Thanks for the great reviews. I'm glad you like the story and I know reading something in first person is a bit different, but it is the only way I feel comfortable writing. Thanks again!
Piper and I walk around the lakeshore and Millennium park in silence for what seems like forever until Piper wraps her arm around me and lets me know it is time to get back. I lean into Piper and let her guide me back to the subway. While sitting on the train I could feel Piper studying me again, she grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. I look up into her sympathetic eyes and know she will support me 100. I look back down at my hands trying to think of all the scenarios that could be played out tonight.
Piper: Stop thinking about it Paige, what happens, happens. Worrying about it is not going to help. Just try to focus on something else.
Paige: I'll try. So how are you going to explain you not being at work?
Piper: Oh yeah I forgot about that. Um, I could say the other chef was looking for some over-time and I decided I wanted to spend more time with you guys.
Paige: That should work. Thanks for ditching work today for me and believing me about everything. I don't know what I would have done if you thought I was lying.
Piper: Your welcome, I didn't really want to work anyway. So are there any other secrets in your life I should know about?
Paige: Nope, I'm all out.
Piper: Good, try to keep it that way.
When we walked back into the condo the phone was ringing and we could hear the shower running. I sat myself down on the couch and started flipping through the channels as Piper answered the phone. She walked back in the room a couple minutes later and plopped down right next to me.
Paige: Who was on the phone?
Piper: Mom, she was just making sure we had their flight info. They will be landing at 3 pm so they probably won't get here until 4 or 4:30, depending on the traffic and if they stop at the hotel first.
Paige: Sounds good. Did you want to do...
Prue: Morning Paige...Piper what are you still doing here? Your late for work.
Piper: Good morning to you to Prue and it turns out they don't need me today so I'll be hanging out here with Pheebs and Paige.
Prue: Good then Paige won't get lonely when I leave for work because I don't think we'll be hearing from Phoebe until at least noon. She drank an awful lot last night.
Piper: Yeah I noticed, ya think we should be concerned?
Paige: No I think she is just blowing off some steam before finals start. I am pretty sure she isn't like this all the time.
Prue: Ok, but you let us know the minute you think it is getting out of hand.
Paige: No problemo. There should be coffee left in the kitchen, but it might not be up your standards since I made it.
Prue: Thanks, anything with caffeine will be good enough for me today.
Piper: So kiddo you want to watch a movie until Phoebe gets her butt out of bed.
Paige: Sure what have you got, and please not "Kill it Before it Dies."
Piper: I would never own that movie, it is so awful I don't know what Phoebe sees in it.
Paige: Me either. How about a comedy.
Piper: Since it is close to Christmas how does Elf sound.
Paige: Sure pop it in. I'm going to get some water you want anything?
Piper: No I'm good.
As I walk back in to the living room Prue hollers goodbye and heads off to work. I go to sit on the chair since Piper is laying down on the couch, but she motions for me to lay down with her. Once we are both comfortable Piper hits play and soon we are both out cold. I wake up to Piper stirring behind me. I turn over and see that she is awake and was trying to get off the couch without waking me.
Paige: You could have just woke me up, there is no reason for me to be sleeping in the middle of the day.
Piper: I know you just looked so peaceful and tonight is going to be anything but that so I figured I'd leave you be.
Paige: Thanks for the thought. What time is it? I can't wait until this is all over with.
Piper: It's 2. Can you wake up Phoebe while I make us some lunch.
Paige: Sure stick me with the hard job.
I walk into Prue's room and see Phoebe sprawled out over the entire bed. For fun I hop up on to the bed and start jumping up and down while yelling, "It's time to wake up!" Phoebe rolls over on her back and grabs my legs tackling me on to the bed and starts tickling me. I am laughing so hard tears are running down my face.
Paige: Sttttop! Pleeeease Stop! Uncle!
Phoebe: That is what I thought. Why didn't you let me sleep in Paige, we don't have anything to do until mom and dad get here.
Paige: Uh Pheebs it's 2 pm. Piper is making lunch right now and figured you might want to join us.
Phoebe: It's 2 already, why didn't you wake me up sooner. When are mom and dad getting here.
Paige: We didn't wake you up because we fell asleep on the couch and they'll get here around 4.
Phoebe: Ok, let me grab a shower and I'll be out for lunch in 30 minutes.
Time seems to fly and before I know it Prue is back from her shoot and the buzzer from the lobby door is ringing. I force myself to take a deep breath and tell myself just get through the next couple of hours and then it will be over. A few minutes later there is a knock on the door and as Piper goes to answer the door she pats me on the back letting me know she is there for me.
Piper: Mom, dad come on in. How was the flight?
Victor: Good, we made great time.
Mom: The place looks great, Piper. Where are the rest of my girls?
As if on cue Phoebe and Prue walk into the living room and give hugs and hello's. I am trying to hang back from the group, postponing the inevitable. Eventually it is my turn and I force myself to give Victor a hug and then greet mom.
