The Single Mom & The Popstar

10

"With everything that's happened are you scared of falling in love again?"

I glanced up from what I was doing and locked eyes with Dinah. "If I'm honest, I'm terrified." I confessed. "Why?" She asked gently. I leaned back and pulled her on top of me. "Because I'm scared of getting my heart broken by some unfortunate event that will take you away and I know I'm not ready to handle something like that." I spoke truthfully.

Looking down at me Dinah gently moved my hair out of my face and kissed my nose. "Well can't promise that nothing bad will ever happen but I can promise that I will always be by your side." She tells me. Wrapping my hand around her neck I pulled her down and kissed her softly. Pulling away I grinned at her. "You're incredible Dinah Jane."

After spending some alone time together Dinah and I headed back into the living room where Charlene and Andrea was. However before I could be greeted by my very happy daughter the doorbell rang and I quickly went to go answer it. Upon opening the door my heart fell into my stomach when I saw who was there. "Mom?"

She looked at me and smiled. "Lauren, baby how are you?" Clara asked. I scuffed as I folded my arms over my chest. "Cut the pleasantries. Why are you here?" I asked coldly. She looks at me. "I know you hate me, with great right, but your father wants to see you." She tells me. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Then he could have called himself. He knows my number." It was true my father was the only one from my family who knew my number, so it was quite concerning that he didn't call.

"That's the thing. Your father he's in the hospital." Clara tells me.

I looked at her. "How long has he been there?" I asked. "Three days. He was resting for the first two and then he's having his surgery today. Right now actually." She tells me. I nodded as I turned to Andrea. "Do you think that you could watch Charlie for me. I have to be somewhere." I told her. Andrea nodded "of course honey."

---X---

Sitting in the waiting room I was gently playing with Dinah's fingers as I waited on news about my dad. I just want to know that he's ok. He just has to be. "Babe I know you're nervous and scared but do you want me to get you anything?" Dinah asked. I looked at her. "Just get me nuggets and fries. It helps me calm down." I told her. Dinah mumbles a small ok and kissed the top of my head before leaving.

"I never thought you would be one to cheat." Clara comments.

I shook my head as I threw a glare her way. "For your information since you've been gone for the pass eight years. My husband died three years ago. I'm barely just moving on and I really don't need you making second guess myself." I growled. Clara put her hands up. "I'm sorry Lauren. I had no idea." She says. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head and turned to her. "When he died I called you. I was hysterical and you... You completely blew me off. You told me you had to me some Tom, Dick or Harry and you didn't have time for my bullshit," I wiped my tears away. "I needed you and you weren't there. I needed you to tell me that I could get threw this and everything would be ok but you left. You haven't talked to me in years to see how I've been holding up but I never stopped thinking about you. No matter how angry I am with you." I told her.

"And I'm sorry Lauren. I really am! I was high and out of my mind. I know I should have been in touch sooner but I was getting clean. I just couldn't keep being a disappointment to you." She explains. "I'm sorry. I really am."

Looking at her I could tell that she was extremely sorry for how she's been in the past and honestly I wasn't ready to forgive her yet. I just couldn't get pass all the hurt she has caused me. However before I could say anything Dinah came walking in with my food. "I didn't know what sauce to get so I got all of them." She tells me. I kissed her cheek. "Thank you Dinah."

As we were waiting I noticed that both Chris and Taylor were giving me dirty looks. "Do you guys have something to tell me because I feel like you do." I said. Taylor scuffs "I just don't get how you can be here and you haven't talked to dad in eight months." She spat. I raised an eyebrow. "I talked to dad everyday before things got super crazy these last few months. However that never stopped me from sending him a quick text making sure everything was ok." I said.

"If that's true why haven't you been here the last three days?" Chris asked coldly.

I frowned "because he never told me. I texted Wednesday and he never told me that he was in the hospital. He just told me the usual everything things good, I need to come visit soon." I said. "He didn't say anything about his surgery." Taylor glares at me. "You know if you didn't have that stupid mistake baby you would have been here! But no you just had to care for that dumb, ugly little br-"

My hand coming across her face in a hard slap stopped her mid rant. "Call my child a mistake again and you'll never see the light of day ever again." I spoke coldly. Taylor's jaw was opened slightly as she looks at me. Gulping a little she composed herself before taking a seat next to Chris. I shook my head as I sat back down next to Dinah. "Lo are you ok?" She asked carefully. I nodded "yeah I just want to know that he's ok before leaving. I just need to know that he's ok." I told her. Dinah nodded and held me as she whispered sweet nothings in my ear telling me everything would be ok.

"Jauregui family."

I stood up quickly when the doctor came out. "How is he? Did everything go ok?" I asked quickly. "Everything went fine. Right now he's resting but you can go visit him." I nodded as I ran back there. I just needed to see him. I had questions that needed to be answered.

"Lauren sweetheart, how are you?" He asked when he saw me.

I smiled a little. "I'm good." I said, gently holding his hand. "I just wanted to know why you didn't tell me?" He looked up at me and sighed softly. "Well I knew how busy you have been and I didn't want to add to the stress. I wanted you to spend time with Charlie and your new friend, and just relax. I was going to call you after the surgery." He tells me. "Dad I could have taken a couple of days off to be here with you. Mani would have filled in for me and Drea is more than happy to watch Charlie since she doesn't really like hospital." I told him. "I know baby but I didn't want you to. I just wanted you to enjoy your life without the extra stress of me because I know you Lauren. You worry and I didn't want that for you. I never do." He said.

I sat down in the chair next to his bed. "Well I'm happy that you're ok. I really am." I said. He smiles "well when I get out we're having a family dinner. You can make that great dish Keith taught you." He says. I smiled and hugged him. "Of course daddy. Of course."

---X---

Sitting at the island Charlie was sitting in my lap helping me prepare dinner. "Careful baby. I don't want you to hurt yourself." I told her. Charlie stuck out her tongue as she concentrates and nodded. "Am I big girl now mama?" She asked. I kissed the top of her head. "You're the biggest girl I know baby." I said. Her eyes lit up as she looked at me. "Even bigger than DeDe?" She asked. I giggled "even bigger than DeDe."

As I was cooking Charlie was hugging my leg tightly as she watched me cook. "Mama is grandpa going to be ok?" She asked. I nodded "he's going to be fine. He's going to recover and then he's going to come visit." I told her. Charlie looks at me. "Are you sure?" Stopping what I was doing I bent down in front of her and gently gripped her arms. "He's going to be fine. It was a small surgery to fix something that was wrong. It wasn't super big and scary. It was very simple." I told her. Charlie took in everything I told her and relaxed. "Ok mama."