Allie stared at her in disbelief. Was she only hallucinating due to her anxiety?
"Mommy!" Chloe called her out again, seeing that she was not responding. She raised a finger to her face and touched it.
"Please don't cry."
Her touch made Allie return to her senses and so she threw her arms around and hugged her tight, bursting into wailing at the same time. The others froze as well for a couple of seconds.
"Darling, where have you been?"
"My God, Chloe, where have you been?"
"Where have you been my love and who was with you? Who brought you here?"
They all chorused their questions, making Chloe confused who among them would she answer first. She ran her eyes through all of them and in a puzzled look, she exclaimed, "Why?"
Seeing her confused look, Allie pulled her closer and sat her in her lap. "Baby, who accompanied you in coming back here?"
"Uncle!"