Free Sticks and Stones by Kerrie Dubrock

you’re
feeling is real. She’s already been through one heartache, Rick. Be her friend
first. The rest will fall into place…if it’s meant to.”
    *        *        *
              Grace walked
into her home office and pulled her Book of Shadows down from a heavy oak
bookcase. She licked her lips and tried to concentrate as she paged through the
book looking for a protection spell.
              “Grace! Come
quick! Matilda has fallen and I can’t wake her!” Reginald begged as he suddenly
appeared next to her.
              The book fell
from Grace’s hands as she raced to the back door.
              She sped across
the back yards of her neighbors, ignoring the dull pain in her ankle.
              Aunt Tilda
never locked her door during the day so Grace pushed the door open and heard
Reginald calling to her. “She’s in the dining room!”
              She found Tilda
lying on her stomach with a pink feather duster clutched in her hand. Gingerly
she rolled her aunt onto her back and placed her ear over her heart.
              “Oh God, oh
God! I can’t hear anything!” she whimpered.
              “Grace, she’s
not dead. I’d know if she was. You need to calm down,” Reginald said softly.
              Grace’s pulse was rapid and
her breathing heavy with fear. She jumped up, ran into the kitchen and grabbed
the phone from its cradle. Her hands shook as she dialed 9-1-1.
    *        *        *
              When Rick
pulled up to Grace’s house he saw several emergency vehicles a few houses down.
Then he spotted Grace. He remembered her saying that her aunt lived four houses
away. He quickly got out of his car and ran towards her.
              “Reginald, you
need to be with her. I’ll be okay. I’ll meet you at the hospital,” she said
low, crossing her arms over her chest.
              “You’re in no
shape to drive alone young lady! I’ll not have you get into an accident because
you’re upset. I’ll ride with you,” Reginald replied sternly.
              When Rick got
closer he heard Grace having a conversation with herself. A rather heated one,
too, by her tone. “Grace?” he said cautiously.
              Grace dummied
up and turned to him. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
              A female EMT
approached. “Miss Ryan? We’ve got her stabilized and are heading to Community
Hospital.”
              “Thank you,”
Grace sniffled. “I’ll be there shortly.”
              When the EMT
got into the vehicle, Grace pointed her finger at the ambulance and hissed into
the air. “Go! I’ll be fine!”
              Rick cocked his
head. He’d seen Emily talk to air, too.
              Reginald’s lips
thinned. “You’re as insufferable as Matilda!”     
              Grace glanced
at Rick and rubbed her eyes. “Aunt Tilda had a stroke. She hit her head on the
tiled floor and was unconscious.”
              “C’mon, I’ll
drive you to the hospital,” Rick said softly, wrapping an arm around her
shoulders.
     
    *        *        *
     
              After Grace
gave Rick directions to the hospital she laid her head against the seat and
stared out the passenger window and sobbed softly.
              He placed his
hand over hers. “Hey, she’s going to be okay.”
              Tears shimmered
in her eyes and she gave him a half-hearted smile. “I don’t know what I’d do
without her,” her voice cracked.
              He gripped her
hand tightly and glanced at her leg. “How’s that ankle doing?”
              She shrugged,
“Fine. Aunt Tilda worked her magic last night. It’s only a little sore now.”
              Rick’s eyebrows
furrowed. “Really? Magic?”      
              A smile formed
on her lips. “Not