Welcome Back Matthew (3)

27 December, Club TJ's City K

Matthew quickly took in the sight of Lexi. She was still at a small at a height, even in heels like she was and that absolutely brought out his protective instincts. Her black hair was piled on top of her head, but it has the same shine as it always did. Her figure, had matured, but at its core was the same basic shape that he remembered from the last time he saw her. The inflection in her tone, was still the same.

Lexi once she was fully in the room started to look around and stopped for a few seconds as her eyes hit Matthew. He saw conflicting emotions pass across her eyes, but one key one was that she had something she did not want him to know. She quickly averted her eyes and then continued to look at everyone at home.

"Come on you lot, what is the issue?"

No one was ready to speak, as they were worried about the reaction between Matthew and Lexi, given that they had not seen each other for eight years. Other than Lexi the other two that had concerns about her secret were Phillip and Chester. Chester, who had known from the time that Lexi was found to be pregnant that her child was Matthew's and Phillip who had figured out the secret when Dominic was six months old.

"Well Steven made a comment about my rank in the military, and John spat out his drink all over Joan, then they started to question Phillip about my rank."

"Well come on tell us."

"Mr Goody Too-shoes is a colonel," responded Phillip. "Another administration position, and a senior role at the local base." Matthew realised that there was stunned faces around the room, from those who had no idea of his rank, given how quickly he had risen in nine years in the military.

"From what I hear you never stay in the same place for long, from what I hear, so another temporary position," came Chester.

"Actually no. This deployment is for at least four years and depending on what happens with the base commanded and commanding general, it may become permanent."

"So, what do you do?"

"Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. I have been tasked also with reorganising some operational areas." Matthew knew that this was the absolute truth, he simple omitted what he was responsible for. He then shot John a look as to say keep your mouth shut or I will tell your secrets as well.

Seeing Matthew's look, John realised that if he spilled Matthew's secret, Matthew would spill his secret. There was no way that he wanted that to happen, particularly given he was so close to Joan agreeing to marry him. She would run like anything if the truth came out.

Andrew went over to a wet bar in the room and poured a whisky for Matthew and handed it to him, indicating "Whiskey."

Matthew indicated "Only this one. I am sort of on call for emergencies on base, despite not officially starting until Monday, due to several combined factors. So, you better have some juice and other non-alcoholic drinks in here."

"You are not back with us for more than ten minutes, and you are a party pooper. I bet it is an excuse," Andrew fired back. Matthew realised that he has already had a few drinks. He could not hold his alcohol when they were young, and he wondered if that was the still the case.

John, knew he better say something "Actually Andrew, from what I hear from the base liaison officer, presently that idiot," with that he pointed at Matthew, "is the only colonel on base." The set of stunned looks that went across everyone's face surprised Matthew.

"Apparently four had been sent on manoeuvres, two are on scheduled leave, two on emergency leave, and two in the last three days have been injured, one in a car accident and the other somehow on base. The base commander was called away and the commanding general apparently is ill in the base hospital."

"How in the world did you get there?" Spat out a stunned Andrew.

"Right place, right time and doing my duty." Came the short sharp response. While truthful the reality was it as the right missions with the right outcome.

"Come on that is not enough, you need to give us details." Responded Andrew.

"No can do, it is called military secrets. Anyway, in this room unless things have changed so dramatically there are three of the biggest gossips in this town in this room, led by my big brother."

"Go jump of the JL International's building?"