Mama Bear Part I
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Juniper watched as Lucia escorted her mother, father and grandparents to the patio and admitted she was nervous. Her behavior the day before, shutting everyone down and being wrapped up in her own misery, was leaving her feeling like she owed apologies.
“Hey Juni,” her mom beelined for her and wrapped her arms around her, rocking her side to side in a tight hug.
“Hi Mama.” She leaned back and looked at her mother with a tilted head. “Uh, why do you look like you spent the night crying?”
Maeve gave a shrug, “I did. I spent most of it telling Fermín about our life and we cried together over all he’s lost out on.” She looked to where the man was shaking hands with Phineas, Adil, and Beni. “He’s really sad about not finding us sooner. I forgot how emotional Spaniards could be. The man cried more than me, I think.”
“Mama.” Juniper frowned at her.
“I’m serious. His parents are wonderful, and I feel bad for them too. They didn’t get to see their granddaughter grow up. They missed out on so much of you,” Maeve cupped Juniper’s qheeks. “I let them know yesterday you were clearly fing10:01 overwhelmed and needed to take a breath. His mother is
Mama Bear Part I
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most of yesterday asking me how she could make it up to you and how to approach you in a way which won’t have you racing back to Canada.”
Juniper rolled her eyes, “I’m not going to run away and not acknowledge I have a family now. I’m just not capable of jumping into yet another relationship so fast. God, Mama, I’m already trying to navigate three new intimate relationships and now I need to do three more. I know you want this for me, but I need to do this on my own terms at my own speed.”
“I know honey,” her mother leaned forward and kissed Juniper’s forehead. “I explained to them at dinner last night about everything you’ve been through over the last little while and how this vacation was meant to be a vacation, to help get your head back on straight after all the upheaval and instead you’re facing even more. I’m sorry your vacation has been hijacked by all of this.”
“It’s fine. I had a good talk with the guys when I got home from breakfast yesterday morning. They made me feel better.”
“I bet they did,” her mother wiggled her eyebrows.
“Mama,” she slapped at her mother’s giggle.
“Oh, come on, I saw how long it took you to stand up from the
chair. You’re hurting.”
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Mama Bear Part I
“No. I did not know this. I know my father is really close to the prosecutor. I’ll give him a head’s up on it.”
“This Kyst fellow seems like a jerk.” Anna said as she
approached Juniper. “I am sorry you are going through all of this.”
She smiled at Anna, “I’ll be okay. I have a great support system behind me. I just wish I weren’t feeling like a fool for missing
so much.”
Anna leaned forward as if she were sharing a secret, “before I met my husband more than fifty years ago, I dated a man who was using me for my wealth. I was so blinded by the way he doted on me, I didn’t realize he was robbing me blind.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was crying in a park after overhearing my lover telling his friends he thought I was boring and dull but when I flashed my credit card suddenly I was interesting. They all laughed. I was licking my wounds when Inigo literally tripped over me and landed at my feet.”
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Justice For Juniper

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