Stranger with the Stars

Surprise Visit

BUZZ BUZZ

“It’s too early for this s**t. Nooo. I’m not answering you today.” I moaned into my pillow. It couldn’t have been later than 8am. It was my off day, and I planned to sleep in.

BUZZ BUZZ

“No, you’re not winning.” I shouted in protest.

BUZZ BUZZ

“I’ll ground you. I’ll put you in the closet. Is that what you want? You wanna be the closet phone?” I rolled over to face the night stand. My phone immediately stopped buzzing. Finally, I could go back to sleep.

“ELLIE, THERE’S SOME HOT MAN OUTSIDE! HE LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A LOT OF MONEY! HE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY!” Archie shouted up the stairs. Ah, of course he’s noticed a hot man. Of course it would be a hot man with money. Now this hot man just had to have parked in our driveway.

Wait.

I shot up in bed. I picked up my phone to see who the missed call was from. Of course, it was Uncle Eren. The hot man outside was Uncle Eren trying to give me a heads up he was here. Was he doing some outpatient visits in town and stopped by?

“PLEASE DON’T MAN HANDLE HIM, THAT’S MY UNCLE!” I shouted down the stairs at Archie.

I threw myself out of bed. Brushing my teeth, putting my hair up in a bun, and throwing on a copper bralette and black shorts. My clothes weren’t an issue to either Uncle Eren or Archie, I was comfy and not too much was showing.

I ran down the stairs to see Uncle Eren attempting to make his way to the kitchen with Archie following like a puppy.

“Oh so you’re Ellie’s Uncle?”

“Yes I am, and who are you?” Uncle Eren turned to give Archie his full attention. He could see me leaning against the railing, peeking over to see what he was going to do next.

“Oh me? I’m Archie, practically Ellie’s best friend. Did Ellie’s Aunt not make it too?” He asked with the most innocence he could add, making it seem like he wasn’t fishing to find out if the good Dr. was married or not.

“Mrs.? Oh no honey, I swing another way. Thank you for asking.” Uncle Eren was trying to politely let Archie down. I could see him reaching to scratch the back of his neck. I had to save him.

“Hey, you! Looking handsome as ever!” I was delighted to see him. It wasn’t never a bad time for Uncle Eren to drop by.

Uncle Eren’s face lit up like a child at Christmas. He moved past Archie and brought me into a big bear hug.

“Oh I’ve missed you! The office is so boring without you being there! My condo calls for you to come visit!” He said lovingly to the top of my head.

“I missed you too. You know I could go to you and work in the office if you need me to. I’d have to crash at the condo some nights to do so.” I didn’t want to be out of this hug quite yet.

“That’s true, we can talk about it later.” He released me. He rubbed my arms with excitement before turning and sitting at the dining room table.

“I actually came by to talk to you about a few things, a few private things.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Archie who took the hint.

“Fine fine, but just so you know I too swing that way. Maybe give me a call sometime? You know where I live.” Archie flirted back. Doing a little finger wave before sauntering off to his bedroom once more.

“He’s uh, he’s very horney. I have no excuse for that.” I couldn’t lie to my Uncle. Best to upfront and be honest.

“That’s okay, I was the same way at that age. He’s cute, just too young for me. I think I’ve seen him before around here.”

I took my place across the table from Uncle Eren. He looked as pristine as ever in his button ups and tucked in ironed pants. His bow-tie done to perfection to match his perfectly combed hair.

“He works at the hardware store. He’s been my roommate for a few months now. He’s a super great friend and I’m happy to have him around.” I smiled remembering how Archie was the only true friend I had around here still. He adopted me the day I walked into that hardware store.

“Well, I’m glad you’ve made a friend. Have you… made any personal friends?” He asked, wiggling his eyebrows with a goofy smile. I knew what he was asking.

“No, I haven’t f****d anyone yet. No, I'm not dating anyone either. I’m not in the market right now.”

“Why not? There’s plenty of hot guys around here. It’s weird, it’s like they all moved up here.” He laughed finishing his sentence.

“I know! It’s so weird! There's so many buff guys up here. I’ll never have to go too far to ask someone to move the couch for me. That and some of these boys are so freaking pretty. They’re built differently. They put something in the water.” We were now laughing together at the situation. There were truly too many hot guys up here. Only one had caught my eye, but I wasn’t going to bring Trenton up yet. I didn’t even know if I wanted to talk to him. All he ever did was talk in short bursts and then walk off with some other chicks.

