The Single Mom & The Popstar

4

I was laying on the couch with Charlie on top of me as I read her favorite book to her. I gently ran my fingers through her hair as I continued reading the book. Charlie snuggled into me further as she played with my necklace. "Mama why do you wear this?" She asked me.

I smiled down at her. "Because it reminds me of better times. Times when things were just...simple." I told her. She looked up at me with her bright hazel eyes. "Can I have one just like yours?" She asked. Sitting up I grabbed the chain off of the coffee table and unhooked my necklace. With a small grin I removed her fathers ring and put it on the chain before placing it around her neck. "Your father would want you to have this." I said softly.

"Was daddy a good guy?" She asked.

I hugged her close to me as tears welled up in my eyes. "Your father was the most amazing guy I have ever had the pleasure of knowing." I told her. She smiles "so he was just like you?" She asked. I couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah, but he was way more incredible." I told her. She hugs me. "I glad I have you mama." She mumbles. I kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad that I have you too baby."

As we were in the middle of hugging the door opens and in walks Dinah. "This is a cute moment." She said as she snaps our picture. Charlie smiled widely as she ran toward the beautiful blonde haired girl. "DeDe!" She said as she jumped into Dinah's arms. "Hey munchkin! How are you?" Dinah asked. Charlie smiles "I good! Look what mama gave me!" She said excitedly. "Now I have one just like hers!"

Dinah looked at me as she takes her seat on the couch. "Wow Lo this is a big deal." She said. "How do you feel?" I smiled "I'm feeling good. He would want her to have something of his." I told her. Dinah smiles down at the little girl in her lap. "Keep that close to you sweetie. It'll bring you wonderful things." She spoke softly. Charlie's face lit up as she looks at both of us. "Wow ok!"

Watching Dinah and Charlie play reminded me of when Keith would play with Charlie when she was a baby. They both just have this way of making her laugh and make my heart flutter at the same time. It's incredibly really. "What's with the look Lauser?" Dinah asked curiously. I smiled softly as I looked at her. "I know this is probably bad to say, but it reminded me of my husband when you and Charlie were playing. You made her laughter just like he did." I spoke sadly. Dinah gently grabs my hand. "You know you don't have to feel bad about telling me about your husband me. You were in love Lo." She tells me.

I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath before looking deep into her beautiful brown eyes. "Dinah I'm not completely sure about my feelings but I do know that I feel something for you. However I'm still mourning the loss of my husband considering it was so sudden, but I do know that I feel something for you and I would like to see where it goes." I told her.

Dinah nodded "but you want to take it slow, don't you." She says. "Yeah I would, but that doesn't mean that I like you any less. It's just hard right now." I told her. Dinah locked her fingers with mine. "I understand. It took a while for my best friend to move on when she lost her wife." She tells me. "So take all the time you need. I'll still be here when you're ready." I pulled her in for a tight hug. "Thank you Dinah. I really needed that."

Pulling away from me Dinah became really shy as she began playing nervously with the ring on her finger. "Lauren I know things are going to go slow with us but I need to tell you that I haven't dated anyone since I was like nineteen, so I'm not really sure what to do if we ever get into a relationship. I'm sorry I just felt like you needed to know." She tells me. I nodded as I took her hand in mine. "Why haven't you dated since you were nineteen?" I asked. Dinah's face fell as she looks at me. "Because my first and only real girlfriend was extremely abusive and controlling. It just got worse when I became famous." She tells me.