How Did You Become This Way? Chapter 47

The woman looked over at her eldest child with tears in her eyes.

"Mother! Why are you out of bed! Your health is poor, please get back into bed..." Nathanial,upon seeing his ill mother up and about and walking for more than a fee steps for the first time in a few years, naturally freaked out for her safety.

Henry, the broody, was standing behind his Aunt and making sure she didn't collapse backwards.

Taking in the scene of the room before her, Mzia the lady of the household knew exactly what was going on from seeing the positions everyone was taking in the room. It helped that she had also been eavesdropping for a couple of minutes from above them at the head of the stairs.

Francine looked towards her mother in shock. Hopefully her mother didn't hear her harsh words.

Mzia, looking at her daughter, had small tears forming in her eyes.

Opening her mouth, Mzia spoke softly.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Francine. Mother is such a coward...."

Francine's face turned white,then green, and white again in color.

"Mom...is what they're saying true? Is.. he not my real father?" Francine said as she tried to fight back at the choking sobs that were trying to come out of her.

"My baby girl, its not that bad. I married your real father shortly before he died. So you are born out of wedlock but a legitimate child. Unfortunately your fathers family didn't really want to be part of our lives and left us to fend for themselves. I only got a tiny fraction of my late husband's fortune. Barely enough to pay for Anetta's life services. Mr. Stuart has been so kind as too use his own money to help us out. Please stop this bout of hysteria my dear Francine. This is all mothers fault."

Mzia spoke softly because that is all the energy she had in her to muster.

Miriam could yell from a mile away this woman was dying from something, but she could not tell what her affliction was from so far away.

What if it was Tuberculosis? This thought sent shivers down Miriams spine.

She hadnt observed any coughing fits yet so perhaps it was a false alarm...

"Mother how could you do this! Why wasn't I told the truth? Did Nathanial know?!" Francine sputtered out at her family, or who she at least thought was her family. Francine couldn't be sure of anything anymore.

"I just found out yesterday Francine, please calm down. Its not the end of the world. Didnt you hear mother? She's a legitimate widow. No one will find out okay? Please stop cursing at people who have done you no wrong.

Looking at the tense atmosphere, Miriam kinda wished she could just go outside and play.

As she was lost in thought, she felt someone tap on her shoulder.

Turning her head, she saw the boy she saved looking very confused at this situation taking place in front of them.

Looking the boy over, she noticed he had changed out of the wet clothes and into some old looking clothes that looked a tad to big for his small frame.

Coming to the conclusion that they must be Nathanial's old clothes or a pair of Jeremy's, she let out of soft exhale and just lifted her arm and slipped it over his shoulder.

Giving the boy a reassurimg shoulder hug, even Miriam herself felt a little better.

She really needed to stop worrying so much and just relax and live life.

Leaning over to whisper into his ear, Miriam whispered the word 'Okay' to him in modern turkish.

Hopefully that was the right language and word.

The boy, perked up his ear at hearing this semi- familiar word.

A shine came over his eyes, and he looked like he was about to say something back, before Miriam put her finger to her lips and made shh sound.

Knowing vaguely what this action most likely meant, the boy kept his words inside himself instead of saying anything.

Wait...why is he shushing, hmmm...

"Okay mother, we can go upstairs and talk about this with Francine. Please get back into bed..." The dark brown haired youth said to his mother, his brow furrowing in plain worry and anxiety.

"Okay dear, I will. Francine come upstairs with me, Anetta you should go watch the children outside. Kitty, please start to get brunch ready, I heard the kids didn't have breakfast this morning. Please prepare a generous meal this time." Mzia said as her right hand began to tremble abit.

"Okay dears, help me back up the stairs please. If it's not too much trouble. Henry, I need to write a letter to your mother and father thanking them for sending you to accompany my dear Nate." Sounding abit dry mouthed, Mzia mumbled the last half of her sentence.

"I'm sorry Stephen. I will talk to the kids about this. My condolences to your daughter too."

Mzia turned her head to take a good look at Miriam at this point and time.

Noticing this newfound attention on herself, Miriam took her arm off the boy, and flashed a gentle smile at Mzia and did a small curtsey before saying in a gentle manner, "How happy I am to finally meet you Madam. Thankyou for opening your home up to me while we're on this journey. Now I know who I have to thank for my sisters not getting their looks from father, for this fact I am extrenely grateful. A lady who looks like father would surely scare all the good genteel away."

Upon hearing this, Stephen almost burst a blood vessel. Luckily, he was a top notch actor.

"Miriam, don't say that about your dear father. My pride can not hold up to such criticism from a beloved child of mine." Mr.Stuart said in a mocking tone of voice.

With quick wit, Miriam replied, "But father, if my sisters looked like you, wouldn't they have a mustache too? I don't want my family put in an exhibit! Father is a good example of a man, but please don't become a lady father. You shall frighten everyone out and about if you do!"

While sayng these things, Miriam opened her big blue eyes wide open and made her mouth agape as if in shock or awe. Both her hands were placed on the lower side one cheek each. This made for a rather comical scene.

Mzia let out a small chortle of laughter, and saod in response, "I somewhat agree with her, please don't become a lady Mr.Stuart. Alright on a serious note, its a pleasure to meet you ad well Miriam. My children, lets go upstairs and talk...Henry you should stay down here." Mzia instructed as she slowly made the slow and undoubtly torturous journey back up the steps of her picturesque victorian house.