5 hours ago
Emily watched as Natalie opened the gift. She was aware of the other patrons paying attention. She wished they would all just mind their own business. It was Christmas time. It wasn't odd for friends to be given gifts at this time. Of course it all could have just referred to the swear from earlier. They could move on from that too.
But Emily focused on Natalie. Her smile was subtle but there as she looked on her gift. Natalie had told her about her love for music and piano. She had even mentioned that piano was how she had learned to control her magic. Emily wasn't one to brush away things like that, and when she saw the music box and the song it played, she immediately thought of Natalie. It had been close enough to Christmas to withhold the gift until now. Emily could tell that Natalie had been touched by the gift, and that in itself was a gift.
Natalie's gratitude was sincere, but she soon returned to her normal nature. That didn't upset Emily. She knew once again Natalie had shown her a part of herself which she hardly ever did, and Emily felt glad that she was able to be that sort of a friend for Natalie. It was one that Natalie had needed. The friendship was reciprocated in a way that Emily needed as well. Natalie didn't see the business woman when she looked at Emily. They complimented each other well.
"You're very welcome," Emily said, a small smile and chuckle showing themselves at Natalie's response to the annoying other patrons.
The pair of women returned to their meals and more normal conversation. Occasionally, Emily's thoughts would drift towards Rachel, not out of fear or stress, but out of a sense of hope. Natalie had made Rachel an offer, and as the two friends spoke, Emily hoped that Rachel would be amenable to that. Natalie had a lot of trauma, and if Rachel ever got out of the nightmare she was living, she would have trauma too. Emily wasn't sure that she would be able to help Rachel as much with this one, but maybe Natalie could.
But Emily focused on Natalie. Her smile was subtle but there as she looked on her gift. Natalie had told her about her love for music and piano. She had even mentioned that piano was how she had learned to control her magic. Emily wasn't one to brush away things like that, and when she saw the music box and the song it played, she immediately thought of Natalie. It had been close enough to Christmas to withhold the gift until now. Emily could tell that Natalie had been touched by the gift, and that in itself was a gift.
Natalie's gratitude was sincere, but she soon returned to her normal nature. That didn't upset Emily. She knew once again Natalie had shown her a part of herself which she hardly ever did, and Emily felt glad that she was able to be that sort of a friend for Natalie. It was one that Natalie had needed. The friendship was reciprocated in a way that Emily needed as well. Natalie didn't see the business woman when she looked at Emily. They complimented each other well.
"You're very welcome," Emily said, a small smile and chuckle showing themselves at Natalie's response to the annoying other patrons.
The pair of women returned to their meals and more normal conversation. Occasionally, Emily's thoughts would drift towards Rachel, not out of fear or stress, but out of a sense of hope. Natalie had made Rachel an offer, and as the two friends spoke, Emily hoped that Rachel would be amenable to that. Natalie had a lot of trauma, and if Rachel ever got out of the nightmare she was living, she would have trauma too. Emily wasn't sure that she would be able to help Rachel as much with this one, but maybe Natalie could.