By Sun and Candlelight / CAMREN

Chapter 23 - Bonding At The Park

Camila walked out of the apartment building and spotted Lauren's car at the curb. She smiled widely as she approached and got in.

"Hey there," Camila said to Lauren, grinning. She turned to the back and smiled at Lori, who was fastened into her child's seat. "Hi, Lori."

"Hi," Lori said, smiling. "We're going to the park!"

"Sounds great to me," Camila answered, happily.

"Mommy, can we put on music?" Lori asked.

"Sure," Lauren answered, "What do you want to hear?"

"Fwozen," Lori said loudly.

"We're in a car, Lori," Lauren huffed out, "You don't need to scream."

"The Olaf song, Mommy," Lori added excitedly.

"Okay," Lauren said, finding the music. She glanced at Camila and whispered, "Sorry."

"What? Olaf is hilarious," Camila said.

"You know Olaf?" Lori asked.

"Well, I don't know him personally," Camila deadpanned, making Lauren chuckle, "But I think he's great in Frozen."

"Is he your favorite?" Lori asked, kicking her feet along as the song started.

"No, Anna's my favorite," Camila answered, "What about you?"

"I like Olaf best," Lori said, "Momma likes Elsa."

"Really?" Camila asked, looking at Lauren incredulously and shaking her head, "She's not the best."

"Give the girl a break, she had a lot of pressure on her," Lauren said, smirking at Camila and making her laugh.

Lauren let the soundtrack play as they rode to the park. When they arrived, Lauren went around to the trunk to pull out the stroller and bag. Camila opened the door nearest Lori's seat and began to unbuckle her. Lori craned her head around and looked a little panicked.

"Where's Mommy?" Lori asked.

"Don't worry, she's right in the back getting the stroller," Camila said, "Can I take you out of here?"

Lori nodded bashfully and let Camila pick her up. Camila took her into her arms and held her as she closed the car door. She walked to the back just as Lauren was finishing locking the stroller and hanging the bag off the back. Camila gently placed Lori in the seat and hooked her lap belt.

"Can we swing first?" Lori asked, sticking her head out the side and craning her neck to look at Lauren.

"If there's one open," Lauren answered.

They walked around the park's outer track until they arrived at the path to the playground. When they arrived, Lauren was relieved to see that there were swings available. The last thing she wanted was for Lori to have a tantrum in front of Camila just as their day was starting. Lauren took Lori from the stroller and placed her on one of the kiddie swings, locking down the bar in front of her. She stood behind and pushed her gently.

"Higher, Momma!" Lori squealed.

"Okay, let me get you going," Lauren answered, smiling and shaking her head at Camila, "She's a bit of a daredevil."

"I remember from the first day I saw you here with her," Camila said, chuckling, "She went headfirst off the bottom of the big slide."

Lauren giggled, "I had forgotten about that."

"I was like that as a kid," Camila said, "I wasn't afraid of anything." Camila remembered her parents always prodding her to be careful. Later, Eliza and Jeremiah would take on the same role. Camila recalled the day she told Eliza that she was picked to go to the space station and the mix of pride, joy and fear on her face. Camila took a deep breath.