Page 93 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
“What if my baby was in that house, Wynter? She could have been dead.”
“I’m so sorry, Jaxson,” I whispered, kissing his head. “You and Jamari can stay here as long as you need to. I’m here for whatever you need.”
He simply nodded and continued to cry. My heart was breaking for him and Jamari. She went to bed upset and was going to wake up upset. He had to tell her about the fire. That couldn’t be kept a secret. It would kill her to know her mother started the fire in her room. That seemed like a clear message to me, and I knew it would be one to her too.
Jamari didn’t takethe news about the fire well at all. The minute her father told her what happened, she broke into a fit of tears and anger. She started screaming about how much she hated her mother and how she wished she was dead. It was hard to watch. She allowed my aunt to take her out back to calm down. Currently, they were in the hammock with Jamari resting in her arms.
Through the screen door, I could hear Aunt Kira singing to her. She used to do the same thing for me. Whenever I was feeling down, I could curl up in her arms and she would sing to me until I fell asleep.
Since Jaxson informed his parents that he broke the news to her, everyone was over here at the moment to offer their support. Asia was livid and wanted to go down to the police station to beat Amandela’s ass. Stacey had called to check on Jamari and Jaxson told her what happened, so she came by too.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ms. Tabitha standing behind me.
“You okay?” she asked.
I nodded. “I’m fine. Just worried about Mari.”
“This is devastating, but she’ll be okay. Jaxson is already looking for a therapist for her.”
“Good. She’s gonna need one.”
“Thank you for opening your home to my babies, Wynter. They are more than welcome to stay with us, but I get the feeling that you are what they need right now.”
“I’m trying to be.”
“No. Youare. You’re good for them. Both of them are so much happier with you around.”
“I don’t understand why she would do this. She couldn’t have been that mad.”
She sighed. “Amandela is the type of person that doesn’t want you happy if she’s not happy. She ruined her marriage and when she realized she couldn’t have my son back, she decided to make him miserable. He was unbothered with her, and she knew the way to get to him was to get to his child.
“Jamari is a sweet girl. She has her moments, but all that baby wanted was to feel loved. My son gives her that and while a father’s love is important, little girls need their mother too. Asia and I give her as much as we can, but there are things she needs from her mother.”
She sniffled as she looked out at her granddaughter and I could tell this was hurting her.
“She’s bottled up so much that her mother has said and done over the years and it kills me that she felt she had to keep secrets in order to have a relationship with a woman that really didn’t want her around. I just… I know you’re good to her, Wynter. I know both she and Jaxson want you around. Just promise me one thing. If you’re going to be here, please continue to be good to her. If you ever feel like this is too much for you, walk away.”
I shook my head. “It’s not too much. I didn’t come back here expecting to find love, but God blessed me with Jaxson and Jamari. Your son and I have spent a lot of time getting toknow each other. We’ve had in depth talks about our past and understand what we need from each other. I know it’s still new, but I love that man. I fully believe that he is my soulmate and I accept everything that comes along with him, Ms. Tabitha.”
She smiled and pulled me in for a hug. “I knew you were the one. I can’t wait for him to make you my second daughter.”
She kissed my cheek and left the kitchen. I stood there for a few moments watching my aunt and Jamari before heading upstairs to check on Jaxson. He was exhausted and said he needed a nap. Slowly, I opened the bedroom door and stepped into the room. He was laid out on his back with one arm tossed over his stomach and the other behind his head.
Kicking off my slippers, I climbed into bed and cuddled up next to him. No sooner than I had gotten comfortable, did I feel his strong arm come around me and he rolled me on top of him. His eyes remained closed as his hands caressed my body in a soothing manner.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” I said softly.
“I smelled you as soon as you walked in.” He kissed my temple. “I just need to hold you for a second.”
“I got you, baby.”
“Give me a kiss… a slow one.”
I smiled as I cupped his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his with a few pecks before slipping my tongue into his mouth. One of his hands gripped the back of my neck, while the other gripped my ass.
“How did I live thirty-five years without you?” he asked when our lips finally parted.
I giggled. “I don’t know, but you’ve got me now.”
