The Single Mom & The Popstar

1

It was half pass seven when I came home from work and I was quite concerned when I saw my front door opened. Rushing towards the door I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Dinah Jane standing in the door way. "Hey popstar. What brings you here?" I asked.

The blonde haired beauty smiled at me. "Well I came to visit you and Charlie but the babysitter wouldn't let me in. Even when she came running towards me. So I've been waiting here for you to get home." Dinah tells me. I nodded as I had Dinah follow me inside.

"Mommy!" Charlene yells as she ran towards me.

I smiled as I picked up my daughter baby. "Hey baby! How was your day?" I asked as I gently moved her curly hair out of her face. She smiled at me "I good! But I didn't get to see DJ. Lucy wouldn't let me." She said with a small pout. I kissed her cheek "well you can see her now." I said as I handed her over to Dinah. Charlene smiled widely as she hugged the blonde. I smiled at them before turning around and going to find Lucy. We needed to talk.

"Why wouldn't you let Charlie see Dinah?" I asked. "You know she knows Dinah."

Lucy sighs "well I don't know Dinah. She could have been some type of kidnapper and then I'm in trouble for you child being kidnapped." She snaps. I frowned at her. "Lucy, you know Dinah. You've met her many times before so I'm not really sure why you wouldn't let her see Charlie." I said.

Lucy turns to me and crosses her arms over her chest. "Don't you find it weird how obsessed she is with Charlene? I mean whenever she's home the first person she comes to see is that little girl," she sighed. "I'm sorry but I just have a bad feeling that she might be trying to do something to her and I would never want Charlene hurt." She said.

My face fell at what she was getting at. "Dinah would never hurt Charlene. She loves that little girl almost as much as I do." I said. "Yeah and I get that but every time she is home she wants to spend time with Charlene. Isn't that strange?" Lucy cries. I shook my head at her. "It's not strange. She just has a very close bond with Charlie and there is nothing wrong with that." I told her. Lucy frowned and went to speak but I cut her off by walking away. I just couldn't believe her.

"You ok Lauser?" Dinah asked.

I chuckled at the nickname. "Yeah I'm fine." I said. Dinah gently played with my fingers. "Are you sure? Because I heard what Lucy said and I can back off Lo. I don't want you...or her to feel like I'm obsessed with Charlie." She spoke sadly. I gently grabbed her hand. "D, I'm not mad that you like spending time with my daughter. I actually think it's really sweet," I chuckled softly. "I mean besides you, me and her aunt from her father's side she doesn't have a lot of people in her life. So having you around her is a good thing." I said. "Plus she adores you Dinah," I added. Dinah smiled as she hugged me. "Aw I'm glad LoLo." She whispered. I laughed softly. "Me too DJ."

---X---

I was sitting at the island working on some paperwork when Charlene came up to me. "Mommy can I go to the park with DeDe?" She asked softly. I looked down and smiled at her. "Of course sweetie." I said. Charlie squealed happily before running towards Dinah and telling her what I just said. Dinah waved bye, grabbed Charlie's toys and left. Smiling softly I gently tucked my hair behind my ear before focusing back on my work.

"Why is it whenever I come over you're buried head deep into your work."

I chuckled tiredly as I took my glasses off and turned towards Normani. "Because with his passing I was left in charge of the business and I refuse to let what we worked so hard for go up in flames. We worked too hard Mani." I told her. Normani nodded "and I understand that Lo, but I don't want you working yourself to death because you're trying so hard to keep the company up and running. You need to take it easy babe." She tells me.

"I'd love to take it easy but I'm really the only one doing anything. I just can't slow down until I find someone to help me out." I told her.

Normani hummed as she glanced down at her hands for a second before looking up at me. "Let me help." She said. "A-are you sure Mani?" I asked. Normani nodded "I'm extremely sure! I mean think about it Lo; with me helping you out you'll be able to relax more and spend more time at home with Charlie." She said. "Isn't that what you want?"

I thought about what she was saying and I knew what I wanted. "I know this goes against all the rules but you'll start Monday." I told her. Normani cheered happily as she hugged me tightly. "Oh thank you Lauren!" She said. I smiled as I hugged her back. "You're welcome Mani." I said.

"So where's my niece?" She asked.

I blushed a little. "Uh Dinah took her to the park." I said. Normani raised an eyebrow at me and smirked. "You've seem to take quite a liking to her." She says. "Of course I have. I mean she is my friend." I said. Normani shook her head "no I don't mean it like that. I mean, I think you like her Lauren." She says.

My eyes grew wide. "Mani, my husband died. I'm not ready to jump right into a relationship. It's too soon." I told her. "Lo, it's been three years. I know it hurts and we all miss him, but babe he wouldn't want this. He wouldn't want you to mourn his forever." She said. "You have to move on."

I knew she was right. I knew that I had to move on from his death but it's hard. We were together for six years and when he died it felt like my heart was taken from me. It felt like I lost a part of myself when he died, but I also can't sit here and deny that I have feelings for Dinah. I mean she's been in my life for over a year and we just formed such a connection with each other. However I'm still healing and I have no idea how long that's going to take, and I don't want lead her on. That wouldn't be fair to her.

I sighed as I wrapped my arms around myself. "I'm not going to deny that there is an attraction there. However I'm still healing and I don't want to tell her my feelings because I don't want to lead her on when I'm not ready to be in a relationship yet." I explained. Normani nods "that's understandable." She said. I smiled but before I could speak I was cut off by my daughter crying.

Running towards the front door I saw Dinah walking in with Charlie in her arms. "What happened?" I asked quickly. Dinah frowned "she was playing on the monkey bars and she fell when she tried to grab on to another bar and she scrapped her knee. So I brought her home because I don't have a first aid kit with me." She rambles as she grabbed the kit I keep in the living room.

I took a seat next to Charlene and let her snuggle up to me as Dinah cleaned and bandaged up her scrap. "Are you ok baby?" I asked softly. Charlie nods as she wiped her eyes and hugged me. "Can I go play with DeDe?" She asked. I nodded "of course baby." I agreed. She kissed my cheek before running off to go find Dinah.

Watching them play I couldn't help but smile at how good Dinah was with Charlie. It makes my heart happy with how much Charlene likes her and it's just making me think more about what I want. Dinah's an amazing girl but I still need time. I can't rush into anything just yet.