Beautiful When You Don't Try (Camren)

Chapter 19

Camila saw the change taking place in the dark haired woman in front of her and watched in awe. She didn't understand what was changing entirely but she knew what this new feeling pulling at her was. There was a glint in Lauren's eye that shot her back to high school, to the lively pregnant dark haired woman with that spark of life. The spark that came with the belief and hope that life was just beginning, that spark that adults lose when they get their careers, their houses, their rigid routine that takes them trough the rest of their lives. The two versions of Lauren seemed to suddenly meld together. The openness of the mature dark haired woman with the vitality of the younger. The calmness of the photographer with the fearlessness of the schoolgirl, ready to live life to its fullest. She seemed whole.

"I love you." Was the next statement that managed to escape Lauren's mouth. It was said with as much certainty and undeniable truth as she would have said her name in an introduction. "I just...I love you."

The diva's lips twitched their way into a deep and genuine smile and she kissed Lauren lightly, lingering in the touch before she pulled away and met her eyes again. "I love you too. More than I could ever tell you."

Lauren smiled, resting her forehead to Camila's before she moved and nuzzled into the diva's neck, pulling her closer with arms around her waist and just held her there. Camila held Lauren around her neck and smiled in complacency. After a final deep breath of everything that was Camila, Lauren slowly pulled away. "We should go eat before your parents think we are doing something inappropriate in here."

"You mean, something like you were intending on doing just a few minutes ago?" Camila asked as she slid down off the counter.

Lauren smiled pulled the diva in with a single hand to the small of her back and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Yeah, something like that."

The two women finally emerged from the hallway and joined the two parents at the round table in the same positions as their rocky morning had started out. Lauren across from Alejandro with Camila on her left, Sinu across from her. The atmosphere was warm but held a light layer of tension as they all sat down.

"We normally begin with someone listing what they are thankful for this year and what they are hopeful for in the future." Alejandro explained to Lauren, meeting her eyes for one of the first times since the morning's confrontation. "If you all wouldn't mind, I would like to do it this year."

They all shared quick glances and nodded in approval.

"Thank you. I am thankful for this wonderful food, wonderful family, wonderful company. I am thankful for everyone to be in good health and good spirits." He paused and locked eyes with Sinu. "I am thankful that I will never again have to sit at this table with Chris and listen to his-"

"Dad!" Camila shrieked in objection against the inappropriate comment while Lauren and Sinu joined in laughter.

"I'm thankful for it too." Sinu added as they all struggled to regain their composure. Camila was still less than amused until Lauren reached over the table and squeezed her hand. Alejandro watched as his daughter's scowl evaporated and she smiled to the beaming dark haired woman across from him. He cleared his throat and pulled the attention of the room back to him.

"I am thankful to have found a lasting love with my wife of twenty-eight years. I am thankful for my daughter who has provided us with nothing but joy for twenty-five of those years. I am thankful that she has also found a love like ours. And I am hopeful for second chances to overcome my past mistakes."

Lauren's eyes left Camila's and met his. He was apologizing and accepting their relationship. "I second that." She answered before looking back to Camila and kissing her hand. "How can I deny second chances?"