Ray had showed up

?He showed up and wanted me back,? Paige said while wiping her tears.

?Who?? I asked even though I knew the answer.

?Ray,? Sandra answered when Paige's voice failed her.

I could feel the anger bubble up inside me, making my head throb. First the bastard throw her out like a week old thrash and then he had the nerve to ask her to come back. I knew Paige had been hurt badly by Ray. She had been madly in love with him and would have done anything for him but he didn't even think twice before dumping her for another woman. I could not even begin to imagine how that could feel. And now a year later that bastard shows up again and wants her back in her life. I just hoped that Paige was over him, because as a friend I could not stand to see her go back to Ray.

?The door was unlocked and R-R...Ray just barged in here,? Paige said still sobbing. ?He said that he was there to take me back, but I refused. I told him that I was much happier now than I had ever been with him.?

?You should have seen him, Martin. He was so surprised when she Paige did not jump at the chance to come back to him. I thought his head was going to explode,? Sandra said with a small smile on her face. Even Paige managed to smile for a few seconds, but shortly reverted to her sadder face.

?He got angry. He told me some things that really hurt, Martin. I lived with him for a year and I guess he learned to really hurt me, hurt my soul,? Paige said.

?He even threatened you, Martin,? Sandra added.

Paige started crying again and even though I should had been sad I felt relieved. Paige had chosen to stay with me. Ray had scared her though and she needed to calm down. I was just about to say some comforting words when I noticed the pool of blood on the floor. I grabbed Paige's left arm and with a worried voice I asked, ?Paige, did he hurt you??

?No. It's... it's not mine. It's...,? Paige answered.

?It's mine,? Sandra interrupted.

?What?? I said.

?Well most of it,? Sandra continued. ?When Paige wanted him to leave he got a bit violent. He managed to throw me into the hallway mirror which shattered.? Sandra held out her right arm and showed me the now bloody improvised bandage she had put on. ?But when Paige started to hit him with a ladle he ran like a scalded cat,? Sandra said and started giggling. It was a contagious giggle and soon everyone, even Paige, was laughing.

When we finally stopped laughing Paige wiped her tears again. She then hugged Sandra hard and said, ?Thank you.? She let go of Sandra and stood up and acted like nothing was wrong.

?We better hurry or Master will punish us for not finishing dinner,? Paige said and hurried to the kitchen. Sandra quickly got up and gave me a quick kiss.

?She wouldn't stop crying until you came here. He scared her good, Martin. She was so scared that if she didn't have strong feelings for you she would have followed him out of fear in the blink of an eye.?

I was taken a bit by surprise by what Sandra said, but decided this was not the time to ask what she meant by that.

?How are you holding up?? I asked Sandra and looked at the bloody bandage.

?Oh, it looks much worse than it is. I'm just glad that we settled things and got out of the cuffs before Ray showed up.?

I had forgotten all about their bickering but now my curiosity started to act up again.

?What did you decide?? I asked.

?After dinner, love,? Sandra answered and ran after Paige to the kitchen.