Lovely Not Delilah

Chapter 1

The station couldn't possibly be in the worst conditions. Flickering light bulbs, floors littered with trash were just a tip as weary-looking faces sat on its cold benches. It wasn't uncommon how hushed it was so early in the day with just a hand full waiting patiently for the morning train.

"Are you cold my dear?" Maya asked her daughter.

"A little but I'll manage," Lovely replied forcing a smile to save her mother the worry.

"Oh! You poor thing I'm sorry. We didn't have enough time to pack; I'll make you a hot cup of cocoa when getting to your uncle's."

"Mom I'm fine, okay? You can stop treating me like I'm 12 now, thanks," she retorted with a little chuckle.

Just then their brief moment was interrupted by the whistling train which came to a halt shortly.

"All onboard, Phoenix through Willcox." the conductor bellowed emphatically.

"Come along now, that's us," Maya said sounding a bit edgy as she struggled with their luggage.

They got on and managed to stay on their feet holding on to the railings till they secured sits and their belongings safely loaded. Maya let off a sigh as she settled in, and in no time, was lost in a dystopia of her own making. Lovely sat closely, watching her mom drift away in her thoughts. She had become really worried over her mom's increasingly frequent habit.

It had been about two months since officers from the US treasury had arrested her dad at the table and denied bail on counts of federal conspiracy and several financial crimes. How that was remotely possible was beyond her, still astounded. His trial was so swift that in a few weeks he was found guilty and to serve 15 years. Lovely refused to believe that her dad was guilty even with the mountain of evidence against him at the hearings. This had to be one big unfortunate mix-up she told herself, refusing to believe what most did.

With all their assets frozen and house seized they were forced to go stay at her uncle's with very few options. Her dad's appeal was only a couple of months away with her mom hoping he would be set free but lovely knew better, it would be a reduced sentence at best.

"Next stop Willcox!" The conductor announced striding along the pathway of the now receding train.

Willcox was a five hours train ride from Phoenix. It was a town where everyone knew everyone with privacy a thing of fiction. One could get robbed of a Penny the night before and the entire town would have heard by dawn but fortunately, nothing of higher stakes ever did happen. She had visited her uncle the Priest for a couple of weeks some summers ago and she couldn't decide what she disliked more, the unending compliments from the elderly locals or the constant teasing from her peers.

Lovely didn't fancy most during her short time there, all except sweet Ashley, a choir girl around her age whom she had grown quite fond of. They had bonded over similar taste in music after one of Uncle Billy's uplifting sermons and their friendship blossomed till, she had to return to the city.

But would things be different now she wondered, it had been ages since then and she wouldn't be surprised the slightest if Ashley didn't quite remember her.

The journey to Willcox seemed for evermore but alas the train began to slow down, letting off loud whistles and hot gushes of steam before coming to a final halt.

"Willcox to Safford!" one of the conductors yelled.

Lovely quickly woke her mom who had fallen asleep a while after providing their tickets to a conductor. With all that was going on, her mom needed all the rest she could get.

"Wake up mom, we're here." lovely said, tapping her by the shoulder.

Maya jolted in a trivial attempt to seem awake all along.

"Oh dear, get the bags, will you?" she said

They alighted with a few others, letting off mixed sighs of relief and uncertainty. None of them wanted to be here if it were up to choose. For lovely the town had not changed much over the last few years. The town was brimming with aging yet still decent one-storied houses that had broad yards, with each home distant from the next and barely any taller or complex architecture just like she had remembered.

Maya made a quick call on a payphone at the train stop as they sat patiently. After a few minutes, a dusty saloon car drove and parked a few feet from where they had sat and a familiar face showed up putting their weary hearts to rest. It was her uncle.

"Oh, uncle! What bloody took you so long?" She echoed in excitement running to embrace her once ever distant uncle.

"Language, girl!" Maya cautioned.

"Sorry ladies I wasn't expecting your train to arrive so soon," Billy said with a smile on his face as Lovely's arms retreated.

