Chapter 11: Emily ??

Maverick's mother nodded, accepting his decision. "Alright, dear. But what does the doctor say about her memory loss?"

Maverick's expression turned hopeful. "The doctor said it's temporary. She should regain her memories once she's fully recovered."

His mother's face lit up with a warm smile. "That's wonderful news! I'm sure it's been difficult for her."

Maverick nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it has. But I'm just glad I can help her. And I think being here with us will be good for her."

His mother's eyes smiled "I'm sure it will be interesting having her around. I'll make sure to prepare the best room for her, since she'd be staying for a while."

As they continued to discuss the arrangements, Maverick couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Elizabeth. He was determined to help her regain her memories and get her life back on track.

☆☆☆☆

As the evening drew to a close, Maverick's mother busied herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Maverick helped Elizabeth to the living room.

Maverick sat with Elizabeth in the living room, trying to make her feel more at ease.

"Hey, are you feeling better?" Maverick asked, noticing that Elizabeth seemed more relaxed.

Elizabeth nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Yeah, thanks. Your mom is really nice."

Maverick smiled. "Yeah, she is. You'll get used to her soon enough."

Just then, Maverick's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was his brother, Alexander, calling.

"Hey, Alex," Maverick answered, getting up from the couch.

"Hey, Mav. What's up?" Alexander asked, his voice booming through the phone.

Maverick filled Alexander in on the situation with Elizabeth, and Alexander listened intently.

"I'll be home soon," Alexander said. "We can discuss this further then."

" Okay "

" Is Jadya with you " Maverick asked.

" No she's not, she went to her maternal home. I'll be going there to pick her up in few minutes."

Maverick nodded, even though Alexander couldn't see him. "Alright, see you soon."

As Maverick hung up the phone, he turned to Elizabeth. "My brother will be home soon. I'm sure he'll want to meet you."

Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly, and Maverick could sense a hint of nervousness.

" It's okay " Maverick said trying to put her at ease.

" My brother is a nice person, you don't have to worry."

" Okay" she nodded.

☆☆☆☆

As dinner was being set, Alexander and Jayda walked into the room. Elizabeth turned to see who had entered, and Alexander and Jayda froze in their tracks.

Maverick had never mentioned Elizabeth's uncanny resemblance to Emily, and the shock was palpable. Alexander's eyes widened, his jaw slackening as he took in Elizabeth's features. He looked like he had been punched in the gut.

Jayda's face paled, her eyes growing wide with a mix of shock, confusion, and hope. Elizabeth sensed their gaze and turned completely to face them. Her eyes met Alexander's, and they stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

Maverick stepped forward, his voice a little too loud. "Alexander, Jayda, this is Elizabeth."

But they didn't seem to hear him. They were too busy staring at Elizabeth, their faces reflecting their inner turmoil.

As Jayda's gaze fell upon Elizabeth, her eyes widened in stunned silence. The room around her melted away, leaving only the hauntingly familiar face before her. Emily's face.

A trembling breath escaped Jayda's lips as she took a step forward. Tears burst forth, streaming down her cheeks. With a sob, Jayda rushed toward Elizabeth, arms outstretched. "Emily??" she whispered.

Elizabeth was taken aback, but as Jayda enveloped her in a tight hug, something within her stirred. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around Jayda, holding her close as the younger girl's tears soaked into her shoulder.

☆☆

As Jayda pulled away from Elizabeth, she realized that though they looked alike, Elizabeth's features seemed more mature, and more refined. The resemblance was uncanny, but there was something distinct about Elizabeth that set her apart from Emily.

Maverick gestured to the table. "Please, everyone, sit down." Alexander and Jayda hesitantly took their seats, Jayda choosing to sit beside Elizabeth.

Maverick took a deep breath before launching into the story of how he met Elizabeth and why he brought her to their home.

Few minutes passed, with Maverick explaining the events that led to Elizabeth's arrival. Their mom, sensing the thick atmosphere, decided to intervene. "Okay, everyone, let's eat before the food gets cold," she said, her voice warm and inviting.

The family ate in silence, the only sound the clinking of utensils against plates.

After dinner, they all adjourned to the living room, where they sat together in an uncomfortable silence.

The tension was palpable, with everyone lost in their own thoughts. Elizabeth looked around at the family, feeling like an outsider.

Jayda sat beside her, occasionally glancing at her with a mix of sadness and longing. Alexander's expression was unreadable, while Maverick seemed to be watching everyone with a keen eye.

——

The silence in the room was oppressive, Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

Jayda's glances grew more frequent, her eyes searching Elizabeth's face for something - a spark of recognition, a glimmer of memory. Elizabeth tried to meet her gaze, but it was like staring into a deep well of emotion.

Alexander's unreadable expression was starting to unnerve Elizabeth. She couldn't tell if he was angry, curious, or indifferent.

Maverick, on the other hand, seemed to be studying everyone's reactions, his eyes darting between his brother, Jayda, and Elizabeth.

As the silence stretched on, Elizabeth began to feel like she was trapped in a dream. A dream where everyone knew the rules except her. She glanced at Maverick, hoping for some guidance, but his gaze held only comfort.

Seeing how uncomfortable she looked, he decided to step in.

Maverick stepped in, explaining the situation to Jayda and Alexander. "Elizabeth suffers from temporary amnesia," he said gently. "She doesn't remember some things"

Jayda's face fell, and Alexander's expression softened. They exchanged a glance, and then Jayda turned to Elizabeth.

"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I thought you were...I thought you were Emily."

Alexander nodded in agreement. "We're sorry, Elizabeth. We didn't mean to overwhelm you."

But as they apologized, something shifted in the atmosphere. The tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of warmth and welcome.

"We may not know who you are or where you come from," Alexander said,

"but you're welcome here. We'll treat you like family."

Elizabeth's face lit up, and her smile illuminated the room. As they sat down to get to know her better, they asked her questions about her memories – or lack thereof.

Jayda's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yeah, you can be our little sister. Actually, my elder sister, though you're just a year older," she teased, a smug grin spreading across her face.

Elizabeth smiled in response.

Each of them asked her to call them whatever she felt comfortable with.

Elizabeth thought for a moment before responding. "I'll call you Mom," she said to Maverick's mom, who beamed with delight.

"Big Brother Alex," Elizabeth said with a smile, turning to Alexander.

Alexander chuckled, clearly pleased. "I like that."

Then, she turned to Jayda. "Little Sister-in-law."

The room erupted in laughter, and Elizabeth joined in, feeling a deep sense of belonging. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she felt like she was home.