Unexpected Love

Chapter 54

Julia walked down the sidewalk past the pub and a few other houses, looking around for a nearby store. She hadn't known the town the greatest, only from the few days she spent hiding and on the run. It wasn't very big though so finding her way around wasn't difficult, mainly only the looks other people sent her who walked by. Julia ignored most of them though and tried to keep her posture confident as she walked into one shop to get the cookie mix and a few other supplies Alma needed for in the kitchen.

She walked around the store for a bit, easily finding the cookie mix as well as getting orange juice that Bronwyn requested. Alma had given her more money than needed and Julia was unsure about spending it or not.

The woman walked up to pay for the juice and mix, leaving the store when a shop near by caught her attention and she smiled slightly. Maybe she could spoil the woman just a bit.

Julia walked across the street and into the shop, noticing all the glass and decor inside, keeping her bag close against her to not knock anything over. The store was awfully quiet with her being the only one in there and the way the woman from behind the desk was looking at her, she knew she was being watched closely. With her appearance, it probably didn't look that professional and it was an awfully fancy store.

Her attention was caught by a dark blue ring she spotted from the corner of her eye. She walked over to it, looking over it closely and seeing it was almost the same shade of blue that Alma liked to wear. The gemstones seemed to be genuine, the navy blue sapphire shining from the middle of the ring, being held up by a silver band. Julia was unsure about her ring size but was willing to take a guess, noticing she couldn't find any other's like it.

"How much is this ring?" Julia asks, glancing over at the woman who sent her a look.

"Five hundred." She replies, a hint of judgement in her voice as she seemed to be looking at the woman's eye patch. Julia ignored it though, thinking deeply about getting it. She didn't want to spend all of Alma's money on something she wanted to get her. It didn't seem right.

She searched her pocket, knowing she possibly had something left from all the time Matthew and her would raid stores and buildings for any sort of cash. Not the right way to earn it, but for what she was spending it on made it seem a bit better.

The woman at the desk watched her closely, making sure she wouldn't pick pocket, but Julia knew better. Alma's influence was clearly rubbing off as she would usually just steal. But she couldn't. Not for something special Julia was getting just for her. She wanted to feel like she earned seeing the older woman happy.

"I have four hundred and fifty." Julia says, using all of her cash she had for herself and sitting it on the woman's desk with the ring.

"Five hundred or else nothing." The woman repeats and Julia bit the side of her cheek, deep in thought. She could use fifty out of Alma's cash, but she wasn't so sure.

"Can I get you the fifty a different time?"

"Five hundred." The woman repeats, sending her a slight glare. "Don't think that patch is fooling me. You all fake having something wrong with yourselves just to get things cheaper. It doesn't work in here. Either you pay the full amount, or nothing at all."

Julia sent her a look for almost a full minute, her stare hardening before she fished a fifty out of Alma's money, slamming it with the rest of her cash.

"There." She mutters, carefully taking the ring and tucking it into the pocket of her jacket. She then met her gaze, lifting her patch up for a moment and sent her a shit eating grin when she seen the look on her face shift.

"And since you have to be a nosy bitch, don't judge people from what you assume." Julia says, leaving the store before the woman could reply. She tucked her patch back down, checking once more to make sure the ring was secure before making her way back down to where the loop was located.