“And now, one of the mothers
of the bride would like to say a few words.” Taylor, the chosen Emcee for the
evening announced as Demi stood behind her, an acoustic guitar clutched in her
hands. Everyone clapped as Taylor stepped aside and let Demi step up to the
mic, her nerves and emotions hitting overdrive as she locked eyes with her baby
girl, Camila, who was sitting at the head table in the most gorgeous white
dress imaginable with her bridesmaids and now-wife Lauren. It was a sight that
Demi never thought she’d see so soon, and to be honest it hadn’t even truly hit
her until that moment that her baby girl wasn’t her baby girl anymore. She was
Lauren’s now and that thought alone made a huge lump form in Demi’s throat.
“Okay, I’m going to try my best to get through this without
crying so I’m sorry in advance if that doesn’t work out.” Demi began, the sound
of laughter coming from the audience.
“First of all, welcome to the family Lauren. You know Selena,
Emory, Dylan and I love you to pieces and we couldn’t be happier that you’re
now officially part of the family.” Demi smiled wide at her new daughter-in-law
who couldn’t help but smile in return.
“Just make sure ‘mila doesn’t give you too much of a hard time,
if she does feel free to send her back to us.” More laughter erupted from the
audience.
“Camila, baby girl I’m just so happy for you. You’ve grown up
into such a beautiful, talented, amazing young woman who’s had a good head on
your shoulders and always fought for anything you’ve ever believed in. Even
though you and Lauren are starting this new chapter of your lives together
you’ll still be our little princess who decided using mommy’s eyeliner to draw
kitties and unicorns on the wall was a good idea when she was 3.” Demi laughed
with everyone as the lump in her throat seemed to grow bigger.
“I, um….there’s more I want to say but I figure like usual the
best way for me to express myself is through music so before I lose it, here’s
to the lovely brides.” Demi smiled to the two girls as she took her seat on a
stool Taylor had put beside her while she was giving her speech.
Look
at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and
each others face
So much in love your alone
in this place
Like there’s nobody else
in the world
I was
enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the
world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you
hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I’m not gonna stand in
your way
But I loved her first and
I held her first
And a place in my heart
will always be hers
From the first breath she
breathed
When she first smiled at
me
I knew the love of a
Mother runs deep
“1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.” Dr. Kennedy counted and as Demi let her
head fall back to the pillow yet again a loud cry filled the room.
“It’s a girl!” Dr. Kennedy announced as he suctioned the
newborns mouth and both Demi and Selena had tears in their eyes as Selena cut
the umbilical cord and the baby was whisked off to be checked over.
“You did amazing baby.” Selena said through tears as she gave
Demi a kiss.
“Where is she?” Demi asked, just barely getting the words out
she was so drained.
“They’re just checking her over, don’t worry.” Selena assured
her and about 5 minutes later their baby girl was brought over to them.
“7 pounds, 4 and a half ounces, 19 inches long and perfectly
healthy. Congratulations mommies.” Dr. Kennedy smiled as he handed the newborn
over to Demi. She was perfection; no other word described her more than that.
From her thick head of hair to her little toes there was not a single flaw that
could be seen on the newborn.
"Hey baby girl," Demi cooed, the newborn just barely
looking up at her with half opened eyes.
"We still haven’t decided a name," Selena reminded Demi.
"How about Camila?" Demi suggested.
"Why Camila?" Selena asked.
"Because it means perfect, and that’s exactly what she
is," Demi replied. There was no other words said between the two, she was
a Camila.
And
I prayed that she’d find you someday
But it still hard to give
her away
I loved her first
How could that beautiful
women with you
Be the same freckle face
kid that I knew?
The one that I read all
those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all
those nights?
“Momma can we wead dis one?” a 3 year old Camila asked her
mother, holding up her copy of Cinderella with the biggest puppy dog eyes she
could pull off.
“Okay, let’s get tucked into bed first,” Demi replied and no
other words were needed as Camila ran up to her room and jumped into her bed,
grabbing her favourite stuffed dragon, Dani, as she crawled under her covers
and cuddled close into Demi.
