Day 1 -Lizzy

Carla's apartment is a small one-bedroom residence on the outskirts of Terrance county, and it takes them almost an hour to get there because the traffic is bad.

"Where's my room?" asks Lita once Karen and Sharon take their leave.

"There's only one room and it's Mom's," says Lizzy.

"So where are we going to sleep?" asks Juan.

"The sofa pulls out into a bed," says Carla.

"You guys can have that," says Lizzy.

"And where will you sleep then?" asks Lita.

"With Mom," she says, shooting a smile to Carla. Her mom returns it.

But Juan and Lita look at Lizzy with hesitation. "So we don't have a room?"

"Don't worry, this is just for now you guys. I'm going to get a weekend job and help out with the rent. That way we'll be able to move to a two-bedroom apartment and you guys can go back to sharing a room," she adds.

"Okay," says Lita.

Lizzy takes in her surroundings. The apartment is small and rundown. There isn't a lot of furniture. A sofa-bed that looks like it's been donated from Goodwill. A small dining table, two chairs. A TV stand and a small, old TV on top. A fake house plant. There's one bathroom and then the master bedroom with a queen bed and a chest of drawers. It's clear Carla hasn't been living here for long.

"Mamá, what do you say if we go to Goodwill tomorrow and try and find an extra bed?" asks the teenager.

Carla looks pale at that suggestion, like she's not sure she can spare the money.

"Oh no te preocupes," says Lizzy, waving her arm dismissively. "I have a little bit saved up from my allowance with the Wagners so I can help cover that."

"That would actually be a big help, gracias mi amor," says Carla. "Sorry, I just don't get paid until next week and I've already budgeted what we'll need for food, gas and electric this week."

"Ah I see. Well in that case we should probably wait until next week then. Guys, what do think about taking turns to sleep in Mom's bed, fun yeah?"

Juan and Lita shrugged.

"I work nights sometimes, at the factory, so whenever I'm not here you can share the bed," adds Carla.

"Oh that would be great!" exclaims Lizzy.

"I actually have a night shift tomorrow, so you can start then."

Lizzy raises her eyebrows. "See guys? This will be fun!"

"I'm bored, where's the suitcase with our court bears?" asks Lita.

"Oh, that's right over here." Lizzy walks up to a suitcase, picks it up and plots it on the couch.

Lita opens it and gets out a few court bears. "Carla, do you want to play with me?" she asks.

"I'd love to mi amor. Do you want to go to my room?"

"Sure."

Both of them go to Carla's room. While they play, Juan walks up to the TV, turns it on, and sits down on the couch.

Lizzy isn't completely happy that Lita is using their mom's first name to refer to her, but she's glad that at least she's including her in. She decides to get busy by unpacking all her stuff and putting it away. As she folds her clothes and puts them away in her mom's drawer, she revels in the sights around her. Lita seems to be having a lot of fun playing with Carla, and Juan seems content to watch TV. After crying silently for nearly the whole ride home, he finally settled down when they reached the apartment, and at least he's not crying anymore. Lizzy only hopes that he will soon join Lita in enjoying time with their mom, and that both her siblings will appreciate finally being home. She then remembers Pete and Ellie's court statement, still tucked on the back pocket of her jeans. She takes it and puts it away on the bottom drawer. She'll read it another time.

"I'm hungry," announces Lita after a few hours. Lizzy looks at the time and realizes it's way past lunchtime.

"There's some frijoles con arroz leftovers in the fridge, if you want," offers Carla.

"I have an idea," says Lizzy. "Why don't we get takeaway? We can celebrate finally being home. And don't worry Mamá, I can pay."

"Yes!" Lita exclaims.

Juan looks up but only shrugs his shoulders.

"If that's okay with you…" says her mom.

"Sure, it's fine. How about In-n-Out?" Lizzy asks.

"Sounds great."

By the time the food comes, it's late enough that it might as well be dinner. The kids sit on the dining room table but Lizzy and Carla sit on the sofa. Lizzy takes the opportunity to catch up with Carla on as many things as she can, and together they reminisce about the good times before foster care, many stories ending in laughter from both of them.

Once they're done, they clean up and Lizzy announces it's getting late and they should probably get ready for bed.

"Nooo," complains Lita, as usual.

"Yes, you should go have a bath now. Do you know where your bath stuff is?"

Lita shrugs.

Lizzy had tried to unpack the kids' stuff earlier but had been unable to. There just isn't enough space around the apartment, so she'd decided she would leave their stuff in the suitcases and added 'chest of drawers' to the list of things they needed to get from Goodwill. She really hopes she's able to find a job soon, because pretty soon all her savings will dry up at this rate.

"Never mind, I'll find it."

Almost two hours later, Lita and Juan both have been bathed, and even Lizzy has managed to squeeze a five-minute shower. Carla has pulled out the bed from the sofa, and everyone is ready for bed.

"Lita, please turn the TV off," says Lizzy for the millionth time.

Lita giggles and completely ignores Lizzy.

"Mom, say something to her," Lizzy points at Lita.

Carla sighs. "Lita c'mon, turn the TV off and get to bed like your brother."

"Nope!" she exclaims, a smile on her mouth.

Carla walks up to her but before she can catch her, Lita starts running around the living room.

"Can't catch me!" she yells. "Can't catch me, can't catch me, can't catch me!"

"LITA!" Lizzy snaps. "Te vas a dormir ahora!" She points to the sofa bed where Juan is already tucked in, unbothered by the whole situation.

"NO!" screams the little girl.

"Shh," says Carla. "Don't disturb the neighbors, they will complain."

"Oh, sorry Mamá, it's just that this is the only thing that works on Lita sometimes."

Lizzy lounges after her sister and this time manages to catch her. "Lita, it's bedtime. C'mon, you promised you'd behave, remember?"

Lizzy's words seem to get through to Lita, like she remembers the promise she made to Pete and Ellie and she doesn't want to disappoint them. "Okay…" she pouts.

Lizzy puts her down on the sofa bed and tucks her in.

"Good night Lita. Night Juan."

"Night," say both of them.

Then Carla walks up and kisses both of them on their foreheads.

"Hasta mañana mis amores. I love you."

"Good night Carla," says Lita.

"Night," says Juan.

Finally, it's just Lizzy and Carla left. Carla gets in her bed and Lizzy follows, snuggling up to Carla.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, baby."

And in this moment, nothing else really matters to Lizzy. It doesn't matter that their apartment is small and run down. It doesn't matter that they live in a really deprived area. It doesn't matter that she doesn't have her own room, that her siblings are sharing a very old sofa bed, that they hardly have any money. All that matters is that they are together, with their Mom, the only person in the world that Lizzy is sure loves her unconditionally.