"Which cereal do you want, honey? Lucky Charms, Froot Loops or Frosted Flakes?" asked Ellie.
"Hmm, Froot Loops!" exclaimed Lita.
"Okay—"
"No, Lucky Charms!"
"Alright then—"
"No! Frosted Flakes! No! Lucky Charms! Wait, no! Froot Loops!" Lita pointed her index finger at each one as she changed her mind over and over again.
Ellie smiled. "Why don't you stay here and decide while I get the bread, alright?" she asked.
Lita nodded. "Okay!"
Ellie and Lita were out doing the grocery shop for the week, and Lita was having trouble deciding which brand of cereal to buy. Ellie walked away and headed further down the aisle to search for the things she needed, leaving Lita by the shopping cart while she made her decision. Lita was so caught up going back and forth between the types of cereals, she didn't notice the lady that had come up behind her.
"Hi there, sweetheart" said the lady. She had long blond hair tied up in a ponytail.
Lita was a bit startled but looked at the lady and gave her a quick smile. "Hello!" she replied, then went back to staring at the cereals.
"Are you okay all by yourself?" the lady asked.
"Yep," said Lita, not taking her eyes off the boxes in front of her.
"Are you lost?"
"Nope!"
"Well, where is your mommy?" the lady asked.
"My mommy's over there," said Lita as she pointed in Ellie's direction.
The lady took in the sight of Ellie and frowned.
"Well, that can't be your mommy", she said. "She doesn't look like you. Are you sure you're okay, darling?" she asked as she placed a hand on Lita's arm.
Lita stopped to look at her, her confusion showing on her face.
"Do you need any help? Do you want me to call your real mommy?" the lady asked.
"No, that's my real mommy!" said Lita, her voice escalating.
"But she just doesn't look like you, darling. Do you know where you real mommy is?"
"That's my real mommy!" Lita's voice quavered.
"I don't think she is honey, if she was, she would look like you. Where is your real mommy?"
"That's my mommy!" Lita was on the verge of tears now.
"Darling–"
"THAT'S MY REAL MOMMY!" Lita screamed.
The commotion caught Ellie's attention, who dropped the package of bread she was holding and started running toward Lita.
"THAT'S MY REAL MOMMY!" Lita screamed again and again.
"Hey hey, what's wrong, what's going on?" said Ellie as she approached Lita.
Lita threw herself in Ellie's arms the moment Ellie got to her.
"She says - you're not - my real mom!" said Lita in between sobs.
"What!?" Ellie gave the lady the dirtiest look she could muster as she patted Lita on the back, trying to comfort her.
The blond woman looked clustered and apologetic.
"How dare you say something like that to her!?" Ellie asked the woman.
"Well I- I'm sorry, you just don't look alike, I'm trying to watch out here for the little one."
"So what, you think I kidnapped her?" asked Ellie, incredulous.
"I was just making sure, is all" said the woman.
"Yeah well I will have you know today families come in all shapes and sizes, and what you have done is incredibly rude," said Ellie. "We may not look the same, but guess what, love makes a family, not blood! I think now's a good time for you to turn around and leave us the hell alone."
The woman raised her hands in the air in an apologetic manner but turned around and walked away.
Ellie turned her attention to Lita, who had been sobbing tirelessly the whole time.
"Aw baby, it's okay, it's okay," she said as she caressed Lita's face. "That lady didn't know what she was talking about, okay? Of course I'm your mommy, and I love you so very much, alright?"
Lita continued sobbing hard.
"Shh baby, it's okay, I'm here, it's okay," Ellie tried comforting her daughter.
Lita muttered something ineligible.
"What was that, baby?"
"I – I don't want - another mommy" Lita managed to get out.
"What do you mean?" asked Ellie. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You're not - my real mommy yet!" sobbed Lita. "What if they make me -go away?"
Ellie was lost for words.
"What if my birth mom - comes again?" she asked, genuine fear in her eyes.
Deep inside, Ellie's heart broke. She knew that until the .26 hearing happened, permanent adoption was still very much in the air for all three kids. She had been hoping the kids wouldn't be worried about this, but obviously she was wrong. She'd had no idea it was weighing so much in Lita's mind, but the scariest thing of all, is that she shared some of Lita's fear herself.
Ellie embraced her little one as she struggled to find the right words to say.
"That's not going to happen again baby, because this time you can tell the judge that you want to stay with us forever."
Lita stopped crying for a moment. "I can say that to the judge?"
"Of course! You can tell him how you feel," said Ellie.
"And he will listen to me?"
"Sure baby, he'll listen to you."
"And he won't make go anywhere?"
"No, he won't make you go anywhere you don't want to go."
"And I can stay here?"
"Yes baby, here with me and daddy and your brother and sister," said Ellie.
Lita thought about this for a few seconds. She took a deep breath, calming down considerably.
"Okay."
"Okay?" asked Ellie.
Lita nodded and reached out for a hug. Ellie held her for a few moments.
"Right," she said, breaking the hug. "Shall we buy all three boxes of cereal and then go get some ice cream?" she asked.
A smile returned to Lita's face. "Yes!"
