The Single Mom & The Popstar

2

It was my day off and I was at home filing some papers on the computer when Charlie came walking up to me and took a seat on the couch right next to me. "Hey sweetheart. How was your nap?" I asked her. She shrugs "it was fine." She mumbles as she rubs her stomach. "Mommy I hungry." I giggled as I closed my laptop and turned to face her. "Ok so what do you want?" I asked. Placing her hand gently in my chin she tapped it softly as she through for a moment. However before she could answer me the door opened and in walked Dinah.

"Get dressed! I am taking you to lunch!" She said excitedly.

I laughed softly as I looked at my daughter who was also laughing. "Well I guess we don't have to figure out what we're having anymore." I joked. Charlie giggles as she agreed with me. "Yeah!"

Dinah had her hand locked with mine as we walked into a pretty fancy restaurant. I locked around and saw a few people staring at us as Dinah lead us towards a table in the middle. I blushed a little when she pulled out my chair. Taking a seat I put Charlene in her highchair as I gave her the kids menu so that she could color in the picture they had on the page.

"So why exactly did you take us to lunch?" I asked curiously.

Dinah gave me a cheeky smile. "I brought you here because I need a favor from you." She said. I raised an eyebrow at her. "And what is this favor?" I questioned. "I would like you to help me with my next album." She said quickly. I raised my eyebrows at her when she asked me that. "I - are you sure? I mean I've never worked on a whole album before." I mumbled. "Well it's not that hard. Plus I'll be with you and I'm pretty great." She said.

I playfully rolled my eyes at the blonde as I placed my menu down and looked at her. "So what exactly am I helping you with?" I questioned. "The recording process and helping me write the last three songs because I'm stuck." She tells me. I nodded "so when do we start?" I asked. Dinah smiled "well I heard from Mani that you're off on the weekends, so we'll start Saturday." She tells me. I furrowed my eyebrows together because I didn't have weekends off. In fact often times I work on the weekends. I'm going to have to talk to Normani later.

"Baby what do you want?" I asked.

Charlie placed her hand on my chin and tapped softly as she looked over the menu in front of her. "Why does she do that?" Dinah asked. I chuckled softly. "Honestly I'm not really sure. She saw someone tap their chin in a movie once and she been tapping mine ever since." I said. Dinah hums "so what are you getting?" She asked. I shrugged "I think I'm going to get the pasta." I said. "Char do you know what you want?" She looked up at me with her big hazel eyes and smiles. "Yeah I want the tenders!" She said happily. I laughed softly and kissed her cheek. "Of course baby."

As we were waiting for our food I noticed that Dinah had her eyes locked on my necklace that held my wedding ring on it. "What was your husband like?" She asked softly. I smiled sadly as I looked down at the rings. "He was wonderful. A lot of people never understood him in high school but I did," I laughed softly. "I mean he was the weirdo in the back that kept to himself and I was part of the cheer team. We just fit perfectly together." I said. "So when did you guys fall in love?" She asked.

I laughed "we actually had summer camp together. We were often paired together because no one really wanted to work with him because he was weird, but I never felt like that," I smiled as I thought about him. "I always found him to be pretty interesting. He was sweet, funny, extremely smart and super charming. He was perfect." I told her.

Dinah had this look in her eyes and it wasn't the usual look I got when I talked about my late husband. No this look that she was giving me told me that she was happy that I could actually talk about him. The story I was telling about him made her actually smile! And it wasn't one of those pity smiles I always get, it was an actual genuine smile, and that felt so good. Maybe I should give her a chance?

---X---

After lunch and arguing over who would pay we left and headed back to my house. I took a seat at the island and rested my chin in my hand as I watched Dinah and Charlie play. It was honestly so cute how well they got along.

"They do have an amazing friendship."

I glanced up at my sister in law and chuckled. "Yeah it's pretty wonderful." I said. "So why did you tell Dinah that I have weekends off?" Normani smiles as she sat next to me. "Well since you hired me I decided to make some changes, and that includes giving you the weekends off. I mean you practically work twenty-four seven you deserve a break Lo." She tells me.

I thought about what she said and she was right. I did work a lot and I didn't really have much time for Charlie and that's not something I ever wanted. "If I put you as my second in charge do you promise to do everything by the book?" I asked. Normani's eyes lit up. "I promise! I won't let you do Lauren!" She said. I smiled her "I know you won't."

Walking back into the living room Charlie wrapped her arms around my leg and hid behind me. "Mommy save me!" She screams as she giggled. I was pretty confused until I saw Dinah crawling towards her. Charlie laughed loudly as she ran around me and jumped into my arms. I held her close as I began running away from Dinah.

Ducking down behind the island I told Charlie to be quiet as we hid from Dinah. Charlie covered her mouth and giggled to herself as she leans against me. Things were quiet for a second before Dinah popped out of nowhere and scared both of us. I tried to stand up but Dinah wrapped her arms tightly around my waist and pulled me back down. Charlie looked at me and was going to run forward but I stopped her. "No baby save yourself! It's too late for me." I said. Charlie giggled before running towards Normani and jumping in her arms.

I laughed loud as Dinah climbed on top of me and tickled me. "Looks like I'm still the champion of this game!" She brags. I rolled my eyes at her as I sat up on my elbows. "Only because I let you." I said. Dinah smirked "sure you did."