Jane jumped up from the table.
"Wait Lisbon."
The two women turned to look at Jane, he had in his hand the box with the dress in it.
"You should change into this before talking to Holly, it might help her open up. Get rid of some of that 'cop' vibe."
"I don't have a 'cop' vibe."
Jane raises his eyebrows.
"Now Lisbon I think it has been proven in the past that you do."
Jenny laughs
"I don't know about the 'cop' vibe but the costume might help. Who is it this year Patrick?"
Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming."
"I can't wait."
"who has he been before?"
" Aladdin. Pirate, Musketeer and my favourite Buz Lightyear."
Lisbon smirks at Jane.
"I can't wait to see the photos"
Jane rolls his eyes.
"C'mon Lisbon we have a show to start. I will begin while you talk to Holly or the natives will get restless. Here get changed."
Lisbon pouts but takes the box.
"Okay I guess it might help."
Jenny shows Lisbon in to a room to change and Jane finds one for himself.
With difficulty Lisbon manages to zip up the dress. She catches herself in the mirror and admires the beauty of it.
'At least Jane got a colour I like.'
The dress is a shimmering light green, fitted at the waist with a sweetheart collar. It has enough folds in the skirt that lisbon is unable to resist a little spin. While she doesn't mind the dress, she hates the tiara. She has never been good at putting them on. Jenny comes to the rescue after it falls off for the third time on the way to Holly's room. With a couple of pins she soon has it firmly in place. They reach Holly's room where an assistant is sitting with her. Holly gasps as she catches sight of Lisbon. Jenny signals to the assistant and they both leave Lisbon and Holly alone.
It is obvious to Lisbon that Holly has spent most of the night crying. She is sitting on her bed with her knees bent and her arms wrapped around them pulling them close to her body. Traces of tears are evident on her face and she looks towards Lisbon a combination of deep sorrow and unbelief written on her face. Lisbon is standing at the door:
"Hi may I come in?"
Holly nods
"Hi your name is Holly right?"
Holly nods again
"My name is Teresa. I have come to personally invite you to the magic show. I am a friend of the magician and I can promise you that he is very good."
"Can he bring my parents back?"
"No he can't. No one can do that. I know it hurts..."
"No you don't, how can you know" Holly shouts
"I don't know exactly how you feel but I do know what it feels like to lose a Mother suddenly. I know that you are feeling all sorts of different things now, but mainly you hurt like you have never hurt before and the person you trust above everyone else to help you feel better can't be there for you."
Holly looks up at Lisbon with wide eyes.
"y-y-y-yes" she whispers
"Tell me about her."
Holly sits still for a few moments and then a small smile appears on her face
"She was very beautiful.
She looks coyly at Lisbon
"Like you. Her hair was dark and long, I loved to stroke it, it was so soft. She had a gentle voice and a teasing smile, she loved to play practical jokes, together we would concoct plans to get Dad. She would make up funny stories and I was always in them."
Holly can't continue.
"She sounds wonderful."
"Why has she gone, why have they gone?"
Holly buries her face in Lisbon's dress.
"I don't know hunny. But I do know that she will always be with you. The love that you shared with your mom and dad will always stay with you."
Lisbon notices that Holly is wearing a locket around her neck. She points to it
"That is very pretty, did your parent give you that."
Holly sniffs and nods. Lisbon takes her cross in her hands
"My mom gave me this just before she died and I wear it always, because when I do I feel her near me and I know she is looking after me."
"Your mom died?"
"Yes in a car accident too. I was sad for a very long time. I knew that my mom wouldn't want me being sad all the time and staying in my room. She used to tell me all the things she wanted for me when I grew up. How she hoped I would be kind, happy, that I would work hard at school so I could do any job I wanted. So I tried to do those things. I knew I didn't want to forget her and the things she told me and so I got myself a book and wrote down the things I remembered about her, the things we did together and the things she told me. Even now I love to get it out and read it."
"I-I-I could do that. I don't want to forget."
Lisbon strokes Holly's hair
"You must feel very scared right now but there are people who love you and will look after you and help you. I hope that you will allow me to come and see you."
"Will you?"
"Yes I think we could become good friends, if you would like that."
Holly wipes the tears off her face and nods again.
"I don't always dress like this though. This is just to help my magician friend."
"You are helping him"
"Yes I have never done it before and I am very nervous about it. I would be really nice to have a friendly face in the audience to turn to when I get scared."
Holly's face brightens a little.
"You could look at me and I will wink at you and you will know that you are doing a great job."
Lisbon smiles
"That would be fantastic. It would make me feel so much better if you were there to help me. We better get going as he may have already started."