Roadblocks

Chapter 5: Lauren

Chapter 5: Lauren“I can’t believe she’ll be home soon.” Lauren hugged Victoria, trapping her friend’s arms before she could even shrug off her leather jacket with the faux fox collar.

“Well, now, I knew there had to be a reason you were grinnin’ like a possum eatin’ a sweet pahtater! But could ya turn me loose before I fall out right here on this none-too-clean floor?” Victoria tried to look stern but she was smiling broadly as she disengaged herself from Lauren’s embrace and hung her jacket over the back of a chair near the door of the little hospital café where the two women often met for coffee.

Lauren returned from the counter with two steaming cups and set them on the table before taking her usual seat. “I’m so excited! Kayla’s doing great with her PT and her therapist said she can continue as an outpatient once she gets the hang of the crutches. Now that her stitches are out, her fever’s gone, and she’s keeping solids down, there’s no reason she needs to stay in the hospital.”

“More ‘n likely the doctor’s itchin’ to sign her discharge papers ‘cause he’s gettin’ fed up with you tellin’ him how to do his job.” Victoria’s affectionate tone contrasted with her words and she gave Lauren a warm smile. “Seriously, Laur, I couldn’t be more thrilled for you. But have you thought about how things are gonna be at home, with both Kayla and Silke there?”

“Well, of course. It’s going to be great! Two of my favorite people in the world right there with me every day.” Lauren took a sip of her coffee and frowned. “What’s with that look on your face?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m pleased as punch for y’all. I know how much you’ve been missin’ that little gal of yours, and I’m so glad she’s doin’ better, bless her heart. But have ya really thought about how things are gonna be once Kayla is back in the house?”

Lauren frowned, too. “You mean, because of Silke and my, uh, well…”

“Yes, hon. Your uh is exactly what I mean. Kayla doesn’t exactly know what’s up with the two of you, now does she?”

Lauren took a big swallow of her café mocha. “Well, no. I haven’t exactly told her that her father has been, um, replaced. I mean, not that that’s what happened really. I mean, it’s not like our marriage was great before I met Silke, and I had thought of leaving him long before Silke came along. But of course, Kayla doesn’t know any of that.”

“How would she? You always gave that little girl the perfect home life, even if it was not so perfect beneath the surface.”

Lauren felt herself redden under Victoria’s intense gaze. “Was that so terrible? I mean, doesn’t every mother want the world to be perfect for her children?”

“Well, honey, wantin’ ain’t gettin’. The world isn’t perfect, now is it?”

“Of course not! But even Craig didn’t know how I felt!”

“And that’s a good thing why?”

Lauren slipped off her cardigan, heat rising uncomfortably onto her face. Damn it! Lately she felt like she was menopausal, she was spending so much time flushed. “Victoria! You’ve known me for how long now?”

“A good ten years or more. If you want I can check my calendar…” Victoria started digging into her gold Louis Vitton bag.

“Stop that! My point is, you know me. You know I don’t like conflict.”

“Well now, honey, can’t say I’m a huge fan of it myself. I’d love life to be all sunshine and roses, but that just ain’t reality.”

“No, no, it isn’t, but what’s wrong with me wanting my family to be happy?”

“Lauren, listen to me. I’m not faultin’ you for being who you are. Your tryin’ to make everybody happy is a loveable quality. But it’s not a healthy one when you’re makin’ yourself unhappy in the process. You were miserable in your marriage. I know that much.”

“Yes, you do, but—”

“But Kayla didn’t.”

“No, Kayla didn’t.”

Silence stretched out for long minutes, Lauren lost in thought and Victoria, as usual, knowing when she’d made her point.

“Okay. So I’ve overprotected Kayla. But I can’t spring my relationship with Silke on her mere weeks after she lost her father and almost died herself in that horrible accident. Surely Silke will understand that things are going to be different with Kayla there.”

Victoria signaled the cashier, who hurried over.

“Can I get you something, ma’am?”

A frown creased Victoria’s face for a second as she studied the young woman’s face until she squirmed. Lauren heard a faint, “Ma’am?” followed by an unladylike grunt. “Yes, you most definitely may get me somethin’. Do you have any of those orange scones you had last week? And I don’t mean one from last week. A nice, fresh one?”

“Yes, ma—uh, yes, um, I think we do, miss. Um, madam, uh, lemme just go check!” The poor girl hurried off in the direction of the glass case next to the checkout counter.

Lauren laughed. “I want to be just like you when I grow up.”

“Watch it, girl, or you won’t live to be my age.”

“Anyway, where were we?”

“You were about to tell me exactly how things have been at home with Silke, now that she’s actually admitted to her feelin’s.”

Lauren relaxed and she felt the warmth change from embarrassment to contentment. “Oh, Vic, I can’t tell you how amazing everything’s been!”

“Try.”

“It’s like everything I’ve ever longed for, dreamed of, has come to me. We’re so compatible. And we have so much fun together. There’s nothing we can’t talk about. Now that Silke has finally opened up to me, every new thing I learn only makes me love her more.” Lauren blushed. “Sappy, huh?”

Victoria’s smile lit her face, and the relieved cashier brightened as she set the scone down on the table. “Thanks, darlin’. You may go now.” The younger woman stumbled as she hurried away. Victoria turned her attention back to Lauren after tasting the scone and making an appreciative sound. “Mmm. It’s the little things. Here, try this.”

Lauren took a small piece and savored the reprieve from her embarrassment as much as she did the pastry.

“Sweetie, I don’t find your story sappy at all. I’m just so tickled that you’re finally happy, and gettin’ all you deserve. If I had to watch that worthless piece of, um, Craig, drag you down for one more day, I think maybe I would have put him in the ground myself.”

“He wasn’t that bad!”

“That’s right. Just keep on sugar-coatin’ everythin’. Good practice for when Kayla gets home.”

Lauren’s eyes teared up. “Oh, Vicki, what am I going to do? I don’t want to pretend Silke means nothing to me. I’ll tell Kayla eventually, but I don’t think she’s ready. She’s been through so much. Silke and I have plenty of time. We’ll just have to be careful.”

Victoria put her hand on Lauren’s arm. “Don’t wait too long, honey. You waited long enough to find happiness. You don’t want it to get away now, do ya?”

Lauren finished her coffee. “I need to get back to work. It’s going to be okay. Silke is a caring woman. And I know she’ll grow to love Kayla, too. She just doesn’t know her yet. When the right time comes, I’ll break it to Kayla. Hopefully by then they’ll be good friends.”

“I’ve always loved those rose-colored glasses you favor, darlin’. I just hope you have an extra pair for when they get broken.”