Page 134 of Protected By Duval

---

Noelle looked at McCrae and the two of them straightened and separated by a good half a foot.

"Uh... hello." She offered the woman a tentative smile.

"Are you... the woman who drew the picture of my granddaughter?"

For a moment, Noelle tried to rack her brain to remember who the older woman was talking about, but then she took a look at the woman and the likeness was unmistakable.

To her...

"You're Aracely's grandmother."

The older woman's smile was achingly beautiful and infinitely sad. "Yes. She’s, my granddaughter."

Is.

Not was.

The distinction meant everything.

"I... I didn't expect to see you. Ever."

Noelle felt her heart aching for this woman.

"But we're here at the park with some of our family," she gestured at the park, and Noelle could see another group set up in the grass, "and I saw you... You look just like in the news stories."

Noelle nodded slowly, trying to process the moment.

She felt like she should do something... Say something.

She just didn't know what to do.

Drawing what she draws? That's a quiet, solitary activity.

Talking to people.

To family.

Survivors?

The people left behind?

That was outside of her experience and maybe her ability.

Then, this woman broke through that confusion.

She stepped in and wrapped her arms around Noelle.

A hug so tight that Noelle felt she couldn't breathe.

But it didn't matter.

It felt... good.

It felt like a release of grief.

For both of them.

Noelle wrapped her arms around the smaller shoulders of the woman holding her.

---