Strolling through Walford central station, Lily felt like she was on top of the world. All her hopes and dreams rested in this quaint little town, her life was about to change in ways she had only ever imagined.
Breathlessly walking through Walford market, she had no idea where she was going or where she was going to stay. After what seemed like an age, repeatedly making her way around the market, eyeing up locals trying to see if any faces resembled her mothers. She didn't even have a name to go by.
Parking herself on Arthurs bench, she sighed to herself, this wasn't in her plan. In her head, she had a place to stay and an idea of action. Lily wished she hadn't just upped sticks and vanished, but she knew if hadn't left then, she would spend the next few years wishing she had.
"Hi there, I'm just wondering if you're lost perhaps" a small thin dark haired lady said planting herself beside Lily. "No I'm ok, I'm just new" Lily replied with a little smile. "It's just I noticed you walking through the market a few times, I saw you from my flower stall. I'm Jean Slater by the way" Jean said holding her hand out for Lily to shake.
Lily shook awkwardly and felt a feeling of strangeness towards this stranger, Jean offered her a cup of tea in the cafe to make her feel welcome. Reluctantly Lily lifted her stuff and followed introducing herself along the way. Sipping over the brown warm liquid, Lily just knew she was about to be harangued by a series of questions.
"So" Jean smiled "where are you staying?" thinking about her answer for a few seconds, Lily answered "I'm here to find my mum, she doesn't know I'm here yet, so I guess I haven't really thought about what I'm going to do or where she is, I just don't know where she is. I don't even know her name".
Jean looked puzzled which is how she spent most of her day, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary "you're here to find your mum but she doesn't know you're here and you don't know her name. I'm sorry Lily I'm a little confused" "Don't worry about it" Lily explained " I was adopted you see and my social worker accidentally let it slip that my mum was living in Walford, all I have is a photograph of her".
Smiling again, Jean felt a duty of responsibility to the teenager who was so much like her daughter Stacey. Wanting to help Jean asked "can I see the picture you have of your mum? Maybe I can help you find her" Lily had trust issues all her life, especially growing up in care, she hesitated a little but then realising this slightly eccentric little woman really did want to help. She reached into her bag, took a deep breath and handed the photo over.
Jean lifted her glasses from her pouch and placed them on her face, Lily tried not to giggle as they were huge oversized glasses quite obviously too big for her face. Jean's eyes fell to the photograph before looking at Lily and making the family connection. She fell silent for what seemed an age before Lily finally asked "what's wrong do you know my mum?"
Stuttering Jean struggled to get the words out before finally saying "I do, your mum is Roxy Mitchell"
Such a twist, a lot more to the story. Please read, I promise there will be a lot of R&R and Rack :) Review and I shall be writing more asap! xx