The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 18

"Tell me how it was!" Jessica demanded then lowered her voice. "This is your chance. And if you're thinking of giving me the vanilla version, don't."

They stared at each other until he broke eye contact and nodded grudgingly. "No sugar coating it but I think I'm going to let your mom tell you the beginning without me. I'll be back in a couple of minutes."

"Don't go, stay," Lauren protested. He shook his head and patted her hand reassuringly before getting up.

"If I stay, you'll feel like you have to watch what you say and that's not fair to anyone. Just give me a shout when you're done"

He walked out and Jessica waited patiently as Lauren gathered the courage to speak. She sat up straight and took a fortifying deep breath. The only sign of her nervousness was in her hands. She couldn't seem to keep them still.

Jessica had an idea of how her mother might be feeling because she was just as nervous. Her stomach was churning and her palms were damp, it took everything in her not to wipe them dry on her jeans. Even though she wanted the truth she feared that it might be more than she could handle.

"Your-" Lauren was about to say 'father' but she hastily corrected herself "James and I, come from prominent families back east. I grew up knowing what was expected of me, my parents-your grandparents wanted me to marry a man of their choosing-James. And before I turned twenty-one I ran away, James and I were friends and I just couldn't see me married to him."

"I sold all of the jewels I took with me and headed out west. I ended up in Montana" The memory of those first days had Lauren smiling wistfully "It was all such a culture shock, but I loved it. I got a job at a diner and I had this small house I was renting."

Lauren clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. "I met your father at the diner. He came in with a couple of friends and when I saw him, I swear it was like tunnel vision." Lauren smiled at her

"Later on he told me that it was the same for him. Nothing else mattered but being together. Honestly, when I think back on those days I realize that everything happened so fast. One day I'm living on my own, waitressing at a diner and the next month I'm engaged to a man I just met." Lauren shrugged sheepishly when she noticed the incredulous look Jessica was giving her. "We knew we loved each other, why waste time?"

The memories made Lauren feel restless, she got up and began to pace while rubbing her hands up and down her arms. When she felt that her emotions were back under enough control to speak, she turned and faced her daughter once again.

"The night after I gave birth to you, there was an attempt against your life. We don't know how he got in, all we know is that if Layla hadn't been staying with me while James went home to have some real rest," Lauren took a deep breath, "you would be dead."

Jessica sat up straight and her eyes flew wide open.

"You're right you know. About me," she clarified. "It was easy for me to give you up."