With the space between Heather and Jake continuing to grow, Heather was finding herself lost in her life.
She was, however, glad to hear of what Lucia had done two weeks ago for her daughter. And that the two were getting along so well. Jake needed that peace in his life.
She could always rely on Jake, no matter what was going on he was always there. And now, having to learn to live without him, it wasn't easy. And she wasn't doing well with it.
"You look tired baby, are you not sleeping?" Lauren fussed, setting a cup of tea in front of her daughter and joining her at the kitchen table.
Heather smiled at her mother, thanking her for the tea and wrapping the mug in her hands.
"I'm not sleeping well," she mumbled, knowing her mother hated when she spoke like that but she didn't want to admit the reason why.
Her daughter rushed in at that moment, saving her mother for a second and allowing her to think of what to say to Lauren.
"Mom! Look what grandpa made me!" Juliet smiled, jumping up and down and showing her mother the wooden keyring Phil made her.
Heather smiled, looking to her father. He used to be a carpenter and would make all these tiny figures and random pieces for Heather. She treasured them and had them all in a box in her apartment.
"That's really cool sweetie, we'll put it on your bag when we go home," Heather smiled, kissing her daughters cheek just before the girl ran to Phil again and they were off to get up to no good.
Lauren watched her daughter wondering what was bothering her. She didn't look as bright as Heather could be.
"Is it Jake?" Lauren asked, looking to her daughter who froze momentarily at his name. That gave Lauren her answer.
Heather, who usually prided herself on keeping her emotions in check, cursed herself when her eyes welled up with tears.
"I love him, mom," Heather breathed, her chest already feeling lighter having said it out loud, "and because I was stupid he's gone and I won't get him back,"
Lauren didn't expect that when her daughter came over that afternoon wanting to spend time with her. She knew she loved Jake but didn't think she'd say it out loud.
"Heather you weren't stupid," Lauren scolded. Her eyes were set on her daughters face in a harsh glare. She couldn't stand when she was too hard on herself.
Heather scoffed, picking up her mug and sipping on it before she laughed at herself. This was driving her insane.
"No? I didn't even tell him, he still doesn't know why we broke up," Heather admitted, Lauren was a little taken back but understood that she wouldn't tell Jake why.
She didn't open her mouth but for once, she didn't agree with her daughter. If Jake knew why Heather called time on their relationship, he wouldn't have accepted it and he wouldn't have let go.
"You were in a hard place, Heather," Lauren said, not wanting her daughter to take what happened lightly.
Heather had taken ages to come out of her state and she didn't fully snap out of it until a year after she and Jake broke up.
"Hard place," Heather laughed, looking at her mother as if she had grown a new head, "I had a baby, for gods sake I had his baby. And I couldn't tell him,"
Lauren sighed, she wouldn't get through to Heather but she wanted her to see sense. She didn't want her daughter beating herself up, "You're being too hard on yourself,"
