"Lilly & Christina"
Summary: Everything has a reason… the younger years of sisters Lilly and Christina Rush.
Spoilers: Anything that has already been mentioned on the show can be here.
Disclaimer: You know that one: I don't own them.
Author's note: Reviews are very appreciated. Feel free to be really honest, I can take it. I'd welcome suggestions too.
I'm beginning with two chapters about Lilly's mom. I'm sorry if it's too descriptive and detailed. I promise more action in chapter 3 and on.
Chapter 1 – "A Cold Day in Philadelphia"
It was the worst winter in Philadelphia in the last 10 years. Ellen Rush was walking home after a day of work. Those cold days made her skin even paler that it already was. Her long, dark blond hair was in a ponytail, like she wore it everyday. Ellen's big brown eyes were shinier that they used to be, but it wasn't because she was happy. It was the effect of the tears that she was fighting against, since she left the department store where she worked as a saleswoman. She'd been laid off.
"The sales have been coming down more and more in last months," was the explanation from the department store manager, "we'll have to cut down on employees." Just like that, with no previous warning.
She tried to explain how much she needed that job. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Rush," was the only answer she got. She sighed, her heart was beating slowly, all the air she breathed wasn't enough for all the things that were coming to her mind at that moment.
She walked out of the store with her friend and co-worker – also laid off - Jane Martin. The wind was cold and it was starting to snow.
"Don't worry, Ellen. We'll find something else soon." Jane tried to cheer her up.
"Oh, Jane, let's be realistic. All stores and factories are firing people. We're not going to find anything."
"Come on! You can't think like that. You gotta have positive thinking."
Ellen laughs. "Yeah. I'd like to see you saying that if you a baby growing inside of you."
Jane is at first speechless. "Oh my God Ellen… this is great but… is Michael working now? Does he now about the baby?"
"No… he lost his job two weeks ago. And I don't think this is the best time to tell him that in 6 months we'll have a very expensive little human being living with us."
"Gosh, Ellen, I'd like to say I could help you, but I really can't. In 3 months behind on my house's rent."
"Don't worry. I'll figure something out." She said with a very sad smiled and turned away, to walk home.
As she walked, the cold wind against her skin, she started thinking. The last two years after she married Michael hadn't been easy. But they loved each other. It was such a strong and fulfilling love that made them forget all the problems they had. Times were hard and none of them could keep a job for more than 6 months, but they had each other.
And now they had this baby. She dreamt about this moment since she could remember. Holding her little baby in her arms, with Michael by her side, on their big house, the perfect American family… "why life never turns out the way we dream it?" She thought, as she arrived at the building she lived. It was a 4-floor building, an old construction, in very poor conditions. On the street, hookers and drug addicts shared the sidewalks. No parent would raise a kid in Kensington Avenue.
To be continued