Chapter 35
Juniper Weaver
Faheem had been uncharacteristically quiet this morning.
He wasn’t being standoffish or anything towards me, he just wasn’t saying too much of anything.
Unless he was interacting with Forrest and Ryver.
It was funny watching him trying to juggle both of the kids because they both wanted all his attention.
Forrest wasn’t used to being a big brother, and it was clear he didn’t care for Ryver’s presence.
Anytime Faheem picked Ryver up, Forrest wasn’t far behind whining to be held too.
Ryver wasn’t any better; that little heffa was still putting on a show.
Last week, I guess she called herself getting used to Faheem only paying her attention.
The second he tried to give his attention to Forrest, her head went flying back–a tantrum followed–and she didn’t want me to touch her.
So, I sat back and minded my business. Faheem could deal with his kids on his own.
I did like seeing this side of Faheem. He was stern but gentle when he was in daddy mode.
He gave both of the kids what they wanted as long as they were behaving properly.
If they cried, Faheem didn’t feed into their dramatics until they calmed down.
It was refreshing seeing a man being able to handle the kids he made.
I always remember growing up, my daddy would tell my mama to get me.
Clive wasn’t hands on, and I thought that was how all men were, but seeing Faheem gave me an entirely different understanding of what fatherhood was really like.
“How long you finna keep starin’ at a nigga? Let me find out you obsessed with me.” Faheem smirked at me, stealing a glance before focusing back on the road.
“Pssst. If anyone is obsessed, it’s yo crazy ass.” I snickered, finding it hard to fight off the big smile that was taking over my face.
“I am. What’s ya point?” Faheem shot back in a serious tone that sent chills down my spine.
“Gas me up then, hubby,” I said just to pick with him and divert his attention from my blushing cheeks.
“I think about Juniper Banks from the time I wake up, until I close my eyes. If ya head wasn’t so mutha fuckin’ big, a nigga would keep you in my back pocket all day, everyday.
” He winked at me, and I flipped him off.
These people was finna stop talking about my head; it was big but not that fucking big.
“I love the fuck outta that big ass head though. I wanna wake up to it for the rest of my life. I want yo face to be the last thing I see when a nigga’s time is up. ”
“I hear you, Faheem,” I replied timidly.
I was still getting used to Faheem expressing how he felt for me.
I loved when he did, but I wasn’t used to stuff like this.
I honestly didn’t think his feelings were that deep for me.
Clearly they were just as deep as my feelings, if not deeper.
I also hated that my pussy came to life every time Faheem confessed his love for me.
I wanted him to pull this car over and beat this pussy up, make me feel the love he talked about, but them damn kids.
“Don’t hear me. Believe me. ‘Cause that entertaining other niggas like you did… on my kids, that shit dead, Juniper. This...” He pointed between me and him.
“...ain’t that no more. I’m locked in on our family, and you should be too.
Ion want you to see that side of me no more, but fuck with me if you want to.
” I heard Faheem’s warning, and I believed every word of it.
I liked to think I was smart and knew what battles to fight. This wasn’t one of them.
“I do,” I answered him sincerely, giving him eye contact so he would know. “Uhh, Faheem?” I nervously fiddled with my fingers.
“Yeah.”
“You said you needed to talk to me about Clive last night.” I figured now since we were already talking, to bring it up.
I had been itching to find out what else my daddy did.
There was nothing Clive could do to surprise me at this point, but I was curious to know.
I kind of wanted to see my mom, but she’d been MIA with my daddy.
Hopefully, whatever he’d done would lead to a reunion between me and my mom at least.
Faheem sighed, his hands gripping the sterling wheel tightly until his knuckles turned red. He didn’t want to tell me. Was it really that bad?
“Man, I ain’t wanna say shit until I knew for sure. I had to holla at Big Frank to confirm some shit, which is why I made sure you came with me, but that nigga talkin’ about he ain’t yo daddy. Claims Nancy lied to him.”
“You serious?” I questioned with my eyes squinted not believing my ears. Nothing would have prepared me to hear Clive wasn’t actually my dad, and honestly, I wanted to say I was hurt, but how could I? Clive had always been a half ass daddy in the first place.
Back when Big Frank claimed my daddy had paid off some of my debt, I was shocked.
I didn’t see it in Clive’s nature to even care enough to try and get me out.
Him disappearing and not paying anything was more like him.
I sat there replaying memories of my life, and it all made sense.
Once I hit the first grade, he changed. He Was distant, uncaring, unloving, and over-looked me.
Clive only helped if he had to because he found out I wasn’t his.
“Mmm-hmm…And the nigga been fucking Mixie since she was like eighteen or some weird shit like that.”
I pressed my lips together in disgust and shaking my head at what Faheem was telling me. Hearing that didn’t shock me. Clive stayed cheating on Nancy with young girls my age. I swear I never understood that weird stuff they had going on. I couldn’t figure out what my mom’s attachment to him was.
“Did he say who my dad was supposed to be?” I asked the million-dollar question. I had so many things I wanted to ask him, but I doubted Faheem knew all the answers.
Licking his lips, Faheem looked at me out the corner of his eye. “Angelo.”
My mouth dropped open because that wasn’t what I was expecting. Did he know? Of course, he did. Angelo’s niceness wasn’t because he thought I was an amazing employee; he knew I was his daughter. That made so much sense, but if he knew, why didn’t he ever say anything?
“Apparently, Big Frank knew all this shit.”
“Oh, wow,” was all I could think to say as we came to a stop, pulling up at a very familiar place. The house in Boone county. Looking at Faheem, he was just as lost as I was, and that made me nervous. What were we about to walk into?