Finding love - 25. Chapter 25

Sitting down at dinner that night Mom, the grandparents and Uncle Ted did everything to change the subject anytime it related to our family’s hidden talents.

There was a break in questions when Mrs. Andrews spoke; “Matt, I have some very good news for you. It seems that with your studying and testing it has paid off and you will graduate this June with your class.”

“Seriously,” I asked getting super excited.

“Yes, while you won’t make Valedictorian or Salutatorian you are within the top ten of your class.”

“That’s awesome,” Brody said with a huge smile.

“That’s very good news.” I said.

“You seem disappointed,” Mom said and dad nodded in agreement.

“I just didn’t expect to be so high in the class,” I sighed.

“Matt, your home teacher has been very impressed with your grades and you’ve made strides given all the hurdles you’ve had to clear,” Mrs. Andrews said.

“Matt, Laura is right. You’ve been busting your tail to get assignments completed,” Dad said.

“It’s just I don’t feel that I deserve it. Maybe the classes were too easy?”

Mom, dad and Mrs. Andrews broke into laughter.

“Mattie, honey, your taking several college level course, which are like taking AP classes,” Mom said.

“You’ve always been super smart,” Nicky said with a smile.

“You ok Nathan?” I asked as I noticed this sad look on his face.

“I let Jonah and Mark interfere with my schooling and I paid for it.”

“Well Nate, when you start taking the classes for being a therapist, you can make up for it,” Luca said. “After you get a degree high school just becomes a blip on the radar.”

“Will you be going to college?” I asked.

“I’ve been talking with Emerson and Jeff and applied for scholarships and admission too,” Luca replied.

“Where did you apply to?” Dad asked.

“Penn State; they have some really great programs.”

“That is where Tristan and TJ sent all their kids,” Grandpa added.

“Do we have our own building?” I asked.

“No, we do not. Is that where you applied Nathaniel?”

“Yes, Grandpa. Emerson spoke very highly of the different programs.”

“Your mother chose not to go there despite all the programs they offered. I am glad to hear you will be attending the family alma mater.”

“Why didn’t you go mom?” I asked.

“Lots of reasons, for one I wanted to be away from family.”

“No, you wanted to follow a certain football player,” Grandma interrupted. “You were so enamored with him.”

“You mean there was someone else besides dad?” Nicky joked.

“It was your father,” Mom said. “He may not look like it anymore but he was a heck of a football player.”

“If your cooking wasn’t so damn delicious, I’d still have my figure,” Dad said and everyone laughed.

“Where did you go to school?” Luca asked.

“Johns Hopkins in Baltimore,” Dad replied.

“They have a football team?” Luca said perplexed.

“Division 3,” Dad replied.

“I guess every time I hear about the school it’s about its top notch medical school.”

“Yes, Hopkins is more known for the Medical school but they do have some really great programs.”

“Don’t let him fool you Luca,” Mom began “He was accepted to Stanford, Princeton and University of Pennsylvania.”

“What made you land on Johns Hopkins?” Luca asked.

“I went for Civil Engineering and while my parents and brother were in Ohio, I lived with my grandmother in Maryland since I was 14 and wanted to remain nearby. She encouraged me to go where ever I wanted but I couldn’t leave her.”

“Why did you live with her?”

“My grandfather died in the attack on the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. He was retired military and working as a civilian for the U.S. Army. After he died, my father tried to get her to move back to Ohio but she refused. My dad speculated that my grandmother may have believed that one day my Grandfather would return.”

“That’s kind of sad,” Luca said wiping away tears.

“She lived until the summer of my senior year of college. I lived on campus but made frequent trips to her house, which was down the street from the Michaels.”

“That’s cool you would give up your life for your grandma,” Luca said.

“If I hadn’t, I’d never have met the love of my life.”

“I believe things happen for a reason,” Luca began “While what happened to Nathan was terrible, it caused our paths to cross. I know he is going to do great things, I can feel it.”

“Thanks Luca,” Nathan said blushing.

“Matt, I heard about your story from Nathan on how you and Brody met. I know that you two will be together forever as it was meant to be.”

Mom gave Luca this strange look and I could tell Grandpa and her were getting curious about something.

“So Luca,” Grandpa began “Tell us more about your family.”