I had tears coming from my eyes. The ring was absolutely beautiful. "Of course I'll accept it. I wouldn't for any other man but you." I said.
Joe slid it on my right ring finger and then kissed me. He really was the most amazing man.
***
Today was the day that we were leaving for Arkansas. I had gotten the address from my mother so it was gonna be easy to find.
Joe and I were almost there and I was getting really nervous about seeing my uncle for the first time in a while. I guess Joe could sense it because he held my hand for most of the ride.
When we arrived at his house I just sat there looking at it for a while. I just knew I was gonna cry.
"You ready for this?" Joe asked.
"Yeah. I'm just taking it all in." I said.
"Come on." he said.
We got out of the car and walked up to the door. I knocked and soon the door opened revealing my uncle. "Katie?" he asked.
"Hi uncle John." I said.
He stepped out on the front porch and hugged me. I let a few tears fall and took in his embrace. I missed it. When we pulled away he wiped away my tears. "What are you doing here baby?" he asked.
"I missed you. I wanted to see you."
"Well I'm glad you came." he said.
"Well, you have my boyfriend to thank for that. He talked me into it." I said looking at Joe. "Uncle John, this is my boyfriend Joe. Joe this is my uncle John."
Joe shook my uncle's hand. "It's nice to meet you sir. Katie's told me a whole lot about you. You're a very special man to her." Joe said.
"Thank you. It's nice to meet you too and I don't do the sir stuff."
He invited us in and we sat in the living room talking.
"So what are you doing with your life?" he asked.
"I'm a WWE Diva. I work with Joe. I love it." I said.
"So have you talked to him? Your dad?" John asked.
"No. I don't want to either." I said.
"I understand. I wouldn't want to either. What he did is unacceptable and quite frankly bullshit. You never should have had to go through that. I wish you would have talked to me though."
"I know. It was just hard. I mean, you're his brother. I thought you'd take his side instead of mine."
"Baby I would never do that. You gotta know me better than that." he said.
"I know. I should have. I'm sorry." I said.
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
I smiled.
Joe went to town to give me and my uncle time to catch up which was awesome.
"So how did you two meet?" John asked.
"Through our best friend." I said. "Joe's wonderful and he's everything I've ever wanted."
"Does he treat you right?" he asked.
"Yeah. Actually he treats me better than right. I feel like a queen with him. We haven't even had sex yet because we care about each other that much." I said.
"I didn't need know all that but I'm glad. You deserve someone like him."
"Thank you. It means a lot coming from you." I paused. "Listen, the last few days I was remembering how we used to be. How much fun we used to have and how you'd take me horse back riding. It felt so much simpler back then, you know? Like, I had no worries and no care in the world. Sometimes I wish that you were my dad and sometimes I pretended."
"Baby, I'm your uncle but that doesn't mean I haven't tried to be that father figure to you. I know your father was horrible through your whole life and I'm sorry for that. I wish he wasn't my brother. I wanted to kill him when I found out what he did. Every night I would sit here and cry because I was supposed to come up that summer. I was supposed to be there and if I was, none of that would have happened." he said.
"It's not your fault. None of it is." I said.
"I know." he said.
***
Joe came back and we had a nice time just talking and catching up. John was also enjoying getting to know the man that made my world turn. I enjoyed watching them.
Uncle John had stayed awake while Joe and I went to sleep but I couldn't sleep. Joe, however, was passed out. I started walking out of the bedroom and heard the song I loved so much. When I reached the living room, I saw uncle John sitting on the couch looking through a memory book. "Hey." I said.
He looked up and smiled. "Hi baby. What are you doing up?" he asked.
"I couldn't sleep." I said. I sat down beside him and looked at a few pictures of me and him. "I loved hanging out with you."
"Me too." he said. He stood up and held out his hand. "Dance with me?"
I smiled and grabbed his hand. We swayed to the music in the living room while he sang the song to me like I was a little girl again. I couldn't help but let a few tears fall. I closed my eyes and imagined that I was still a little girl.
***
JOE'S P.O.V.
I felt Katie get out of bed and stayed put for a few minutes before I got up. When I walked out of the bedroom I saw Katie and her uncle dancing in the living room. It was an amazing sight to see. I noticed a few tears in her eyes and it was that moment that I realized how much this man really did mean to her. I had an amazing woman in my life that, not only, treated my daughter right, but also had the biggest heart I ever did see. She was emotional, she was caring, loving, but most of all, she was absolutely perfect and I couldn't help but feel so lucky that I found her and have her as my own.
