The blonde woman stopped before Barbara, tossing a fearful look in Rachel's direction, before reaching out, and gently lifting Barbara's hand to her, palm up, and peered at the opened extremity. She raised a bejeweled, ruby tipped finger and traced the lifeline. Her dark brown eyes peered deeply into Barbara's.
"You have recently suffered a great personal loss."
Rachel harrumphed behind Barbara.
Ignoring Rachel, she continued. "You have come home seeking a glimpse of the past to answer questions of old. You will have to make a decision between two—brothers?—which will change your living arrangements as well as your life…"
Before she could continue, Rachel grabbed Barbara's elbow and propelled her toward the front door, muttering under her breath, "Any fool can see the white circle where your wedding ring used to be and, of course, you're seeking something. You came into this bloody shop. What a fraud."
The blonde turned and softly called to the retreating backs of the two friends, "By the way, Dylan says you are headed in the right direction, and he wants to thank you. Now he can rest."
Barbara planted her feet to the floor. She whirled, and, grasping her throat, whispered, "Dylan?"
The blonde approached warily, glancing at the furious face of Rachel looking over the head of her friend.
"Yes. He said you," she pointed at Rachel, "would not believe me, but he was finding it difficult to get a message through to you. Barbara, he wanted very much for you to know the quest you have taken is the first step to setting him free. He knew he was your second choice."
Barbara gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "He never said a thing."
"He told me to thank you for all the years of love you gave to him and says he wants you to find your first love who now searches himself."
For More information on Celia Cooper, please visit her site at:
http://www.celiacooper.freeservers.com/
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