Page 51 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
“That just means it was meant for you. Congratulations. I see Silver Run is becoming more like home.”
“It’s getting there.” I looked around the office space. “I guess I have to make this place my own.”
“You have the freedom to do that. My office is pretty plain aside from a few pictures of my family and my degree on the wall. At least up here you can liven up the place.”
I smiled. “I’m so excited to work with these kids.”
“Theyarepretty sweet up here. I told you, if I hadn’t gone into pathology, I would have gone into peds. The little ones make me want to have another one.”
“Do you put on your dad voice when you talk to them?”
He chuckled. “I do. I picture them as a little Jamari.”
“How is she? I know you told me about the issues with her mom.”
He sighed. “She’s okay. A little sad because of everything, but she’ll bounce back. That shit is killing me, man.”
“Something else happened?”
“She told me her mama’s boyfriend or whoever the nigga is she’s dealing with walks around the house naked at night. She’s seen him exposed twice.”
I frowned. “What!”
“Exactly. I confronted her mama about the shit, and she acted like it was no big deal. Then she texted my daughter some bullshit and I had to pull up on her. He was there and shit got heated. Before I could stop myself, I was beating his ass for acting so nonchalant about it. I don’t know what they think this is, but I don’t play about my baby.”
My eyes widened hearing that he’d gotten physical with someone. I looked down at his hands, noticing the slight bruising on them. Grabbing them, I placed a kiss on his knuckles.
“I can’t say I blame you. There are some sick individuals in this world. If you don’t protect her, who else will?”
“I’m going for full custody with supervised visitation for her.”
“Good for you. I’m glad she has someone to stand up for her. I can tell you’re a great father, Jaxson.”
“I try my best, you know? I might not get it all right, but I’m present. I wanna do something to lift her spirits, though. Maybe take her out for a pamper day this weekend.”
I smiled. “That would be nice. I would have killed for daddy daughter days with my father growing up.”
“He really didn’t do anything with you, love?”
“Sometimes he would play with me. Then he’d start thinking about my mother and just like that, playtime was over. He was stuck in his grief. Most of his time was dedicated to my mother’s memory. I was an afterthought once I could take care of myself.”
“Damn. I’m sorry, love.” He pulled me onto his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I know I’m not your father, but you are more than welcome to come on our daddy daughter date.”
I giggled as I slipped my arms around his waist. “I don’t wanna intrude.”
“It’s no intrusion.”
“You don’t think it’s early for me to meet your daughter?”
He grinned. “Maybe you could coincidentally run into us in a mutual place. No harm, no foul.”
“And where would this mutual place be?”
“She loves Primo Nail Bar over on Devine Street. It’s where I take her all the time. Saturday, around eleven.”
I studied the seriousness of his face. “You really want me to go?”
“A day with two of my favorite girls? How could I pass that up?”