“Sorry to disappoint, my dear second daddy, but there is no one to bring home for Thanksgiving yet.”

“That’s okay, we got time. I’d rather you’d focus on school and on the work I send you. But I can’t expect you to only do that for your time here. I heard that you offered to buy the house from the owner, and that she’s in the process of signing it over to you.”

“Yes, sir. I don’t know, something came over me and told me to do it. I’m sorry to break your heart and tell you that I’m not just gonna be hanging out here for a year or two. It may be much longer. Doesn’t mean I don’t love you, it just means I’m doing me.”

“Could you have done you a bit closer to home. Jesus, it’s like 5 hours to get here. My poor little car had to chug all the way here!” He pouted.

“Oh no. Not your poor little brand new BMW. I’ll make sure to give it a kiss for it’s tough drive.” I responded with ample amounts of sarcasm. Sticking out my bottom lip to add an extra little cherry on top.

“Ugh, you’re no fun.” He rolled his eyes at me leaning back into his chair.

“What else did you wanna talk about?” I was curious to know what really brought him over. He wouldn’t have done it unless it was truly something not able to text or call to one another.

“I happened to be up here on call for a few patients… But there is something. Your father is going through a rough patch with that bitch.” Uncle Eren responded matter of fact.

“Oh, you mean Cheryl? What’s going on now?” I was now leaning forward in my chair, my arms were propping me up on the table.

“Well, she’s lost her f*****g mind and kicked him out due to him not telling her that you took the truck. She was hoping that he would sell it when you left.”

Shock was the last thing on my mind.

“I’m not surprised. I know he wasn’t going to tell her. He went and bought himself a new truck. I’m surprised it isn’t about the money mom left.”

“Oh no it is about that. She wants to know how much it was so that she can ‘bill plan’ around it and take them on vacation. Your father is in the middle of deciding if he wants to tell her, or if he wants to break it off. However, we both know that divorce would be long drawn out and she’d go for everything he has.”

“Yeah. Yeah I know.” I sighed as loud as my lungs would allow. It was true that she would make it a horrible experience. It wasn’t her first marriage, and I didn’t think it’d be her last.

“Could you call him later and talk to him? Don’t tell him I told you everything, but he won’t be willing to bring it up unless someone calls him out on it.”

“Of course I can.” I reached across the table and held my Uncle's hands. His face was filled with sorrow. It was clear the toll that this was taking on both of them. My Dad didn’t deserve this, Uncle Eren didn’t deserve to watch his best friend get dragged through the mud.

“Thank you, sweetie. I do have to head out, my next client is at 9:30. I’ll text you when I’m back home okay?”

“Yeah that works for me. I’m gonna go get some sleep. I want to try to sleep on my day off please.”

“You ask too much. I’m nothing more than a fair and respectful employer.”

“Most managers don’t stash a bunch of club dresses into their employees' bags before they take them to their new house.” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Well, that just makes me a wonderful manager who only hopes you’ll have fun.” He blew a kiss my way, finishing it with his charming full smile.

“I love you, drive safe. Did you lose your key by the way?” I asked while getting up from the table. I noticed Archie had to let him in.

“No, I forgot it at the office. You gave your Dad the special key and left me with the plain silver. I’m hurt and I’m writing a complaint. This is going on your review.”

“Ugh, fine. I’ll give you a special key as long as you don’t wake me up before noon on my day off.”

“Deal!” Uncle Eren made his way to the door. He gave me a kiss on the head before letting himself out. I started up the stairs to hopefully get a few more hours of sleep.

“DID THE HOT GUY LEAVE?” Archie shouted from his room.

“YES, HOT GUY DID LEAVE BUT HE LEFT HIS LOVE IN THE KITCHEN FOR YOU.” I shouted back before locking myself in. My bed never looked more appetizing. I threw myself onto it, encasing myself like a moth in the comforters. The curtains were still pulled forward, blocking any sunlight from coming in.

“Will the hot guy… be back sometime?” Archie popped his head in. He was genuinely interested in my Uncle.

“Hot guy could come back sometime, but not if everyone is going to keep me awake.” I mumbled through the blanket.

I heard the door shut with a gentle pop of the lock. Archie knew that I was tired, but I knew he’d come back later with questions. For now, it was sleep time.