WILLOW STIFF CHAPTER 33

Shortly after the show, Mill and Blake went down, Rhoda suddenly passed by, Mill looked at her, she smiled then looked away, and going towards her,
“Bye…Mill” said Blake, Mill waved her hand to him then dragging Rhoda outside,
While outside, Mill was blushing, Rhoda leaned over to a wall with her arms crossed, looking at Mill,
“Emily, I really don’t get you…who do you really love…that gentleman or Blake?”
“When I’m with Keegan, I feel like I have someone to talk to in times of trouble, or spare time, I feel that I have a company everywhere I go…”
“Well…how about the other one?”
“Since we’ve known each other…a very long time…he’s like the first person that I ever fell in love with…from the day we met, until now…”
“I don’t really get you…anyways, we should go back inside, thank Monsieur Dante for inviting us”
“Yes, yes we should”
Rhoda and Mill went back inside, they quickly were at the back of Alastair and the others, they quickly thanked Dante, after, the others went outside, while Alastair and Mill, with Dante, were left inside,
Alastair and Dante spoke in French, while Mill peeped at the backstage, she saw all the equipment that were used in the opera, she noticed a grand piano opened, she sat down and tried to play her own piece, Alastair and Dante’s conversation were interrupted because of Mill, they went to see Mill,
“Alastair, is she your niece?” asked Dante, Alastair nodded, Mill got surprised, she immediately stood up and apologized,
“S-sorry for meddling around Monsieur Dante” said Mill, who walked passed them,
Half way from the backstage Mill overheard the two talking, she stopped for a while,
“I’m surprised…this is the first time that I’ve heard such melodious composition, I say…she might be a musical prodigy” said Dante,
“I’ve taught her many times, I’m also impressed, she made her own piece”
“Yes, yes, she may be of help to us…may I?”
“If she really wants it, but, you have to consult first my brother, his only child”
“I will”
After talking, Alastair called Mill,
“Amazing performance Monsieur, I hope that you keep this up until the future” said Mill,
“Thank you” said Dante, they then went out of the opera house and joined the others,
They went back to the townhouse and again prepared, they will be leaving again tonight,
Midafternoon, they already ate their dinner,
After, they packed their things then went off to Paris,
While arriving there, Mill dazed and got sleepy, she wanted to talk to Keegan, and wanted to be with Blake, shortly after she fell asleep,
They now arrived at Paris where they immediately went on the harbor that was bound for London, Mill felt longing for her friends, Jane and Caroline, she hoped them happiness,
Evening came, nearly arriving to London, Mill slept through the night, expecting to see Blake, but it failed,
Days after, (31), just a day for New Year’s Eve, what would Mill give to Blake and Keegan, if he would return from Italy?
Mill woke up early dusk, she thought of going to the Collins hall to visit, Caroline, Jane and Liana, she freshened up and quickly went out,
She wouldn’t mind if she had to walk all the way just to reach the Collins hall, before leaving she left a note for Sylvia,
The sun was still rising exactly, Mill was looking up,
Half way, to Manchester, Mill saw some stores that displayed some able gifts, she thought of dragging Rhoda later,
She then went on to walking to the Collins hall,
After hours of walking, she then arrived to her destination, she saw Paul taking out the horses, Mill waved to him, and then he opened the gate,
“Good morning, Monsieur Paul, I haven’t seen you in a while”
“Oh…I was talking the horses for a walk; maybe our timing isn’t that great”
“Is that so, I guess so, will you take them out again?”
“Yes, would you care for a ride Miss?”
“I-I don’t know how to ride…”
“Don’t worry; they’ve known you for so long, trust them!”
“Alright…” said Mill, she didn’t notice that in Blake’s window, he was standing,
Paul and Mill went for a ride with the horses; they passed through the fields, then later on passing by the orphanage, Paul noticed that Mill looked at the orphanage while they rode,
“Miss, would you like to visit your old home?”
“I’ll personally go later, thank you for asking”
They continued on, later on passing by an open field, which Mill didn’t know,
“Monsieur, all you always passing through this path…?”
“Yes, I prefer it here than in the city”
Half way passing through a lake, Mill saw some ruins,
“Miss, would you like to go there?”
“Could we?”
“Certainly”
They went to the ruins, a small hill with the walls crumbled, with the snow covered the dark colored parts, with flowers struggling to come out,
Paul helped Mill get down the horse, together; they stared at the dawn,
“Monsieur, have you met with Keegan today?” asked Mill, with Paul not being his self, he looked at Mill,
“He wrote to me, days after Blake went to Italy, today…we’ll meet, and I’ll be asking permission to Madam Liana and Jane later if I could go out”
“You’ll be meeting him?”
“Yes”
“Where will you meet him?”
“In his mansion, in Liverpool, he said that Dylan, Barr and the others will be here too”
“So…you’ll be leaving later this morning or in the afternoon?”
“I think…morning, I still have chores to do in the hall later afternoon”
“Alright then”
After a while, Paul and Mill went back to the hall, Paul opened the front door for Mill, and there she saw Sophia, Blake, Caroline and Jane,
Caroline immediately approached Mill, and then followed by Jane; they went up to Mill’s room, Jane sat down in her bed,
“Mill, Caroline told me that you’ll be staying here again after New Year?” asked Jane,
“Yes”
“That’s great…but, how about Sophia?”
“Let’s leave that to Mme. Liana, by the by…where is she?”
“She’s still sleeping…”
“Is that so?”
Hours passed of having conversations, they went out for breakfast, exactly, Liana passed by,
“Oh, Mill, good morning, what brings you here?”
“Could we talk outside?”
“Yes, why”
Mill and Liana went outside, Mill told Liana that she’ll stay in the hall after New Year, she also asked for help,
“Alright, that’s great to hear, this’ll get Sophia out of this hall” said Liana, Mill laughed,
“But…not that easily”
“She’s too clingy on Blake”
“But…as long as I see Blake, it’ll make my day bright, that’ll be enough”
“Or…”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll ask you to be with Blake when he’ll be having some business trips, by doing so…you’ll be able to spend time with him”
“Let’s try”
Mill and Liana went back inside, Liana gestured Mill to stay behind her, she then called for Blake, but the one who came was Sophia,
“Sophia, where’s Blake?” asked Liana, who was serious,
“He’s in his room, why?”
“We have something to talk about”
“Tell me, then I’ll tell it to him when he goes out of his room”
“No need” said Blake, Sophia turned to him, Blake then went down,
“Shall we discuss it privately?”
“Of course”