Tara and Lauren sat on the couch, laughing over glasses of wine. The comfortable chemistry between them was evident after several successful dates.
The front door suddenly opened and Avana bounded in, her pigtails bouncing. She ran straight for Tara.
"Mommy, mommy! You'll never guess what--" Avana skidded to a stop, noticing Lauren for the first time. She eyed the woman curiously.
"Hey there, you must be Avana! I'm Lauren," Lauren said, smiling warmly.
Avana glanced between Lauren and her mother, piecing it together.
"Avana, sweetie, this is the friend I told you about. Isn't she pretty?" Tara said.
Avana nodded shyly, still studying Lauren with wide eyes.
"It's so nice to finally meet you! Your mom talks about you all the time," Lauren said, giving Tara an affectionate look that put her at ease.
"Why don't you show Lauren your new drawings, Vana?" Tara suggested.
Avana brightened at this and scampered over to the coffee table covered in art supplies. She grabbed a fistful of colorful sketches, thrusting them at Lauren proudly.
"Look, look! That's you, and mommy, and me!" Avana exclaimed.
The three of them pored over the crayon artworks together, laughing and admiring Avana's creative skills.
-
Lauren gathered her things, getting ready to head out for the evening.
"Thanks for a wonderful night. You two are just the cutest," Lauren said.
Tara walked Lauren to the door, Avana trailing behind and watching their every move carefully.
"We'll do it again soon?" Tara asked.
"Definitely," Lauren replied, pulling Tara into a warm hug that lingered perhaps a little too long. When they finally parted, Tara felt herself blushing under Avana's observant gaze.
Lauren exited, and suddenly it was just the two of them again. Avana looked up at Tara curiously.
"Is Lauren gonna be my new momma?" she asked.
Tara was struck by the innocent question. She kneeled down to Avana's level, choosing her words carefully.
"Not exactly, sweetheart. But she is...a very special friend. To both of us," she explained.
Avana seemed to mull this over for a moment, a yellow crayon gripped tightly in her little fist.
"Okay. I like her!" she exclaimed, flashing a sunny grin so much like her mother's, and then skipping off to continue her artwork.
Tara watched her go, letting out a deep sigh. She was hopeful - dare she say excited? - for whatever this new chapter with Lauren may bring.
YOU ARE READING
MOMMY ISSUES | Tamber
FanfictionTara Carpenter has a horrible life, her mother's a drunk, her sister's never around to help her, she has an incredible girlfriend who wants to help her but she keeps pushing her away, and she's depressed as hell. Well this is what she gets for havin...
