she had a small window of time in which to catch Charlie online, so she kicked off her shoes and headed for her laptop.
She had received two emails from Sandra, the manager of her restaurant, one with the daily sales and one with the subject “new staff.” Julia opened the sales report first. She smiled. Ever since she’d hired Phillipe, business was finally on the upswing. He was a Red Seal Chef from Montreal, and well worth the salary he demanded.
Eyeing the new staff email, Julia reluctantly opened it. Sandra had had four interviews scheduled out of the resumes Julia selected and only one showed. Sandra had hired him. Julia grimaced as she read. Something about three people not showing up for their interviews didn’t sit well with her, especially in this economy. She wrote it off as raw nerves and closed the email window. Right now, what she really needed was a friend.
The instant messaging window popped up, and Charlie was online.
“Thank God,” Julia said, then shot the ceiling a sheepish look and cleared her throat. “Er, thank goodness.”
Julia: You there?
Charlie: Not for long. HE’s on his way home.
Julia paused before hitting send on her next line, staring at the thumbnail of Charlie. Her long blonde hair swept over her shoulder and she had looked directly at the camera with a teasing smile. It was a first-rate selfie, her big, soulful eyes pulling the viewer in. It was Charlie’s eyes in this very picture Julia had stared into over the last few years as she poured out her heart via keyboard. A flood of guilt hit her for not telling Charlie what was going on. For that matter, she hadn’t really told Alex, either. She hit enter, sending the lie across the internet.
Julia: It’s just good to ‘see’ you. Sometimes I feel like you’re the only one I can talk to… you know?
Charlie: Awww! I do know! I feel the same way about you. *hugs* How was your dinner?
Julia: Good.
Another lie. Ugh .
Julia: Will you be on later?
Charlie: Not sure. He’s home! Gotta go!
Charlie’s avatar grayed out. She was gone. Julia frowned, but her disappointment was overshadowed by her concern. She hoped Charlie’s boyfriend hadn’t caught her online. The last time that had happened, he threw her computer across the room. It took her months to replace it and find the courage to come back online.
Julia had been trying for two years to convince Charlie to leave him, but every time she mentioned it, Charlie pulled away and got defensive. Julia did her best not to mention it now, for fear of losing the woman who was so close to her heart. It was a strange thing, to have a best friend on the other side of the planet, but from the first time they’d spoken, they’d felt a strong connection. Within hours of their first chat they were finishing each other’s sentences. Julia always thought that, if she had had a twin, Charlie would have been it.
Julia sat back in her chair, meshing her hands behind her head. It was funny, she thought, sitting here, worrying about her friend when her own life was so uncertain. She laughed. “Uncertain” was definitely an understatement. The pit of her stomach knotted again with conflicting feelings about Gabriel. She looked out her sliding glass patio door. Some air would be good.
Remembering the odor, she cracked the door open and took a sniff. The air was fresh and cool. A small victory.
She was halfway out the doorway when she noticed the mist, gathering and hanging in the trees. Her feet froze on the patio. The bluish mist dripped down between the branches, weaving together the same way it had when Gabriel appeared. The shape was different this time, though, as was the feel of the mist. Her heart was in her throat.
If Gabriel was real and could visit her in a physical form, it made sense that there were other beings who could do the same thing. She knew not all of those beings could be on the “higher being” end of the spectrum. Julia shivered.
“Gabriel?” she
She had received two emails from Sandra, the manager of her restaurant, one with the daily sales and one with the subject “new staff.” Julia opened the sales report first. She smiled. Ever since she’d hired Phillipe, business was finally on the upswing. He was a Red Seal Chef from Montreal, and well worth the salary he demanded.
Eyeing the new staff email, Julia reluctantly opened it. Sandra had had four interviews scheduled out of the resumes Julia selected and only one showed. Sandra had hired him. Julia grimaced as she read. Something about three people not showing up for their interviews didn’t sit well with her, especially in this economy. She wrote it off as raw nerves and closed the email window. Right now, what she really needed was a friend.
The instant messaging window popped up, and Charlie was online.
“Thank God,” Julia said, then shot the ceiling a sheepish look and cleared her throat. “Er, thank goodness.”
Julia: You there?
Charlie: Not for long. HE’s on his way home.
Julia paused before hitting send on her next line, staring at the thumbnail of Charlie. Her long blonde hair swept over her shoulder and she had looked directly at the camera with a teasing smile. It was a first-rate selfie, her big, soulful eyes pulling the viewer in. It was Charlie’s eyes in this very picture Julia had stared into over the last few years as she poured out her heart via keyboard. A flood of guilt hit her for not telling Charlie what was going on. For that matter, she hadn’t really told Alex, either. She hit enter, sending the lie across the internet.
Julia: It’s just good to ‘see’ you. Sometimes I feel like you’re the only one I can talk to… you know?
Charlie: Awww! I do know! I feel the same way about you. *hugs* How was your dinner?
Julia: Good.
Another lie. Ugh .
Julia: Will you be on later?
Charlie: Not sure. He’s home! Gotta go!
Charlie’s avatar grayed out. She was gone. Julia frowned, but her disappointment was overshadowed by her concern. She hoped Charlie’s boyfriend hadn’t caught her online. The last time that had happened, he threw her computer across the room. It took her months to replace it and find the courage to come back online.
Julia had been trying for two years to convince Charlie to leave him, but every time she mentioned it, Charlie pulled away and got defensive. Julia did her best not to mention it now, for fear of losing the woman who was so close to her heart. It was a strange thing, to have a best friend on the other side of the planet, but from the first time they’d spoken, they’d felt a strong connection. Within hours of their first chat they were finishing each other’s sentences. Julia always thought that, if she had had a twin, Charlie would have been it.
Julia sat back in her chair, meshing her hands behind her head. It was funny, she thought, sitting here, worrying about her friend when her own life was so uncertain. She laughed. “Uncertain” was definitely an understatement. The pit of her stomach knotted again with conflicting feelings about Gabriel. She looked out her sliding glass patio door. Some air would be good.
Remembering the odor, she cracked the door open and took a sniff. The air was fresh and cool. A small victory.
She was halfway out the doorway when she noticed the mist, gathering and hanging in the trees. Her feet froze on the patio. The bluish mist dripped down between the branches, weaving together the same way it had when Gabriel appeared. The shape was different this time, though, as was the feel of the mist. Her heart was in her throat.
If Gabriel was real and could visit her in a physical form, it made sense that there were other beings who could do the same thing. She knew not all of those beings could be on the “higher being” end of the spectrum. Julia shivered.
“Gabriel?” she
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