Alexandra had become attached to her grandmother. Lisa was always willing to play with her granddaughter, read to her, and watch movies with her. Alexandra would sit in the kitchen and watch her grandmother make her lunch every day. Lisa felt incredibly comfortable with the little girl, but for some reason, she was having trouble feeling comfortable around everyone else. A few months after Lady Tremaine moved in, on the first day of spring, the family had a little picnic outside. Lisa felt out of place at the picnic. She wished she had a place to run to. The woman watched as everyone laughed and played with Alexandra. She had decided to quietly go inside because she knew that no one would notice. Everyone went inside when they had finished eating. "Stepmother," Ella found her in the kitchen, "have you been in here this whole time?"
"I came in a half-hour ago."
"Why didn't you say something?"
"You were all having such a good time and I didn't want to ruin it."
"What's wrong?"
"I think I should leave."
"What?"
"I don't belong here."
"Where will you go?"
"I don't know."
"No, you're staying here. It would be different if you had somewhere to go."
"I don't think you can tell me what to do."
"No, of course not. How could I forget? You are the only one allowed to tell anyone what to do."
"Now, Ella, I've apologized for that."
"Why do you think you feel that you don't belong here?"
"I don't know."
"It's your own fault. You did this to yourself and when people finally give you a chance, you decide to up and leave because you hate being happy."
"That's not true."
"If you're happy then you can't blame me or anyone else for anything."
"No!"
"You have to feel miserable and be mean to feel superior. Yes, you apologized. Yes, I forgave you, but nothing's changed. You can't be happy. Being miserable is all you know and to hell with anyone who tries to help you." Lisa was on the verge of tears. "I still remember when Clorinda gave me that terrible nickname and all three of you stood there laughing at me."
"Ella, please stop."
"I was stupid to think you'd be anything but my wicked stepmother."
That did it for Lisa. The woman ran from the house in tears. She ran until she reached the tree in the woods she once called home.
Lisa's daughters had figured out that their mother was living in the woods again. They offered to help her out, but she refused. Eventually, she let them drive her around town. Tisbe was driving Lisa around one day. Suddenly, the car hit something and spun in circles. It ultimately rolled down a hill and landed upside down. Tisbe was able to free herself. When she walked around to help her mother, she found Lady Tremaine pinned under the car. "Mother!" the girl knelt beside Lady Tremaine, "I'm going to call for help." Tisbe took out her phone and called for help as her mother began to lose consciousness from the pain.
Lady Tremaine had needed surgery on her back in an attempt to fix at least some of the damage to her vertebrae. Plates and screws were inserted in the necessary spots. Two days later, Ella walked into her stepmother's hospital room. The woman was sitting up in bed and looked uncomfortable. "I never thought you of all people would show up."
"How are you feeling?"
"My back is broken and I may never walk again. How do you think I'm feeling?"
"I didn't come here to argue."
"Then why are you here?"
"I want you to move back home. We all do. Besides, they won't release you unless you have someone staying with you."
"How's Alexandra?" Lisa asked emotionally.
"She's okay," Ella said, "she misses you."
"I miss her too."
"I'm sorry for the things I said during our fight. I was wrong."
"Thank you," Lisa said, "I'm sorry too."
"You don't have to apologize for anything that happened before today. I said I forgave you and I have. You didn't do or say anything wrong during that fight. We're starting with a clean slate."
"Okay," Lisa whispered.
"I have a surprise for you," Ella said and left the room. She walked back in with Alexandra in her arms.
"Nana!" Ella leaned down so her daughter could give her grandmother a kiss, "why you cry?"
"I'm just so happy to see you."
"Come home?"
Lisa looked at Ella, "yeah when they say it's okay, I'll come home."
"Mommy said that you like kitties. I brought you my favorite kitty animal," Alexandra handed her grandmother the toy, "so you have a friend here."
"That's very sweet of you."
"Here's one I found in store," Alexandra handed the black cat to Lisa, "mommy said your kitty was black."
"Yes, he was. Thank you," she said, "I love it."
"Love you, nana."
"I love you too, princess." Ella and Alexandra visited with Lisa for a while before Clorinda picked her niece up. "Thank you for bringing her to visit me."
"It's no problem."
"Ella, I'm scared," Lady Tremaine's voice trembled.
"It's natural to be scared, but I believe that everything will be okay."
Ella stayed with her stepmother to try and help her feel better. She would visit the woman every day for the entire week she was in the hospital. Ella and Thomas were the ones who brought Lisa home from the hospital. It was so good to be home again.