It took a long time for her daughter to calm down and Evelyn did not hurry her up. Arabella needed to find the safety and recognize it before she could think of stopping her crying.
So on the way to exit the mall and the entire car ride, she had to listen to the painful sobs of her daughter and do nothing but pat her back.
Only when they reached home and once Arabella was in her room, did Evelyn pry her tiny fingers off of her dress and make her daughter pull away.
"No.." Arabella hiccuped and shook her head. "You.." she sniffed and made grabby hands to her mother while the big tears fell from her eyes to the chubby cheeks.
"And I am right here, baby," Evelyn did not give in. "Alessia is not here, okay? It's just you and mama and Iona."
Arabella sniffed loudly and her mouth twisted and a brutal cry left her mouth. "I was scared, mummy. I w-was.."
