The Art of Loving You

Chapter 22

Lauren's POV

"Laur, she's probably just busy. It gets crazy over there." Dinah said sitting down beside me.

I shook my head. "She'd have called me now." I said, putting my hand on my stomach.

"How far along are you now?" She asked me, while Normani wrapped her arms around me.

I shrugged, leaning my head on Normani's shoulder and sighed. "I haven't kept count." I mumbled, closing my eyes.

A knock on the door startled us.

"Mommy, there's men in clothes like mama standing at the door." Luke says from the front window.

I frowned, pulling out of Normani's arms and walked over to the door. I hesitated before opening the door.

"Hello ma'am, my name is Private Smith, is Private Cabello's fiance home?" He asked.

"That's me." I said slowly. I frowned at him. "What's going on?"

Him and the man beside him take off their hats. "I'm sorry ma'am, Camila has been missing for a month and has been presumed dead."

"What?" I asked in confusion.

I narrowed my eyes at them suspiciously.

Private Smith offers me an American flag and a white paper.

"We're sorry for your loss." The other soldier said softly.

I didn't know what to do. I just stood there. Camila can't be dead. She promised. I stared at them, frowning.

The men smiled sadly one more time before they walked away, getting into a black vehicle.

I watched the vehicle drive away. It was like I was frozen. I couldn't move and I couldn't get my heart to stop racing in my chest.

"Lauser? Who was at the door?" Dinah calls from the living room. When I didn't respond, she got up and walked out of the living room. "Lauser?" She asked softly.

I just stared at her blankly.

Noticing the flag and paper in my hand her expression dropped. "No." She whispered. "Mani!"

Normani came out of the living room and upon seeing the flag, gasped.

"That's not possible." She whispered, tears filling her eyes.

I just stared at them. What do I do? What do I think?

"Mommy!" Oliver's loud cry echoes through the house.

I shook my head and got myself together. Breaking down would have to wait. I walked around Normani and Dinah and into the living room.

Oliver was sitting on the floor with tears streaming down his cheeks.
I bent down and picked him up. "What happened?" I asked softly.

He held his left arm in front of my face and I saw a bite mark. "Hurt."

"Who bit you?" I asked, kissing his arm gently.

"Eyah." He cried, pointing toward Aliyah.

I sighed, turning my attention to Aliyah. "How many times have I told to you not to bite? It's bad." I said calmly.

"Stupid!" She yelled pointing at Oliver.

"Hey, go to your room young lady." I said.

Aliyah just stuck her tongue out at me and went back to playing with her toys.

I sighed, rubbing Oliver's back. I didn't know what to do. "Mani come deal with your daughter." I said, sitting down on the couch.

Normani walked into the living room, wiping her eyes. "What's she doing?"