Once Upon A Tale (Published Amazon)

Chapter Eight

...Esmeralda...

Sicily, Italy – 1621

It had been three years since Tobias had disappeared without a trace, and in all that time, Ashlyn was never seen to be grieving his loss nor did she ask anyone for help finding him. After his disappearance, his father and friends worked tirelessly trying to find him to no avail.

"He left with his new hussy." She told everyone who would mention his disappearance, but Esmeralda knew better. It was probably true that Tobias had found a new love somewhere, but he was terrified of Ashlyn and what she was capable of. Everyone in town feared her now the same way they use to fear Esmeralda.

She was often seen with her daughter, Tiana who was now five years old. She was a beauty with her father's blonde hair and her mother's green eyes.

Esmeralda watched as the child skipped around the garden of her grandparents picking pretty flowers. She so reminded her of a young Ashlyn when she was innocent of heart. Raised voices came from inside the house and Esmeralda bristled. The little girl stopped what she was doing and looked towards the house where the sound of voices were coming from.

"What makes you say I killed my husband?" She heard Ashlyn yell at her father.

"I never said you killed Tobias. However, you have changed Ashlyn. I do not know what is going on with you anymore."

"Let me tell you about Tobias Marcello. He knew he was to wed me, but he was sneaking around with Sabina doing things that only married couples should be doing. I caught them twice. He told her that he loved her and not me, but they could still be together when we wed." Ashlyn's mother gasped. Ashlyn looked at her mother and spoke. "The first time I saw them was when I came home late from writing on the rocks. The second time was the day God killed Sabina with a lightning strike. He obviously did not approve of their affair either." Ashlyn's mother gasped again and made the sign of the cross on her chest.

"I'm telling you, stop looking for him. He walked out of the house one night, very drunk and never returned. I assumed he left me for his new whore." Once again, Ashlyn's mother made the sign of the cross on her chest. She did not approve of such language.

"If I have changed father, it is because he changed me. In order for me to survive his adulterous behaviour, I needed to be strong for Tiana." Just then, Tiana entered the house hearing her name. Ashlyn turned to the child and sneered. She looked so much like her father that sometimes she just wanted to lock her away.

"Why are you in here? I told you to play outside. Now go." The child's lip began to quiver and she looked at her mother not understanding what she had done wrong. It seemed everything she did was wrong for she was always in trouble for something. Ashlyn's mother's eyes opened wide at the way her granddaughter was treated.

"Come with me mio caro. We will pick flowers together." She took hold of the child's hand and led her out into the backyard. Her father stood tall looking down at his daughter. She was not the girl he had raised.

***

Esmeralda was about to pour herself a cup of tea, when there was a knock at her door. She knew this day was coming and had already prepared. When she opened the door, Carmela and Roberto stood, worry on their faces.

"Come on in. I just put a pot of tea on." They followed Esmeralda into her small cottage and she gestured for them to sit. They looked scared and weary. She placed three cups on the table and poured out a fragrant tea to calm nerves. Carmela and Roberto looked at each other not knowing how to start. Esmeralda sighed and shook her head.