Burnt Paiges

CHAPTER FOUR: PAPER-THIN SKIN

I awoke to a small limb on my stomach, but I didn't mind, I loved the warmth. So warm. I couldn't help but smile. As I looked across from Luca, Paige was fast asleep as she enveloped his petite frame in her own. 

The weather really does get cold in September. Poor things are shivering. I should give it to her now...to avoid tension...yup, yes that's the best decision.

Quinn carefully transferred Luca's leg off himself to besides him, as he gradually shifted his weight slowly as to not wake them. He rose to retrieve something in the small chest of drawers that collectively kept their clothes. 

As the sun shone around the outline of the stack of books, he examined the quilted blanket in the little light there was. Hmph, she had better like this, Luca and I took our precious time.

The clean stitching firmly held all the blocks of cloth together. Quinn and Luca had made it from the scraps of their mother's clothes, which Luca had initially adjusted to fit Paige. It was well done, to be mostly stitched by an 8-year-old. Quinn assisted also, but he only did the needlework around the edges. In the middle, to the best of Luca's abilities, had Paige's name done in embroidery.

He spread the blanket wide, covering his siblings from neck to toe. Quinn was at Paige's side when he said, "Happy birthday big sister," planting a short kiss on her cheek. It was the first time in a long time in which Quinn showed Paige affection. Too bad she was deep in sleep; she would never know.

Luca from under the double layer of sheets, rolled over to face Paige, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Quinn breath caught in his throat as Luca stirred. Fortunately, he settled shortly after.

But good things don't last forever.

...

Later that day, Quinn returned home early from the farm. A few feet away from the house, Quinn heard frantic, muffled screaming from a woman. He dropped the wheelbarrow in haste and barged through the door yelling, "Luca!"

"Quinnie you're home! Help me calm Paige down. She won't stop screaming and crying!" Concerned was the word to least describe Luca's tone. He wore the face of a child that became flustered by a crying baby. And that was exactly the situation.

Quinn pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled deeply.

"Where's Paige?"

"She's in the bedroom."

On the pathway to their room, books were strewn in what used to be the only clear aisle. As he carefully leapt over the mess, he called out to her, "Paige! Paige what's the matter? What's with the tantrum?" He was by her side now as she sat on the floor. However, don't be fooled by his actions, he was furious beyond levels. He was about to erupt. But he kept the situation calm.

"I, I, I can't find my book. No, books! The one about the babies! I can't find it!" Tears leaked continuously from her orbs. Snot was playing peek-a-boo in her nose, she periodically pulled to keep it in. She was a mess. Her hair was as frantic as she was.

And it was in that breath he understood the core of the problem. Luca replaced Quinn when he moved from her side to sit on the bed.

He sighed, I guess the truth must come out, "I burned it." Paige eyes seemed to bulge from her skull. "You, you monster," she spat. "You little devil! How could you!" Her arms flailed haphazardly, hitting Luca in the jaw. "Ah Paige!" as he reached for his face.

"My books, my books, my books, my books, my books, my books," she repeated in a single tone, "my books, I want it NOW!"

EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS ABOUT YOU! "Yes Paige, I burnt them some days ago. I'm sorry, but they had to go. You can't always have what you want."