Uncle Drew: Chapter 3 Novels & Stories

“It’s us. You, me, and Uncle Marcus. We’re at the park.” My heart softened immediately as I looked at the colorful stick figures. There were three figures holding hands, the sun shining bright above them. It was simple, but it was perfect. This was our world—small, happy, and whole. I smiled and picked up the drawing, setting it safely away from the documents. “It’s beautiful, baby. Thank you.” “Why is that paper scary?” he asked, glancing at the envelope. “It looks like the one from the man in the black car.”

I stood at my desk and said nothing for a moment. The cold had spread from my stomach outward into my chest and down my arms and I was gripping the phone tighter than I needed to. I made myself loosen my grip. I made myself breathe. Ares. My uncle. The man who had walked into my grandfather's will reading and taken sixty percent of everything and moved into the east wing and sat at my breakfast table and looked at my wife across the food she used to cook herself like she was something worth looking at. The man who had sent her that dress — because it had been him, I had known it the moment she thanked me and I had watched the look on my own face in the reflection of the window and seen mysel

The night was dark and getting late, and he imagined how long it would take before his unclenoticed him if he decided to stay at the house that night. One foot after another, he pushed himself onwards back to the mansion. He walked through the front door and, face to face with his uncle, stood, eyes piercing the darkness, looking directly at him. "You're back?" He asked Adrian, and Adrian looked away dejectedly. He felt ashamed about how he had portrayed himself upstairs, just to show weakness again in front of his uncle. "Not entirely," he responded. "For how long?" Draven asked; his uncle’s face showed no contempt, not judgment, just simply uninterested.

Why isn’t he with us? Why did he draw this? I look back at him in worry, and just then, my phone begins to buzz. I quickly drop the book on the bedside drawer and pull my phone out of my pocket. It’s a call from Uncle Aldo. I move away from the bed and press the phone against my ear. “I’m almost at your place, don’t keep me waiting when I get there.” He says, and I nod. I look back up at David and sigh. I’ll have to talk to him about the sketches later. For now, I have to attend to work.

--- **Chapter 1: The Return Home** The train ride home felt endless, but the second I stepped onto the platform and saw Uncle Marcus waiting for me, something in my chest loosened and tightened at the same time. He looked exactly the same — tall, broad-shouldered, wearing one of those plain gray t-shirts that stretched across his chest and arms like it was fighting to stay on. His jeans sat low on his hips, and his dark hair was a little messy from the drive. At thirty-eight he still moved with that quiet strength that had always made me feel safe.

I inform him, voice quievering, unable to forget what I just witnessed a few minutes ago. “Wait.” My Uncle In-law commands, I freeze, because for no reason in particular, my heart squeezes at the sound of his voice, he walks over to me, steady, confident like he has nothing to lose, his scrutinizing gaze examines me. “Why are you covered in blood?”

My uncles were all in attendance, and it was crucial to maintain a facade of politeness, despite the rage burning through my veins. I spotted Uncle Robert, who was engaged in a lively conversation with the head of the department of finance for the company, and I scowled at how carefree he was. When Jacob finally walked away, I Drew a breath, forced a smile, and then approached him, “Uncle Robert... It’s good to see you here tonight.” “Atlas,” Robert said, turning towards me with a genuine smile. “Quite the event you’ve orchestrated. It’s impressive, to say the least.”

“Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Excellent book.” He sits down and begins reading. The first picture I draw is a portrait of uncle Owen’s sister with a wolf howling at the edge of a cliff at a full moon in the background. I make one for his father too. I plan to give them these at the funeral. I do similar ones of Michael to give to Carrie and one for Zuri but with a lion for the family.

Seeing Chad with a guest, Willow wanted to make tea, but Chad waved her away. Samuel sat down and immediately noticed the Yggdrasil seed by the rock garden in the backyard. "I came to tell you something. Your third uncle has also fallen in battle." Chad's body stiffened as he remembered Esther, his aunt, mentioning that his third uncle had gone to find Chad's parents after arriving in Bloomington. It seemed that his third uncle had gone to the place beyond the sky. Given the recent upheavals there, his uncle's death was not surprising.

“Dear Verena, I received your response to the previous email and I’m confused about the pictures you sent. Maybe you don’t realize how dangerous the—“ The drawl of a voice behind me startled me, causing me to nearly drop my phone. My Uncle. He slid on the stool beside me, the knot in my stomach tightening as I tried to put on a bold font. Act like I wasn’t affected by his presence. “Had a lot of fun?” he said, nursing his drink. My muscles tensed but I wouldn’t succumb to the fear of him. “We shouldn’t be talking. You and I don't share a close relationship for you to ask me about—” Those darkened eyes locked on mine and my heart slammed hard against my rib cage. “I am not asking if you enjoy