Mom: Paige you look so different, so grown up.
Prue: You should have seen her with her uniform on, you wouldn't have recognized her at all.
Phoebe: Yeah mom, she walked up to me at the train station and had to say hello before I even knew it was her.
Paige: It's just a uniform guys, it doesn't make me look any different.
Mom: Well later this week I want to see you in it, ok?
Paige: Yeah fine, just not right now.
We all migrate into the living room and sit around catching up on things when suddenly the topic of me and Westpoint comes up.
Mom: So do you still like Westpoint sweetie?
Paige: Yep, it's a lot of hard work and I am always busy, but I have learned so much. It is everything I thought it would be.
Prue: Unlike Phoebe she has already chosen a major. Soon we will have a pilot in the family.
Phoebe: Hey! I picked a major in fact I have picked lots of majors.
Victor: Why are you going to Westpoint to become a pilot? You could do that at a flight school.
Piper: I think it's great. Mom you should see some of her homework I don't know how she does it.
Paige: It takes me forever to do it Piper and you could so do it if you wanted to.
Mom: Well I always knew how smart all of my girls are. So what is your major called?
Paige: Aviation engineering.
Victor: Sounds like a fancy name for pilot.
I ball my hands up into a fist and stand up having had enough from Victor. I send a look to Piper letting her know that I am going to tell everyone now. Piper nods her head in agreement and I sit back down and glare a Victor and a small smile crosses my face. This is finally going to be over.
Paige: Well I have one more piece of news for everyone and it is going to be a little bit shocking. I have been keeping another secret from you guys.
Victor: I knew it, you got kicked out didn't you!
Paige: No that's not it Victor, but it is nice to know that you are NOT my father. I would hope MY father would be a little bit more supportive of me.
Prue: Calm down Paige what are you talking about.
Paige: Around eight years ago I found out that Victor was not my father. Apparently my dad's name is Sam.
Victor is staring at me and I can tell his face has gone a bit pale, wondering if I am going to tell them everything.
Phoebe: Don't lie Paige! It's bad enough you keep secrets from us. We all know who your dad is.
Paige: I'm not lying and I am done keeping secrets!
I stand up to pace around the living room and look over to my mom. She is just staring at me with this shocked look on her face. Phoebe and Prue are both looking back and forth between mom and Victor waiting for some sort of confirmation that my story is true. While Piper is just glaring at Victor waiting patiently for me to continue with the rest of my story.
Mom: How...How did you know?
Prue and Phoebe: What?
Piper: Guys quiet, let Paige talk.
Paige: Victor told me when I was 10. He was mad because Phoebe hid the remote again and he thought I did it. Remember when I had to get some stitches on my forehead? Well Victor was yelling at me about how much of a good-for-nothing- burden I was and how he was so glad I wasn't his daughter. Then he pushed me down when I couldn't find the remote and my head hit the corner of the coffee table.
Victor: Why you little liar! I can't believe that you thought you could concoct this story and that they would believe you. What is the matter with you?
Paige: Listen Victor you and I both know that I am telling the truth. They can choose whether or not they believe me I don't care either way. I just don't want to keep it to myself anymore, I'm done protecting you Victor, I'm not giving you anymore leverage in my life.
Prue: Paige how could you say those things? We all know that dad would never hurt any of us. Get out of my house!
Piper: Don't you dare leave Paige, we are going to sort this out before anyone leaves. I for one would like to hear what mom and Victor have to say.
Phoebe: Why did you just call dad Victor? Do you actually believe the lies that Paige is telling?
Piper: Yes, I believe her. I can't think of one good reason for Paige to make this up.
Prue: You want a reason, how about attention. Now that her Westpoint news is no longer a big deal, she had to come up with this ridiculous story. Dad would never hurt in this family.
Paige: That's the thing Prue, I'm not part of this family, I never was.
Mom: Paige, I want you to look me in the eye and answer my question truthfully. Is your story true?
As I am standing I look down straight into my mom's blue eyes hoping that she will believe me and answer quietly, "Yes."
Mom: Has he ever hurt you since then?
Victor quickly stands up and I take somewhat of a defensive position.
Victor: Patty! I can't even believe you are even considering this. All Paige has done for the past few years is lie to us.
He then steps over to me and I tell myself, 'Don't back down, you're not backing down from him ever again.' He stares down at me and we are literally inches a part.
Piper: Victor back off, we are going to talk this out.
Victor: Stop calling me by my name, I'm your father.
He then grabs my arm and whispers harshly, "I can't believe you did this! Tell them the you're lying or you will regret it." I yank my arm out of his grasp and then push him into the wall and hold him there with my hand around his neck. My other hand was curling into a tight fist while the rest of my body was trembling from the amount of rage that had built up over the years. I looked into Victor's eyes and could tell that he was mad and scared. With clenched teeth I finally voiced what I had wanted to say for the last eight years.
Paige: Don't you ever touch me again or you will not live long enough to regret it! I'm done taking crap from you and in case you haven't noticed I'm no longer a defenseless, weak child.
