‘Excuse me, ma’am.’ One of the girls approached from her left side. ‘Would you have any spare change?’
In the street light, Kit could see the girl’s dark skin and black eyes. Under the thick jacket, she glimpsed a red plaid shirt. Virgie. She looked as shocked as Kit felt. For a moment, they stared at each other.
Then, wordlessly, Kit dug into her bag and pulled out the wad of bills intended as a donation to the shelter. She shoved them into Virgie’s hand, even though she knew there wasn’t enough money in the world to give this girl what she needed or repay her for what she had lost.
Virgie clutched the bills, and Kit gripped her hand so tightly that it shook. Then Virgie blinked, pocketed the cash, and said, ‘Thank you, ma’am. Bless you.’ She walked back toward the others.
Once Kit and John Paul took a few more steps, he asked, ‘Are you all right?’
‘Not really.’
‘Do you know that girl?’
‘In a way.’
‘Want to talk about it?’
‘Not right now.’
‘Maybe later.’ He put out his arm.
Kit squeezed it, and he covered her freezing hand with his. Together, they continued down the broken sidewalk, not speaking, heading toward the lights and the city.
Goodbye Forever Page 24