"We almost started to worry," her mom muttered walking towards Billy and gave a casual hug.

"Alright, let's be on our way, you both must be pretty exhausted." Billy loaded their luggage in the booth and off they went.

Lovely sat behind staring through the window and leaving the two adults in front to catch up. She watched as houses appeared and fly distant as they drove past, knowing her world wasn't going to be the same; her days of being a carefree spoilt city Las was fleeting like the rays of a setting sun. This was an unfortunate tale of a rich city girl who turned into a struggling small-town lass.

Uncle Billy didn't seem to change, much like his little town. She gazed at him as he conversed with her mom in such high spirit, though he looked darker, the harsh climate must have given him a forced tan, she reasoned. A fairly built man, blonde hair, dark eyes, and although his nose was slightly crooked, he was very attractive, a little too attractive to be a man of the cloth the young maidens of the town would often say, disheartened. According to her dad, Uncle Billy was a veteran who fought in the Afghan war, now a priest fighting with words in place of lead. Of course, she never could ask him about his time in the war. That would be uncultured.

After a seamless drive, they arrived at the typical Midwestern house.it wasn't huge but well enough embellished with light-coloured flowers and a well-cut lawn. The chapel was only a few yards across.

Maya and Lovely entered the spacious living room with their bags and Uncle Billy helping closely behind. He had been a bachelor for far too long and it showed.

"Alright ladies, let's get you settled in. I'll take you to your rooms now."

Up the stairs they went and in very little time Lovely found herself in the lonesome embrace of her warm and fairly furnished room though her mom's room was only a stone throw away. It was a little dark but it's wasn't like she could complain. She wondered who had last slept in; surely not she for it had been years since she was here. Uncle Billy did always have an itch to help out the local orphanage.

Lovely had a quick bath and hurried down to find the two adults talking in a low tone but stopped when they noticed her presence.

"Ah my niece, as breathtaking as always, you sure are back to give these young lads trouble," Billy said with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"Like I'll ever have time for boy drama," Lovely abruptly said in protest as she strode off pretending to be in search of anything by the countertop even though her uncle's complement did warm her heart.

Billy couldn't help but laugh hysterically and her mother soon joined in with light chuckles.

"Whatever you say, dear, what would you ladies fancy for lunch? I do a little cooking now, " he aired seeming rather proud.

Eggs on bacon we'll have it's a little early for any serious cooking, Maya said. "Maybe with toasts too,

Lovely made her way to the front porch, sitting on a wrought iron chair. It was a clear sunny day, not too hot, as the chirping of songbirds emanating from all around. If there was anything she fancied about this little Town was its tranquil aura. She sat gazing at nothing in particular, simply in the sweet embrace of a reverie.

She was soon joined by Uncle Billy leaving her mom to finish up on the little cooking that was left.

"How are you holding up my dear?" He said keeping a more serious face that made her heart sink.

"Uncle I'm fine," she gasped.

Billy walked closer to lovely and rested his palm gently on her shoulder. "It's okay not to be," he said.

"Uncle! I told you I'm okay," she contested. "I'm just a little worried about mom," Lovely sighed. She could now see the concern in her uncle's eyes.

"She'll be fine, she's toughest than she looks," he said, seeming so assured.

"I'm sure a bit of normalcy is what you need, we'll get you enrolled to Willcox high in no time; I'm friends with the headmaster. C'mon let's go inside, the table should be all set by now."

*****

The allure of the charming fall breeze was very well welcomed as it signalled the end of the summer break for Ashley and her Peers but the thought of her best friend really had turned her day sore. The more she thought of the million and one things that could have happened to her, the more she wanted to stay in bed wrapped up within the sheets and sob but that wouldn't be as she heard a pound on the door vanishing her self-made Neverland. It was her mom of course, who else?

"Wake up Ashley, I can't believe you're still in bed, you'll be late on your first day back!" The voice yelled, accompanied by hurried steps down the stairs.

