Page 2 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

“ T ime to go, Jamari! Hustle up!”

I stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for my twelve-year-old to bring her ass down so we could go. We were entering those years where she took pride in her appearance. It seemed like her time primping in the mirror lengthened by the week.

“I’m coming, Daddy. Dang!”

“Try that again, lil’ girl.”

“I mean, I’ll be right down!” she said sweetly.

I shook my head as I went to check my work bag for the second time.

I was working a double shift and wanted to make sure I had everything I needed.

By the time I was done, I heard Jamari’s footsteps on the stairs.

She was moving fast and when I saw her make a break for the door, I knew her little ass was up to something.

“Freeze!” I said, catching her as she reached for the doorknob.

She paused and turned to me.

I crossed my arms, trying to figure out why she was wearing a hoodie with a projected eighty degree temperature. Yeah, she was up to something, alright. The hood covered most of her face and I could tell she was trying to avoid my eyes.

“Jamari Adele, bring it here.”

“I thought we had to go?—”

“You’ve got three seconds. One.”

By the time I got to three, she was standing in front of me with her head down. I pulled off the hood and tipped her head so her eyes met mine. A frown formed as I looked at my beautiful little girl, face clad in makeup.

“Take off the hoodie.”

She hesitated, but set her things down and pulled the hoodie over her head. My eyes widened at the chest that wasn’t there yesterday.

“I know you lying,” I said.

“Daddy, it’s just makeup and a padded bra. All the girls are wearing it.”

“I’m not all the girl’s daddy either.”

“Mom said a little makeup never hurt anybody. And a padded bra just makes my clothes fit better.”

“Do you live with your mother?”

“No.”

I raised an eyebrow. “No?”

“No, sir.”

“Did she buy you this?”

Jamari was quiet for a moment before shaking her head. “Yes and no.”

“Jamari.”

“Tyanna got the make-up, and Mom bought the bra for me.”

“Then I guess I need to talk to your mother and Tyanna’s parents.”

“Daddy, please! You’re gonna embarrass me. They don’t know she wears makeup.”

I chuckled. “If she has to sneak and do it, she knows she wrong. What’s the issue, Mari? You don’t need this shit. You’re a beautiful little girl.”

“I’m not a little girl, Daddy. I’m a young woman. I want boys to notice me like they do other girls.”

I palmed my face. Jesus be a fence. I wasn’t ready for this.

“Baby… you’re twelve. Boys should be the last thing on your mind.

You need to be focused on school and being a good person.

First of all, boys won’t bring you anything but trouble.

Second, any boy that can’t appreciate you as you are doesn’t deserve you at all.

Your self worth is never gonna be tied to a boy or a man. ”

“Mom says it’s okay to have a crush?—”

“I don’t wanna hear another word about what your mama said. Go upstairs, wash your face and put on a regular bra. You got two minutes to meet in the car.”

“But Daddy?—”

“Go.”

She huffed and stormed off back upstairs. I rested my palms on the kitchen table and took a deep breath. It was clear I was going to have to have a long talk with my ex-wife about our child. She had me fucked up if she thought our daughter was going to be a damn hot girl at twelve.

I met Amandela the summer I graduated from college. I’d met up with some friends and we went out to celebrate at a club. She was working as a bottle girl and the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew we would end our night together.

What I thought was going to be a one night stand quickly turned into something serious.

I mean, the one night stand happened, but it rolled over into the next day.

And the next day. And the next. Days turned into weeks.

Weeks turned into months. Months turned into years, and before I knew it, we were married with Jamari on the way.

Things were good for a while.

Then I started making real money along with finally having access to the trust fund my grandfather left me.

Amandela’s true colors began to show. She wanted to be a stay at home wife and I was okay with that because she held it down with me when I was making pennies as an intern while still taking care of me and our daughter.

Then came the horrible spending habits. The elaborate trips with her friends.

She wanted to flex and seemed to forget all about being a mother and wife.

For months, she kept it a secret that she had Jamari in daycare so she could go do bald headed ho shit with her friends.

I wouldn’t have been against it so much if her motives weren’t fucked up.

Daycare would help socialize my kid and teach her different things.

