"Is Summer there?" Lauren asked her father as she stood in line at a crowded Starbucks. She had been worn out completely from driving all day, and a mocha would be able to give her a boost she needed to survive the rest of the ride home. Once she entered the building and got in line, she called her father who was patiently waiting for her arrival. When she left Boulder, he and Summer where trying to repair their relationship. Weeks later, she was still clueless. Her father came to visit before her heart surgery, but their conversations consisted about her current state of health and her training. There was no mention of Boulder or Summer for that matter. Her health was the most prominent matter while she was training because it affected her eligibility for competing in the Olympics, so she did not push the issue of her father and Summer. Now she would be home and her heart was healing properly, so she could focus on kindling lost love. That is if, they had not started already.
Lauren intently listened as she order her pumpkin flavored iced mocha. Steve Tanner explained that Lauren was sleeping in the guest house, but she was back in his life. Lauren did a silent cheer as this was explained. Hopefully Summer would be back in her dad's bed by the time they left for London. Soon enough though, Lauren had to hang up the phone because her drink was ready. She promised to drive safely, and she be home in an hour. Lauren left the bustling coffee shop and got back in her car. She dug her keys out of her purse and shoved them into the ignition. Lauren sipped the cool liquid and mentally prepared herself for the sixty minutes of driving she had left to face.
Steve Tanner paced anxiously the entry hall. Summer was in the kitchen preparing dinner that they would be enjoying with Lauren. It was Lauren's favorite meal. Chicken Cordon Bleu with a side of wild rice and broccoli. Summer was stirring the pots on the stove hoping that Steve would just sit down. But his parental nature kept him worried because she had been driving for so long. Finally headlights beamed in the front windows, and Steve pulled the front door open. Lauren sat in her gathering her half full iced mocha and her purse. He rushed out the door and down the porch steps. He almost suffocated her with his giant bear hug before letting go to look her over. She was looking a lot better than she did at trials. She more than likely relaxed at the Training Center's spa after being crowned a spot on the Olympic team. Where Payson and Kaylie might have continued training, Lauren would be resting and allowing her heart to heal. The only reason for going out would be to the hospital or the on site doctor to check her progress.
Lauren was overexcited to see her father. He seemed glad to see her home again, and she was ecstatic to be home and back at the Rock. Her training course to the Olympics would be a lot let rigorous due to her health condition, but Sasha and MacIntyre would gradually up her workouts and add difficulty to her routines. That way she would not overwhelm her body with intense training. Lauren could still pull to be an all around gymnast as long as she continued to check in with her heart specialist along the way. Lauren hugged her father back, and then they both gathered her luggage from the trunk. When they entered the house, Summer had dinner served on the table, and she joined in on the reuniting festivities. Hugs and kisses galore before they sat down and prayed. That was a definite change. Her father had never prayed before meals. They thanked God for Lauren's recovery and getting into the Olympics. They were glad to be reunited again as a family.
[A/N: I know I said I would have this chapter up sooner than the last, but the truth is I lost my muse when I began to write about Lauren. I never really felt a connection to her, so I took a break from my story. Ever since I started my Switched at Birth story, I found my muse again. My writer's block is over, and I am excited to take on this story again. Hope y'all enjoy! Leave reviews please. They help too!]