Chapter 2

"Lulu!", I gasped in surprise. Was I seeing things?

"Surprise!", she squealed throwing her arms around me.

I held onto her tightly to make sure I wouldn't faint. How long had it been? I couldn't believe she was really here.

"Mom, I am so happy to see you", she gushed pulling away.

"I'm so happy to see you too, honey. I can't believe you're here. It's been so long", I breathed as I stared at her trying to take it all in. "Oh, come in!" , I exclaimed realizing we were still on my door step.

"Wow. This place is beautiful", Lulu breathed as we walked inside.

"Yeah. So, how are you? How is Lorenzo? I bet he's still adorable", I smiled as we sat down on the suede sofa.

"We're good. And yes, he is growing more adorable by the day", she grinned. "Not that I'm biased or anything", she added.

"Oh, it's okay. Parents are supposed to think they have the most beautiful kids in the world. I know I do", I said.

"Yeah. I was kind of nervous leaving him and Dante alone for two weeks. I don't know how they're going to survive without me", she admitted.

"You're going to be in town for two weeks?", I asked.

"Not here, unfortunately. Maxie was supposed to be the one coming to Europe, but she had to change plans at the last minute. So, I went in her place. And I figured that since I'm going to be in Europe anyway, I might as well come see my mom", Lulu explained.

"Well, I am so glad you did. I missed you so much", I told her.

"I missed you too. Oh, and Lucky and Nikolas send their love", she informed me.

"Well, send my love back to them. How are they doing? There's no major Spencer drama going on, is there?", I asked partly afraid of Lulu's answer.

"For the first time in like forever, no. They're both doing great", she assured. "So, how are things with you? Anything new in your life?"

I knew the question was going to eventually come up, but I still wasn't sure how to tell Lulu about Marc and Laken. In all honesty, I didn't think the day would ever come where my old life and family collided with my new one. But that day had apparently come.

"You're probably going to be upset with me for not telling you this before", I started.

"Telling me what?", Lulu wondered.

"Um…I'm married", I said breaking the news as gently as I could.

"You're married? Since when?", she demanded.

"Two years ago", I answered.

"Two years ago? You've been married for two years and I'm just now finding out about it!", Lulu exclaimed.

"Honey, please try to understand. It was all very sudden. Marc and I had only dated for two months before he proposed. I didn't know how to tell you. I hadn't seen you or your brothers in years so I didn't think you needed to know right then. I just kept putting it off. I always intended on telling you", I stressed desperate for her to understand.

"Mom, you still should've told me. I'm your daughter. How could you keep something this big from me?", she asked.

"I don't know. I guess I was just worried about what your reaction would be", I confessed.

"Why? You thought I wouldn't approve? Mom, all I want is for you to be happy. If this guy makes you happy, then I would be fine with it", she said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. So, what's he like?", Lulu wondered.

"Well, his name is Marc-Marc DiRuccio. He's a lawyer. He's funny and kind and just a really great guy", I gushed.

"And he makes you happy?"

"Yes. He's the most amazing man I've ever met", I said.

"Yeah. But do you guys have that you know…spark?", she asked.

"That spark? Honey, you don't have to have sparks to be happy with someone", I said dancing around the question.

"So, you're saying you don't?", Lulu clarified.

"Lulu, I've only had that spark one time and I always wound up getting hurt", I admitted.

"Mom, I know dad hurt you but that doesn't mean that you should be scared to love someone again", she stressed.

"I'm not scared to love. I wouldn't have married Marc if I didn't love him", I pointed out.

"Yeah. But there aren't any sparks", Lulu protested.

"Honey, I don't need sparks!", I practically yelled at my daughter. "Marc is everything that I need. He is smart and kind and dependable and he is always there for me and Laken…", I trailed off realizing I had blurted out my last secret.

"Who's Laken?", Lulu asked.

"She's my daughter…and your little sister", I confessed.

"WHAT?", she screamed. "You had another kid and this is the first I'm hearing about it?"

"Lulu…I am so sorry I didn't tell you before…", I began.

"How old is she?", Lulu interrupted.

"She's three", I answered.

"Three? She's three years old and you've never mentioned her to us once? Not one time!", she exclaimed furiously. "How could you keep a secret like that? Were you ever going to tell us?"

"Yes. Of course I was!", I insisted.

"What-were you going to send us all invitations to her high school graduation?", she wondered.

"Lulu, please. Just let me explain", I pleaded.

"What is there to explain? You…", she trailed off when a realization hit her. "You said Laken is three years old?"

"Yes. What does that have to do with anything?", I asked wondering where she was going with this.

"You said that you and Marc were only married for two years and had only dated two months before then", she pointed out.

I froze when I realized I had pretty much told her that Marc wasn't Laken's biological father. How could I possibly explain things now?

"Mom, Marc isn't Laken's father, is he?", Lulu asked.

"No", I whispered as tears began to well in my eyes. "He isn't."

"So…who is?", she asked softly trying not to upset me more.

I buried my head in my hands wishing that I had thought about what I said before I said it. Wishing that Laken really were Marc's. Wishing that I didn't have to inevitably destroy lives by revealing the truth. I had gotten away with it for so long. If only I had kept my big mouth shut. If only I hadn't been so stupid and naïve to begin with.

"Mom? Who is it? Who's Laken's dad?", Lulu asked again.

"Okay", I said sitting up again. "Laken's father is…"