Justice For Juniper (Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 20

My Half-Part

Her mother nodded, “yes, It’s what Benicio put in the papers.”

“tin, if I take half of the cutlery, it’s okay?”

“Of course, but why would you? You have a fully killed out kitchen,” her mother was frowning,

“I men, we have twenty pieces of cutlery in the set we bought, four of ench piece, If I wanted to take ten, meaning, all the spoons and two knives, it would be okay?”

“You want the spoons?”

“Yes, I also want the top row of those sharp knives in the cutting block, I mean, there are eight. I will take these four,” she took The four knives which he used most and left him the tiny paring knife, scissors, a serrated knife meant for bread and a giant elenver,

My Half – Part II

Adil immediately was all in on her plan, “oh, you are also entitled to half of the instant coffee machine. If you say take this part,” he held up the water dispenser, “then I think it’s fair.”

Her mother giggled, “what about half of the pots and pans? The top halves?” she lifted two lids.

“I don’t actually think it’s how the division of marital assets is supposed to go,” Benicio laughed as he came out carrying the box of Christmas ornaments, “but as your legal representative, I say, go for it and we can argue about it in court. Each time his lawyer brings up a spoon I’ll bring up the still imagery in my possession of him ejaculating on a dress another woman was wearing.”

His words stung and she took the smarting feeling and flung open the cabinet to where Kyst kept all of his travel mugs. The man loved to bring his coffee too work with him. She began unscrewing every single lid of the travel cups.

An alarm sounded on Adil’s watch, “we’re at ninety minutes. Any other last halves you want to take? Beni needs to go serve Denise and then Kyst. Let’s get these things all back to your new place.”

“Wait,” she took a breath, “there is one thing I want, half of.”

“What?”

She pointed to the giant wedding portrait hanging in the living room. “I never wanted it, but his mother paid for this huge photo package, and this picture came in and he loved it. I need to clean the glass all the time because his fingerprints are always on it. How fast can we take it down, tear out the half of me in it and then hang it back up.” As her mother stared at her incredulously, she shrugged, “it’s my half.”

“Hey, am I too late? I was delivering the good news to my grandfather with an audio clip of Denise bragging about banging your husband in your bed.” Phineas’ voice cut in as he entered the apartment. He gave a whistle, “I said it before and I’ll say it again, you made this little place a home, Juniper. I can’t wait to see what you do to your new place. It’s very peaceful in here.” He watched his friends taking down the wedding photo, “what’s happening?”

“She’s taking her half of things. Half the cutlery, half the pots and pans, half the photo.”

“Adil started it when he told me to take Kyst’s favorite thing from our tickle trunk.”

“Tickle trunk?”

“He named it.”

“Oh, a sex box. What did you take?” Phineas asked curiously.

“My mother is in the room.”

“She took leather wrists restraints.” Adil called out loudly. “Sorry Mama.”

“At least it wasn’t anal beads or a ball gag.” Her mother scoffed.

Her mouth was open as she stared at her mother who walked by her and tipped Juniper’s bottom jaw upwards, “Mr. Perez, could you help me put these things into a tote to take with us?”

“Mama is that?” she tried to figure out the word for the collection her mother held in her hand.

“I took all the straw things from inside all your spray cleaner bottles. He will squeeze that trigger all he wants but it’s not going to suck up a damn ounce of cleaning solution. Sucks to suck motherfucker.”

“Mama!” her mother’s foul language was shocking, and she couldn’t stop the giggle erupting from her chest at it.

“Your mom is cool,” Phineas whispered to her.

She looked at Adil, “you got your cameras out?”

“I did.”

“Thank you. I don’t know where all of this is going but I do know I’m grateful for the three of you. This has been the shittiest couple of days of my life but the support,” she looked at Phineas, “and the money and place to live, has made it bearable.”

“And your mama,” her mother tugged her ponytail.

“And definitely my mama.”

“Well, let’s keep that supportive feeling going.” Phineas smiled at her. “I booked you both a spa package tomorrow. Massages. Seaweed wraps. Facials. Manicures and pedicures.”

“You did that for me?”

“Yes. It’s the least I can do.” He gave a sad smile, “while this is the happiest day of my fucking life, to be finally rid of her, I know it’s the opposite for you. If there is anything I can do to make any of this easier for you, I’m doing it. You want a massage. I’ll book it. You want therapy? I’ll cover it. You want to something crazy like go skydiving? I’ll set it up with Adil. I mean I’ll drive you there, but I won’t jump out of the plane with you. Whatever you need, I’ll do. I feel this is my responsibility.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s his.”

“Perhaps but let me do this, if for no other reason than to ease my guilty conscience.”

“Don’t say no.” Benicio added as the elevators doors opened. “I agree with him. It’s the least we can do.”

“Okay. Spa day it is tomorrow.”

Her mother pushed her hip into hers, “don’t say it like it’s a punishment. You deserve this. Take it.”

“Yes Mama.”

She took a breath and told herself she shouldn’t be the one who was miserable with the pain of the failure of this marriage. If it took a spa package to make it better, then so be it. She was going to embrace all the ways to make it better, including making new friends who wanted to spoil her.