The Woman Next Door

Chapter 10

"Hey," Camila smiled as she sat down on the floor in front of her daughter, glancing over at Lauren who was waiting in line for skates. "Lauren told me what you said the other day."

"What?" Isabella frowned, lightly swinging her legs.

"That you loved her. Is that true?"

"Yeah, I-I'm sorry. I..."

"No, sweetheart I don't want you to be sorry. It's ok, I'm not mad at you."

"I still love you the mostest." Isabella smiled, poking Camila's cheek.

"And I love you the mostest." Camila kissed her daughters forehead.

"Ok, size five." Lauren handed the skates to Camila before looking down at the tiny pair on her left hand and the bigger pair in her right. "Are you a size big seven or thirteen?"

"Big seven." Isabella grinned.

"Liar!" Lauren smiled, handing the girl her skates.

"I have cute feet, you have clown feet." Isabella teased making Lauren gasp.

"Guess who's going to take a trip on the ice." Lauren said playfully.

"Ok, kids. Behave." Camila said, tying her daughters laces.

"Come on. And stick with me, kid, you know Bambi? That's your mom on ice." Lauren grinned making Camila tut.

"It was my first time."

"I was seven when I first got on the ice and I wasn't all over the place like you were."

"Shut up."Camila glared over at Lauren as they got onto the ice, tightening their grip on Isabella's hands when she slipped.

"Ok, you need to lean forward a little."

Isabella did as she was told, leaning forward and getting the balance that it took Camila half an hour to get.

"Look at that, Bambi." Lauren grinned. "Your four year old daughter can do it in seconds."

"Shut it, Jauregui."

—

"You were better on that ice than your mom, Bella." Lauren said as she fixed the child's hat on her head.

"'Cause she's like Bambi." Isabella said making Lauren laugh, poking Camila's cheek.

"Stop pouting. How about we go get hot chocolate?"

"With marshmallows?" Isabella asked, looking up at Lauren.

"Can she?" Lauren looked unsure, not entirely sure what Isabella could and couldn't eat.

"Yeah."

"Marshmallows!" Lauren cheered, squishing Isabella's cheeks making the girl laugh.

"Yay!"

"Ok, hot chocolate and marshmallows for the princess," Lauren started, sitting Isabella up on the of the chairs around the table. "And for you, m'lady?"

"Just a hot chocolate."

"With marshmallows!" Isabella added but her mom covered her mouth and shook her head.

"Not with marshmallows."

Isabella tried to argue but it just came out as a muffled mess.

"Right you are." Lauren dropped a kiss to Camila's forehead before heading over to the counter to get the drinks.

"Mommy?"

Camila pulled her eyes away from Lauren to look down at her daughter. "Yeah, sweetie?"