Thread of Fate

Chapter 10: The Invitation

TWO DAYS LATER:

IN THE AIRPORT

**SUGGESTED SONG: "Landslide- Glee Version"

"Courage is like love; it needs hope to feed it."
-Marlene Dietrich

Camila watched Lauren in the distance for a moment while
Sofi stuck to her, hugging her tightly. It was finally time to say goodbye. Camila kissed Sofi's head lovingly while Dinah smiled at her next to her.

"I'm going to miss you, Kaki," Sofi told her, kissing her cheek lovingly.

"I'm going to miss you too, little one," Camila replied as she gently caressed her cheek. "But Milika, Gordon, and Regina are going to take very good care of you."

Her eyes met Dinah's parents who watched her with a smile as Regina sat on her older sister's lap.

"You're going to have a good time together with the tadpole," Dinah said sticking her tongue out at Regina who responded in kind.

"I don't want you to go away and leave me the same as Dad." Camila's eyes met Dinah's, who looked at her sadly.

"I'm never going to leave you alone" Camila hugged her deeply. "I will never allow anything to happen to you, I will always be with you."

"And we're going to bring you lots of things and photos from Japan," Dinah said, smiling, and Sofi returned her smile tenderly. Just like that beautiful doll, you have now.

Camila caressed Sofi's hair again and her gaze, unable to avoid it, went to Lauren who was talking to some people.
Lauren hadn't paid attention to her since she'd arrived. A day ago Sofi had received a doll similar to the one her mother had given her so long ago and she was sure that Lauren had sent it.

Camila remembered how her mother had worried that the doll would look good because she had bought it at a garage sale. She had made her a new dress and arranged it to be present for Sofi. Her little sister who adored her dolls and who had cried hugging the new doll, finally let "Molly" the doll her mother had given her rest on the pillow of her bed. Camila fondly remembered her mother and then she saw the doll that was accompanying Sofi at that moment and she sighed. That doll cost a lot of money and there was only one person capable of getting her address and sending an identical one. Only one person had seen her before. Her eyes searched for Lauren again and this time she was surprised when her eyes met hers.

Camila practically melted at that beautiful look. She liked Lauren so much and she didn't want to deny it anymore. And what she had done for her sister only made her heart slowly surrender to her. They were so beautiful that it hurt to watch her. And something had changed in her. She didn't yell at her, she didn't insult her as she did to everyone else. With her it was different.

Camila couldn't say she was kind or tender but she was different. At least with her, it was. Was it because she had seen that vulnerable side of her? Was it because she had seen how she left toys and clothes to the children in the orphanage? There was so much that she hid in those sad green eyes that Camila was dying to discover. If only she could get closer. Get to know her a little more. Kiss her.

For that reason, she politely declined Shay's invitation to dinner. Dinah had teased her for hours but she didn't want to disobey Lauren. Not because of her rules, but because she doesn't want to date anyone else, but a date with Lauren."

"Lauren is very pretty...isn't she?" Sofi asked softly and Camila looked away from those beautiful eyes to see her sister.

"She's the most beautiful woman in this world," Camila whispered, kissing her forehead tenderly. "After you, of course.." she smiled.