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The girl spotted her almost at the same time and watched
her as Julia approached her, a soft, open smile lighting her
features.
Julia smiled back and knelt down to her level. The
girl was sick and was having to breathe through an apparatus. Julia would
have placed her age at about seven.
The girl reached up when Julia was close enough and
smiled, touching her dark hair and whispering "Pretty."
Julia reached out slowly and traced the girl's pale cheek
and balding head, whispering in return "Very pretty."
"I'm sick." the girl informed her, a sad sigh as she
looked at her mother, who was purchasing something at the register and hadn't
looked their way yet "Mommy's so sad... because I'll be leaving."
Then the girl felt Julia's forehead, tilting her head to
the side a little "You're a little sick too."
Julia smiled softly. All she had was a fever, and
slight at that, from over extending herself last night.
"Just a little." she admitted as she continued to stroke
the girl's cheek and side of the head "But I'll get better. I have a
friend watching out for me."
She glanced back and gave Derek an assuring half grin
before turning back to the girl.
The girl looked at Derek and smiled before looking back at
Julia and whispering low "Friends are good. I wish..."
Julia lowered her voice and looked at her curiously "You
wish what?"
The girl looked at her mother again, sad that she was told
by doctors she'd have to leave Mommy when it was time for her to go to heaven
"That I had friends..."
Julia's palm settled against the girl's face "You do have
friends, Caroline."
The girl looked at her and blinked. The woman's hand
was getting warm.... and it felt good.
And like the time Julia had cast out the spirit with Derek
and the others, a small surge unseen passed between the one she was in contact
with and her hand.
"Caroline?" The girl's mother turned just then, seeing
Caroline smiling at Julia and the woman smiling right back.
Julia turned to the woman before looking back at Caroline
and winking a little and then standing.
"Who are you?" the woman ask, for some reason the worry of
finding a stranger being so demonstrative with her daughter as she regarded the
younger woman.
"A friend, Mommy," Caroline tugged on her mom's sleeve and
pointed to Derek "and she has a friend too. Can I have
ice-cream?"
Her mother blinked and Julia chuckled a little before
excusing herself to return to Derek's side. Caroline's mother was so happy
that her daughter actually wanted something to eat without being urged that she
managed a nod and wave and was taking Caroline out of the store. Julia
heard something about vanilla or strawberry.
"Don't be upset, okay?" Julia whispered to Derek, getting
the clothes back from him and hoping he wouldn't get upset by what just
happened. She was flushed from the fever but... "I had to do
it."
She had felt so drawn to Caroline..... just as she had
before. She held the clothes close to her and moved toward the register to
check out, wondering what he would do.
Julia looked at the exit that Caroline and her mother had
taken.
Caroline would make a full recovery. Her mother
wouldn't be sad and wouldn't lose her daughter.
She placed her hands on the counter and waited for the
saleslady to ring up the sale. If she looked like she was weakened or
anything she was sure Derek would take her right back to the house and to her
room.
Julia looked up and to the side as Derek came up to stand
beside her.
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