Chapter 145 - The Surprise Visit

John.

"Hello.''

I know the tone he would have before I even hear his voice. They all think they know what is going on. Everyone wants to intervene.

Rescue him from my claws.

"I am on my way to see you. I don't know what is going on but you need to get your shit together.'' Uncle max breathes into the phone. I know he sent his kid to come and see what is going on but it didn't even deter me.

I wish they all believed that I know what I am doing.

This is all for my son's good but they already believe that I am a monster. Ford is spewing words into everyone's mind. I wish I could explain things. Make everyone see that this is all for his own good. He is my son and I love him.

"Why?'' I ask wanting to know his reason for this surprise visit.

"You really don't know why I am coming?'' he mutters sarcastically. Uncle maxim and I have never really gotten along. He is my father's brother and I have always hated his guts. Somehow Ford bonded with him after he lost his mother. They became so close, and I don't have a problem with it but him thinking he can involve himself in my parenting is where I have to stop things.

"You are not needed here. I have everything under control,'' I try to assure him even though I know he will still insist. The man is probably already driving to the house. It is not like he needs permission to come here. That is just how forward he is.

"If you have everything under control, why did Ford feel the need to visit me last week?''

I knew he went there to complain. I knew he was up to something. This is not the first time he has bad-mouthed me. I doubt it will be the last time. As long as he still has the notion that I am the bad guy, he will never forget the past.

"You know he is sick. He thinks differently from you and me,'' I explain to him. I don't know how long I will keep telling them this. Mental illness is not a joke. It is something that is not easy to understand.

"You know you can't keep using his bipolar disorder as an excuse. This is the height of it all John,'' he says sternly.

As I said, I have never really gotten along with John, he is not the best of people in my books. Maybe it is just the way he believes Ford over me. This is not the first time and I know it will not be the last.

"He doesn't belong in that hospital,'' he shouts into the phone "I didn't want to involve myself in this but at this point, you are basically abusing that boy.''

Abusing?

Is he serious?

"He needs to be in the hospital. He is a danger to himself."

He laughs into the phone "What exactly has he done. That makes him a danger to himself. I know all about his relationship with the boy. You have no right to be this controlling."

He is yelling at this point. Telling me that I am a bad parent—even though I am the only parent he has. "He attacked me. He tried to kill himself,'' I breathe out those words. I didn't want to tell anyone in the family. I didn't want to make him out to be the bad guy. I have sheltered him for so long.

But if he keeps involving them all, I have no choice but to do this.

The other end of the line becomes silent. I know he is thinking about what to say. There really is nothing to say. I am not saying all this to make them judge him. He is my son. I love him with all my heart. That will never stop.

"I am outside,'' Uncle Max breathes.

I knew he would do something like this. As I said, this is not the first time and this will not be the last time. I walk out of my room and to the front door. He doesn't need to ring the doorbell. So once I open the door, he is standing outside with a man in a suit. The man is holding onto a bag. It seems like he plans on staying here.

"John, why are you causing so much problem?'' he asks, entering the house without me inviting him in.

I take the blame.

Just like I always do.

"Uncle,'' I stretch my arms out and he returns my hug. I haven't seen him in a couple of months—I like to avoid their side of the family. I see them, the judgment and pity in their eyes. They blame me for Luisa's death. They always will. Hell, I blame myself too. This is all my fault. It will always be my fault.

I handled things the wrong way and now Ford seems to think that I am the cause of her death. When he blurted out those words to me that night. I felt it in my gut. I have always known that he felt that way but hearing him say it, broke my heart to shatters. There was no wonder in my mind as to why he hated me so much. Ever since she died, he completely shut off from me. I felt it. It felt like he also shut off from the world and I blame myself. I should've never left her alone with him. I should have sheltered him from everything that was happening. I didn't and now he is the way he is because of me.

"What is going on in this house John. Don't let me take that kid away from you,'' he threatens me. I shake my head in disbelief. He doesn't have the power to take him away from me. I have full custody of Ford. I don't know what they are all thinking but I am not being cruel to him. I am doing all this for his own good.

"I called him at the hospital,'' he tells me.

I furrow my brows in confusion. I know uncle Max has power. He is a very rich man which makes him think he has the right to do whatever he wants but I didn't want him talking to anyone. Who knows what else he would tell them?

"Why?'' I am sure he can sense the panic in the sound of my voice. 

"Why can't I call him?'' he raises a brow.

We are in the middle of the front door. The driver is still behind the door. I have not invited him in because I don't know if he intends to stay at my house. Mary is in the bedroom. I didn't tell her about this because I can already feel her lose trust in me. This is what he does. He drives everyone away from me. I become such a monster that no one wants to be close to me.

"I didn't say that. I just want to know why you would call him. He is supposed to be healing at the hospital. Calling him is a distraction. It will just take him back to before, he needs to let go of all the anger within him. He needs to move on from his mother's death. You people are not helping him.'' The sound of my voice is drained and weary. This is all too much for me to handle.

The look on his face just tells me that he doesn't believe me.

He will never believe me over Ford.

He loves the kid too much.

"You said he had a meltdown. Where is the proof that he did? How come you're the only one that keeps insisting on it.''

I sigh "He is not well. He doesn't even remember trying to attack me.''

He laughs "What a coincidence,'' he drawls. He faces the driver and his stance changes "Drop the bag. I will let you know if I plan on staying here.'' The man nods and walks out of the house quietly. I lead uncle Max to the large living room. Somehow at this moment, it feels like the walls are closing in on me. It feels like I am about to be interrogated.

"You know I love my son. I only want him to be okay,'' I tell him.

"You can't just say that and lock him up in a psych ward. He is a human being. You need to treat him like one.''

I sigh.

I am doing the best that I can.

"He told me that he was a homosexual, he came all the way to my state. He took a plane, did all that to… how do they say it these days. Come out of the closet."

I nod.

I am surprised he is okay with the fact that he is gay. If this was my time, things would have been different.

"Why do you think he did that?'' he asks me.

I know the answer but I wait for him to continue "He did that because he is afraid of you. You have made your son terrified to talk to you. Do you feel good about that?''

I don't.

"Uncle, I think you need to see something. Maybe when you do, you will believe me."

I don't know what else to say or do.