smiled when she said that. "So, you still working through this?" Christie nodded when I asked her that. "Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of taking time off with furlough days." I then laughed when she said that. "Oh no, I am still working. I am just working from home. I said that I am not putting Louie or Gabby's pregnancy at risk by possibly catching this thing. So, I am just doing reports and furlough requests. The joys of being a captain." Gabby laughed when I said that and nodded while grabbing my hand.

"Oh and I also determine whether a fire should be reported to the Office of Fire Investigations." That's when I got my first report since we started this system. Looking at it quickly, I sighed considering it wasn't one that I was expecting. It was the one regarding Jim's place. "Okay, this is crazy. You remember the fire at your dad's place Violet?" Violet nodded when I said that. I then turned to look at Gabby. "They just ruled it arson."