They Belong Together

Chapter 3

Walking around with a toddler as young as she was with no ring on her finger proved to be embarrassing.

Eda received disgusted glares and heard uncomfortable whispering every time she passed by someone. Though Ellie was as happy as could be.

She reached and pointed at everything colorful or smelled sweet. Eda couldn't help but chuckle.

"Okay, so what do I feed a toddler?" Eda asked, looking over at Lilith who was walking next to her. "Well this website for new parents says, mostly protein, and dairy for growth"

Eda looked down at Ellie who was sitting in the shopping cart. Ellie was smaller than she was supposed to be. She was far too thin for her age to be healthy.

"Protein it is, then," Eda sighed.

Though Eda never expected shopping for one child would be so expensive, her heart and debit card nearly dropped when the cashier said her price aloud.

"Your total is 2567 dollars and 69 cents"

The expression on Eda's face showed pure horror and question.

The small snicker from her older sister didn't make it any better, but seeing Ellie looking through everything, with a beaming smile.

Not only just food but also new toys and clothes. Not to mention a fucking 100-pack of bubbles she kept grabbing at, and Eda didn't have the heart to say no.

Regardless of the shock, she swiped her debit card with one thought and one thought only.

Goodbye, money...

Lilith couldn't hold in her amusement, the look on Eda's face while she stared at the receipt. "Welcome to parenthood, Edalyn," Lilith said in a teasing tone as she got into the car. "Shut up" She replied, before doing the same.

Ellie looked at Eda happily, though decided to sit back in the new yellow car seat because Lilith said that was a law, and she had to.

Eda sighed once she got Into Lilith's car, looking back at Ellie who was fast asleep.

Lilith looked through her rearview mirror before turning to her sister. "Where did you find that girl?" Lilith asked.

It was obvious to anyone she was malnourished and had gone through some kind of abuse.

A regular toddler wouldn't be amazed by a grocery store, or overly happy to eat something.

"I found her in a ditch... Ony way home the other day," Eda explained, remembering the shock from seeing her in the mud and crying her eyes out.

"Any trace of her parents?"

Eda shook her head, "they left a note in her bag, but they want nothing to do with her.." She explained

Lilith sighed; as a lawyer, she's seen firsthand how easily a parent will try and get rid of a child, doing things virtually illegal to get out of child support or even just parenting in general.

"You have your work cut out for you then," Lilith said, only receiving a worried glance in return.

"do you think I can do it?"

The question came as a surprise to Lilith but ultimately didn't stop her from answering honestly. "Honestly, not really"

Eda was shocked and a little hurt by this. "But I'm open to you proving me wrong"

Lilith glanced at her sister's confused expression. "Oh, come on, don't look at me like that; think about it from my perspective. You were so reckless and immature, blew your savings on useless trinkets and subscriptions, not to mention you were nearly never home. I haven't seen you in 5 years, and find out your doing foot porn for Income.  Does that sound like a decent parent to you?"

Eda looked down, beginning to feel guilty that Lilith was right.  She isn't the most qualified person to raise a kid, but she was willing to try.

"Like I said, I'm open to you proving me wrong; in fact, I encourage i,t," Lilith said with a small smirk. 

Eda scoffed. "Then I will," Eda feeds her arms, a smirk of her growing.

Sorry it's short. I'm sick and dying. (Not really)

Also there's a strange white van outside my house so I have to go through the back part of my neighbor hood to get home.

Being 16 isn't fun