As she sluggishly got out of bed, memories she has made with her friends flooded her mind putting her in a worse mood, she had spent half her summer break making unforgettable memories with Delilah and the other half putting up missing person's posters of her with the rest of her friends, Charlie, Marcus and her boyfriend Evans, the charmer who won her heart a while back. She had no clue what an effect his charms had on her till it was too late. Just the thought of him made Ashley giggle as the warm showers hit a pale skin but this felt wrong, a close friend just got missing.

It had been a week since Delilah was reported missing with the police having no leads yet. They had spent the evening of her disappearance at the water park having a good splash and they all had returned home afterward or so it seemed. Could she have run away? Anyone remotely close to Delilah knew she had troubles with her grandpa or had she been kidnapped? A thought she quickly dismissed.

This was Willcox and not Miami; this was a lovely peaceful little town. Besides they would have gotten a call from her captors by now demanding a ransom if it were so.

She got out of the bath and started to dry herself on the fluffy towel, got dressed, and hastened to the table where her younger sister sat already demolishing her heap of pancakes.

"Your manners go out the windows at the tables, don't they Audrey? She said mockingly but got no response from her mouth-filled sister.

"Would you care for some eggs dear?" Her mom Katelyn said from the kitchen, a little overwhelmed by the heat of the stoves and the morning's ritual. Being a single mother was tiresome.

"Shoot! I gotta go now mom or I'm going to run late." Ashley said abruptly.

"Alright dear, love you."

"Love you too mum," she said as she grabbed her backpack and disappeared through the door.

Chapter 2

Ashley walked along the hallway shooting forced smiles and waves to friends she had not seen in a while in an attempt to hide her ill mood. Some stopped to exchange pleasantries and it felt like the small talks would never end with everyone a little uneasy and careful not to mention too much about Delilah, figuring that would upset her, an endless summer with a lot to catch up on but all that was on people's lips were whispers of Delilah and cheap rumors when they were certain she was too far off to hear. Everyone seemed in high spirit and elated which flared her up.

"How could they be," she breathed agitatedly as she walked to her locker.

The lock combination she struggled to recall at first but did, putting some content of her backpack in. Less than an hour back in school and she was already feeling exhausted, wishing she could skip school, maybe put out more posters or see Lilah's Grandma. What hell she must be in, she thought.

It all vanished as she heard a familiar voice.

"Lady Ashley cared to grace us with her presence," Evans teased resting a hand against a locker with an inviting smirk on his well-carved face.

Her eyes broadened with excitement and they were in each other's arms almost immediately giggling. It was her Lover.

"Really? Isn't it too early for your magnified compliments?" She said blushing after catching her breath.

"It's not magnified if it's true," he grinned; now stroking her glossy hair, dark as the night.

"Not too early for lovemaking it seems," A voice said. It was Marcus and Charlie closely behind, her circle was complete, almost.

"Boys!" Ashley exclaimed, ecstatic to see her best friends.

"So, any news about Lilah?" Marcus asked with the bunch now settled, hoping for a response from anyone but got deafening sighs and long faces instead.

"Nothing?" he snapped in frustration. "This doesn't make any sense, the sheriff is treating this like another teen runaway, why on earth would she run?" Marcus wondered aloud, "They should be organizing search parties and--"

"But you heard from her grandparents, her car's missing too and we all know how she talked about running off to California and becoming a pop star." Charles cutting in. "Give it a couple more days, I'm sure she'll turn up"

"Yes, she fantasized about silly dreams like that but she's not dumb enough to go through with it" Ashley objected, skimming through their faces for any sign of support.

"Of course, not but even if she is, she must have told someone, you maybe, with a subtle hint perhaps." Evans blurted, setting his gaze on Ashley, she was Delilah's best friend.