“Okay…once upon a time in a land far away, lived a beautiful
young girl and her widowed father…”
Demi read her daughter her most favourite story until all she
heard were light snores coming from the 3 year old who now had Dani tucked
under her arms and her thump propped in her mouth, sucking on it as she lay
there sound asleep.
“Night, Princess,” Demi said, sliding out of the bed and giving
her daughter a kiss on her forehead before turning on Camila’s puppy nightlight
and heading downstairs.
And
I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of
time
“LoLo, stoooop!” Demi heard her 16 year old daughters giggling
voice coming from outside. Doing her best to be discreet Demi got up from her
spot on the couch and peeked through the slits on the blinds, making sure no
one could see her. She couldn’t see all that well but she did manage to see her
daughter and another girl now on the front lawn, the girl now having pinned
Camila to the ground and ticking her.
“Lo-haha-stoooooop!” Camila shrieked.
The girl, who she soon learned was named Lauren, finally stopped
tickling Camila and got up from the ground, but not before giving her a quick
kiss and offering to help her up.The look Lauren was giving Camila was one Demi
knew all too well. It was the same look she gave Selena at that age, and the
look she still gave her now.
And in that moment, as the girls walked up to the doorstep
with their hands laced together, that’s when Demi started to feel it
Her baby girl slipping right out of her fingers
But
I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart
will always be hers
From the first breath she
breathed
When she first smiled at
me
I knew the love of a
Mother runs deep
And I prayed that she’d
find you someday
But it’s still hard to
give her away
I loved her first
“Hey, guys,” Selena smiled as Camila and Lauren’s faces appeared
on the computer screen. Lauren and Camila were in their 2nd and 3rd year of college now, both
living together in New York in a small apartment. Since Selena and Demi were
still in LA, Camila promised they’d still have regular skype chats at least
once a week. This was one of the few times Lauren had joined in on the chat so
Selena was caught a little off guard but nonetheless pleased to see her
daughters girlfriend.
“Hey, what’s up?” Camila asked.
“Nothing, your mom’s just putting Emory and Dylan to sleep,”
Selena replied, Camila grinning at the mention of her younger brother and
sister.
“Okay, well tell her to hurry cause we got something to tell
you!” Camila said.
“You’ve got something to what?” Demi asked coming into the
computer room and closing the door as to not wake up Emory and Dylan.
“Oh, hey ma!” Camila smiled giving a small wave to her
mom.
“Hey, baby girl. So what were you saying?”
“Okay, so Lauren and I have something to tell you guys,” Camila
began.
“And just so you know you’re finding out even before Lauren’s
parent’s,”
“Finding out about what?!” Demi asked. Camila finally let go of
Lauren’s hand and showed her hand to the camera, revealing a ring on her
finger.
“WE’RE ENGAGED!” Camila replied, a noticeable shrill to her
voice and a huge grin on Lauren’s face.
“Oh my god! Congratulations!” Selena exclaimed, tears coming to
her and Demi’s eyes. Demi was rendered speechless, but a large smile still came
onto her face.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Demi finally spoke up with an
obvious catch in her throat trying to keep the tears in.
Her little girl really wasn’t her little girl anymore.
From
the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at
me
I knew the love of a
Mother runs deep
Someday you might know
what I’m going through
When a miracle smiles up
at you
I loved her first
Tears glistened in Demi’s eyes as well as Camila’s the second
Demi struck the last chord on her guitar, all of the guests immediately
breaking into applause as Camila ran up and hugged her mother.
“I love you,” Camila said, just barely getting the words out
without her voice cracking.
“I love you too, baby girl,” Demi said, giving Camila a kiss on
her temple. As Camila wiped her tears after breaking the hug with her mom,
Lauren came over and gave Demi a hug as well.
“Take good care of her,” Demi said, wrapping Lauren in a tight
hug.
“I promise I will,” Lauren replied.
And 2 years later, Lauren held her and Camila’s baby girl for
the very first time, finally realizing just what Demi was talking about
