Pandora's Box

Chapter 1

Avignon, France.

Carol Aucoin's House.

Summer.

Afternoon.

"Pandora! Be careful with that! It was your grandmother's favorite music box!"

Pandora clutched the antique music box tighter to her chest and gave her mother her best big gray puppy dog eyes she could muster.

"But mama, It's got lots of pretty ballerinas on it! I love ballerinas!" Four year old Pandora squealed in a whiny voice.

"Pandora Ellianna Lune! Put that back where you found it, RIGHT NOW!"

Pandora's mother, Emma, had a short fuse that Pandora always found a way to light.

"But m- "

"Pandora, do you even know the history behind that box and how important it was to your grandmother!?"

"Not really, bu- "

"That box was made by your great-grandmother's , first American boyfriend when she was eighteen and- "

"Great-Grandpa made it?"

"No Pandora, her FIRST American boyfriend."

"She was with other guys in America? What was his name? What was he like? Was he nice? Was he handsome? Why didn't he marry Great-Grandma?"

Pandora began firing questions like crazy at her mother, filled with curiosity do to the new information she received.

"Was he a barber? Or a farmer? Or a baker? Is that why I love bread? Mama, Plea- "

"Pandora, sweetheart if you stop talking, I will tell you."

That shut her up.

Pandora closed her mouth and starred up at her mother, her big grey eyes filled with curiosity.

"Ermm..."

Emma wasn't sure how to explain her grandmother's situation to her four year old daughter.

"Your great-grandmother's first boyfriend in America was, Caine. He was very...mysterious, from what I've heard about him from my mother, your great-grandmother, Ellianna, couldn't stand him. She loved to be open, meet new people and take risks. Caine didn't like to socialize and didn't want her to socialize. There whole relationship was very rocky. Ultimately it didn't work out."

Pandora was completely confused.

"Why didn't they just stop being girlfriend and boyfriend, Mama?

"Well, Ellianna tried to break it off. She had other responsibilities and things to focus on, like her dream if being a famous ballerina in New York City. Caine didn't take her seriously the first few times she tried to end it, until one afternoon they had a screaming match in Central Park. After that Ellianna fled New York for a few months and came back to France to perfect her ballet, but ultimately to get away from HIM."

"If Ellianna came back to France, then how did she meet great-grandpa?"

"After months of deliberation she went back to New York City, met your great-grandfather, Carter, and got engaged to him."

"If she didn't see Caine anymore, then how did she get the box?"

Emma sighed and knew Pandora would keep prying for the information until she gets it.

"The morning of the wedding a package showed up at Ellianna's door step, when she opened the package she found that music box you're holding and a note that said "Congratulations, here's you're wedding gift. Love, Caine."