Justice For Juniper (Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 142

Welcome Mama Part II

Lucky Draw

She looked at Phineas as she stepped back towards them, “look. I’m happy my mother is in good hands, but I’d like to go back to the villa now. Can you find a way to get me out of here?”

“Juniper?” Phineas asked quietly, “what’s going on?”

“Nothing. I feel like an intruder. None of us should be here. They should be allowed to reconnect and get to know one another. We’re in the way. She deserves to have someone love her and I’m happy for her, but I feel icky standing here watching them whisper to one another. It’s creepy.”

Beni frowned, “you think it’s icky.”

“No. I think they are beautiful. I think having us standing around gawking at them is icky. He should have come alone. He should have met her alone. We could have done brunch or something. It feels intrusive to be here when they need to reconnect.” She tugged Phineas‘ sleeve, “please can we go?”

“Juniper,” Fermín’s voice carried from behind her. “Can you come here please?”

She shook her head. “No. I want to go back to the villa.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” her words were sticking in her throat. She

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turned and gave him a bright smile. “I’m perfectly fine. I promise. You two,” she waved at her mother who’s cheeks were pink and tear–stained, and her nose was red, “need to have some time to sit and talk. You don’t need us all here while you’re finding one another again. I could be having breakfast in bed after three more hours of sleep.”

“Except I want my daughter with me,” Fermín commented quietly. “I want my wife and my daughter with me.”

“She’s not your wife yet,” Juniper rolled her eyes at him. “I mean at least give her a ceremony.”

“Juni,” Maeve giggled, “you’re being silly.”

“I’m not.” She frowned at her mother. “Wouldn’t you rather spend time with him alone?”

“Not until we explain everything to you. Together.” Maeve said seriously and extended her hand to Juniper. “Come here, please?” She looked at Fermín. “She is beautiful, isn’t she? Even after all this time I still look at her and think how lucky I was to have her as my little girl. Makes my heart ache, she’s such a good woman.”

“Mama,” she scrunched her nose at her mother’s gushing words. “Stop it. You’re being weird.” She let her mother take her hand and pull her into a tight hug.

“I love you, Juniper. There’s something you need to know,

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Welcome Mama Part II

something I never told you before.”

“What?”

Lucky Draw

“Fermín and I did indeed meet the day you were conceived.”

“Okay.”

“But, um, we didn’t use any protection. We shared a very real conversation about the risks of having sex and the potential of making a baby. He told me he loved me, and I said it right back when we were dancing drunk in a bar. We met at eight in the evening. We were in love by ten. We were making our daughter by midnight. We were supposed to meet for brunch in the morning. He told me he was going to marry me. I believed he was going to. He dropped me off at six in the morning to my mother’s place. I waited at the restaurant,” she looked at Fermín with sad eyes. “I waited until the dinner service.”

“I’m so sorry, my love.” He sniffed. “I should have never got on that plane without driving to you first. I should have gone to a payphone and called you, but everything was so rushed. We were flying private. I wasn’t even in an actual airport. My parents were racing against the clock.”

“It’s okay. I understand.” Maeve cupped his cheek. “I forgive you.”

“We made her,” he said with a smile. “I told you I wanted a little girl as beautiful as you.”

“You did.”

“You planned me? You planned to make a baby with a stranger, Mama?” Juniper was in shock.

“I planned to make a baby with a man I felt was my destiny. Then when he didn’t show I told myself I couldn’t believe I’d been so foolish as to believe it, but I knew in my heart he didn’t lie to me, at least not in the moment. I believed he meant what he said that night. Then I found out you were actually going to happen and I thought, if nothing, you were going to be the result of the most incredible, magical night of my life and I’d never regret it an ounce. Would I trust the words of another man again? Probably not.” She laughed as Fermín scowled at her, “be thankful I didn’t. Do you know how many men have proposed to me over the years?”

“I want names, and they will die.” Fermín pouted.

“As if.” Maeve laughed at his antics. “All I know is this,” she took his hand and Juniper’s hand in hers and squeezed, “is the family I always believed I would have. I kept my heart shut off from any man over the years because, I think, deep down, I knew. I knew you didn’t come back because you couldn’t. I knew you there was no way my daughter was going to have a stepfather when her real father was going to love her completely.”

“I took one look at her last night and knew. Dad knew too.” He looked at his parents. “I would like you to meet my parents.” He

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“It’s nice to meet you.” Maeve nodded shyly.

“Now.” Fermín smiled, “I would very much like to have the brunch we were supposed to have all those years ago. Can we go spend some time together? All of us?”

“Wouldn’t you rather be alone?” Juniper asked curiously.

Fermín chuckled, “Juniper, I have a villa about a half mile from Phineas‘ place. Your mother will be staying with me, and we will have all kinds of time to be alone.”

“I’m staying with you?” Maeve asked wide–eyed.

“Well yes, my love. I just got you back. Do you really think I’m letting you out of my sight now?”

“Thank god,” Adil spoke up. “Juniper was worried Maeve was going to cramp our style on vacation.”

“Adil!” Juniper snapped at him but he merely grinned while Maeve laughed her head off.

Maeve smirked, “girl, I’d stay in a hotel before I let your trip be wasted. Kyst showed up at my place yesterday begging for

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information on your whereabouts and I took great delight

in telling him you were on an exotic vacation sucking up the sunshine vitamin. I’m not going to make a liar of myself now am I?”

“He came to your place?”

“He did. Phin tossed him out but not before I was able to make sure he knew you were here trying to get pregnant. I really like it when the fucker cries.” Maeve rubbed her belly. “I threw up on the plane out of nerves. I really need food. Can we get going now?”

Juniper knew her life was about to take a dramatic shift and wondered how much more her nerves could take.

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