Too close to lose you

Chapter 7.

As soon as I woke up the next morning, I was on the phone with my dad on our almost daily check-in. He tries to be consistent, but sometimes he works through the night, and being that where he was night was our morning, it messed our schedule sometimes.

Knock.knock.

At the sound of someone at the door, I looked at the clock to see if anyone should be awake right now. The sun is up but barely. My dad stopped talking, and a grin came on his face.

“Well aren’t you going to answer it,” he said, causing me to rush out of the room and give him narrowed glares as I made my way downstairs. When I reached for the door, my hands were shaking in excitement, and my mind was racing with the possibilities. I take a deep inhale looking at my giddy father for explanation, I knew I wasn’t going to get from him, but I still glared at him, waiting. Eventually, I gave up on that. exhaling in a mildly irritated huff and opened the door. What I revealed were two people holding a big box close to their faces. One man and one woman, they were wearing mailmen uniform instead the woman was wearing light grey distressed jeans and blue and black shoes, loosely tucked in white shirt with a matching blue sweater hanging off one shoulder. And the man was wearing beige jeans, a knitted short sleeve polo shirt that outlines his muscle and exposed his tattoo sleeve on his right forearm.

“So are you going to let us in or gonna keep standing there with that silly look on your face.” Said the woman who started to struggle with the big box in her arms.

“Yes, right. Come on in,” after they enter I checked the driveway to see if anymore visitors were going to jump out of the bushes but all I saw was a middle aged man walking his dog and a guy in a weird camouflage shirt that did him no favors whistling down the sidewalk. I close the door and turn around to see the box on the floor, no longer acting as a mask. And I see that it’s my father’s older brother, Uncle Tobias,and my cousin,Elizabeth, from my moms side, standing there with the biggest smiles on their faces, arms open wide. I laugh and practically run into their arms.

“What are you guys doing here?” I say breathlessly

“Little bean, we have to work on your welcoming skills. I’m hurt.” Teased Uncle Tobias, he was older than my dad by 6 years, being the oldest of three, but he looked not a day above thirty. His charmed could still any one’s heart and befriend people you would never expect him to even know. But when he came around his was the biggest child and always teased me like a big brother I never had.

“Where’s your brother.” Said Elizabeth, looking around expectantly.

“Probably over a friends house hiding from the chores he was supposed to do this week.” I shrugged back as I moved to the living room after gesturing for them to follow.

“Do you like your gift, princess?” I checked my phone in my hand by my hip, almost forgetting the mastermind was still on the phone.

“Yes daddy, but I can’t believe you sent them here with no notice. What if I threw a party last night.” Everyone gave a light chuckle shaking their head at me.

“Well it’s a good thing we are going to be here long enough to make sure you were grounded for a very, very long time.”Uncle Tobias replied.

I froze,

“And how long are you staying here,” I said, trying not to come off ungrateful, but I’m used to living alone.

My little brother is usually at some practice,camp or staying with his friends so this big house meant for a family was left all to me and I was used to it now.

My cousin began walking back to the couch i hadn’t yet sat on pulling my frozen body near her before putting her arm around my shoulder and crossing her legs across my lap “Well, I can only stay two months this time around but I’ll be back once I finish up of few classes, and I’m coming to live here with you.” If my eyes could’ve popped out, in that moment, it would’ve. Seeing as words were not going to come to me. My uncle sat down across from me, on the coffee table instead of the chair that was a little farther. Grabbing my hand in his, he started to rub light circles on the back of my hand.

Oh f**k this can't be good.

“I’ve decided to stay and live here as well. Your aunt is coming in a few days. now, before you freak out, I know you have a life and don’t want your uncle hovering over you. But your father and I agree that you need to be around family little bean, and I miss you.” He said with love swelling in his eyes.

Squeezing my hand gently and he waited for my response. Well, how am I supposed to say no to that. It’s not like I actually have parties here anymore. I tried in junior high and quickly found out that there is competition for parties and a predetermined winner, and she did not like the sudden change of plans. Well, she can keep it. Cleaning up after a party is an experience I never want to have again. I shuddered at the images of the aftermath that popped up in my head.

After probably too long of a moment, taking a deep breath, I smiled at my family before saying as convincing as possible

“of course, nothing would make me happier uncle, you want to pick a room for you and aunt Lisa”