The sound of footsteps made them both pause. The little girl jumped down behind the counter, pulling the leaf, bag and all, off the counter with her. She set it carefully on the ground, and put a finger to her lips, shushing it.
A shadow appeared over the counter, and then a voice said, "Lily-bit? is that you?"
The little girl jumped up and nearly flew over the counter into the arms of the young woman who stood there. "Auntie Nadine!" she cried. "I didn't know you were still here!"
"I work here, silly," said the young woman. "I just stopped by to check and make sure no one had broken in. Guess someone did."
[Color Harvested]