When You Least Expect It

Chapter 10

Elizabeth's pov:-

   We watched as Lily walked to her room in a rush, "What was that about?" Vee asked, "She's probably overwhelmed," I said guiltily. Vee raised one eyebrow, Shit! "What did you do?" I walked past her to our room and said, "Nothing. I just told her the danger of being alone in public, especially with the men still roaming around." She walked after me, "You scolded her, didn't you?"

   I walked to our walk-in closet while she sat on the bed, "You can't blame me for worrying about her safety." I said, putting on some sweatpants and a T-shirt, "Babe, I understand that you're worried, but there are other ways to show it." I got out and sat beside her, "I know that I made a mistake, and I've already apologized to her for it. That's why I think it's important to set some clear rules, so we can avoid this happening in the future." she nodded and took my hand in hers, "Okay, babe." She said and kissed my hand, "Lunch?" I asked, she nodded again with a smile.

   We were sat eating at the dining table when we heard faint cries coming from down the hallway. Vee and I exchanged concerned glances, "Lily." I said pushing my chair back and rushing to Lily's room, Vee right behind me. The closer we got the louder her cries got. I knocked a few times, and when she didn't say anything I pushed the door open.

   She's sleeping! I rushed to her side and sat, Vee stood on the other side. "Lily! Lily, baby." I said shaking her gently by her shoulder, she's crying around a pacifier, and she's wearing pjs with dinosaurs on it. She slept little and distressed, poor baby. after a few seconds, she woke up and sat straight. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. I cupped her face to get her attention, "Baby! Baby, it's just a dream." "Mama!" She said and threw her arms around my neck, My heart skipped a beat.

   I looked at Vee and she had a lopsided smile. I pulled Lily who has been crying in my neck by her armpits to cradle her on my lap, "Shh baby. I got you," I rocked us back and forth to soothe her. I looked at Vee again and asked her for a glass of water.

   Lily was crying her eyes out while I rocked her and rubbed her back, Vee returned after a minute with a glass of water in hand. I gently took Lily's pacifier out of her mouth and set it aside, then took the glass from Vee and helped Lily drink it.

She was looking between Vee and me with confusion, "You're okay, baby. Mama's got you" I said to see her reaction, she looked at me with wide innocent eyes, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see Vee had raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Vee sat beside me and stroked Lily's knee. She gently pushed the glass, and looked at the both of us for a long minute, "You Mama?" She asked, pointing a finger at me. I nodded with a smile. Then she pointed at Vee, "And you Mommy." Vee chuckled, "Yes, baby girl." She said as tears pricked at her eyes. Lily leaned her head on my chest with a contented sigh. "We'll need to talk to big Lily," Lily just nodded. Vee put one arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder.

Lily's pov:-

We sat on my bed for a while, until Ms.Gilmer asked me if I wanted to tell them about my nightmare, "It scary. bad people were mean to Lily." "Who's the bad people, baby?" I huffed with a frown, "The bad guys from my apartment, and Mom and stepdad." I said then looked at my fingers, "And also you. But you not bad!" I looked up at them to make sure they knew, then back down, "You were just mean," I said with a pout.

Ms.Cooper asked this time, "But you don't think we're mean, right?" I shook my head, "No! You really, really nice." They both smiled at my statement. "We should go back and finish our lunch," Mama said, Mama and Mommy. I need to talk to them.