Gone || h.s.

Chapter Two

"So Matthew, is Sydney your only child?" I asked as we skated around the rink.

Sydney was in the middle of the rink with a group of other younger girls, they were all showing off their tricks and movements. I'd come to the conclusion that Sydney must ice skate a lot, she was so talented and graceful on the ice it astounded me.

"No, I have a son who's up in Doncaster, he's visiting a few friends at the moment," Matthew said as he glanced over at Sydney to make sure she was alright on her own.

My eyebrows raised a little at the new information, I wonder how old he is. Considering Matthew looks to be around my own father's age maybe his son is the same age as me. I stumbled a little on the ice and Matthew reached for my arm to steady me as I thanked him with a laugh.

"I've never been too good at ice skating,"

"Maybe Syd can teach you sometime," he said with a chuckle as he turned his body around and began to skate backwards whilst he spoke to me.

My mouth formed an 'O' shape as I watched him. How is he doing that without falling? As I let myself recover from watching Matthew skate, I smiled at his words.

"I think I'd like that, your daughter seems very mature for her age," I admitted to him with a warm smile, assuring him that it wasn't a bad thing.

I noticed the smile on Matthew's face fall slightly as he turned to look at Sydney again. I watched as he turned around so that he was skating the right way round whilst he kept his eyes on locked on his daughter.

"I believe that's partly my fault, it's just that... She looks so much like her mother that it kills me," he admitted as his shoulders slumped slightly.

"Would you like to sit down for a minute? Take a break or something?" I asked, trying to get the poor man to follow my lead as I began to skate towards the exit of the rink.

"Yeah, thanks Eve," he sighed as we skated off the rink.

We stomped our way over to our seats, these darn skates are so heavy I was surprised I was even able to lift them as I walked. I took a seat next to Matthew on the edge of the row as he let out a breath of air. We sat in silence for a few minutes. It wasn't uncomfortable, however, I was so curious about Matthew's late wife, so I knew I had to start the conversation off otherwise I don't think he would.

"What was she like?" I asked politely, not caring what he would say, as long as he would talk. I think all he needed to do was talk about her.

"She was the most beautiful person I'd ever met. We actually met at this very same ice rink when we were in high school, it hasn't changed much," he said with a small smile on his face as he began to reminisce about his past.

"Her name was Anne, every girl wanted to be her and every boy wanted to date her. She was the most popular girl at our school, but not in the way that every other girl was. She was kind to everyone, so incredibly kind that it astounded me sometimes. She was friends with everyone, her sense of humour left everyone with tears in their eyes as her own sparkled with life. Her and my son were the closest any mother and son could be, it completely destroyed Harry when she passed. He blamed it on Sydney for a while, but he was still young, so he didn't know any better. But I tell you, Sydney wouldn't have it. She wouldn't leave him alone and no matter how hard he tried not to, he gave in to her dimpled smile and told me that she reminded him so much of his mother. They became inseparable after that, he took her everywhere. He's off at college now though, which means that Sydney's left by herself sometimes, which she seems to like, but I know that she misses Harry so much when he's away."

"She loves you so much, don't forget that, I know it must be so hard... Especially since she looks so much like Anne, but just think... Everything that you loved in her, is now in Sydney. You get to cherish your wife within your daughter, and I think that's pretty special," I rubbed his should gently with my hand, comforting him in the way that I knew how.

"You're a pretty special girl Eve," Matthew said with a small smile as he wiped his eyes.

I smiled as I looked towards Sydney and saw he watching us with a puzzled look on her face. I gave her a small wave and she smiled back at me and began to skate over to the exit.

"And so is your daughter," I turned to him with a smile and he smiled back at me.

"What are you guys talking about?" Sydney's voice asked as she climbed up the steps to reach us.

"Just how special you are Syd," her father said to her as he lifted her up and rested her on his knee.

She smiled and gave him a hug as she lifted her legs onto my lap. I gave her a puzzled look and she giggled at me.

"I'm tired, can you please take my skates off for me?" she asked with a cheeky smile on her face.

"Only because you said 'please' sweetie," I said as I began to untie her professional white skates.

"Can Eve come over for dinner dad?" Sydney's sweet voice asked as she peered at her father's face, waiting for his response.

"Oh, it's okay Sydney, I don't mean to impose," I politely rejected her offer, not wanting to put Matthew in an awkward position.

"Nonsense, it's a great idea, you'd make a great guest," Matthew assured me as he grabbed Sydney's skates off me and put them in a small duffel bag.

"Well then I'd be glad to join you," I smiled as Sydney let out a laugh and jumped off of her father's lap.

"I can show you my books!" she exclaimed with excitement as she grabbed my hand, along with her dad's, and began to drag us out of the building.

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Hey guys, so I know that this chapter isn't as long as the first but sometimes that's going to happen, it all depends on how I want the chapter to go and where I want it to finish off. But besides that... I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) xx.