Justice For Juniper (Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 175

Mama Madness Part I

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Juniper was watching her three men move around the room as if they were one person.

“They are very close,” a woman’s voice at her ear made her look over her shoulder and smile at Beni’s mother.

“Hey Ximena,” she smiled at her. “What a night, eh?”

“Horrible night.” Ximena squeezed her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“I think I’ll feel better when the police are done with us and I can go home. I feel like a complete asshole for the way we ruined Granddad’s birthday party. I meet him tonight and my ex crashed it and got shot.”

“Are you kidding?” Sandra’s voice carried out as she moved from behind them and dragged a chair, “I’ve known Phineas Perez for forty years. I can tell you that this is the best party he’s ever thrown. It doesn’t matter there is blood stained into the carpet or multiple people but usually its dreadfully dull.”

“Sandra, people could have been killed!” Ximena argued with her but there was a pull to her lips as if she were trying not to laugh.

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“Are vou kidding? I agree with Maeve. I heard what she said

17. 18.

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earlier. He sexually manipulated so many women he deserved the bullet and so much more.”

“Are we talking about the piece of shit who cheated on my new daughter?” Heloise approached carrying a bottle of wine and drinking straight from it.

Juniper was stunned by the sight. Adil told her his parents were the uppity part of upper crust, and they never cut loose unless in private. “Uh, Heloise, are you okay?”

“Nope. There isn’t much I would ever admit to being jealous of, but do you know what I am jealous of?”

“No.” she shook her head as Heloise took a long swig of her wine bottle as if she weren’t in a fancy dress at a fancy party with people staring at her.

“People whose in–laws aren’t alive.”

Juniper gasped as both Sandra and Ximena gave loud barks of laughter.

“Heloise!”

“Seriously Juniper.” She sat in a chair and crossed her legs at the ankle in a manner befitting a princess and then chugged the alcohol. “I endured a forty–five–minute conversation about

08:39 2/5 how selfish I am that I only gave them Adil, and he was ruining

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his life. Then I listened to my father–in–law and his diatribe on Adil’s new relationship,” she tilted the bottle at Juniper, “and he’s not a fan.”

“I’m sorry.” Juniper whispered as if she’d done something

wrong.

“I’m not.” Heloise snapped back, “and don’t ever let me hear you say you are again. You love my son. He loves you. Those old farts don’t get to pass judgement. Do you know why I had one kid, Juniper?”

“No.”

“Endometriosis. The fact I gave birth to one kid was nothing short of a miracle. We all got pregnant at the same time. We wanted more but the fact that one viable, unscarred egg fell into my uterus to implant in it’s scarred tissue was damn near impossible, but it happened and it stuck. I didn’t go through the hell Sandra did with miscarriages that I was never jealous of, but I simply never got pregnant again. Now those fuckers are in my ear telling me that I turned out a son who refused to take their company, to be their heir, and is in a polyamorous relationship with his two best friends and a woman and how it’s all my fault.”

Ximena snorted, “you can use me as a scapegoat, Heloise. Tell them all my psychotherapy and openness about feelings made 3/5 the boys too close to be committed to anyone but each other.

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“Nope. I looked that old bastard right in the face today and told him I was proud of my son. I’m proud of Adil for sticking to his guns. I’m proud of him for being the strong independent man he wants to be. I’m proud of him for not bowing down to the conventional bullshit his family pressed into him.”

“Yes!” Sandra giggled.

“Then I told my mother–in–law my womb, which was removed decades ago, was none of her fucking business and I walked out. Then I came here tonight and saw that bitch Lois Kennedy flapping her gums, and I remembered Maeve talking about

lost how she got you a Christmas ornament when you baby and the fucking rage I am feeling is making me dumb.”

“Dumb?” Heloise giggled.

your

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“I already rage–fucked Frasier in the coat closet but he’s getting older and there’s only so much he can do without throwing his back out. I need to wait for round two until he can get into his bed with the electronic base. It has a massage feature.”

“You rage–fucked Frasier in the coat closet?” Sandra held her fist out for Heloise to punch. “Get it Heloise.”

“Yeah. The minute they loaded that bitter bitch onto a gurney I was dragging him out back. He really thinks it’s because he looks hot in his suit. I mean he does but I needed to take the 4/5

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edge off. Now I’m drinking to get the rest of the edge off.” She pointed at Juniper, “I know you think I can be a bitch and I can be. I only ever wanted what was best for Adil and most of the time, I just wanted him to not get dragged into the fuckery of his grandparents and their siblings who are equally obnoxious. I always wanted to protect him from them. Now though, after all this, after seeing what you’ve been through and watching how he has coordinated keeping you safe and making sure the police are doing their jobs,” she looked at him, “I’m proud of him. I’m so proud of him and I’m proud of you Juniper.”