FULL CIRCLE

To Forgive Is Divine

Clara was dressed in her Ceo attire of a skirt suit and heels as she made her way towards the Cabello door tiredly.She had a long night at the office, only to be woken up so early by the hospital calling to tell her former husband was waking up.

She wasn't even sure being here at Camila's door was the right thing, but something told her to tell Lauren personally before heading down to see him. So, being the mother she should have been all those years ago, she put her daughter first, and knocked on Camila's door.

It was five am, and she had to wait for a minute before the lights in the house clicked on, the door opening to a sleepy Camila. Once the Latina had taken in the sight of Lauren's exhausted mother at her door, her irritated face turned worried, and she rasped out, "Are you alright Clara? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry to wake you up so early Mija.... I have to talk to Lauren. It's important." Clara explained, rubbing her tired eyes.

Camila took in Clara's face once more, nodding lightly as she opened the door to let her in.

Clara shot her a grateful look, and made her way towards the stairs. She walked quietly as to not wake her granddaughter, and gently opened her daughter's bedroom door. Flicking the light on, she saw her grown daughter laying on her back in a position that had to be uncomfortable, but probably was the only available one due to her injuries.

The tired mother walked slowly towards the bed, sitting on it gently, taking a moment to watch her daughters sleeping face.

God she loved her daughter...

She looked at her baby that had grown into such a strong woman, despite everything life had thrown at her, and her heart hurt as she knew it always would for all the mistakes she had made in her role in daughters life. When she was freshly married and pregnant with her first child, she was so excited, eager to meet her first born and imagined all the wonderful memories they would make together as a family before her daughter had her own children. Nothing prepared her for the way life would change so drastically, or the mistakes she would make as a mother. There was no hand book for every occasion when raising a child, and the pain the parents felt for every mistake always lingered. Years didn't make that ache go away, but that was a just penance in Clara's mind.

She gently moved the hair that was fanning her daughters face, clearing it so she could see Lauren's sleeping face, and she loathed waking her up. But she had to, because Lauren would want to know. Always the lawyer, demanding all the information as it came.

So Clara caressed her daughters hair gently, waking her up with soft calls to her name.

Lauren squirmed, before blinking her eyes, blurrily looking at her mother in surprise. She looked at the window, seeing the early morning sky, with birds chirping near her window, and suddenly shot her mother a concerned look.

"What's wrong mom?" Lauren asked anxiously.

Clara shushed her daughter soothingly, not wanting her to panic, and said, "Calm down Mija. Nothing is really wrong. The hospital called and said your father is waking up. I called Chris and Taylor already and their on their way there now. I came here to tell you, and assure you that we won't be angry if you don't want to see him. But you should know that the Simpson's had asked to be notified when woke up, because they are charging him with the murder of their son. Your dad will be in the hospital for a few days before being transferred to a correctional facility until the trial. I don't know exactly how long he has before he goes, so I needed to tell you now. If the hospital deems him well enough to be transferred, he might be today or tomorrow."