"What? Do you think if I had a clue, she took skipping town as a serious alternative I wouldn't have told the sheriff or her grannie now?" Ashley huffed, thrown aback by her boyfriend's comment as she severed her waist from his touch.

The bell went off before Evans could defend himself signaling the end of their gradually escalating discussion and the beginning of first period forcing the bunch to head for class.

They all hurriedly took to their sits with their teacher Mr. Shelby already on the board scribbling.

"So much for easing into the semester," Ashley muttered as she took her note out of her backpack.

"Settle down now, kids, from the gleam on your faces, you all had a fun summer I take it?" Mr. Shelby said addressing his students.

"So fun, crashing a car into a tree was like a walk in the park, isn't that right Simon? He continued now starring at a puny kid seated in front triggering the class to a frenzy as they giggled and conversed between each other in low tones.

"What? It happens to the best of us." Simon retorted cheerfully and an uproar from his peers followed.

"Pipe down now, you've had your fun," Mr. Shelby said with a hint of composure when the cheer was seeming to die out. A young attractive man of Irish descent he was and could easily be teaching anywhere in the state, why he chose Willcox high had always been a thing of question.

"We have a new student who will be joining us from Phoenix, please give a warm Willcox welcome to Miss Wilson."

The attention of the entire class drew to a single direction. The sight seemed to stir up murmurs from the class as they did the welcome ritual, unenthusiastically.

Ashley turned and was shook to her core, who was this figure standing some yards away? She swallowed dryly, unable to wet her parched throat as her eyes widened.

She gasped, blonde hair, Skin pale as though it had never felt the warmth of the sun, eyes the color of a midwinter sky accompanied with a slender structure, Delilah? Could it be?

"No, it wasn't," she grunted. This similar figure was that of someone familiar but her mind couldn't place a finger on it.

"Hi everyone, I'm Lovely Wilson, a pleasure meeting you all" in a soothing voice.

Lovely smiled, glancing around the room focusing on no one in particular then gracefully sat.

"It's Lovely, my one-time summer friend, she thought now able to recall the familiar face. She really had changed, looking a lot like her missing half. Ashley was elated to see her old-time friend no doubt but felt a little let down; she really had thought it was Miraculously Delilah. So did most of the class.

Lovely felt uncomfortable with the scrutinizing gazes panned on her but could do nothing other than seeming focused on the teacher's lecture, a futile attempt to shake it off.

"Lovely, is that really you?" whispered a voice.

She turned in its direction and locked eyes with a friendly face; it was sweet Ashley. She nodded as they exchanged heartwarming smiles across. What had brought city girl lovely to school here at Willcox high, Ashley wondered. Nothing pleasant, she concluded.

The bell went off for recess and most headed for the cafeteria and so did Lovely.

She didn't get a different treatment as she walked along the hallway, the same Icy stares and whispers under their breath.

"Again, with this?" she muttered rather assertively as she made her way with her lunch to a bench away from everyone else. The stern looks were starting to get on her nerves.

It didn't take long before she was joined by Ashley and her friends.

"Hey Lovely, mind if we join?" Ashley inquired heartily.

"Oh, not at all," Lovely said sharply, flashing an inviting smile across.

"Okay, these are my friends Marcus and, Charlie and this blockhead over here is Evans, my boyfriend." She gestured as they all sat. She was still a little pissed at him for his comment earlier.

Lovely's gaze met with Marcuss; she scanned his profile all too delicately. He looked like the type of person to stare at his own reflection for hours before getting in the showers.

A chiseled jawline and hollow cheeks on a lightly tanned diamond-shaped face with a few dark strands that dropped perfectly above his left brow and beneath them were his deep-set dark eyes.

She was drawn away from privy scrutiny by the other handsome lad.

"Ashley, why didn't you tell us you had such a beauty as a friend, must be one of your little secrets I presume?" Charlie grinned with his eyes fixed on lovely.

Lovely felt a rush as their eyes met. She really wasn't the type to blush over cheap compliments but anything other than awkward gawks were a breath of fresh air at this point.

