Julia

by Marty Sorensen

  *

  One week later Julia waited at the top of the stairs for the door to open. When she had talked to Lizzie on the phone from Philadelphia, the child seemed distant, but she took it to be a sign that her little daughter was not alone in the room.

  The door opened and Mary came in the house, followed by Elizabeth and Grace. Julia held out her hands but her daughter did not come running up the stairs. She followed dutifully behind Mary, turning once to make sure she didn't interfere with Grace's progress up the steps. When she arrived at the top she came to Julia and waited for her mother to give her a hug.

  “Mommy." Then she stood still and waited until Grace stood next to her on one side and Mary on the other.

  Julia crouched down until she was at Lizzie's level, gave her daughter a big smile, and kissed her on the cheek.

  Elizabeth looked up at Grace and then, and only then, smiled at her mother. "Mommy, I brought something for you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny wrapped package. She handed it to Julia and waited for her mother's reaction.

  Julia stood and unwrapped the little package with great excitement. "Oh, thank you, Darling, I can't wait to see what it is." When she saw the little bronze Liberty Bell, she crouched down again and hugged her daughter. "It's beautiful, I'll keep it by my bedside."