Twisted Every Way

Chapter 18~ Painful Memories

~Paige's POV~

I woke up to something sprawled out at the bottom of the bed. I sat up and before I looked to see what it was, I checked the bed next to me. Empty. I looked at the bottom of the bed and I chucked a bit when I saw Mia spread out on top of the blanket that was covering my legs. She looked like a little star fish.

I scooped her up and placed her little sleeping body in my arms. I loved these times when she is not running around every where. She is such an energetic child. The only time she is ever quiet is when she is sleeping or eating. She loves to eat.

I never really needed servants in the house. There was one girl who turned up on our doorstep one stormy day and asked to take refuge in our house. She only looked about fifteen years old and she told me her name was Marie. She said that she had enough money to pay for a night and that she would leave before any of us woke up. I took pity on her though. She was shabbily dressed and looked very malnourished. I told her that she didn't need to pay and that she could spend as long as she needs in one of the guest bedrooms. She looked so happy and excited that she could have a roof over her head. In return, she insisted of letting her help with the chores around the house. She helped with the cleaning and I treated her like family. Family that she told me that she had never had.

I stood up from the bed and got dressed in a ruby day dress. I brushed my hair, and covered Mia up with the blanket. She wriggled a bit but stayed asleep. I walked down stairs to start making breakfast for my family. As I walked into the kitchen, I noticed that Marie was boiling some water of the fire.

"Good morning Marie. Have you had a good night's sleep?" I asked her politely as I gather the oats from the pantry to make my family porridge for breakfast.

"I slept fine thank you," she smiled as she began to help me make the food.

Once we had made the porridge, we served it in three bowls. One for me, one for Marie and one for Mia, who had woken up and ran downstairs ready to eat. I placed a bowl in front of my hungry little girl and kissed her head. She picked up her spoon and began eating. I chuckled at her. She was so cute.

I don't regret having Mia. Even though I was so young, she has made my life so much better than it already was.

It had just past my eighteenth birthday when I got married to Alexander. And then nine months later, we heard Mia's first ever cry. She was the cutest baby in the entire existence of babies. Christine says in her letters, that we write to each other, that every mother says that. It is just our way of showing our love for our little babies.

Mia finished her breakfast and ran upstairs to play with her dolls. I helped Marie clean the dishes and dry them and when we had finished, I went upstairs to get Mia dressed. I found her in her bedroom, sitting on her bed, playing with two dolls. She was quietly making them talk to each other and I smiled as my heart melted at the sight of my little girl playing.

I walked into the room and she turned to look at me and smiled a toothy grin. She put down her dolls and rushed towards me and engulfed my legs into a hug. I picked her up and wrapped my hands around her. She is my life. I have no idea where I would be without her.

I dressed her in a navy blue dress and tied her hair in a regal style. She asked me if she could look like a princess today.

We walked back down the stairs and into the drawing room. Marie was in the library reading a book when she saw Mia.

"Mia! Look at you. You're like a princess," she said. She stood up and told Mia to spin around. She did and we laughed at her cuteness. I heard the front door open and close again.

I left Mia and Marie in the drawing room as they were too busy playing princesses. I walked into the hallway and there was Alexander hanging up his overcoat on the rack. He was never home this early.

"What are you doing home?" I asked him as he turned around, startled. He smiled and came closer to plant a quick soft kiss on my lips.

"What? So I can't come home from a boring day at work to spend some time with my beautiful family?" I giggled. He has changed so  much from when we were back in France. He stopped drinking alcohol as soon as we got in Italy. I'm so happy. I don't think anything could make me happier than I am now.

"I suppose so. Mia and I were just about to go to the market to get some more vegetables for a stew I was going to make tonight. Would you come with us?"

"Of course. Where is she?" I pointed to the direction of the drawing room and he smiled. He walked into the room and I could hear Mia's excited sequels. I smiled as I grabbed Mia's overcoat from the rack and walked to where my family was. I put it on her and put my own coat on.

We said goodbye to Marie who was planning on visting a friend she had made since she started living here. We walked hand in hand all the way to the market, which was rather busy at this time of year.

Mia pulled us in the direction of the vegetable stall because she knew from the countless times that we have taken her here, that as soon as we get what we came for, we would go and look at the trinket stall, which was her favourite. There was an old lady who ran the stall that would always give Mia a slice of cake that she makes and takes with her.

We bought our vegetables and soon enough we were standing by the trinket stall, except the old lady wasn't the one who was running it today. There was a person in a black cape and dark hood. For some reason I regognised the cape but I couldn't quite put my finger on its owner. What am I saying? There are a lot of people who own capes. It doesn't mean I know them.

Mia was staring at a violin that was on the table. Again, I recognized it from my past but it must have been long ago as I don't remember it.

"Mama, Papa? Can I have this please?" Mia asked politely. The man looked up a little, not so much that I could see his face, but enough to see the piercing blue eyes that were peering at my daughter. I pulled my hand around Mia's shoulders protectively and the man stopped staring at her and instead, stared at me.

"How much for the violin signore?" I asked the man. He looked up completely. I knew who he was. I gasped. He smirked.

"Seems you forgot about me Paige. Tell you what, twenty euro for the sweet little girl. What's your name mademoiselle?"

"Mia," she said eagerly. I looked up to Alexander who was staring at the man with a death glare.

"You stay away, you... you... monster!" I stroked his chest in order to calm him down. It seemed to work.

"Is that a threat Monsieur. I am only here to seek out what is mine. And Paige, I found you!"

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Authors note:

Thank you so much for all the reads, votes and comments that you gave given me. You don't understand how amazing it makes me feel. So thank you.

Thank you once again, my lovely fans. I love you all so much.

Love, Freya xxxxx