a front door had never looked so intimidating. for a long moment, there lottie stood, with a babe strapped to her back and clutching a duffle bag in each hand, the sole belongings that mother and daughter could claim to be their own in this world. the fire at starcourt had - for a brief moment - devasted them, leading lottie to almost consider returning home, consider walking with her head hung low back down that dirt track out towards the house at lover’s lake. until wendy had reached out, sweet wendy who’d entertained lottie endlessly whilst she was stuck on shift at the pizza diner. a spare room, big enough for the two of you and lottie jumped on the offer.
and now here they stood, completely reliant on another family ( and oh how Grandpa would be disappointed ) so before she could lose her nerve anymore, the doorbell was rung — BRRRING a loud and jarring sound — and lottie stepped back to await wendy.