His Secret Obsession
Chapter 47

(Emery)

As soon as I walked outside I filled my lungs with the fresh summer air, the sun was just starting to set and the sky was colored in soft pinks and blues. For such a beautiful day it sucks how it was turning out. Well, honestly I feel over the moon with the things Asher said. The way he stuck up for us and how he told my uncle that I was the one. It was hard not to let my it the floor on that one. I know he says that stuff to me..but giving up basketball for me?! I never expected those words to come out of his mouth. Even

though I would never even think of asking him to do that, never in a thousand years.

I walked across our driveway, heading towards a stone path that led to a small flower garden my dad built for us when I was a kid. I know my uncle would be there because this is where we all went when things got too hard. This was

No, she isn't physically buried here, but my dad used to bring me to this place when I was a child. He would about what was going on in life. My favorite part about the garden was the stone statue my dad bough It's odd..but after a while, I would picture that angel as my mom. Instead of talking to the air, I would sooner on my own.

Walking through the bush-lined path, I turned the corner and could already hear the creaking from th Uncle Jack glanced over at me, his face was cold and I could tell his guard was up already.

ace to come and visit Mom.

tell stories about my mom and even built a swinging bench for us sit on. Occasionally I would catch him and Uncle Jack here, talking to her and telling her winged angel. It was a woman with wings tucked into her back and her head tilted towards the ground as she looked down upon the flower.

the beautiful statue and tell the woman about my day or what was going on in my life. I hadn't been here in a while, and I almost feel guilty for not coming

g. I took a steadying breath and stepped forward, making my presence known.

"Mind if I join you?" I broke the silence, not liking this tension between us. Uncle Jack and I never argued or fought..so for him to be closed off like this..it made my heart ache. "Sure." He responded flatly, scooting over on the bench as I went to sit down.

Taking the seat next to him, I trailed my hand up the chain that was connected to the base of the swing. The cool texture was a welcome feeling against my sweating palms. "I'm sorry..for not saying anything earlier." I lowered my gaze, locking my eyes on the angel that brought me comfort.

Uncle Jack let out a loud sigh and kicked his feet in the dirt, moving us back and forth as he tilted his

"I hate this so much." He breathed, his eyes fluttering closed as I peered over at him.

"Hate what?" I whispered, bracing myself for his answer.

up, looking at the sky.

"How I am losing you too. How the only thing linking us to her is slipping away." His words shocked me causing my heart to sink as I looked down at my hands, unsure of what to say..

"You know she started out like a sister to me. Your dad and I..well you have heard what our childhood was like. After our dad left, our mom did too..she might have been there physically but mentally she checked out." He began to explain, the air quiet around us as if it too were waiting on bated breath to listen to his story.

"I was only ten when I first met your mom. Of course, your dad was head over heels immediately. I guess I was too." He laughed softly, opening his eyes now as he met my gaze.

"Then it all happened so fast..they moved in together and got married, bringing me with them. Then two years later they had you." He smiled, placing his hands over mine as he held it gently.

"It felt like we were a real family when you came along. I was twelve when they brought you home. Your mom..she became mine too. She went to school events and cheered me on at football games...maybe even got in a few fights with the ref..that's how she was. She looked at me as if I never had one single flaw." He continued and I couldn't stop the warm tears from streaming down my cheeks. I never realized he saw her like that. I knew he lived with them and everything..but this, I didn't know.

"So that day, when we got the call that she was hit by a drunk driver. I was fucking fourteen..your dad twenty-two..then we had you, the light of our life. You saved us Em..you were the only reason we got through that." He began choking up now, causing me to throw myself into his arms.

"Uncle Jack." I sobbed, gripping onto him as he rubbed my back soothingly.

"Now..I just don't know what the hell I am doing. Everything is changing so fast and it's like I can't do anything to stop it.." His voice filled with emotion, making me cry even harder.

"I'm sorry.." I really was..this was hard on me too, being away from them for the first time.

"Hey, it's okay kiddo..none of this is your fault..it's just part of growing up and it kind of sucks, to be honest..somewhere along the line I stopped feeling like your cool uncle and started feeling like your parent." He admitted, making sure to emphasize the "cool" part making me choke out a chuckle between sobs.

"I'm sorry about the Asher stuff. I know he isn't a bad guy Em..it's just hard seeing my little girl grow up so fast. It's like it happened overnight. I might have freaked a little..." He admitted sheepishly, causing me to pull back and co*ck my eyebrow. "A little?" I asked sarcastically, making him shrug as he pulled me into his side once more.

"Just don't tell that punk I said that.. at least not until you leave..and why the hell is he so damn tall? I don't think my intimidation techniques reached him up there or something." He grumbled, making me shake with laughter as my Uncle Jack and I swung on the bench back and forth.

"I won't tell him..and Uncle Jack..you didn't lose me okay? I promise I am still here and I will make it a point to come home more often." I glanced up at him and smiled, making him nod his head as he let out a deep breath he must have been holding for a while. "It's okay if he comes with..I have a feeling he is going to be even worse than your dad was.." He muttered, making me look away with embarrassment. To think Asher would be that taken with me? It's still hard to wrap my head around. "The pizzas probably here. We should go in and eat." He slapped his hand against his knee and went to stand.

"Wait...can we just stay out here a little longer? I want to hear more about mom and how she yelled at the ref. I hadn't heard that one before." I asked softly, not wanting to break this moment up yet. I realized I missed Uncle Jack too..like a lot. "Oh god, which time..I swear the refs would roll their eyes whenever they spotted her on the sidelines. She also wore a custom-made shirt with my name on it and jersey number." He told me as I gasped, I couldn't believe Mom did that.

"Don't even get me started on how competitive she was..you know she was the one who taught me how to play poker?" He continued on, telling me things about mom I never knew..or maybe I had heard some of them but didn't mind hearing them again, because the look on Uncle Jack's face was full of pure love and happiness.

I guess for some reason I always thought I was the misfortunate one because I never got to spend time with my mom and didn't get the chance to know her..but maybe I had it easier because in a way, I never truly knew what I was missing..but for them, they missed a whole lot and I wish with all of my heart that she was still here..more for them than me. Because I know I didn't go a single day without feeling loved and cared for. I had the two best parents anyone could ask for and I will forever be grateful for my dad and Uncle Jack. Because those two men raised me to be the person I am today and I couldn't ask for more.