Thanks, Kate.
~*~
Lucy was sitting with Edmund in the park. They weren’t talking at all, just enjoying watching the snow fall. Lucy studied her brother as snowflakes landed on his red, freckled cheeks and dark eyelashes. His head was tilted back and his eyes were closed as he relaxed in the quiet park. There were children playing on the swings further down, but they weren’t loud enough to disturb the peace the two Pevensies were sitting in. Laughter mixed with the soft sound of snow falling were all that Lucy heard.
“So, Ed, why did you ask me to come with you here?” Her brother shrugged his shoulders without opening his eyes.
“I thought you might like it. Everyone knows how much you love snow.”
“Ed, you’ve never just asked me to go anywhere without a reason,” Lucy said, unconvinced with his explanation. “Are you listening to me?” she asked, because it was becoming obvious to her that he was not. He had sat up now, black locks falling in his eyes, and was watching something intently on the other side of the park. Lucy glanced over to what he was looking at. She saw a couple of girls from her school walking down the path from the playground. They were older than her, but younger than Susan. There was one girl whom she didn’t recognize; a curly haired brunette who had a pleasant look about her. She was listening as the other girls chatted and ran the conversation. Her brown eyes fell on Edmund, who glanced away immediately. Suddenly everything clicked into place in Lucy’s mind.
“I’m a diversion!” she cried, quite put out with her brother. He turned to her now.
“Shh!” he fervently whispered, grabbing her arm. Lucy jerked it away.
“I can’t believe you would do this to me! I honestly believed that you wanted to spend time with me. I should have known better,” she said in a huff as she jumped off the park bench and marched away.
“Lucy!” he whispered, trying to grab her coat, but failing miserably. He groaned inwardly and put his face in his hands. This had not gone the way he had planned.