After the Fire

Chapter 4

Amelie watched silently as Fifi turned the pages of the book and Erik held his arm around her protectively. Ettie came up behind Amelie and began watching too.

After several minutes, they went into another room. "I just can't believe it..." Ettie said quietly. "Amelie, we can't let anything happen to him. Can you imagine what that would do to her?"

Amelie shook her head, "Then we must protect him like family."

All of a sudden, wailing was heard from the other room. Both sisters rushed there immediately.

For a brief moment, Amelie expected the worst, after all she barely knew this man, but then she saw something much different. Fifi had her head buried in Erik's chest. It was clear he was in a panic as he shakily tried to calm her down. His hands were shaking, and his face displayed sadness that he had hurt her in some way.

"No, no, no!" Fifi shouted.

Erik's eyes met Amelie, and she came to his aid. "Fifi! What's wrong?"

She held onto Erik for dear life, "He promised he wouldn't leave!"

Amelie shook her head, stunned by the fact that Fifi was speaking.

"He's not leaving, Fifi. Are you leaving, Erik?"

Fifi's big teary blue eyes met Erik's. He stared into them for a moment focusing hard, "Nnn... never."

Fifi wrapped her arms around his neck, and he began to cry too, "It okay. I take care of you."

Fifi gave him a kiss on his bumpy cheek and then returned to sitting next to him.

"Bbb... blood," Erik said and pointed to his head.

Amelie understood now. Erik had broken open one of his wounds from his fall. When Fifi saw the blood, it reminded her of her father's accident. For a five year old, blood meant that Erik was leaving.

"Fifi," Ettie called, "It's time to make lunch. Why don't you help me while Auntie Amelie helps Erik clean up?"

Fifi listened to her mother and ventured into the kitchen while Amelie sat down next to Erik.

"I... I didn't..." he was too emotional and incapable of getting the words out.

"Erik, you didn't hurt her. That little girl is in love with you. You get her and she gets you. You see, her father was killed in a horse and carriage accident. She was witness to it, and she's been mute ever since... until now. When you started to bleed, she associated that with the accident. She thought you would leave her too." As Amelie spoke, she cleaned up Erik's wounds. She also wiped off is face being exceptionally gently on his deformity.

There was a comfortable silence between them as Amelie cleaned him up. Finally, she spoke, "How about a walk into the dining room for lunch? Oh, and here," she handed him a cane, "I don't mind helping you at all, but I'm sure you'd like a little independence."

Erik gave her a smile, and they moved slowly to the dining room. Fifi set a bowl of soup and a hunk of bread in front of him.

"Fifi wanted to get your plate for you," Ettie said.

Fifi reached for Erik and he gave her a hug.

So pure. So innocent, he thought. No woman will ever give me my own children, but I will make sure of it that Fifi is taken care of and given a good education and a good life. That's the best way I can repay these women for all they've done.

Fifi seated herself next to Erik. She wanted to help him with his soup, but her clumsy, chubby hands ended up spilling the soup everywhere.

"Oh, Fifi!" her mother cried as Erik hissed in pain from the hot soup hitting his legs.

Fifi ran from the table and went to hide. 

"My apologies, monsieur. She's a sweetheart, but such a clumsy little girl," Ettie apologized.

Erik shook his head and tried to convey that it was no problem. However, his face grimaced with the pain of his fresh burns.

"Erik, maybe we should get you cleaned up and then try this again?"

He nodded and stood up with Amelie's help. They went into the wash room, and Amelie's cheeks blushed, "Um, I can set up everything for you... if you think you'll be okay. If you need help, I..."

Erik interrupted her, "Too much already," he stuttered out.

"Well listen, if you need anything I won't be far away."

Amelie set up everything in the washroom for Erik and then left him to it.

An hour later, Erik emerged looking fresh in a set of Jacques' old clothes. "Aaaa...Amelie?"

"Coming!" She came to his side as quickly as possible, "You look good. Definitely refreshed. Umm... I know this is a lot to ask and you're probably exhausted..."

"Please," he motioned for her to continue.

"Fifi is a mess thinking she hurt you. That little girl has taken quite a liking to you. Erik, look I don't know you very well, but I'm sure the temptation is strong to get good enough so you can leave and go back to your own life. I'm begging you... for Fifi. Don't do that. She can't take anymore heartbreak."

Fifi is a different version of me, Erik thought. If my father hadn't died and my mother hadn't been so stressed and overworked, life may have been different for me. Ettie was obviously stressed and didn't know what to do with a child like Fifi on her own. I won't leave. I need to make sure that Amelie knows it. "I... won't... leave."

"Good. Now if you don't mind, would you show Fifi that you're okay?"

Erik was led by Amelie to where Fifi was hiding under her bed. "Fi..." he struggled to say.

She poked her head out, "I hurt you..."

"No," he shook his head, "Come here."

The two embraced until there was a loud knock at the front door, "Paris Police! Open up!"