A month later…
Meredith and Alex had gotten really close over the last month. They played almost everyday and he had even met Ellis once… briefly. But that was a big accomplishment.
She woke up like she did every morning. But today wasn't just any morning. It was special. She got up and hurried down the stairs.
"Mom? Mom?" She yelled. "Mom? Are you here?"
There was no answer. She made it to the bottom of the steps to see a pile of presents in the corner, but no mother.
"Mom?" She squeaked out once more, before turning and running up the stairs. Tears rolled down her soft cheeks. She ran into her room and climbed into her bed. She buried her head into the pillow. The tears soaked into the light pink fabric of the pillowcase.
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Two hours later, Meredith woke up with swollen eyes to the sound of a knock at the door. She knew the nanny was already there, but she wouldn't make a move to answer it. Another knock came, so she got up and hurried to answer in. She threw the door open to see Alex standing there with a big smile. His mother stood behind him.
"Happy Birthday, Mer." He said holding out a package wrapped in blue paper with little balloons on it.
"Hi, Alex. Thank you." She said stepping back. "Come on in."
"What's wrong, Meredith?" Mary asked with a concerned face as the two stepped into the house.
"Mom isn't here… again." She sighed.
"Oh…" Mary said in an understanding voice.
"Dad is normally here for my birthday but… he's in Seattle." She said sadly. Alex gave her a hug.
"I'm sorry, Mer."
"Thanks, Alex." She smiled.
"Are you going to open all your presents?" He said eyeballing the pile. She shrugged.
"Come on, Mer." Mary said putting her hand on her back leading her over to the pile. "Where's your nanny?"
"Upstairs in the guest room, sleeping." Mary nodded.
"Open mine first." Alex said.
"Okay, I am." She took the package into her hand and plopped down on the floor. She ripped the paper off of it and pulled the top off of the box. She looked down at it and gasped. There was an "M" shaped golden necklace with little stones on it. "Thank you, Alex." She said giving him a tight hug. Mary helped her put it on. She beamed a smile at them. It seemed all the sadness she was feeling just… went away.
"It looks great Meredith." Mary said.
"Come on, tear into the others." Alex coxed. Meredith giggled and grabbed the next.
After tearing off all the presents that 'her mother' gave her, she ended up with a couple board games, a note (that Mary read to her) saying that she also had a bike outside, a couple things of chalk, and a hamster. She loved all her gifts, but it also made her sad since she knew that her maid or someone else other than her mother got her the gifts.
