His chuckle unnerved her.
“You think I don’t know that, baby?” He grinned down at her before pulling her further into the house.
Glimmer opened her mouth to argue, but the words got caught in her throat when her eyes landed on someone she wasn’t sure she would ever see again. A sob tore through her, and before she knew it, she was in the arms of James ‘Juke’ Delacroix, her father.
Her mind couldn’t comprehend how this was even possible. He was supposed to be in prison . . .for life. But he was there, holding her and smoothing her hair back. His voice grounded her in the moment and allowed her to focus.
“Don’t cry, baby girl. I’m home now. I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
It was then she realized she had a death grip on him as if he was about to disappear. Or worse, the police would come and haul him away again.
“H-how?” she asked as she looked up at him. Her eyes traveled to Gideon who stood just behind her father with a grin still on his face. Her tears started again and blurred her vision.
“It seems like Haze and Gideon really ain’t just lil niggas anymore. They proved an old man wrong. They been workin’ wit’ lawyers and the Feds for months, to get me released.”
Her eyes widened. It was at that moment she realized she really didn’t understand how much pull her husband had.
“And this house?” She still felt so confused and desperately wanted to wrap her mind around what was going on.
“All mine. Haze put me on, so I work with him now. Gideon bought me this house. On loan, of course. Soon as the money starts comin’ in, I’m payin’ him back, with interest.”
Gideon shook his head. Glimmer knew there would be a struggle with that payback situation. Not because her dad wouldn’t be able to pay, but because Gideon wasn’t the type to accept it. That somehow becoming the most drama in her life at the moment felt like a full circle moment. Being in her dad’s arms reminded her of how easy life had been before Trick. Hope bloomed within her that the rest of her life would be easygoing just like that.
“I can’t believe you’re here. That you live here. This is . . .” Another cry pulled out of her small body, but the tears were of pure joy.
She felt like she had been through so much, and her emotions went rampant as she realized it was all over now.
“Overwhelming, I know. Imagine how I feel. I went from eating Ramen in a jail cell to living in this beautiful home right next door to my daughter and son-in-law with money in my pocket. It’s a lot to take in.”
“Wait, when did you get out?” Glimmer asked.
Juke looked back at Gideon. “Big guy just came and got me this morning.”
Glimmer narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s where you disappeared to this morning?”
He grinned again before he focused on his phone. He tapped out a text before he stepped over to them. “I’ma leave y’all alone for a bit. Haze is here so we can set up for the party.”
“What party?” Glimmer and Juke asked at the same time.
Gideon kissed Glimmer’s head. “You ain’t think OG was gonna come home, and we wasn’t gonna celebrate?”
Juke clapped his hands together. “I welcome all the shenanigans.”
It was Glimmer’s turn to smile as she wiped her tears. She couldn’t think of a better way to spend the rest of the day other than to celebrate her father.
Gideon and her dad shook hands before her husband left the house. Juke turned to her again, and they stared at each other for a moment before he reached his hand out to her. “Come on. Let me show you around.”
She happily followed her dad around the home. It had a similar layout to theirs but only had three bedrooms. Theirs had six. It was perfect for her dad. They ended in the kitchen, and she sat on one of the barstools that sat at the kitchen island.
“This place is great, Dad.”
Juke went to the refrigerator and grabbed two water bottles. He slid one over to her and leaned on the island with his elbows. She watched as he looked down at the water bottle in deep contemplation. Despite just getting out of prison, her daddy looked good. His dark skin matched hers, and his hair was cut short and lined perfectly. She appreciated that she looked so much like her daddy.
“It’s gonna be weird living here alone. I may have spent some time in prison and to myself, but I’m used to you and ya mama being around.”
The mention of her mother caused Glimmer to stiffen. It was her turn to stare down at her own water bottle. There was a lump in her throat. She hadn’t heard from her mother and knew she wouldn’t. Gideon had put the fear of God into her. But the deal wasn’t for Camille to stay away from Juke.
“Have you heard from her?” Glimmer whispered as she avoided eye contact.
