Professor C (camren)

16.5 - Jauregui (Part 2)

It was just the fact that having to ask for help when he desperately needed to prove himself was like murdering his pride. And unfortunately, it was all that he had left apart from Pebble and his scholarship.

But that was why Lauren was there for them.

"You're an excellent student and you've done well with raising her, and I could not have been more proud of you, Robert." Lauren sincerely expressed, expectantly anticipating the moment the student lifted his gaze even if it took a moment. Her heart was heavy, tugging her slumping shoulders along with its painful descent. "I know you're grateful for every single thing, every good deed people have shown you, and of all the things you worry about, you don't have to worry about thanking me. I just want you to focus on your courses and maintain that scholarship. And I'm going to remind you again; I can take care of her while you can't and it would be my pride and joy to do so."

Rob concealed his prickling eyes, attempting to will the moisture away. By then, it was a race for his body to drown his nose and tighten his throat with the looming tears. He desperately needed to hear those words. It wouldn't have mattered who it came from but he paid such high regard for the psychologist that the impact was just one powerful wave, sweeping through his body.

"Thank you, Miss. Thank you so much." He uttered in a strangulated voice as he frantically nodded his head to express what his words couldn't. Sniffling, his hands flew up to his eyes, inspecting the area for some stubborn tears. "I'll come back before 10 for her breakfast and I'll bring her back right away. But she has had some cereal before we left."

"You're welcome, Rob." Lauren quietly breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied to have found a hint of a smile upon the student's lips. "Now, go before you're late. I got her."

Rob didn't turn his back on the psychologist without spewing a couple more words of gratitude and if he stayed longer, Lauren would have seen him as a fountain of "thank yous". It left her chuckling to herself as she shook her head, amused by the boy's wild and agitated actions. Then again, she preferred Rob appreciative and shy over the other extreme.

Lauren intently listened on the conversation between Robert and his niece with a faint, wistful smile upon her lips as she slowly descended to sit. She had just pushed her laptop computer open with every intention of completing the last of the acceptance packages but used the relatively slow start-up as an excuse to do a little more eavesdropping.

Robert had just reminded the little girl to behave, which Pebble promised immediately; sounding quite impatient having been interrupted in her moment of artistry. The bite in the toddler's tone elicited a quiet chuckle to explode from Lauren's mouth as her heart swelled with fondness. It was definitely severely adorable at the moment and Lauren could just see Pebble's features crumple in her displeasure, but had Pebble been 10 years older, it would have been nothing short of infuriating.

And just the thought of raising her own teenager that possessed her sass was a little daunting.

Lauren's musings leaped across possibilities and having the child in her hands once more reminded her of one decision she made not long ago. She began to envision herself with her own family. She'd have three children or four; she didn't really mind how many. The only thing that mattered was who she would parent them with and Lauren refused to picture as scenario without Camila.

It wouldn't be a family without her.

It was a farfetched idea, a fantasy even but she was too consumed in it that she didn't notice Robert leave or her computer, waiting for her to input her password.

Lauren couldn't pinpoint how she felt. It was just a slew of nostalgia, a flurry of loss and a ton of regret, topped off with sorrow.

"Mauwen?" Pebble's voice was loud and clear, almost as if she was right in front of Lauren.