For the Love of our Child (Camren)

Unwanted Apologies

"Hello, Lauren," Michael stood tall, puffing out his chest in an attempt to appear confident. His eyes however, showed the nerves he wasn't willing to express.

"Harper, go upstairs," Lauren ordered, moving a step closer to the man she once looked up to, almost creating an air of protection around her daughter.

Harper frowned for a moment, glancing wearily between her mother and the man on her doorstep. Her eyebrows furrowed, she looked up at her momma, attempting to argue, "But momma--"

"Now, Harper." Lauren demanded, looking down at her with piercing green eyes, and Harper had no choice to obey, letting out a sigh and a murmur of,

"Sí, momma." before quickly scurrying up the stairs with a mere glance over her shoulder at the two adults.

Lauren held her tongue and her piercing stare on her father until she heard her daughters door softly shut upstairs. "What do you think gives you the right to just show up at my door out of the blue, after seven years?" She snarled, emerald eyes burning.

Mike's chest visibly deflated at her harsh tone, but he tried to stand his ground, looking pleadingly at his daughter. "Lauren, I've come to apologize and attempt to explain-"

"No!" Lauren uncrossed her arms, taking a step closer. "You don't get to apologize. You don't get an explanation. You're the reason I lost three years of my daughters life that I'll never get back. You're the reason I missed her birth. You're the reason I abandoned my best friend and the love of my life! You're the reason I didn't woman up to my responsibilities! You're the reason I didn't get to hear my baby girls first words, or witness her first steps!"

Lauren felt her heart clench as she spewed out the resentment she had been feeling for almost a decade, she felt the tears burning her eyes but she refused to let this man see her cry.

She had never forgiven herself for missing such monumental moments in Harper's life, and she knew that the man at her door was the person in fault.

She also knew she had a huge role to play in the fact that she wasn't there for her daughter, or for Camila for that matter, for the first three years of her life.

And yet, she had been a child herself at the time. She didn't know any better. To her, her father erasing her responsibilities was merely a get out of jail free card.

However, what he should have done, was make her own up to her responsibilities and stand by Camila in her time of need.

She was the one who got Camila in trouble and then left her. Camila didn't have a get out of jail free card. She had been stuck. And Lauren knew she should have been right there, in that metaphorical cell with Camila.

Lauren felt herself calm just slightly, breathing heavily as her eyes shifted to the family photo of herself, Camila, Harper and Amelia, both her baby girls grinning as they clung to their mothers. She looked at her own photo, gazing down at Camila and her girls with pure adoration and love.

She swallowed heavily, looking back at the still silent Mike, speaking softly. "The only good thing that came out of you being a complete asshole and abandoning your family was that you taught me how to be a good mother. By not being there for your kids. You taught me what not to do."

Mike's nostrils flared, looking at her. "I am your father, whether you like it or not. And I want to be in your life. And my grandchildren's life. Believe it or not, there was once a time in your life where you really needed me. And I want to make up for that."

Lauren lifted her chin confidently, taking another step closer, looking defiantly into his eyes. "Oh really, Dad? Well, guess what. I don't need you." She huffed, gently pushing him off her doorstep and back onto her porch.

"I got through high school without you. I'm gonna get through college without you, I'm gonna get a great job without you, I married a goddamn beautiful amazing woman without you, I had two fucking beautiful daughters without you. I'm a better parent than you ever were. And I sure as hell don't need you for that, because there isn't a damn thing you can ever teach me about how to love my kids!"

She gripped the door tightly, breathing heavily through her nose, glaring at the wide identical eyes of the man in front of her. "And my girls sure as hell don't want you in their life."

With that, Lauren all but slammed the door, even going as far as to deadbolt it as she took a deep breath and leaned against the dark mahogany wood, shutting her eyes tightly as her heart beat erratically in her chest.

Harper chewed on her bottom lip as she leaned against the wall by the railing, processing all that she's just heard.

She was thankful that Amelia was currently with her Abuela Clara, because explaining the heart wrenching yelling their momma did would have been especially difficult.

After hearing the door slam and Lauren's erratic breathing, Harper peeked out of her hiding place, seeing the dark haired woman attempting to calm down against the door.

She took a moment to think before slowly deserting her hiding place and taking tentative steps down the stairs, calling out hesitatingly. "Momma?"

Lauren's eyes popped open and she looked up as Harper slowly descended the stairs, looking nervous. "Harper?" She croaked, before quickly clearing her throat. "I thought you were in your room."

Harper stopped on the second step, chewing her bottom lip and gripping the railing. "I was. Until I heard shouting." Lauren let out a sigh and she continued. "Was that... my grandpa?"

Lauren pursed her lips for a minute, moving to the staircase and standing face to face with her mini me. "Biologically, yes. But you won't be seeing much of him, baby," she stroked her hair for a moment, gently cupping her pale cheek.

Harper nodded, quietly speaking. "Was what you said true? He was why you weren't there when I was a baby?"

Lauren sighed, nodding slowly. "He was part of the reason, yeah. But I was stupid too. I was young and didn't understand the consequences, or how bad of a dad he was being. Or that I was being just as bad of a momma to you for not being there for you or your Mama." She looked into Harper's eyes, and even though she had emerald greens like herself, she saw a large piece of Camila shining through, the love that her daughter was looking at her with was pure Camila.

Harper frowned and paused, choosing her words wisely. "You're not a bad momma. You're the best. And even though you weren't there when I was born, and when I was a baby, you're here now. And you were here when Lia was born, and you will be if we get any more brothers or sisters. And that's all that matters. Because Amelia and I love you and we wouldn't trade you for anything in the world. You're the best momma any kid could ask for."

Lauren looked at her daughter, stunned. While she had known there was a big part of herself in her daughter, she knew, like the warmth emitting from her eyes, that was all Camila shining through.

Lauren couldn't speak, feeling a new batch of tears wash over her and cause a lump in her throat to appear, therefore, she could only pull her little girl into her arms and hold her tight.

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A/N:

It's been SO LONG. I know. You all hate me.

I literally sat down and did not let myself get up or get out of the document until I finished this chapter. I know it's not much, and I honestly am going to try so hard to not take forever on the next update, but I wanted this chapter to be about Lauren standing up to her father, and a little moment between her and Harper.

Until next time! 🖤