Sea Glass: Marie and Lauryn

Chapter 25

Lauryn sat at the white-tableclothed table fidgeting as she waited for Marie to arrive for their date. She felt the sweat bead at her forehead, despite picking an air-conditioned restaurant as she crumpled, released, and smoothed the embroidered hem of her light yellow sundress over and over again. 

Why am I so nervous? 

Maybe she won't show up. 

Don't be silly, Lauryn. This is Marie. 

As she looked up, she saw Marie walking down the sidewalk outside the restaurant. She wore a long, flowy strapless blue and white dress with espadrille wedges that accentuated both her elegant, tanned bare shoulders and long legs. As she walked to the door, she saw her hair was up in a ponytail, makeup perfect. She just seemed to glow. 

How does she always look so hot? Even at therapy at nine in the morning she looked so hot.

As promised, Lauryn had joined Marie at therapy a few days ago. It had been emotional, but productive. She felt they had worked through some things related to Lauryn's trauma and her feelings about being little. It wasn't enough to make her feel like she wanted to regress, but it was progress. She hoped it was enough for Marie to sleep over, even if it was just for one night. 

I miss waking up next to her so much. But I understand why she's hesitant. She spent 17 years pretending to be something she wasn't. And she feels her true self is being half my partner and half my mommy. Her being worried to jump right back in with just a promise of words and one therapy session is normal, Lauryn. 

Lauryn stood as Marie entered and approached the table. She kissed Lauryn on the cheek as one would do on an early-in-the-relationship date. 

I mean this is like our first date again. And we never really got to date for real. 

"Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, taking a seat opposite Lauryn. 

"It's ok-kay. I'm s-sure y-y-you h-have a l-lot t-to d-do."

"Just summer camp drop offs and pick-ups," Marie said, smiling and running a hand over her hair, "Jack's doing some sort of Scouts camp and Pippa is at a horse riding one. Both on completely opposite ends of town. But now I'm a mess running around in this heat." 

"Y-you l-look g-g-gorgeous," Lauryn said softly. 

Marie shook her head. 

"You, on the other hand, are stunning. I love yellow on you." 

Lauryn blushed. 

"H-how w-was w-work?" Lauryn asked. 

"It was fine, stressful as usual. I just wish you were around. Melanie's a bit slow, if I can confide that. Not sure why I hired her half the time. So incompetent. And don't get me started about Tilly. She's an incredible pain in my arse. More than usual."

Lauryn stifled a giggle, making Marie pause and raise her fingers to her brow, partially hiding her eyes. 

"Oh, I'm still being scary work Georgina, aren't I?" she asked.

Lauryn smiled and nodded, "J-just a l-little. B-b-but I m-m-miss h-her t-too. S-so, it's ok-kay."

"I miss work Ms. O'Hara too. You were so cute in those early days. So shy and scared of me. And worried about whether I'd like something or not."

"It's a g-good thing m-most of the t-time, b-but y-you r-really c-can b-b-be q-quite c-critical. S-so, of c-course I w-was w-w-worried." 

"Is it bad I thought you were cuter when you were worried?"