Piper: Paige! Let go of him, we'll get through this. Don't do something you'll regret.
Phoebe: Let go of our dad! If he's not yours fine, but leave our dad alone.
Prue: Mom say something.
Mom: Sweetie I believe you, just let him go and we will talk about this.
I remove my hand from Victor's neck, but I never once take my eyes off the man that has taken pleasure in torturing me over the years. Victor starts coughing and Prue and Phoebe help him back to the couch. I then slowly back away and Piper comes over giving me a hug trying to get me to calm down.
Piper: Missy you have to calm down a bit. I think mom believes you and Prue and Phoebe are just in denial.
Paige: I don't think so, they seem pretty adamant that I am lying about everything.
Piper: Well then lets convince them.
Paige: How?
Piper: Tell them another instance of him abusing you.
Paige: Fine but if it doesn't work I'm leaving
Piper: Ok, let me me get everyone settled down and don't talk until I tell you.
Piper has me sit down in a chair opposite the couch.
Piper: Alright guys now that we are settled down lets talk about this reasonably. Let's get one thing straight first, mom who is Paige's biological father?
Mom: His name was Sam.
Prue: Why did you say was?
Mom: He died in a car accident right after we found out I was pregnant. Not too long after that Victor and I ended our separation and we decided to raise Paige as our daughter. Paige I'm so sorry.
Prue: How could you cheat on dad?
Mom: I didn't cheat. We were in the process of getting a divorce and were legally separated at the time.
Phoebe: Wait you two were getting a divorce, why?
Victor: We just weren't getting along very well and I was working a lot while your mom was home alone with you guys. It just wasn't working out for either of us so we decided to take a break.
Piper: Now that that detail is taken care of lets move on to the other topic at hand, did Victor abuse Paige.
Prue: How can...
Piper: How about we hear what Paige has to say, maybe she has proof.
Paige: Uh. Well I don't think there is proof aside from the scars, he always made sure you guys weren't around when it happened. Why do you think I begged you guys to not move out and then spent like no time at home once mom started working nights.
Mom: You have scars? Let me see sweetie, why didn't you ever come to me.
Victor: She could have gotten the scars from anywhere, it doesn't prove anything.
Mom: Victor, the fact that she knows about her father is proof enough that you told her, she could have never figured that out by herself. If she is telling the truth about that then I believe she is telling the truth about everything else as well. You have always treated her differently than the other girls, I just never knew it was this bad. How could you!
Victor: Patty, I swear she is making this all up.
Phoebe: Lets see the scars, Paige. Then we'll know if you are telling the truth.
Paige: Right here?
Piper: Come on missy then we can get this over with once and for all.
Mom: Come here sweetie.
I go over to my mom and she pulls me down on to her lap. I am incredibly nervous, I hate having to show my scars and everyone is staring at me waiting for proof to be shown. I bury my head in my mom's shoulder and softly tell her there are some on my back, but that I don't want to show everyone. She runs her hand through my hair asking if I would be able to show her and I nod my head.
Mom: Paige and I are going in the other room for a second, we'll be right back. Don't any of you move from your seats. Come on sweetie lets go.
I stand up and slowly head into Piper's bedroom with my mom following right behind me. After she shuts the door she has me lie down on my stomach on the bed. As she reaches for my shirt I start to silently cry and I try to control my breathing.
Mom: Sweetie it's ok I just want to look, I promise I won't hurt you. I'm going to lift up your shirt to take a quick look and then it will all be over, ok?
I nod my head and hold my breath waiting for the feeling of cold air hitting my bare back. Her hand finally reaches down to my shirt and lifts it up to see the handful of scars that are reminders of Victor's hatred of me. I hear her gasp and then I hear soft crying as she arranges my shirt back to it's proper place.
Mom: I'm so sorry Paige, I had no idea. Don't you worry he is never going to hurt you again.
I sit back up on the bed and fall into my mom's open arms and start crying. After 5 minutes we are both able to compose ourselves and we walk back into the living room. My mom's arm is wrapped around my shoulder and as soon as we enter the living room I jump as she starts yelling at Victor.
Mom: Get out! I don't ever want to see you again!
Victor: I can explain Patty.
Prue: It's true!
Mom: Yes, your father abused Paige and she has the scars on her back to prove it.
Immediately Prue stands up and gets right in Victor's face yelling at him to leave, while Phoebe and Piper walk over to where mom and I are standing.
Mom: Prue come over here.
Prue does not budge so Victor pushes her back and that's when I loose it. I can handle someone hurting me, but not my family. I rush over to Prue and help her up and then turn to Victor and punch him in the stomach. As he is trying to catch his breath I grab a hold of him and push him out the door and throw him out into the hall and shut the door. I then go grab his coat and my own and as I walk out the door leaving my stunned family behind I drop Victor's coat on his curled up body. I then hurriedly walk down several flights of stairs and rush outside into the welcoming cold air with tears streaming down my face.