"Hi, I'm Charlie, it's lovely meeting you" he emphasized amusingly.

"He doesn't know how of a cliché that pick-up line had been," she thought managing to squeeze a light giggle not to seem rather unfriendly.

"She knows your name already dummy; I literally just introduced you like a minute ago, "Ashley said rolling her eyes. They made it too obvious they were into each other, she thought

"And if you must know I haven't seen lovely in years. What happened? You never came back to visit?" Ashley questioned with a visible show of concern in her tone.

"I really can't give you a straight-up reason, I guess you could say I got caught up with life in the city and never really found the chance" Which was true for the most part.

"But things are different now, which explains why I'm here at Willcox high," Lovely said, unwilling to share the details of her sad decline in front of new friends. Not a great first impression, she figured.

"You really have changed, for a second there, I thought you were--"Ashley blurted but now held her tongue.

"You thought I was who?" Lovely probed. She glanced around the table with her brows drawn closer. She could sense the deafening tension this question had brought, their downcast gaze said too much.

"A friend, Delilah; Marcus's girlfriend," Ashley said breaking the awkward pause. "She's being missing for a while now; no one knows where she is."

"And you look a lot like her I must say," Marcus declared, his face sunken.

Weeks after a girl goes missing another who looks a lot like her If she were twice as pretty moves into town. How profound, Charlie thought.

Lovely's heart stumbled over its own rhythm; she was short of words. This explained the stares and faint talks she had grown acquainted with all morning.

"I do? Well, that's a bit odd," Lovely gasped as she smiled rather awkwardly. She was beguiled by this new revelation but chose not to ask more, the tension around this topic was immersed.

"We should go back to the water park and search for--I don't know clues?" Marcus suggested.

"And you think the sheriff hasn't already done that? They still came up with nothing." Evans objected.

"You all are really being hysterical; I told you she's going to turn up any day now, probably in some run-down hood in a city, let's all just try to relax." Charlie chimed. "My parents are hosting a fundraiser for the orphanage at the weekend, why don't we take advantage and try to cool off. Besides, it's for the children?"

Charlie's suggestion didn't sound so bad, they all needed a break from the Lilah saga, though it felt wrong none objected, a little relieved by his words.

"You should come too," he said, gaze now on Lovely.

"I don't know. I'll have to ask my mom first."

"Yeah, you do that." Charlie grinned as the boys chuckled softly, now paying more attention to their lunch.

Ashley turned to lovely who did not know what their teasing meant

"I planned to visit Mrs. Abrams, Lilah's grandma after school hours. Wanna tag along? We could catch up along the way."

"Sure, why not," Lovely uttered a little hesitant. "Go see a lady whose missing granddaughter looks a lot like me. Should be thrilling," She added but only in her head.

Chapter 3

A drama-filled first day it was but alas it was over. Lovely strode home in the company of her newfound acquaintances, too soon to call friends she reasoned. Ashley walking quite closely with Evans, as did Charlie to lovely leaving Marcus who didn't seem to mind.

After some minutes of ambling, the boys were taking a different road, leaving lovely in the company of Ashley. As they waved goodbye the girls glanced at each other and burst into a faint giggle, realizing they were finally alone.

Lovely stared at Marcus's striking profile as it became distant. Out of the three, Ashley only managed to bag the least eye-catching.

Evans was a colored chap. Jovial and lanky and whatever he lacked in physique, he made up for it with a witty sense of humor. Ashley probably laughed away her heart.

"Jeez, I was starting to think they planned to escort us all the way" Lovely jested.

"Boys will be boys and it's obvious you intrigue a certain someone whose name needs no mention." Ashley teased.

"Who? Charlie?" She retorted "C'mon we just met, its pretty normal to be I'm the new girl," she argued, trying to convince Ashley but both knew that wasn't all there was.

