Chapter 53

                                    

                                          
Lizzie's POV 
                          
Scarlett must notice Alexa's attention has shifted as she also looks up at me and then to Rose with a soft smile. There's a slight awkward tension in the room, not between us more just because we have a lot to talk about and not just Scarlett and I but Alexa too. 
                          
"I'll go and put sleeping beauty here down in Alexa's bed." I say as my arms start to get a little tired from holding Rose, I place her down on Alexa's bed carefully and tuck her in making a little pillow wall around her, I know she likes to roll around from past experience!
                          
I leave a little kiss on her head and go back to the kitchen, I walk straight up to Alexa and gently pull her to her feet our arms both immediately wrapping around each other. "I'm sorry" we both say at the same time, causing me to pull back and look at her confused. 
                          
"What? You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about sweetheart." I state pulling her close to me again, I feel so guilty for worrying her so much. "I am so sorry for scaring you, I never want to put you through that again I'm sorry." I apologise sincerely, the second Scarlett told me how upset she was my troubles were insignificant I just needed to comfort her. 
                          
"I just didn't know how to help you, I hated that you were upset and I couldn't do anything so I called aunt Scarlett." She mumbles against my chest, I look up at Scarlett and I can see the concern one her face she can't hide it from me, nor can I from her. We know each other too well. 
                          
"We promised we'd always be open and honest with each other and that's a promise I will never break." I tell Alexa as I pull away from our tight hold and get her to sit down back with Scarlett as I sit in front of them to explain my shit show of a day. 
                          
"My mother has been trying to call me for a few days" I start knowing deep down Alexa's going to blame herself, even though it isn't her fault. Scarlett is going to get angry she doesn't like my mom at the best of times but I hope she'll try to cover it for Alexa. "I haven't answered any of them because I knew exactly what she would say."
                          
"What would she say?" Alexa asks but reading her face she already knows and wants to hear it. I pause as her eyes fix on mine, how can I tell my daughter that my own mother is persistently trying to tell me I've made a mistake by adopting her, without absolutely crushing her. 
                          
"Alexa Jarnette is-" Scarlett starts but I stop her. "It's fine Scarlett, Alexa nothing of what she says is true okay. You are the best thing to ever happen to me and there is nothing that I would ever put above you." I state before taking a breath, I have to keep a stiff upper lip through this. 
                          
"She still thinks I made a mistake, she's never going to agree with the choice I made. It's the best thing I've ever done and I mean that." I say trying my best to reassure Alexa that this is not her fault and it's not going to change anything. 
                          
"You know when I went to the store, I saw Mrs Lee. She's a sweet lady who has worked there for years and I get along with her really well, I told her about you she can't wait to meet you." Alexa's facial expression doesn't really change as if she's taking in what I'm saying, Scar has a slight smile she knows that's a big deal to me. 
                          
"She's the first person outside of my immediate circle I've told about you Alexa, and it's not because I'm ashamed or want to hide you but I want to protect you! As I walked back to my car my mother was sat waiting for me."
                          
I feel myself getting upset again not in a way that I'm sad, I'm just so angry. "She had so many pathetic and honestly offensive excuses about why she was trying to help me. She is so stuck in her ways she genuinely believes it'll affect my career because I'm a single mom, and I've chosen to be." I can see Scarlett's face getting more and more angry again as her eyebrows raise at what I'm telling them.