Matt finishes up with the cattle outside and takes a quick break inside the Colgait house. Jonathan Colgait Sr. is at the kitchen sink, pouring himself a glass of water.

It’s so hot outside that even the air conditioning can barely keep the heat at bay inside the house. Matt grabs a cup from the cupboard and also fills it with water.

“When is the funeral?” Mr. Colgait asks in between sips of water. Matt stares down at his water. He doesn’t drink any of it.

“Tomorrow. Do you think I could have the rest of the day off to go help set up?” Matt asks. Mr. Colgait shakes his head in disbelief. After a few moments, Mr. Colgait looks up at Matt with a smile.

“Boy, you were crazy to even come in at all today. Go. My grandson will keep things going around here. We’ll all be at your daddy’s funeral tomorrow too, so make it look nice, okay?” Mr. Colgait chuckles. He sets his empty glass beside the sink and goes out to check on Patrick.

Matt stands there a while longer. None of the Colgaits were actually invited, but they weren’t the kind of family to be ashamed of showing up uninvited. Matt smiles. He couldn’t wait for the day that he could also call himself a Colgait.

Matt borrows Patrick’s truck again. The memorial service for his father was being held at the community building in town, and the funeral was two hours later at the Weston Church. Matt would need to help set up the decorations, tables and chairs, the music, a few videos and picture slides to display, and who would be speaking at the memorial. So far, none of the Shawford children have volunteered.

When he got there, others were already working to set up the tables and foldable chairs. Matt starts setting out white table cloths and a small vase of flowers for each table.

Matt was nearly finished with all the decorations when he spotted Casey standing in the doorway of the building. Oh no. He didn’t come looking for Jamie, did he? Matt quickly spins around and tries to walk away. Hopefully Casey didn’t notice-

“Matt? Wait,” Casey sprints across the room to catch up. ‘Why? Why did Jamie have to put him through this? Just deal with your awkward one-night stands yourself!’ Matt curses Jamie.

“Is Jamie here? Could I talk to her? I’m not like a crazy stalker or anything it’s just, you know, last night was-”

“I’m going to stop you right there, dude.” Matt stops walking and puts his hand up to stop Casey from creeping him out any further. No brother wants to hear those kinds of details. “I can’t help you with Casey. And right now,” Matt looks around the memorial to make a point. “Isn’t a good time, okay?”

Matt acknowledges that he’s being really short with this poor guy. He is Caitlyn’s brother after all. But that doesn’t change the facts. Jamie walked away, and now he was back. He clearly didn’t get the hint.

“I understand. It’s a horrible time. But last night was amazing, and I just don’t understand. Was it not amazing for her? Did I do something I wasn’t supposed to? I don’t get it.” Casey’s soul is crushed, Matt understands. Matt sighs, and looks Casey in the eyes.

“I can’t answer those questions for sure, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t about you. It’s Jamie.” Matt rubs his eyes and counts all of the things he still has to do. “Now, if you’re not going to stay and help, please leave.”

Matt expects the desperate bartender to leave. But he doesn’t.

“Okay, I’ll help.” Casey says as he goes to work. He doesn’t wait for Matt to say it was okay. Matt shakes his head. That guy sure has some balls doing all this for a girl who left him and walked fifteen miles home instead of just asking for a ride in the morning. Did he really not get the clear signals Jamie was sending out?

Matt shivers. Thinking about his sister’s love life is not good for his health.

Casey sets out on the daunting task of sweeping the gross tile floors. Matt signs. He really wasn’t going to get involved any further.

Luckily, the only other Shawford who showed up to the set up day was Daniel. Daniel shows up in black ripped jeans and a hoodie. He doesn’t really fit into the small town scene very well. None of them really did, but Daniel definitely stood out, even among the Shawfords.

“How can I help?” Daniel asks. Matt notices Casey look up sharply at the sound of a new voice in the room. He looks disappointed that it’s just Daniel.

“You’re good at computer stuff, right? A bunch of the guests sent pictures and stuff for us to display, but I haven’t gotten around to making a presentation or anything yet.” Matt hands Daniel a flashdrive. Daniel accepts it.

“Sure thing. But I’ll only do it if you can find out when Carly Jenn has shifts at the diner.” Daniel bargains. Matt groans. Not this again.

“Dude, I barely even know her. She picks up milk twice a week from the Colgait farm and that’s it. I don’t go around stalking girls I like either because that’s creepy.” Matt explains frustratingly. Daniel throws his head back and laughs.

“First of all, you don’t even like girls. Second of all, you bugged me nonstop in highschool to get you a job at that farm just so you could be close to Patrick!” David laughs. He folds his hand into a prayer to beg Matt. “Please. I’m begging you here, just help me?”

Matt rolls his eyes. Okay, so the job thing was true. He started working at the Colgait farm just to get closer to Patrick. But now he works there as if he is a part of their family. So no big deal. Matt thinks it over. Carly Jenn is a fairly private person, but Matt knew that she always worked Thursdays at 5pm, because that is the time he and Patrick are there every week.

“Alright fine. But after this, no more Carly-Jenn related favors, okay? She works every Thursday at five. I don’t know anything more than that.” Matt tells him definitively.

“Yes! You will not regret this! Thanks!” Daniel is about to run out of the building but Matt stops him.

“Don’t forget about the flashdrive. We need it for tomorrow.”

Daniel nods quickly. “Totally. It’ll definitely be ready by then!” And with that, Daniel speeds out of the room and gets ready for tonight.