Demi released her hand to embrace Day. Lauren was glad Demi had a best friend like Day to keep him centered, to anchor him during this storm. Old Demi would have blown everything away by now, but this new version of him was steady, dependable, calm even. She had no idea that it was Charlie who was responsible for that transformation. It had nothing to do with friendship; true love had settled him.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your son. I umm,” Stassi paused. It was uncomfortable for them both. They didn’t like one another. They weren’t even on the same team. Charlie was Stassi’s sister.
“Why are you here, Stassi?” Lauren asked frankly. It wasn’t even her nature to be that mean. Refined Lauren would have been polite. Professional Lauren would have tolerated the uninvited guest on behalf of Day. The Lauren who had fallen into a sudden nightmare was unapologetic.
“She’s with me, Lo. You know I ain’t with none of that bullshit. She’s helping a nigga keep his peace right now, and I know you have your hands full. She’s here to help.”
Lauren scoffed. “Help with what?”
“Help with whatever you need. Both of y’all,” Stassi said. “You don’t have to work your son’s funeral, Lauren. I can make things easier for you.” Stassi paused and glanced at Day unsurely. Shesighed and shrugged. “I don’t know, Lauren, but if you need help…I know we aren’t friends, but I’m available for you.”
“We could have been friends,” Lauren stated softly. “I thought we were, but I don’t trust you, Stassi. This is the most important thing anyone can do for me. I can’t trust just anyone with it.”
“Trust me, sis,” Day said. “Trust me to take this burden off you.”
“I’m the best at what I do, Lauren. I promise to handle every detail with care. If you want me to. It just feels like everybody should be responsible for doing something. Everyone should be helping. He was just a kid. That feels bigger than any disagreement me and you have had.”
Lauren’s heart was so disturbed. She was shaken in a way that didn’t lend room to find her way back to normalcy. She did need the help, and she was in no position to do this herself. She didn’t trust her tacky-ass family members to do it the way she would want it done, but she also didn’t want a stranger to plan this important goodbye.
“He’s my baby,” Lauren whispered.
Stassi reached out a hand and gripped Lauren’s wrist. She looked her dead in the eyes. “I know,” Stassi said. The sympathy and humanity coming from Stassi couldn’t be missed. Lauren felt guilt in that moment. Stassi could have used this moment to gloat on how low Lauren had fallen. She could have rubbed the loss in. Lauren had fired her and blackballed her career. Stassi had every right to be vindictive at this moment. Instead, Lauren saw compassion in Stassi. Lauren was trekking across a bridge she had set on fire, and still, Stassi didn’t inflict a burn.
“Thank you,” Lauren said. Stassi hugged Lauren tightly.
“You’re welcome,” Stassi whispered softly. “I’ve got him. I promise. “
Day guided Stassi away from Lo and into the kitchen to greet the rest of the family.
Demi turned to Lauren. “You sure you good with that?” Demi asked. “I can shut it down. If it feels like she on some funny shit. You’re my wife…I…” He caught himself, and he wasn’t exactly quiet about it. Lauren’s eyes widened in shock because sharing this space, this moment, this heartbreak together was like sharing one heart. It was convoluted and confusing, but they hadn’t asked for this. Nobody would ask for this. She understood how he had forgotten. He had gone right back into their routine, retreating into the life they once shared because she, too, felt like she was staring at her husband right now. She wondered if that was what marriage did. It wasn’t like a normal breakup where you could write the existence of a human being off forever. Marriage seemed to be forever. The imprint lasted even long after the ink dried on the divorce papers. Ownership still existed. They were like an abandoned building, still standing, but vacant inside. The sign was still on the door, though. Husband and wife. It didn’t matter if the word ex was in front of it. The identity of that role still lingered. They depended on the routine of the institution they had built to get them through this.
“No, Demi. It’s fine. She really is good at what she does,” Lauren admitted. “She’ll make sure it’s beautiful.”
Demi swiped both hands down his face, realizing that his head was fucked up. He addressed the elephant in the room. “I want to be here with you, Lo. I am going to be here with you. I’m not going nowhere. Every morning. Every night. Until this eases up, but I have to ask, and I’m sorry that I have to ask you this, but is Charlie welcome here? I know she wants to be here.”
“Your mistress wants to be here for you?” Lauren asked, scoffing.
“And you, Lo. She wants to support us both,” he said, ignoring the insult Lauren threw out.
Lauren’s eyes turned to fire. “I want to be crystal clear with you, Demitrius. She’s not welcome anywhere near me or my son—ever. She can’t come here. She can’t come to the service. If that’s where you want to be…”
“I told you where I’m trying to be,” Demi interrupted in frustration.
“Until when, Demi? What’s my time limit? You said until this eases up? This will never ease up! I will always feel this! So, watch what you promise me. You know you’re not good at keeping them.”
“I need you to work with me here. Be reasonable. You know my situation. She’s pregnant, Lo.”
“And that’s not my fucking problem,” Lauren snapped. “I’m burying my son because of the damage caused by you and that bitch. I don’t give a damn about anybody’s child but the one I’m saying goodbye to. Did she give a single care in the world about my baby when she took you from this house? She didn’t give a fuck about the family that ended so she could have you. Don’t talk to me about her, and if you’re that distracted and concerned about it, you can leave. Go be there with her!”
Lauren stormed off, and Demi reached for her, but she snatched her arm away before retreating to her mother’s side. She wasn’t sacrificing her comfort to make room for Charlie. Charlie was the worst thing that had ever happened to Lauren, and if she never saw her again, she would consider herself blessed. She was too angry to cross paths with Demi’s little girlfriend. Before this tragedy, she had been able to be the bigger person, but to come face to face with her again, while she was growing life and Lauren was grieving it, nah, that would be like two trains colliding. Lauren didn’t want anything to do with Charlie, and if Demi forced the issue, he would be cut off, too. She was no longer committed to peace because her storm would rage regardless. To draw a truce would only be for the sake of Demi and Charlie’s happiness, and she would be damned if she accommodated that.
Demi walked into the kitchen where Stassi was pouring herself a drink. He stood next to her as they stared out over the growing family.
“You had a whole life with her,” Stassi whispered. She passed him the Hennessy sidecar she had prepared, and he accepted it silently, taking a sip before clearing his throat. “It looks like you still have a life here with her.”
“I can’t erase history,” Demi said. Stassi made him feel like he was doing something wrong. He felt the sudden urge to defend his presence. “She’s my family.”
“Your wife,” Stassi said. “That’s what you called her. That’s what everyone in this house is calling her.”
