Page 84 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
“Can you skate, Ms. Wynter?”
“It’s been a minute, so if you see me on my butt, look the other way.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” Jaxson said, kissing my cheek. “I got you.”
“Daddy, please don’t be in there being fresh,” Jamari begged. “I know you love Ms. Wynter and all, but?—”
She covered her mouth like she wasn’t supposed to say that.
“It’s okay, baby,” her father assured her. “I told her this morning.”
Her hands fell and a grin spread across her face. “You love my dad, Ms. Wynter?”
“Very much, pud. I love you too.”
Tears swelled in her eyes. Every time I told her I loved her, she always got misty eyed. When she told me she rarely heard that from her mother, it pissed me off.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
I pulled her in for another hug and kissed her forehead. “Have a seat so you can enjoy your birthday breakfast. I made all your favorites.”
“Thank you, Ms. Wynter.”
“Anytime, baby.”
She went to the table while I finished plating the food and Jaxson made our coffee. Finally seated, we joined hands and said a prayer before digging in.
“Daddy?” Jamari said softly.
“What’s up?”
“Did you invite Mom to my party?”
Things with Amandela hadn’t been the best. She showed up for the first supervised visit and showed her ass. Ms. Tabitha had gone with Johnathan and almost put hands on that woman. According to them, she kept questioning Jamari about the statement she wrote for court. When Jamari started crying, she got to cursing about her father and calling him all types of names.
That night, I had to all but sit on Jaxson to keep him from going over to her apartment. He ended up calling and cursing her clean the fuck out. I don’t think she got a word in because he didn’t let up on her until he was done and hung up the phone. She didn’t show up to the next visit, and came late the one after that. Since then, she’s been showing up, but Johnathan said there was mostly silence. She tried to talk to Jamari, but baby girl was checked out.
This had been going on for a month and a half and I didn’t see anything being resolved.
“I told her, but I don’t know if she’s coming, baby,” Jaxson answered.
Jamari simply nodded. I knew she didn’t want her mother to come, but Jaxson never wanted it to be said that he was keeping her away and excluding her from their daughter’s life. He did his part, and it was up to her to do the rest.
“Can I give you your birthday gift?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Jamari’s ears perked up. “You got me something?”
“Of course, I did!”
I got up from the table and went to the coat closet to grab her gift. I’d made her a beautiful basket full of things I knew she loved. When I came back around the corner with it in my hands, she grew excited. She set her plate aside as I placed it in front of her. Her smile grew as she plucked the card from the front and read it.
Happy Birthday, Pud!
Today, you are officially a young woman. I pray that God continues to bless and guide you as you enter this journey of self-discovery. Always remember that you are enough and you deserve greatness because you are worthy of it all. I pray that your wishes come true and your dreams are never small. Remember that you have a village behind you and we love you so much, beautiful.
Love,
Wynter