"I still have a few questions by the way," Lovely uttered in an effort to change the subject. "You can understand I'm pretty shaken up by the sudden discovery that a girl that looks exactly like me is missing, how is she like?"

Ashley sighed.

"Where do I start? Delilah is my best friend. We've been close since our first day in high school. She's got a beautiful singing voice, always talked about moving to California to be a pop star; she is also part of the church's choir too."

"Really?" Lovely gasped.

"Yeah," Ashley answered. "Delilah is kind-hearted and loved by everyone, that's why I'm finding it hard to believe anyone would want to hurt her. And she wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye. I'm sure about that too." She paused to look at her friend. "Lovely I'm really glad you're here, the past few weeks have been traumatic for me."

"It sure has," Lovely responded weakly with a distance in her eyes. Ashley couldn't understand her sudden mood swing.

"What's wrong? Does it have to do with why you had to move to Willcox?"

As they went, Lovely explained the difficult spot her family was in. They really were in troubled waters, barely hanging on. Ashley could do nothing but try to comfort her disheartened friend. Why did she say such like she was the only one with problems, she pondered, noting how ignorant her earlier remark was.

Lovely tried to brush off her melancholy as Ashley announced Delilah's home was close. The last thing she needed was any more unsolicited pity. They walked past the picket fence and hedge of flowering shrubs that looked as though they had not been trimmed for a while with a lawn that wasn't any different.

Ashley dinged the doorbell but it seemed as though no one was home till they heard a friendly voice coming from inside.

"Good heavens, I'm coming," The voice dragged weakly. This little gesture made their gaze meet with alike thoughts they couldn't say. The Abrams were the only figure in Delilah's life after her mom passed away giving birth to Alex, her stepbrother with her dad never in the picture.

"So have you heard from any of your friends back in the city?" Ashley asked rather meekly

"What friends?" those entitled brats had cut her off the minute her spiral began. Hanging with her was social suicide one had commented.

"Lilah!" A little greasy kid echoed, pacing out as Mrs. Abrams creaked open the door and hugged lovely's knees before she could utter another word. She couldn't decide what to say, looking to Ashley, a silent cry for help. It dawned on her now, making lovely tag along wasn't particularly her best idea.

"Li-Lilah, is that you darling?" Mrs. Abrams stuttered as she adjusted her glasses.

"No Mrs. Abrams, this is lovely, a friend from school, she's new in town." Ashley interrupted with a smile intended to make the moment any less awkward. Lovely who struggled to free herself from Alex's embrace followed suit.

"Oh, is that so? Well, it's nice to meet you, dear." She said in Lovely's direction with a hint of disappointment. "Well don't just stand there, do come in." She urged, opening her door a little wider.

The girls walked in with Alex, held by his hand. This decent home was rightly Illuminated In such a way that heightened the aesthetics of artworks and antiques that were all around giving them a glossy effect. Being married to an Arts professor did have its perks. Ashley looked at her friend and wasn't surprised by the dazzled look on her face. You really get that look only the first few hundred times, she thought.

"How has Willcox been treating you, fairly I hope?" She continued. "This old town isn't what it used to be.

"It's being delightful so far Ma'am" lovely purred.

"Ashley It's you, nice of you to drop by." Mr. Abrams squeezed out, his hand resting on the stair knob after being forced down by the harmless muddle at the door. He was an old well-built chap, brisk for his age it would seem.

"I see you brought a friend, Lovely, is it? He continued more welcoming this time; he had been listening.

"Yes sir, delighted to meet you." She blurted.

"I wish we could have met under simpler circumstances." He sighed, now walking away from them.

"Any News on Lilah?" Ashley inquired.

"None I'm afraid, I wish I had better news, I'm on my way to meet with the sheriff." He announced as he wore a coat. Lovely could feel the energy of the room hit a decline. "Do make your selves at home." He uttered, before walking out the door.

"Well girls that leaves you with me. What can I get you?" Mrs. Abrams said turning away.

