Justice For Juniper (Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 144

Brunch Part II

Lucky Draw

“I only thought perhaps we could spend some time,” Fermín spoke quietly.

“I appreciate that, and we can do spend time together but it’s going to be at my pace. Not yours. What none of you realize or understand,” she waved to Fermín and his parents, “is my life has been nothing but upheaval for the last several weeks. I was emotionally exhausted just coming on this trip to be with the guys. I was already a bloody wreck. My marriage imploded. I lost my third baby in a year. I found out my in–laws are nuts and my ex–husband is a cheating man whore who hid money and women and he slept with my high school nemesis. I needed to get an STI panel done for crying out loud because of his shit. My ex–husband smacked two women around in public. Phineas‘ ex–wife drove a car into our car and put our driver in the hospital. I got a cat, and I’ve left him alone with a sitter for ten days and I’m feeling weirdly concerned he’s going to bond with Suki instead of me. Now I’m in this very intense, relationship and while I love it and I’m happy to be in it, it’s a lot to adjust to. Suddenly, on top of all of this, I now get a father I never even imagined having and grandparents who are trying hard to be accepting but I feel the censure. You don’t know me.” She expelled a shaky breath, “and while I appreciate you want to, I need time. This isn’t some immediate connection like you have with my mother. It’s not the same.”

Phineas felt a surge of pride at her words. “As I said, Fermín. She’s capable of speaking for herself. She allows me to take care

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of her. She doesn’t need me to do it.”

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She looked at him, her hazel eyes watery, “I really want to go

home.”

“Then let’s go home.” He said simply.

“Juni, are you okay?” Maeve got to her feet and moved to hug Juniper as she rose from Phineas‘ lap.

“I am, Mama. I hope you’re not disappointed in me. I’m sure you’re also overwhelmed with all of this and maybe you wanted me as a buffer but I –”

“Honey, I’ve never used you as a buffer a day in my life and I’m not going to start now. I love you. If you need a break, take the break. Text me when you’re feeling up to meeting up and we’ll connect after okay?”

“Thanks Mama.”

Phineas watched as Maeve cupped Juniper’s cheeks and kissed her forehead softly.

Juniper gave polite nods around the table and Phineas looked at Beni curiously and the man shot him an affirmative glance and began walking out with Adil in tow.

“What was that?”

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“Thank you,” she whispered as she curled against his torso.

The quartet were quiet as they drove back to the villa. Once they reached the safety of their home, Phineas carried Juniper through the house and straight back up the stairs to their bedroom. Beni said he was going to put a pot of tea on, and Adil was moving around to handle the little things. He was pulling the blankets down on the bed the housekeeper made up when they left, closing curtains and putting on soft relaxing music.

Phineas sat Juniper on the bed and began undressing her. He removed her footwear and then her sweater. He asked Adil to grab one of Juniper’s pajama tops and in minutes he had her changed into comfortable sleepwear and tucked into bed with pillows propped behind her head. He sat on the bedside and took her hands in his and waited for Beni to join them.

“What are you doing?” she asked quietly as the two men in the room sat there wordlessly.

“For what?”

“Well, sweetheart, we’re going to talk because it seems there is something big and heavy on your mind. For those types of conversations, we all need to be part of it. Besides,” he lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles, “Beni is the more emotional one of us. He’s going to be the one to make sure I don’t say something stupid and Adil doesn’t crack a joke in the wrong place.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Beni said as he came into the room with a steaming cup of tea. “You’re pretending you’re fine, but you are not. You’re hiding something and in this relationship, our quartet or quad, whatever we’re calling it, communication and honesty are going to be paramount. We need this to be our number one rule, Juniper. No hiding shit.” He set the teacup on the nightstand and took his place at the foot of the bed. “Talk to us. What is going on?”

She bit the inside of her cheek and Phineas tapped her hand.

“No biting, sweetheart. I don’t want you hurting yourself.”

“I’m just tired.”

“You’re not,” Beni argued. “I mean, you are tired but you’re not just tired. There is something more and you’re hiding it from us. We can’t have that, Sunshine.” When she hesitated he pushed, “in the car on the way to my grandparents‘ place last night you were retreating from us. You were ready to fight. You’ve been

Brunch Part II

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progressively worse. You gave the excuse about being overwhelmed but this started even before you found out about Fermín. While Adil joked about hormones, in poor taste I might add, we aren’t really thinking it’s your period coming on. Something is going on in your head, and we want to know what it is.”

Phineas watched his beautiful girl blink back tears as she

shivered as if cold and then she dissolved into tears right before his eyes. His girl was hurting and suddenly the urge to burn the world to the ground rose up in him like a feral beast.

What the hell was going on with his Juniper?

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