Juke moved to sit next to her, and he wrapped his arm around his baby girl and kissed her cheek. “I haven’t, and if I ever do, she’ll wish Gideon had handled her. I promise you that.”
Glimmer didn’t really like the sound of that. One parent killing the other. She shivered before she leaned her head on her dad’s shoulder. “You know none of that was your fault, right?”
Juke stayed quiet for a long time, but he finally responded. “I enabled your mother for a long time because all I saw was the woman I fell in love with. In a way, it was my fault. She got so greedy and money hungry right under my eyes, and I did nothing about it until I divorced her. By then, it was too late. Because of my inability to get her under control sooner, she hurt you. I can’t forgive myself for that.”
Glimmer leaned into him and allowed his words to settle. She knew there was nothing she could say to change his mind, so she wouldn’t even bother.
They sat in comfortable silence for a long time. Glimmer felt a great deal of peace sitting with her dad like this. Finally, she said, “It’s so good to have you home, Daddy.”
Juke rubbed her arm. His beard scratched her forehead, and it didn’t bother her one bit. She relished in it as he responded.
“It don’t seem real, honestly. You know, Gideon grew into a great man. Haze, too, but I want to talk about the man who married my daughter.”
The corners of Glimmer’s lips turned up automatically. She couldn’t help it. Gideon had definitely grown into a great man, but he was an even better husband. “He’s honestly the best thing that’s happened to me.”
Juke pulled away and peered down at her. “You really love him, huh?”
“Our marriage was of convenience, and I didn’t want to get married off to one man after running from another, but it turned out to be the exact thing I needed. I really do love him, Daddy.”
“And he loves you too. I didn’t think I would ever find a man who didn’t play about you more than me, but he has me beat, I think. That’s hard for your old man to say, but the way he handled Trick when I couldn’t . . .”
Juke fell silent, and Glimmer felt like she could read his mind.
“Hey, none of that was your fault either. Trick had your back against a wall. You kept me safe for as long as you could. I’m forever thankful to you for that.”
“You always had a way with words, kid. All I’m tryin’ to say is Gideon is good for you. He’s the kind of man I would want for you. The way he questioned me about the shit ya mama did told me everything I needed to know.”
“Which was?”
“He’ll do whatever he could to keep you happy and safe, even go up against his OG.”
“That he will.” Glimmer smiled as she thought about Gideon.
Juke stood. “Come on. I think we should get to that house of yours and see what these guys have planned.”
Glimmer could only imagine. Her daddy was home. Haze and Gideon looked at him as an OG. A second father. The party was bound to be wild.
With Juke’s arm around Glimmer, they walked back through the house and outside. On the path between the houses, Glimmer spotted Charlene bossing people around as they carried pans of food into the house.
Juke whistled. “I know that ain’t my sister from another mister.”
Charlene stopped shouting mid-sentence, and her eyes turned on Juke. “James Delacroix, you get ya ass over here right now.”
Love filled Charlene’s voice as she regarded her father. Glimmer knew there was some pain to mend between the two, but she also knew how tight they used to be before everything went to hell. It wouldn’t take them long to get back to that.
Glimmer made it to Charlene first.
“Beautiful house, baby. You doin’ okay?” Charlene asked as she took Glimmer’s cheeks in her hands and planted a kiss on each of them.
“Thank you, Mama C. And yes. I’m perfect.”
Charlene patted her cheek before her eyes traveled to Juke. Glimmer slipped out of her embrace and walked toward the house, knowing there was about to be a huge fuss session between the two, and she wanted no parts.
She spotted Haze just inside the door of her new home, on the phone. When he spotted her, he nodded and kissed her forehead. “’Sup, sis? Deja and Kyomi are on the way. You good?”
Glimmer nodded and squeezed his middle before she walked further into the house and found Gideon in the living room, looking out the window with his hands in his pockets. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his middle withher head rested on his back. Gideon’s hands immediately found hers. He pulled her around to his front and kissed her lips.
“There’s my baby.”
