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"Geez," Julia ive herself a heart attack It was a rookie move to be so startled by it, but Julia felt out of her eleain, she’d been up since the butt crack of dawn and after receiving not one but two big surprises of her life, she’d gone straight to work No one would bla ju An older wo a cute little trolley There were several covered dishes on the surface, a lunch for Madeline and enough food for Julia to eat off of the rest of the day The woman introduced herself as Richard’s wife and then promptly demanded that Julia call her Livie, "just like the boys did"

Boys was not a word she would use to describe the two de Vincent brothers she’dout there

Julia had found the supplies necessary to attend to Madeline’s hygiene and bladder needs Knowing that soetative state could have nors quickly whileas much privacy as she could for Madeline To Julia, it didn’t ical reason behind her current state Madeline deserved to be treated with dignity

She had been able to get Madeline to consu the supplies necessary to give her a dry bath Based on her chart, Julia orried about her food consu the necessary nutrients Most patients ere in Madeline’s state ended up with a feeding tube

About a half hour after feeding, it appeared that Madeline had fallen asleep, giving Julia a bit of freedo now

Earlier, she had discovered that the doors Madeline had been focused on had led to a small walk-in closet where most of the supplies had been kept There was a flat-screen TV mounted to the wall to the left of the bed, but Julia hadn’t turned it on There were several chairs spaced throughout the room, one that had been positioned close to the bed when she had arrived earlier Now that the doctor wasn’t here and they weren’t discussing the patient, she noticed there was a book on the shelf of the nightstand

Bending at the waist, she picked up the heavy hardback, recognizing the green cover featuring a bespectacled boy

So Harry Potter to her

That was actually sweet A grin pulled at her lips

A soft knock sounded on the door Placing the book back where she found it, she hurried around the bed and opened the door

Mr Besson stood in the hall, dressed as he was thisthe black jacket, the kind with the coattails Coattails! She’d wanted to laugh, but figured that would be wildly inappropriate And weird Definitely weird At least he wasn’t wearing white gloves that ht I would show you to your living quarters before dinner," he offered

"Oh, that would be lovely" She glanced over her shoulder "She’s asleep, so now is the perfect time"

He waited while she picked up her purse and the plate of leftover lunch That was going to be her dinner, because there was no way she was joining the several closed doors She expected to be placed in one of the rooms near Madeline, but when they started down the interior stairwell, she figured that wasn’t happening

"What was shipped ahead has arrived," he explained, stepping out into the second-floor hall As they walked down the hall, one of the wall sconces flickered and went out

Mr Besson sighed

Julia said nothing as they neared the end He stopped in front of a single door that was catty-corner to what appeared to be an exit out to the exterior stairs and another roo the door and then stepping aside "She also stocked the fridge for you"

Both things surprised her She appreciated the acts even though she was a little weirded out by so her undies away But at least she didn’t have to do it now "Thank you, Mr Besson"

"Call me Richard, just like--"

"The boys do," she finished for him

He smiled with a nod "You will see that you have your own attached bathrooroceries you would like picked up, please let us know The shopping is done twice a week, Monday and Thursday"