That was cool. But there were times when I had to leave work or get my sister Asia or my mother to pick her up because Amandela was late or didn’t pick her up at all.

The straw that broke the camel’s back in our marriage was learning that she’d been not only having an affair, but she’d been giving her boyfriend money… my money.

I discovered it by accident.

I’d come home early one day because I was feeling like shit. When I pulled in the driveway, I noticed a car I wasn’t familiar with. I tried to brush it off as it being one of her gold-digging friends, but my spirit never set right with that.

Quickly and quietly, I’d made my way into the house.

Immediately, I knew there was another man in my home.

I took off my shoes and made my way up the stairs.

My office door was cracked open and as I neared it, I could hear Amandela moaning.

When I got close enough to look through the small opening, my heart hurt at what I saw.

There she was, bent over my desk with some man I didn’t know hitting her from behind.

Two stacks of bills rested near them, and I knew it came from the stash in my safe.

I watched as he pounded into her with no mercy, and she enjoyed that shit.

He didn’t even pull out when he finished, and she didn’t try to make him.

He’d released her and adjusted his clothes before grabbing the stacks of money, kissed her lips, and told her thank you.

I forgot all about not feeling good when he approached the door.

The moment it opened, my fist collided with his face.

I didn’t stop until I beat his ass all the way down the stairs and out the front door with Amandela screaming for me to stop.

That was the day my marriage was over.

I filed for divorce and hadn’t looked back.

Originally, we had a joint custody agreement, but after seeing that she was going to have to work because she wasn’t getting alimony, Amandela decided it would be best if Jamari stayed with me.

I didn’t fight her on that. For four years now, I’d been a full-time single father.

Jamari tried me like no other at times, but I loved my baby.

The sound of her getting into the car broke me from my thoughts. She angrily pulled on her seatbelt and sat back, folding her arms.

“Fix your face and your attitude,” I said as I backed out.

“You’re being so unfair, Daddy.”

“Jamari, I don’t wanna hear another word about it. You’re too young for those things, and that is final.”

She huffed but didn’t say another word.

The ride to her school was a quiet one. She spent the whole time on her phone and when I looked over, I saw she was texting her mother. That reminded me I needed to call her.

When we got to the front of the school, Jamari grabbed her backpack and swung the door open. She tried to get out without saying anything, but I stopped her.

“Close that door.”

“I’m gonna be late.”

“You’ve got time.”

She huffed and closed the door.

“Make that the last time you blow your breath at me, Jamari. Look at me.” I cupped her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine.

“I love you. Even when you’re mad at me because I won’t let you do what you want to do, I love you.

My job as your father is to protect you.

That job is never done, baby. I understand that you’re growing up.

Your hormones and body are changing, and it might not be as fast as your friends, but you are perfect just the way you are, sweetheart.

“Don’t be in such a rush to grow up. Makeup and padded bras aren’t for twelve year olds.

You wanna wear a little lip gloss, that’s fine, but nothing like what you had on at the house.

Stay in a child’s place. Ain’t nothing in adulthood but bills and responsibilities.

I want you to be a kid as long as possible.

Boys will be there when you get older. Nine times out of ten, when you’re old enough to date, they will still be as childish as they are now. ”

“I never said I wanted a boyfriend, Daddy. I just want them to think I’m pretty.”

“Why do you need that? Don’t I tell you you’re beautiful all the time?”

“You do, but it’s not the same. You’re supposed to tell me that.”

I eyed her curiously. “Did something happen, Jamari?”

She hung her head. “The boys in my grade made a Hot or Not list. Some of them put me on the not list.”

I frowned. These… little… fuckers. Why the hell were they doing this shit in seventh grade? Where were the teachers when this list was being passed around? Who even thinks about this at their age?

“That list… no list anybody makes will ever define you, baby. You are beautiful inside and out. You’re smart.

You’re kindhearted. You’re a good friend and a good person.

I’m gonna say this, and you know I don’t curse like that in front of you.

Fuck those little boys. They don’t know shit.

They’d be lucky to have a beauty like you even look in their direction, now or ever. ”

She sniffled, giving me a light smile. “I’m gonna tell grandma you cursed like that.”

“I’m not scared of your grandma. She can’t whip me.”

“She might try.”