"Oh, thank you ma'am but we won't be staying long, no need go through the trouble on our behalf." Ashley insisted.

She did not appear to have heard Ashley or if she had, she took no notice as she whisked off to the kitchen in a fret. She was a plump, rosy, and comfortable-looking old lady with silver hair but anyone with a good pair of eyes could tell she was emotionally wrecked.

"Mind if we check out Delilah's room, while we wait?"

"The sheriff already did; I wonder what good that would do." Her voice cracked from the kitchen. She didn't object to their inauspicious venture, however.

They hurried up the stairs and made their way to Lilah's room both uncertain about what they were actually in search of. Laying by the nightstand was an object that caught Lovely's attention. It was a small framed picture of Delilah and her little brother Alex, posing close to the salty waters of the beach. It was like looking at one of her photos. The resemblance was too candid, almost bizarre even to Lovely.

"Uhm, Ash, what are you hoping to find up here?"

"I don't know, whatever can explain her disappearance. Evans mentioned something about a subtle hint I may have missed." She said frisking through Lilah's pillows.

Lovely could not see the point in this but helped anyway. Going through the wardrobe of a girl she had never met. Her day could not get any more bizarre, she thought.

After an hour of fruitless search, the girls were starting to give up.

"Ashley, Mrs. Abrams could be right, maybe there's nothing to find here." Lovely faltered. "At least you tried?"

"I guess I did," muttered Ashley.

"Perhaps the sheriff may have come up with something, we'll find out tomorrow," Lovely echoed trying to lift Ashley's spirit as they both were exiting the room.

"Wait! There's still one place we haven't gone through" gesturing to the trash can underneath the reading desk.

"Ashley, you can't possibly be--"

Off she went unfolding squeezed papers sheets and cuttings before lovely could finish.

Lovely sat on the bed starring around, waiting on detective Ashley to satisfy her curiosity. It looked as though the trash hadn't been taken out for quite some time, one venture she wasn't keen on exploring.

"Lovely come take a look at this," She retorted after a couple of minutes.

Lovely Jolted out of bed hoping a major clue had been found only to be made more confused.

"Look, this isn't Lilah's handwriting. What's this doing in here?"

"What are we looking at here? It's just a bunch of numbers and characters"

"I don't know but I think she-"

"Ashley it's pretty obvious we're getting desperate." She consoled cutting her off.

"Girls," They heard a distant call.

"Whatever you say," Ashley said under her breath, tucking the piece of paper under her jeans as they quickly put Lilah's room in order.

*****

Lovely strolled home along the sidewalk alone by herself. Ashley had gotten to her stop a few minutes ago with her new home in a distant view. She couldn't help but ruminate on the events of the day with Ashley digging through the trash being the highlight of it all. She giggled humored by the recall. She thought of the delightful brownies Mrs. Abrams had made earlier, wondering how anyone could pull off such a treat in such crippling conditions.

As Lovely approach the house, she noticed her mom and uncle chattering in front of a taxi and its driver loading bags in the truck.

"Lovely! Thank goodness you're here; I was starting to think I'd miss you." Maya said cupping her daughter's cheeks in her palms.

"Mom? What's happening, are we moving?" She echoed with panic in her voice.

"No dear, just me. I'm heading back to the city. Your father's appeal is in a few months and I need to be by his side, helping out his defense."

"And you couldn't have told me sooner? Way to go mom" forcing a chuckle.

"I'm sorry dear; there wasn't any easy way of telling you this. You'll be fine, you have your uncle here with you and I promise I'll call every day to check on you".

Lovely too in her feelings to say another word hugged her mom.

"We'll get through this, I promise," Maya whispered, as she kissed her daughter on the hair.

"I have to be off now or I'll miss the train." Maya released her daughter and highlighted the taxi and they were in motion almost immediately the door closed shut.

Lovely could barely hold back the tear in her eyes as she watched her mom speed off, feeling lonelier than ever. Was this feeling for the time being or had it come to stay?