Author: Sparkling-Diva
Rating: PG-13 (possibly more later)
Genre: Drama/Romance
Feedback: Yes! Please! But be nice!
Summary: Vincent Gray, now 33, is at a depressing stage of his life. When he meets a young girl, his life will change forever.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the show Judging Amy whatsoever and in no way am I affiliated with it.
Author's Note: Uh-oh. Donna has to keep a secret from Laura. What can possibly happen? A definite longer chapter. Also, I had to make a correction. For some reason, I thought that it was Timothy but it was Robert who is Sean and Maxine's co-worker. Anyhoo, Enjoy!
Chapter 26"So how's DCF working for you?" Donna asked Laura as they were walking through the mall with Ariadne and Lauren.
"Great actually. I'm no social worker like Maxine of course but I'm having a great time and making good friends like Sean and Robert."
"I think that Sean likes you," Donna said.
"Yeah. I kinda got that impression since day one."
"But Vincent likes you more," Lauren confessed.
"Lauren…" Donna started.
"Uh-huh. It's true," said little Ariadne.
"Now going onto a somewhat different topic," Donna began, "What are you trying to hide?"
"What do you mean?" Laura asked.
"You have got to be one of the cutest nerdiest people I've seen. Now explain what you are hiding behind your glasses and not so show off sense of clothing."
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation," Laura said sarcastically.
"No but don't you ever want to dress up or anything?"
"I'm fine Donna."
"I believe that you're hiding your true self somewhere deep inside."
"Lauren, is Donna always this metaphorically speaking?" Laura asked.
"Pretty much," the preteen replied.
"Mommy?" Ariadne asked.
"Yes?" Donna asked.
"My feet are tired."
"Oh, well look there is a seat over there. We can sit down for a bit," Donna said directing them to a small bench area of the mall. "I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back. Take care of Aria, will you?"
"She'll be safe with me," Laura assured.
"Good," Donna said giving her daughter a quick kiss, and saying, "I won't be long," before leaving.
"Can I play with your puzzle key chain?" Ariadne asked.
"Sure, sweetie," Laura answered handing her a puzzle cube.
"So," Lauren asked with a suspicious tone.
"So what?" Laura asked with a smile.
'Do you like my uncle?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
"I can manage that. Yeah, I think I do."
"You think?"
"Okay, I do. You don't hate me do you?"
"No. You're so cool."
"Really? Because if I remember correctly when I was in junior high I was considered nowhere near cool."
"Well, by my standards you are. You're also pretty, smart, and the whole family likes you. Also, this is the happiest I've ever seen my uncle in years."
"What do you mean?" Laura asked.
"The last one especially has been pretty rough on him."
"Why's that?"
"Let's just say I like you a billion more times than I liked Carole."
"Carole?" Laura asked suspiciously. "Who's Carole?"
"Vincent didn't tell you?" Lauren asked surprised.
"No."
"That's a
surprise."
"How come?"
"She's his wife."
Laura suddenly felt her heart sink. Vincent was married? How could that have happened? He never told me. How could he?
"They're separated." Lauren continued.
"Oh," Laura responded.
Separated? Why?
"He just got the divorce papers yesterday. That's what my mom said. I remember when my parents got divorced. My mom was so sad."
"Why did Vincent and Carole get separated?"
"Do I remember Carole?" Ariadne asked still not looking up from her game. She was busy rearranging all the little squares on the cube.
"You probably wouldn't," Lauren commented, "You were just a baby. Nobody in our family really liked her. She was always so pushy. I don't know what Vincent saw in her. All I heard was that she ran off with a doctor that was treating her."
"What do you mean?"
"They had been dating for only 4 months. Pretty short if you ask me. She had a job opening in San Francisco and around the same time she found out that she had breast cancer."
"Oh my gosh."
"Yeah. That's sad. But she was still mean. She kinda forced him to go to San Francisco. They lived there nearly for 2 years and a half."
"That long?"
"He came back and lived with us until Kyle moved back into the house which was closer to work. And Vincent moved back in with Donna like they had before."
Laura kept silent.
"Are you okay?" Lauren asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't know all about this," Laura said softly.
"I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
"No, I understand. You were being honest."
"I swear that I really think that you and my uncle are great together."
"Thanks…"
"So what did I miss?" Donna said coming back.
"Just talking about Carole," Lauren said as she helped Ariadne get up.
"Laura," Donna started, "I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay. Really." She tried her best to hide her tears. "I mean I was bound to find out sooner or later."
"C'mon," Donna said to Lauren and Ariadne. "Lauren, here. Walk up ahead with Ariadne but stay close."
"Okay," Lauren said taking Ariadne's hand, "C'mon Adriane."
"Laura…"
"Did he…"
"Yeah. He loved her." Donna then noticed Laura's silence. "She didn't love him though. That was probably one of the main reasons it didn't work out. If you really want my opinion. She was using him. Carole was really self-centered too."
"They're getting a divorce?" she asked with a choke in her voice.
"Lauren told you?"
"Yeah."
"She wants to get married to her doctor," Donna confessed. "The one she ran off with."
"Everyone deserves to be happy," Laura calmly said.
"Including Vincent," Donna said, "Truthfully, he hasn't been happy in a long time. Since he started his job and met you things have been different."
"Oh."
"Hey," she started, "If it's any consolation, we can go back to my place and talk some more. I think the kids are tired too."
"Okay…"
"Don't worry about it," Donna said putting a friendly arm around her, "Cheer up. After all, at the end, Vincent likes you too."
Laura kept silent and followed Donna and the others to the car.
"Are you okay?" Ariadne asked her once they got in the car. She leaned forward still holding the little cube.
"Yeah," Laura said brushing off some of the little girl's hair that had fallen on her face.
Yeah, she told herself, I'll be okay.