SILENT LOVE , MILEVEN AU

4.

'thank you for the braids, baby,' el smiled when ilana and yvonne braided her front strands for the day.

"you're so pretty, mama," yvonne fell into her lap as el smiled. 'okay, is everyone ready? can we go?'

"all good!" ilana smiled and el got off the floor and grabbed her daughters backpacks.

'yvonne, stop jumping and put this on.' el said.

"but mama! i'm excited!" she squealed and jumped over to el who put the bag on her back.

once her daughters were settled, el held their hands and walked them downstairs to the car. el was glad she worked at a fast food store and served drinks at the club at the same time for a whole year to be able to afford three plane tickets, a car and this house.

of course the house was rented and the car wasn't that nice but it was good enough for now.

'ilana go in first.' el said as she crawled into the car and then el placed yvonne in her car seat.

"hi mama," yvonne tried to grab her attention and el smiled and kissed her hair. 'hi von,' she handed her a stuffed toy to play with as yvonne signed to her. 'thank you, mommy,'

el was so glad that there was someone back then in that group that could teach her and her daughters sign language.

and she was so glad someone slapped her awake and reminded her of the two daughters she didn't lose during that time.

'buckled in?' el asked ilana as she got into the drivers seat.

ilana nodded with a smile and el returned one before backing out of their driveway.

•••

ilana and yvonne sat in the staff rest room eating the food el bought for them on the way in case they weren't full.

considering it was saturday, ilana could be here to keep yvonne company.

"hey could you organise these?" mike came in with a basket of things.

el nodded and accepted the basket before walking to one of the aisles to start.

she didn't know anything in that basket so she had to take them all out one by one and match them up.

"need help?" ilana appeared behind her and el turned and shook her head. 'i'm okay, stay with your sister. let her nap if she needs to.'

"she doesn't even do anything and she naps. why can't i nap?" ilana huffed and pouted as el caressed her face. 'you can nap. never said you couldn't, baby.'

"but school!" she whined.

el kissed her cheek in response. 'go stay with your sister. i can see her pouting by the door waiting already.'

ilana turned and saw yvonne peeking through the small gap between the door with a pout.

ilana giggled quietly and nodded before running back to yvonne and picking her up into her arms.

hearing yvonne's happy squeal, el smiled and turned back to do her organising.

"hi, how much is this?" someone asked as she looked up.

"el?"

el smiled and stood as she looked at joyce with a wave.

"oh my god," joyce hugged her tightly, "what— how? where did you go? oh christ,"

el pulled back, pointing her mouth and shaking her head.

"oh honey," joyce held her face as el nodded but told her to follow her to find her whiteboard.