Famke stared at Jubi across the kitchen table and tried not to laugh.“I’m never drinking again,” she whimpered with her cheek resting on the cool table.“Until next weekend?”“Maybe New Years,” she croaked as she lifted mischievous eyes at Famke who grinned in response.“Good morning Jubi!” Royal yelled loudly in his sister’s ear, making her jump and slap at him.Famke looked him over and struggled to not lick her lips. He was in a white t-shirt, basketball shorts and sweat dripped from every pore. He had crawled out of bed at five-thirty to go do a workout and she had burrowed deeper under the blankets and pillows to hide from his cheerful mood. When Precious had come to wake her up, the little girl had crawled in with her and they’d slept even longer. It turned out Precious liked to sleep as much as Famke did.Now she was playing under the table with her dolls, amazed Famke had told her she could have her breakfast there. Famke had even made a plate of fruit for the dolls to share
Royal climbed into the back of the SUV with Bram and Keshaun and tried to shake the uneasy feeling he had.Famke had not come downstairs when they were leaving, and he didn’t get to say goodbye to her before he left. Jubilee had been braiding Precious’ hair and from the look Jubi shot him, he had a feeling he was in shit with her too.“You fucked up,” Keshaun called him out the minute the car started rolling. “I’m glad you’re dropping me off at the hotel because I think I’d rather face my angry wife than what your torture from Famke will be when you go back.”“She’s mean when she’s angry,” Bram goaded. “I mean this is the woman who quit her job she’d been working at for four years because the boss tried to cut her hours. He even offered her hours back with a raise and she still walked. Spiteful.”Royal shrugged nervously, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Even to his ears it sounded weak.“Sure, you didn’t.” Keshaun laughed loudly. “She isn’t one of your socialite money-grabbing bitches R
Famke sat on a bench watching Precious run around like a chicken with her head cut off. She had done an internet search for any indoor playgrounds and had been pleasantly surprised to find one near a local shopping center. She had made quick work of finding necessities for the rest of the week, managed to pick up a couple of Christmas presents for everyone after making Precious promise to keep the secret. Then she’d fed her chicken nuggets and fries in the food court, which apparently was food the child existed on, according to the security agent with them.The security agent had called for backup the minute Famke had decided on shopping in a mall and going to a play centre. She now had a crew of five with them hovering, with one keeping decidedly close.Now she was sitting watching the child clamour up a ladder so she could go down a slide for the twentieth time while she screamed “watch me, Famke”. Her little face was sweaty, and Famke knew the line
Chapter 45Famke took her eyes off the child for a split second to shoot him a sideways glance before turning her gaze back to Precious. “You made it clear this morning, Royal. You think I’m a jealous woman who would begrudge a child my time with her because I’m irritated over your feelings surrounding an ex-lover. I don’t know what it was Bram said to you but it’s going to take a lot more than pretty words for me to accept your apology as genuine. I know what you want from me Royal, and I don’t trust you’re not simply saying the words you think I want to hear simply for you to get the results you want.”“Famke, Bram made several very valid points this morning.”“His words hold more value than mine?”“Not in the least but there is nobody else on the planet who knows you better than him and so when he speaks, I listen. I listen to you too,” he nudged her knee with his
Chapter 46“You feel guilty for being with me?”“Yes and no. I feel guilty because I know it would have hurt him and I don’t care. I should but I don’t. It wouldn’t have mattered to me if he flung himself at my feet begging me to not see you. I wouldn’t have given in. I feel guilty because I know it would have hurt him.”She considered his words quietly. “Your inability to reconcile your feelings of guilt aren’t my burden to bear, Royal. They aren’t my emotions to deal with and it’s not fair for you to take it out on me.”“I know but you also need to know I wouldn’t have let you go, not even if he were alive. You’re too important to me.”“I am?”“You are. For the record, I left my meeting early and sent everyone home. I went back to the house to wait for you but then you didn’t come back. I realized I screwed up and I
Famke sat in the chair she had claimed in the living room watching Precious sleeping on the sofa. The exhausted child had fallen asleep on the ride home from the playpark. The car had dropped Royal off to his parent’s house, and she had brought Precious home and laid her on the sofa.She had contemplated carrying her to her room, but she thought of the child waking up in her room alone after knowing Jubi suspected Mindy kept her locked up all the time had rankled. So instead, she had put her on the sofa with a blanket and then sat there watching her.In the car, on the way home, Famke had sent Jubilee a quick recap of what happened and begged her to tell her parents and Royal what she had seen and suspected. If Precious’s mental health and behavior was going to be healed, they needed to talk about everything. Jubilee had agreed but reluctantly. She made it clear she was doing this only because Famke was forcing her hand. She hadn’t wanted to do it, le
Chapter 48Famke raced to the living room and found Precious wrapped up in the blanket, furiously trying to kick it off and screaming for her.“Shh,” she reached out and tugged her into her arms. “I got you. I’m right here.”“I thought you went away!” she sobbed clutching Famke’s sweater in her fists as she climbed onto her lap frantic.“Oh sweetie,” she hugged her tight.“I’m sorry,” she wailed. “Don’t go away.”Famke rubbed her back and rocked her in arms. She held her until the sobs subsided and then smiled at Bram when he came in with a warm, damp facecloth in his hand. He appeared as distraught as the child in her arms.He reached his hand and caressed her tiny head, but it was clear all she wanted was Famke as she burrowed into her. He chuckled at her actions. “Not your girl at all, is she?”Precious turned her face
Chapter 49Famke cleaned Precious up after her snack and then noted Nyx coming in their direction. Precious’s eyes were huge in her head as she took in the stranger she hadn’t yet noticed in their home. With Nyx’s jet-black hair, dark kohl lined eyes, blood red lipstick and the multiple piercings she was the likely scary to the child. The fishnet stockings, leather shorts, chains, and graphic t-shirt probably had the kid ready to hide under the kitchen table.She gripped Famke tightly as she saw the woman approaching them.“Precious, I want you to meet someone special to me. Remember when you asked me what I spend my money on, and I said I bought the black nail polish to go out with my friend? This is my friend.”“She is your friend?”“She sure is, my best friend. Her name is Nyx. Nyx, this is my friend Precious.”Nyx squatted in front of Precious and smiled wildly, “it’s nice