22

22
Emilia’s POV.
“Mommy…. mommy… no! Mommy!”
I stirred in my sleep, rubbing my eyes before turning around.
“Mommy! Mommy! No! Leave me alone! Mommy!”
My eyes flew open and I turned around on the bed, my eyes going wide as I saw Francesca trashing around on the bed, tears sliding down her cheek.
“Mommy!” She sobbed, still trashing on the bed.
“Sweetie,” I said loudly, hoping it would snap her out of whatever trance or nightmare she was. I help her hands down by her sides. “Sweetie, mommy is here, okay? Mommy is here. It’s okay. It’s okay,” I assured her in soft whispers.
“Mommy!” She sobbed weakly now, her eyes still closed through her trashing had reduced.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s fine. Mommy is here,” I said softly, letting go of her hand and wiping her tears before kissing her forehead. She opened her hand at last and she threw her arms around me instantly.
“Mommy! You’re safe,” she whispered in relief.
“I’m safe, baby girl. Mommy is okay. Mommy is fine. What happened? What did you dream of?” I asked her, concerned. “What exactly is it, baby?”
She let go of me, sitting on the bed, her eyes red and her face dull. Her shoulders were down and she looked nothing like the Francesca I knew. “I want daddy,” she said in a small voice, hiccuping. “I want daddy.”
“Um…daddy is sleeping, Francesca sweetie,” I said quickly. I didn’t know if that lady was still in his room or if she was gone, but it didn’t seem like the right thing to take her there when they were probably still sleeping naked next to each other. I didn’t want her seeing that.
“I don’t care!” She said sharply, shaking her head. “I want daddy!”
“Okay, okay,” I answered her, getting up from the chair and offering to carry her but she shook her head, climbing down from the bed and walking towards the door. I hurried after her and opened the door so she walked out with me behind her.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” I asked, scared that I had done something wrong, or maybe she had realized that I wasn’t her mother and she was going to tell Alaric to throw me out of the house.
My heart was pounding hard in my chest. Alaric hadn’t entirely fulfilled his promise to me about my brother. He hadn’t gotten Matteo a job yet, probably because Matteo was still in the hospital and recovering slowly. And even I have not collected my first salary as it was just my third week here. If Alaric decides to throw me out, would he fulfil the rest of his promise or would he kill Matteo and I?
“Nothing, Mommy,” she answered with a small shake of her head. I was relieved a bit. She called me mommy. Although it still bothered me that she was still so dull. “I just want my daddy.”
As we were approaching Alaric’s room, the door opened and I braced myself, training my face to be blank when he see me, but instead it was the girl from yesterday coming out of the room quietly. She hadn’t noticed us yet. She was fully dressed, her bag in her arm. She was leaving. When she closed the door quietly, she stopped dead I’m her tracks, her eyes landing on me, and then she looked down at Francesca who was looking up at her with an expression I couldn’t see.
“Good morning,” I said quietly. She forced a smile. “Good morning,” she answered and looked at Francesca.
“You have beautiful hair,” she said.
Francesca turned around to me, looking even duller than before. “I want to sleep,” she declared, walking away from her fathers room. I carried her quickly and she allowed this time. I turned around, shooting the lady an apologetic smile before heading back for Francesca’s room.
“Sweetie, are you sure everything is okay? Is something bothering you?” I asked, needing to be sure because this didn’t seem like the girl I had come to know.
“Yes, mommy. Everything is fine,” she assured me. “Can you sleep next to me like last night?” She requested and I nodded my head.
“Anything for my sweet little girl.”
I had been awake for a few minutes now, watching Francesca sleep, her breathing soft. She looked better now. And I hoped whatever ruined her mood this morning would be gone by the time she woke up.
I had to muster up courage and speak to Alaric about it. God. This meant that I couldn’t avoid him as I’ve planned. It wouldn’t be wise to keep what happened this morning away from him. She was his daughter after all and maybe this wasn’t the first time this was happening. Maybe he’d tell me what to do about it next time.
I brushed a strand of hair through her face and kissed her forehead. She didn’t stir, just continued breathing softly through her sleep. I heard the sound of the door knob turning and closed my eyes quickly, willing my breaths to be even and pretending to be asleep. As the door opened, his cologne hit me instantly.
I could feel his presence for a few more minutes before the door closed and the knob turned again. Finally, I could breathe. I opened my eyes and starred at Francesca who was staring right at me.
“Good morning mommy,” she greeted sleepily. “I want to pee.”
“Good morning sweetie,” I answered her with a sigh, kissing her forehead before getting out of bed. “Come on, let’s go.”
I carried her and headed for the toilet. “Mommy, who was that coming out of daddy’s room this morning?”
“She’s his friend,” I answered.
“But why is she in his room? Mommy, did you and daddy have a fight?” She asked, her eyes wide as I set her down.
“No,” I replied quietly with a shake of my head. “No, we didn’t have a fight.”
There was still that heaviness in my chest. But it wasn’t as heavy as it had been last night.